Kim, that sounds like the cross stitch project I was going to make to hang on the wall in the kids playroom. It’s still unfinished, we haven’t lived in that house for 25 years, my kids each have a baby and houses of their own. It’s still unfinished, and I don’t think those babies will ever get it either. I hate doing cross stitch.

Agree with you ladma! Cross-stitch is the worst! My x mil (rest her sweet sole) did beautiful hand work. I have several treasured pieces. In fact, just gave one to our daughter. She long loved it and I don’t have any wall space in our current home. So pretty. Had Bible verse hand examples of all the herb seeds. Very special. Big too! About 24x30”. Thanks Mom! OD will take great care of it.

In Vegas for the weekend...Christmas decorations from the Bellagio...

A few more...

Input please. Silver gray or Sage Green placemats?

I'm serving lasagne and sausages for Christmas dinner - family tradition. In the past, I've used a red plaid tablecloth without worry of red sauce stains. However, this year I would like to have a soft color palette, but I worry about tomato sauce stains. I shopped for placemats and did not find ones I liked, so I will sew some from either of these window panels (hoping to protect a white tablecloth) The pics below show the dishes that will be used,.

I have a mix of silver and gold already happening on the table. My stemware and the peach ornaments have gold metal accents The silver ware and centerpiece bowl are silver. The candlesticks are mercury glass. Also, the peach ribbon has a silver metallic thread, as does the gray panel fabric

Buffet table next to the table - green gold abstract painting & mirror memorial frames. (Glass jar- from our wedding)

I vote for silver. Lovely centerpiece.

I vote green! I happen to love green of any shade and I also love the old-fashioned combo of peach and sage.

But I also think it’s the right choice here because of how it ties in with the bowl and the charger. Really calm and natural setting.

I don’t think you’ll go wrong either way though, beautiful table :)

Green.

I say green. It is Christmas and you need a Christmas color.

I like the green, too. Fels naphtha soap, $1 at WMart will take out red sauce stains from almost anything. Don’t put it in the dryer until you’re sure it’s gone, even better, hang it in the sunshine to dry if you can!

definitely green

Based on how colors look in your pix, I vote silver. I like how it looks in your middle pic with the leaves in the centerpiece and candle holders..

I used to work in floral design. Once a year I help decorate a lobby.

Before

During

After

That is an amazing building. Where is it? The tree fits the marble circle perfectly! Looks very festive!

It’s the old police headquarters in nyc. It was one of the accounts my brother and his partner‘s shop had. Shop closed three years ago. I remember doing flowers for the sales office when it was first turned into luxury apartments. It is absolutely gorgeous.

It‘s been three years now. A former employee has the Christmas decorating account. I’ve helped him each year. For old times’ sake. I knew him since he was a high school kid.

I finally finished my birch and Swarovski tree. First time I put my collection of Swarovski ornaments on this tree and I love it. Also, have my collection of crystal icicles on the tree with a pair of Cardinals. Sparkly deer looks on from under tree! Having fun now!

Flo......LOVE that!! Beautiful!

DK, I really like both colors, but I am leaning towards the silver. That sage green with the peach feels spring-like to me. But as Lindsey said, you can't really go wrong with either one.

Getting my own decorations out of storage tonight We’ll get the tree tomorrow. I hope. It‘s high time!

Flo, that's gorgeous! I love both birch trees...I love Swarovski...beautiful!

Just set my old favorite Christmas print on the mantle. The Candleman lights the way home for the village children after dark :)

We put a little Christmas everywhere this year, but I always like it best in the kitchen.

Emily, love your house. So many cool elements, and the Christmas decor is fun. Beautiful wreath in the kitchen.

Emily, I’m in awe of your artful home and all of its decoration. There are so many interesting vistas and vignettes. I want to keep looking at the photos again and again to take in all the uniquely fun and beautiful elements . I love your style ! Everything has that essence of “effortless” elegance, thoughtfully composed ,and acquired over time look. Your tree is lovely - very majestic in its quiet simplicity .

Michele, that is a beautiful lobby and building. Such a wonderful project, the tree is perfect as well as that huge pretty wreath.

Flo, love your birch tree with the crystals and that gorgeous room!

Chocolatesnap such a cute painting and the view of your tree in your mirror is so pretty.

Emily Wow, your home is stunning! I love it. Like Kim said, it has so many cool elements. It is just full of character. Looks like a magazine spread to me. The tree and the Christmas decorations are beautiful!

Kjoy, hope you’re enjoying Las Vegas. They definitely have it all ready for you by the look of those wonderful photos. :)

Emily- is that a wood ladder over your counter! So many create wonderful ideas. Thanks for sharing!

Jen K, those felt and yarn trees you made are so cute. What tree forms did you use?

2019 CA Merry Christmas!

Thank you! My elderly mother moved in with us a few years ago, and brought many of her antiques with, so it’s the definition of eclectic but it suits us all. The building is such a unique space that having a bit of a hodge pudge style works well within it.

Thank you, Kim! I modified a pretty basic wreath with some additional “kitcheny” adornments (dried citrus slices, berries, etc) and I l love it now but boy will it be a mess to take down in a few weeks. At least it’s next to the sink!

Hi Flo, it is! A “temporary” and easy solution when we couldn’t decide on pendant lights we all liked that now, three years later, is a kind of joke between us. (We often add hanging plants or other decor depending on the season.) However: I told me family that after we decorated it for Christmas this year, it was coming down in January and we’re doing pendants, finally. (I have some antique milk glass options I’ve been eyeing.) But we’ll see if laziness prevails...

That would still work with pendants hanging through it. I found these for another poster and they could work for you. Style is kind of eclectic too! God Bless you too for giving your Mom a home to feel good in. Very generous and taxing too at times I am sure.

Here it is. As long as chain and wire are long enough, these could fit right in. I could see bundles of herbs drying from the ladders and a copper pan or two. Enjoy!

P.S. $109

Thanks, Flo: great find! I’ve been looking at something similar to these “skyscraper pendants” (see photo) that a dealer I know has hanging in his shop window. But his are Art Deco and certainly not the great price of $109. Still, he’s usually pretty willing to make a deal if he’s had something for awhile and he’s has these pendants for at least a year.

Those are interesting. They would need to be rewired too plus you would need new chain.

I could see rewiring them up to today's standards, but I would leave the chain as is if it is the correct length. You will never find a chain with the same patina.

Finally finished our main tree yesterday. Our Bingo is enjoying the sunshine this morning.

The ceiling is cathedral I believe so those would definitely need more wire and chain. Old chain is relatively easy to find so I think you could find good match.

I have this very large (about 34" x 12") lantern that houses a little tree at Christmas.

I’m realizing how strongly memories can be tied to Christmas decorations, at least for those of us that hang on to the collected ornamentation from decades past, and never graduate to the beautiful, grown-up, coordinated decors. (My nearing middle aged children still look for their favorite ornaments from their childhoods.) What has me thinking about this is the bin of ornaments I’ve been tasked to sell or donate from a friend who has prematurely had to move to an assisted living facility. I found his grandmother’s ceramic tree in his storage and have put that in his room. The rest of it was either his or came from his mom, who was also a friend of ours. Sorting through it all, there were a few things that appealed to me or were just things that shouldn’t just be given away, so I’ve set those aside to use here at home. But I feel like these items are heavy with memories that I don’t have. I’m not sure how to explain it. Some mixture of guilt and sadness for having them, and him not. Yet feeling good that I will always think of Rich and Barb being connected to them. Which a stranger wouldn’t have. Every item of my own has a memory to it, and these few things, I don’t know their story. I think I’m too sentimental...

I think it’s wonderful that you are hanging on to these precious items. I also think your friends would be thrilled that you are finding some joy from them and continue to give them meaning. Enjoy them with a glad heart.

^Yes, what Nora said. That is so touching, Janet.

Love those lights Emily! Of course I love the ladder to. Mine is currently holding our Christmas stockings. I'll try and post a photo later.... but right now I'm standing guard over the now scraggly

naughty tree that was released from time out and is (for now )standing straight. We did have to amputate some lower limbs and a foot of the trunk - but this allowed our angel her rightful place and I trust her to stand guard and keep the tree in line.

Round two of decorating took twice as long since we had to be very creative with placement of the surviving brave ornaments. the trauma they endured meant they only wanted to hang out on the sturdiest of branches. We are mourning the loss of two strings of lights and dozens of ornaments... so forgive me but I'm drowning my sorrows abit.

Love that adorable teddy bear tree!

I've been enjoying everyone's holiday spirit. There are so many different styles and I am having such a fun time looking at everyone's traditions.

I thought I would share a few of my holiday decorations. I put up a white tree in our bedroom in our bedroom. I put it last year for the first time and have no idea why I didn't do it sooner. It's so nice to have a tree to enjoy in the bedroom.

I have a very similar theme as I had last year in our main living area, but did change a few things around without buying a lot of new stuff. This year I changed out the ribbon to a grey velvet. I have garland on the fireplace mantel with a couple big felt poinsettias. I had the poinsettias in the tree last year. I got on the bottle brush band wagon this year and put some on the dining table as a centerpiece.

It looks amazing and definitely arose from the dis-ashes! Great job. No one will ever guess how much surgery had to be preformed! Cheers!

I've had a hard time photographing the multi-colored lighted tree. This is a new 4' pre-lit I wanted to try on a table under the chandelier. I normally have the tall skinny tree with white lights. I prefer white lights. For some reason the red lights show up pink.

Ah Kris, everything looks wonderful when viewed through a glass of wine, (But the tree does look great even without it.)

Kris, your tree looks magnificent and proud :))) .