A little tour

As promised, a little holiday tour of what the elves have done this year at our home so far. Let me start by saying I am a great believer in using what I have, and keeping it fairly simple and fresh. I change it every year, some years it's sparkly and glittery, some years it's not~this year I am going for a more European "look" like we have at home. In Europe we love the holidays as much as anywhere else, but decorating is more about embellishing what we already have in our homes, adding small touches of greens and decorations here and there.

The two urns by our front gate where I put inexpensive real Red Apples for just a touch of holiday color. (Remember the white pumpkins were there for fall/Thanksgiving?) About these urns, they are just the plastic kind you can buy inexpensively, I spray painted them black!

The front gate, here I have a cone this year, instead of the usual wreath. In the past I have had square wreaths, an antique Frame around a bunch of Greens, it's whatever I have around. This cone is filled with a backdrop of artificial greens, and then bunches of real greens that I can cut from the front yard. Here in California the sun shines on this all day, the greens dry out pretty fast, so I need to replace them every few days!

I glued vintage "dingle balls" Trim around the very top, and added a scanned image from one of my favorite French Antique Postcards to the front. (okay, they are all my favorite! I love antique postcards!)

This is a dresser on the walkway inside the gate, I use both the real greens for scent and a few artificial ones here, along with a few potted ivies. At night I light whatever candle or lantern I have on there, every night in December.

This year I am using some antique and vintage Goose Decoys for my front yard (I will try to take a picture tonight!) so I placed this lightweight Goose on the Antique French Sled by the front door. He may or may not get a fresh greens wreath later, depending on my time.

Right inside the front door, a little demi lune table holds all my Eiffel Towers, I have a small candle there, as well as two lanterns, for candlelight. I love placing ivy topiaries in a tall White Delft Vase, for a different look! I added two silver balls for the holidays.

One of my favorite pieces for the holidays, I intended to sell this piece, but just can't bear to part with it. This old clock case is the perfect vignette display, this year it holds an angel statue and her flocked reindeer friends. I took the brown ribbons off the votives and they look wonderful!



A little peek inside, I am sorry the photograph doesn't show the sparkle on the angel. This is just an inexpensive store bought decoration, I loved her a few years ago and had to have her, even though she isn't vintage.

A small collection of antique Mercury Balls piled high on my favorite Steuben glass compote. The very tarnished thriftstore Silver Champagne Cooler is holding a white flowering Cyclamen. I will probably have to polish it before my "event" Thursday....I love the tarnished look, but the European girl in me just can't quite do it!

That's it so far. Just so you know, the rest of my house is kind of a big mess. (My husband says there is no "kind of" about it!) I will be finishing the rest today. And will take pictures of the mantle and tree tonight for a future post, they are done too. Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you are having fun decorating your home...and I hope you don't feel pressured to go out and buy a bunch of expensive things. I want to encourage you to use what you have, and just present it a little differently, add a ribbon or make a star and sprinkle liberally with glitter. It's those little touches that make your home yours ~ a welcome haven for your family during this special time!