Christmas Home 2021

This holiday season was a very hard one for us. A lot of loss and personal, physical suffering from health problems. We are trying hard to gain perspective on what has happened to us over the past decade. We are learning to accept loss and broken relationshios, (two steps forward, one step back...a very bad cha cha dance of pain). As parents, especially Mother's, we are fixers. Always wanting to repair what is broken, or hurting and bring healing and comfort to those we love. We are still learning to accept rejection and disappointment. 

 Letting things go and placing your loved ones at the foot of the cross is heart-wrenching but at the same time freeing because it is an exercise in trusting the Lord, and building your faith in God. That is an area of deep personal struggle for me, TRUST (and if you must know bitterness and unforgiveness as well). I am clearly a broken pot in the hands of the Potter. So glad He loves cracked pots like me!

 Looking ahead in 2022 I pray God heals our hearts and grows us in the areas spiritually that He knows we need. I pray He does the same for you my friends if you are struggling too. We serve and awesome God who loves us too much to leave us stagnate where we are....He chooses to grow us and change us through refiner's fire at times. I am still in that season but I sense a new season approaching fast. 

Through the empowerment of The Holy Spirit we are able to choose joy in the mist of suffering, sorrow & depression; hope when we feel hopeless & anxious; have faith when we lack courage; and fully trust  each season of life to Him. Let's pray for each other this year...grow where He has planted each of us and choose to trust His will and not our own.

 

 

Remembering Who Christmas really is about. CHRIST and the greatest story ever told!

We purchased a new Hobby Lobby tree this year with twinkling LED fairy lights.

Many of our ornaments came from the dollar tree strore, yard sales, thriftstore and as gifts from family.

I enjoy under the tree decorating and styling as much as the tree decor itself.

I found these antique light fixtures that I pieced together and added fairy lights too (love fairy lights).

Love these vintage 1960's Carolers. I gave a set to my Mom & sister last year and they love them too.

My Mom gave me a special gift this year from the 90's when our girls were little. She always had this Waterford crystal tree topper atop her tree. Now it adorns our baby white icicle tree.

My Grandmothers angel remade in my colours. Another special gift from my Mom.

Found this lovely swan sleigh at a thrift store last season and refinished it in silver leaf this year.

 

This 1930's antique toy horse was remade over last year. My Grandma had one like it when she was a child. It was in disrepair and the brightly coloured paint had chipped and cracked all  over.

In 2019 right before my surgery my Mom & I remade these 1990's vintage Kirkland sleeping elves. They were very country style with sage green and berry burgundy coloured outfits, they were screaming for an update. I found the doll sweaters on eBay, my Mom sewed the velvet quilted pants from an old Pottery Barn Bedspread, I made the hats out of an old Ann Taylor Loft sweater (I had held onto since 2000 when everything that year was silver & pewter for the Millennium). I embellished the hats and used mini ornaments for them to hold, as if falling into a quick nap in the middle of decorating the tree. I refinished their boots with rubb-n-buff pewter (of course) and my Mom found this satin lacy mini heart pillow (that matched our ring bearer's pillow from our wedding)! I found tiny bears for them to snuggle with while napping. It brings me such joy remaking things and adding elegant embellishments.

My freind Marie surprised me with this beautiful mini Santa sack that was perfect for my elves. She has made me so many beautiful things over the years. She is so talented and has a beautiful soul!

Another precious gift this year from my Mom was my Grandma's original Shirley Temple dolls. I spent hours as a child watching Shirley Temple movies. They were so cheerful and innocent, a bygone era.

My beautiful find from a few seasons ago. Joyoux Noel. She was a steal at Marshall's at 75% off because she was broken. I repaired her and touched up the paint to a perfect match. I had so much fun restyling her. I made her pearl bridle & reigns, added a crown, feather & flower. I used a table runner for her saddle. Her collar is metal ribbon I cut and embellished with pearls and her name tag an old frame repainted with a print I made on my computer. She is a beauty! I love the elves I have embellished them as well. I love to glam things up. 

Found these large glass pieces at Pottery Barn a few seasons ago.Found my glass Nutcracker on Amazon a few seasons ago as well. There is something so simple yet elegant about glass and crystal.

We hosted a few small dinner gatherings this year and I had fun restyling the tables in between. I so love entertaining and taking good care of my guests. Hospitality is a gift I love giving. Pampering people is my superpower, lol! My guests love it too.

Found these perfect snowflake dishes at Marshall's. They fit well into my winter fantasy themed table for the first gathering.

My hand pour candles were a hit again this year. I call them Winter Elegance.

My Grandma's deer refinished in pewter (shocking I know)! From my fav store that has since closed, The Shamrock. I spent every holiday in that store with my youngest daughter. She LOVED Christmas decor when she was little and always helped my decorate the tree.

Changed it up for the next dinner party. White tulip never disappoints with their French linen embroidered cloth napkins. I confess I cannot fit and more linens in my buffet. I even gave all of my reds away this year!

And again another change up with the final dinner of the holidays with these delightful silver snowflake chargers. Marshall's hits it out of the park again!

These antique bowls were from a lovely friend at our church. They were a wedding gift from 50 years ago. She had lost the parts to connect them and I offered to repair it for her and she said no, you keep them. So I remade another kit in pewter and used this antique lamp base from the same era. I use it on my table everyday now. It feels to elegant now and reminds me of my friend Carol and our church that we love so much.

I love creating and stylizing card holders. I stopped using name cards a few years ago and started using colour coordinated bible verses. Love them!

Had fun added these crystal ornaments to the chandelier this year. I loved the look so much I may keep it year round.

My remade glamified Swan & her Cygnets. They looked beautiful on our redone Louis XV chair.

 I refinished this large Nutcraker from Marshall's a few seasons back. Are you bored yet..glass and pewter...reoccurring themes in my decor!

Oh the story behind these deer glasses and the big bill I got having to go to the ophthalmologist to have glass removed from my eye! Note to seld and all that will listen...SAFETY GOGGLES! Especially when using a hammer to break up glass (replaced the original glasses with crystal). 

I had so much fun styling this all white town I created a few seasons ago out of thriftstore town pieces. Some of which were given too me and some of which I found myself. 

I call it Snowflake Township.

There is even a tiny pewter Nativity set on one of the houses front porch!

I will leave you with these beautiful night shots of the tree and tell you decor is beautiful, but not lasting. It brings temporal joy but God's Kingdom is what is important. Invest in people, relationships and witnessing for Christ; invest in the Kingdom of the living God. Only there you will find true peace, joy, love, forgiveness and everlasting life. There you will not be thirsty for the things that are temporal....for there you will find living water that this world cannot give you. The treasures you lay up there will not be destroyed. These are the permanent things that are truly important....the rest is just fairy glitter that blows away with a strong wind and leaves you thirsty still.