Oak, I am a finial fan, I have dozens and I put them all over the house. Even tree topper finials! I have 3 really cool ones that I hung from a corner in my LR. I keep them up year round. I like to group them and switch them around too.

No pics, sorry, but I bet you could find some cool ones on the net.

By finials, do you mean tree toppers? I put several in candleholders and display them that way. In a previous house I would display them in the bay window on the seat; last year they were on top of the MCM room divider. Other times they'e been displayed on a sofa table behind the sofa. I also have a book where they use small ones perched on the top of antique bottles. I'm going to try that this year.

And I'm glad I'm not the only one itching to start the Christmas decorating!!

We started hanging our exterior lights. It seems like we always start this project around Thanksgiving, but we're usually fighting snow and ice that late in the year.

I'm thinking about how to decorate our banister. It is our first Christmas in this house so I'll be searching the web for inspiration.

I love those finials! I've never seen anyone around here use the big one's like that as a tree topper. I'd rather decorate with them instead of putting it on the tree. I do have small finials for the tree though.

How do you keep them from falling over? Too bad I spent my budget for decorating this year, but I can assure you I'll be searching for finials next year!

I'm looking forward to decorating my apothecary jar and trifle bowl. If done right they add that beautiful elegance to Christmas!

Here's the trifle bowl from last year, but I think I'll do it different this time.

Also, my late MIL had this quilted Santa for years and promised it to me upon her death. She passed away in January and I'm really looking forward to displaying it. The santa is made from a very old quilt.

Glad to see this thread since I am dreading Christmas decorating this year :(
We downsized to half the house recently and I had to get rid of my wonderful big tree.
I have yet to find a small one that I like.
I have so many ornaments that I've been collecting for years but this Christmas will have to
pick and choose which ones to use. I also have a Santa collection that I will have to downsize also.
Don't mean to be a downer and I will be looking at this thread to hopefully get new ideas of ways to use what I have.
Hope everyone will post pictures!!

I've seen the tree toppers used on a mantel.

No decorating here till after Thanksgiving. Two new/different things I'm going to do is use a wreath (hung by ribbon) on each of the french doors. I'm also working on a shadow box with a piece of old Christmas music as the main element. It's not really old - just made to look old.

tina

I use floral putty to keep the toppers in the candleholders. I take a wad and roll it into a ball and use it to fill the hole in the candle stick. Then I carefully push the topper down into the holder. I have some larger finials that stand on there own also. I've been doing finials for years and then the last few years they have started popping up in mags and on the web. Some of mine are just cheapo ones but I also have some that are more spendy and I'm always looking for new ones.

Since I'm not a big Halloween or Thanksgiving decorator. I always feel constrained to wait to get going on the Christmas decs. I'll probably wait until Thanksgiving to start but I get a jump on it by starting to clear other items out of the way for where I plan on putting the seasonal stuff. I also have lots of Christmas pics including a lot of x-stitch ones I have made. I just swap those out for current pics on the wall.

Here's a link that shows the picture I mentioned of the vintage ornaments on the antique bottles. The guy at the dump saved those same kind of bottle for me and I'm going to look through my ornaments for appropriate ones to use.

Here is a link that might be useful: antique bottles

Oakley, you are such an instigator, talking about Christmas this early(LOL)!
I'm not there yet, mentally or decorating-wise. I think it's because I love Autumn so much out here in our New Mexico mountains. I love my Autumn decs, too ;^D
But, that said, anyone who is looking for Christmas decorating inspiration, please check out GW's Holiday Forum. They are the nicest bunch of gals over there and have lots of ideas and photos, as well. I miss them and need to get back there myself.
Lynn

i have thought about christmas decorating already this year and have begun going through some christmas things looking for some of my lit grapevine trees, and neutral colored things, etc to get out and put up awhile to get a start on decorating---i do it all myself, so it's alot of work!! and, i hate rushing in december to get it all up, so i have been thinking about what i could start getting out. i also want to change up some of my outdoor lights this year---the trees are getting sooo tall that i want to forget about those but instead put lights on some low bushes....so have been planning that lately---my goal for the holidays is to be on top of things and not rushed---i say that every year and always struggle, so i'm thinking maybe starting even earlier this year will help!

Eriepatch, Don't forget to use your ornaments in other ways than just for the tree. Some ideas are using ornaments to decorate garlands and wreaths, grouped together in a bowl or an apothecary jar in a bath or kitchen, hanging from cabinet knobs or armoire keys, strung from a chandelier, or hanging in front of a window. I don't even put up a tree, but I love using ornaments throughout the house. I hope you'll find your inspiration once you get started adding holiday sparkle to your new home.

Lynn, I'm not decorating yet except changing out the table cloths which will go with Christmas decor, but I have to start putting my thinking cap on in early November so I'm not scrambling come time to decorate.

The best thing I ever did which really helps is, when we added on the new room, we had a very large closet built for the back of the room, with a ledge on top. The carpenter dedicated part of the clost for my Christmas tree and decorations! He even took measurements of my tree and the big ornament box.

I'm adding a lot of Christmas decor to my Pinterest page. lol

Great idea Fun2BHere, I will have to remember that!
Oakleyok, I had a closet just for Christmas too it was
wonderful. Now I'm going to have to hunt for a place
to even put a tree haha Can you tell I'm having a
hard time adapting to this downsize?

eriepatch, the best Christmas I ever had was when I was living in Guatemala. No one decorated until the week before Christmas and most of the decorations were very basic - lights, candles and so on. Oddly, the small decorations and having them up for just a week, made a huge impression. Enjoy the downsizing. I bet you will make it a very special holiday no matter the size of your home.

Why does JoAnn Fabrics always have these great sales on things I really don't need but want? Right now most of their Christmas things are 50% - 70% off already. Not sure how anyone else feels, but I think their Christmas garlands are very nice looking. Which brings me to my compulsive buy today of this skinny fake pine garland with small pine cones and tiny crystals sprinkled on to look like snow(?), it's gathered at the top with four strands hanging down. Odd? Well in my mind's eye I thought it would look great draped over my big crystal chandelier in the library. $24.99 on sale for $14, can't return it since it's on clearance. I may have blown $14, but I can always use it somewhere I guess.

Photo of chandelier from last year. I didn't know how to photograph the garland, that would have helped.
{{!gwi}}

I saw this article last year but bookmarked it and will be referring to it for creative holiday decorating ideas this year! I'm glad everyone else is as into holiday decorating as I am!

Here is a link that might be useful: amazing holiday decorations!

I begin after Thanksgiving but do much the same year-after-year. Here are photos from last season.

Here is a link that might be useful: Last Years Holiday Decorations

I don't start decorating until after Thanksgiving, but I'm in the planning stages for our annual ornament crafting now. Two years ago we made pine cone elves, I think the idea came from Martha Stewart. Other than our tree and a wreath on the door, pretty much the only thing I do is set out a row of these guys on the buffet.

Some of them have trouble standing up, so it usually looks like a bunch of tipsy elves leaving the office Christmas party!I can't find a photo of the whole group, but here's one.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

Rafor's idea about attaching the finials with floral putty is a good one. But there is another way to use the putty. Pinch off a large marble sized piece, and roll into a snake. Circle the snake around the bottom of the finial and attach that to the candleholder or other surface, and twist just a little bit as you press. The open spot in the center of the snake creates a bit of suction that helps hold the object.

No Christmas decorating here until at least mid-December. I like to leave up the decorations into January, because it is SUCH an ugly month here in Chicago, and seeing the pretty lights on the tree and happy touches around the house do a lot to help me forget that it is ONLY January. LOL

Our neighbors put up their holiday wreaths the day after Halloween. I just shake my head.

If anyone is looking for mercury glass topiaries, keep your eyes on after Christmas sales at Wisteria. I bought a bunch last year various sizes for as little as $7.95 each. They're going to be featured somehow in my Christmas decorating this year.

I don't put my tree up until about two weeks before Christmas, and that's when I usually start putting out other decorations. Except the Advent Calendar - I have a wooden one I hang every year on Dec.1st.

My lights are in place outdoors and ready to turn on. The trees are wired too. I like to do it early because when it gets cold, wet and windy I am done. Some neighbors have joined me in this after jeering me for rushing the season!!
I have about 150 friends who have had cancer when I have join me on Christmas day from 2pm until 8pm. They and their familes have done this for 13 years. So, the cheer is definitely in the rooms and some stay over so they can talk more.Pillow talk and comfort. Very emotional.
Therefore, no tree inside since I need walking and serving room.

For those of you who shop online, have you been to Trendy Tree? I love it!

Here is a link that might be useful: Christmas Decorations

oakleyok, what a fun site with all the frosting. It would be so easy to have a willy wonka christmas full of "Pure Imagination."

My girlfriend and I are going to a Christmas open house in a little quaint German town tomorrow. They have tons of Christmas shops and their decorated trees are to die for. I can't wait, I'm in the mood for Christmas for the first time in a number of years.

....Jane

Oakley your always in such a good mood!

Not really Jane! lol. Sometimes I just want to say "Bah humbug" and not do anything. We had a record breaking hot summer and I think I'm just ready for cold and color.

I also don't spend a lot of money on decorations either and try to find neat things on sale.

In fact, this will be our first year putting lights up outdoors! We live in the country so most out here do the bare minimum, but I finally decided to light it up!

On Sunday, I'll be watching sappy Hallmark Christmas movies (marathon on Hallmark channel Sat & Sun) while I decorate the house and put up the tree.

I leave harvest up outside until the day after Thanksgiving and then I spend that day decorating outside.

We LOVE to see the house all decked out and the tree lit while we spend the day cooking Thanksgiving dinner - nice to have dinner that way too.

I was jamming Christmas tunes in the car this afternoon - fun!

Great topic, Oakley.... thanks :))