Monday, December 12, 2011

Christmas Magic Home Tour 2011

I'm excited to join in the Holiday Home Tours online for the third year!  This year's focus was on bringing the peaceful, calming, beautiful nature INSIDE.  Last year was creating a magic Christmas wonderland for the boys, and my first year was everything traditionalThe biggest decor element I used this year was PINECONES! So many pinecones in so many ways. ..



The last part of this year I have felt more disorganized and less put together than usual.  It has been unnerving. Typically I am energetic and super excited about everything.  But lately, I have been emotionally burdened by some physical personal hurdles I hold within.  Because of that, I really wanted to focus on bringing peaceful scenes into our home this Christmas.  



The center of our family room has clusters of live winter plants and evergreens...and pinecones of course. ;) 


 
 
A stack of books and a bright white lamp 
balance on our vintage safe.
 

Our front window is filled with snowflakes made of hay straw.  I will be sharing more of these in a future post.  No, I didn't make them.  I bought them in beautiful Aspen, Colorado.  This is why I am unable to be a traditional "crafter".  There is no way I would have the patience to make something so intricate.  But, I love them like crazy.


 Delicate straw snowflakes 
dancing from red ribbon


I couldn't get these pictures just right lol...


This year, I filled our office tree with armfuls of pinecones! 
I brought SO many pinecones into our home this year.  
Our sparse, narrow, little tree, 
strung with cream button garland, 
is juggling lots of pinecones.

I didn't add any ornaments to the tree...on purpose. ;)


Instead of putting a tree top on, 
I snuggled a big gingham bow 
RIGHT in the middle of the tree.
It's as if the bow is giving 
our little tree a giant hug.  

   
Overflowing with pinecones,
the burlap covered basket catches a bucketful more.



Kotah is my number 1 helper.  
He is always there, full of excitement, ready to help! 
It was his idea to sprinkle the tree and pinecones with snow.



A cluster of cinamon sticks over our Burano Italian lace
 is slid in next to pinecone kissing balls.


 More pinecones...
a snow covered pinecone wreath gives a subtle hint 
that December 25th is near.



I'm a new knitter and loving it! 
My handmade Christmas stocking.
love.



Every year our kitchen stays the same.  
The kids enjoy having
an all gingerbread and candy kitchen.  

Our kitchen tree

And my paperbag gingerbread man that I made when I was a little girl gets pulled out every season.  I hope he stays together for another 20 years.


A pitcher full of retro candy garland.  This garland was used on my own bedroom Christmas tree every year when I was a little girl, teenager, and newlywed.  It is now used in the kitchen.


Our stairway got dressed up with REAL, fresh garland this year! Happy girl.  Real beats fake any day in every way.  I was extra excited to use this fresh-smelling goodness...even if it did tear up my hands.


I didn't want to distract from the beauty of fresh pine, so I kept it simple and only added fresh baby's breath bunches to the garland.  












I already posted about our Merry Little Mantel
with dried sage garland and a big stick star.




and I found this incredible-smelling potpourri! 
I want to stand next to this spot allll day.  
Mixed in are Christmas carol origami stars.


A sweet pair of Wellies playfully sit 
next to blooming paperwhites.  
{thank you Brandi}

I've shared many times 
how each season I spread season-appropriate books
around the house at the boys' level.  
We have stacks of holiday books that are treasures to my heart and their hearts too.



Our Christmas reading corner, 
with the new knit wrap I recently made, 
a soft Ugg pillow, 
and a wicker chair.  
Hello peace.



Upstairs is the kids' domain and free space to decorate 
with loud, dancing stuffed animals,
bright red-nosed reindeer, 
and blinking ornaments.  
This paper Santa and reindeer introduce our upstair's atmosphere.

It is special to me because I had one
{almost just like this} 
when I was little that hung on my wall and I would fall asleep staring at it, 
literally dreaming of Christmas Eve.


The boys and I made pom pom garland last year.  This year, I took the garland and pushed all the yarn pom poms together in a bunch to create this short garland. 





In our room a baby tree in a basket sits on Chris' nightstand.  
The boys and I surprised him with his own special tree this year.  
More on this in a future post...



Our traditional nativity

My favorite Christmas decor is this little snowman pair.
One says "joyful" and the other says "me too"
They make me smile and encompass how I feel about this little life we all live.



And that was a LONG virtual tour.  

Thank you for sharing in our lives and our home.  
I wish you a very happy Christmastime!
For more holiday decor:
 
This post is linked to: FOLK MAGAZINE Simply Sweet Home The Nester, Thrifty Decor Chick,  Inspired Room HomeStories Mantels, Holiday Home Link Parties TLCUnder the Table & Dreamin, Think Pink Sundays, Seasonal SundaysMet Monday, Making the World Cuter, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, DIY Design, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff,   Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up  DIY by Design






44 comments:

  1. Happy Holidays, Lisa!
    Beautiful home tour, I enjoyed every second of it! Your home is so warm and festive, well done! Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year! xo ~Liz

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  2. Everything looks so festive, Lisa, even though you used a light touch! The trees are perfect and I love the REAL pine garland on your banister! Everything is just lovely!

    Happy Holidays!

    XO,
    Jane

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  3. Your home is so beautiful! I love your natural elements this year...the pinecones (one of my favorite decorating elements) are absolutely perfect in your setting. Those straw snowflakes are so unique (at least in my part of the world!). Did you make the origami stars? I'd love to know how to do those...perfect for my sister.
    Thanks for taking us on a tour...
    Have a wonderful week...
    xo
    Jane

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  4. Wow! You are a Christmas crafting genius! So glad I found your project via Centsational Girl.

    Please stop by for a visit to my blog. I am currently in the midst of a Gifts to Make series.

    Be Merry and Bright!

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  5. Lisa,I believe you captured the look you were aiming for..I love all of the pinecones..Your home is beautiful..

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  6. Love all your decor!! so comfortable and festive!!

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  7. I love how you have decorated your home, I really like the garland on the staircase. I also love what you have done with all the pinecones! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!!

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  8. Your home is so lovely and I love your music!!! I love all the touches of Christmas all around the house! I'm visiting from The Inspired Room!

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  9. So pretty and fun! Love that your little helper is so enthusiastic about decorating for Christmas - so cute!
    Merry Christmas to you and your family. Enjoy your festive home!

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  10. So so pretty! I love all the natural elements! The greenery on the stairs so soooo beautiful! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  11. love the pinecones--I especially love the ones around the little pot or planter thingy. I love gingham too so this made me smile. Nice that as a new knitter you could produce such a pretty stocking!

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  12. All of these pictures are so beautiful... the color is amazing and so crisp!! I love going on Christmas tours in your home... they always make me feel so happy! Thank you as always for sharing.. everything is so pretty and cozy! :)

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  13. I love all the natural elements! So beautiful, great job! Your newest follower! I would love for you to come link up Thursday over at Passionatelyperfect.com!!

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  14. I found you via {aka} Design. Love your blog and love all of your holiday decorations!. So many great vignettes sprinkled throughout your home. You have a knack for putting things together!

    Rachel
    xoxo

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  15. Your home is "pottery barn" gorgeous; I really love your style of decorating. The garland on the stairs is beautiful!

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  16. Your home looks gorgeuos! I love all the natural elements. Stopping by from ThriftyDecorChick

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  17. I love the natural look. The snowflakes are my favorite. I also love the gingerbread decor. Have a great day.

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  18. I love how you have different themes throughout the various rooms! Your natural decorations are simply gorgeous... I LOVE the button garland too. Your knitted stocking is beautiful... I've been looking everywhere for knitted stockings, but any that I find are a bit expensive. Maybe I'll have to take up knitting and get start on ones for next year! Thanks for sharing your lovely holiday home!

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  19. I think your holiday home looks wonderful. Warm, cozy and inviting- what more could one ask for,

    Merry Christmas

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  20. Love all of the vintage elements, the pinecones, the music, the fresh greenery...it's all beautiful.

    MErry Christmas!

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  21. Everything looks so nice, Lisa. I like all of your pinecones. I think I have the same candy garland that you had when you were a girl, although I didn't see it this year. I like the colors you used on your mantel, too. Merry Christmas!

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  22. LOVE LOVE LOVE your natural elements!!! very pretty and peaceful. thanks for sharing!

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  23. This post made me wish I was home in our Christmas heaven. Then I got to the picture with the snowman in the frame and I couldn't help but smile really big! Thank you for always making everything so perfect :-)

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  24. Lisa - you have created such a beautiful Christmas home for your sweet family! I was in awe of that lavender sprig garland. I drooled over your handmade knitted stocking in those soft blues (great job!), and that twig star is awesome! You inspired me today! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  25. I love the natural look for the holidays. Your home is just lovely!

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  26. absolutely Fan-pine-cone-tastic !

    I love your post

    - KAT -

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  27. What a beautifully festive home!!Thanks Deidre~ http://simplysimplisticated4.blogspot.com

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  28. Oh my gosh, this is my first look at your home. How beautiful! You decorate just like I would like to. Definitely going to bookmark this for next year. I love nature and I have a collection of gingerbread stuff, many of the same things you have. I don't use it anymore but seriously consider having a gingerbread decorated kitchen when I have grandchildren. Love the snowman sitting behind the frame, and all of the natural elements are gorgeous! Going to take a look around!

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  29. In love with your coffee table and the pinecone vase on it. Would love love love for you to share this at our party going on now http://space46.blogspot.com/2011/12/co-hosting-pinteresting-link-party-week.html. Happy holiday! My

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  30. Your home looks so pretty and festive. I just love all the vintage items and that button garland on the tiny tree is so pretty. Merry Christmas.

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  31. i seriously love everything!!!! those hanging snowflakes are so fun!

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  32. Such a beautiful home tour! Thanks for sharing.

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  33. Your home is lovely! I really enjoyed seeing all the natural elements. Merry Christmas!

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  34. Very Nice. We both share a love of natural elements. Please stop by for a visit some time. Happy Holidays!

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  35. Beautiful Christmas decor. I love all things neutral and natural and you captured it perfectly:-)

    Merry Christmas!

    xoxo
    Kathleen

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  36. All of this is peaceful and beautiful. Great job! I love the pinecones.

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  37. Wow, everything looks absolutely beautiful and so inviting! I truly enjoyed my tour of your lovely home and holiday decorations.

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  38. Your home looks amazing! I really adore the pom pom garland! Visiting from Jen Rizzo's...
    Happy Holidays!

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  39. Happy Holidays! Your home looks amazing! Well done. I love the signs, the greenery, and that cute little button garland...love that a lot!

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  40. I'm visiting from Jennifer Rizzo's and I really enjoyed all of your holiday touches! I'm now following-hope you'll visit and say hi when you get a chance :)
    Susan

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  41. I love all of the natural elements! Thank you for sharing your holiday home!

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  42. Such a very nice post! I love your Christmas tree decorating ideas and home decor images! I love those decorations. Thanks for the inspiration. Merry Christmas!

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  43. I love, love, love your living room "coffee table"! I want that! :-) - Dori -

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I SO treasure EVERY comment. I am not able to respond individually to each one anymore, although I TRULY wish I could! It is hard for me to say that because I love hearing from everyone and sharing back. I still try my best, but it may take awhile! :)

ALSO, I am unable to link up to new link up parties due to time constraints. Thank you for your understanding.

Thank you for EACH lovely note! <3 I appreciate YOU.