I have been asked to provide a list of links for holiday decorating. After pondering this for while I realized I have none. The reason for this is simple, I don't usually buy decorations, but instead use whatever I happen to have lying around or things I have found in the forest. My favourite method of decorating is the "use what you got" technique. Why pay for decorations when there are so many interesting things at your disposal for free? So I came up with this short guide which documents the various methods I have used in the past. Each year is a different theme decided spontaneously once a tree is found. My main objective when decorating is to have as much fun as possible, and to not hurt myself. I have in the past spent a colourful night or two in an ER room {read: drunk tank}, due to stepping onto a rusty nail or having a run-in with some wire cutters). Oh, the lovely tetanus. Such is the cost of making art, but I digress...
You have heard it said before, when attempting to make an appealing display using one simple thing in multiples works wonders. As does a monocromatic color theme. Or you can ignore that all together as I did a couple of years ago and go crazy with color (using paper)! Just do what moves you. And remember...a little paint and some mulled wine goes a long way (just don't mix them together.)
If you have any ideas to add please leave a comment! Us crafty folks will thank you.
In other news...
My lovely friend Stu gave me a Mates of State album. It makes me happy.
Our friend Kristan Horton has been working on an installation for Ydessa Hendles (the Teddybear Project), which was profiled on the radio tonight. He always has something interesting and possibly strange on the go. Yay Kris!
Posted by kerismith at November 19, 2003 10:35 PMWe made a garland from Hershey's Kisses wrappers. After we ate the kisses, we rolled up the little foil wrappers into balls and then strung them on some thread. Good excuse to eat a ton of chocolate.
Posted by: erika on November 25, 2003 11:19 AMLast year I got magazines and used them to collage shoe boxes to hold presents in.
Posted by: m on November 24, 2003 09:38 AMSweet and inspiring as always :) thank you keri!
nadine
Keri- I was so happy to see that you responded to my request! Thanks for your great decorating ideas and for reminding me that I don't have to buy anything! You also reminded me of a link I bookmarked sometime ago for ecofriendly holiday decorating ideas, just like yours, http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/340. I was also glad to see the holiday issue of Martha Stewart Kids with their ideas to recycle old holiday cards into garlands, ornaments, gift tags, etc. and ideas to turn kids' art into practical presents! Having skipped holiday decorating last year (we moved to a new house two days before Christmas), I can't wait to decorate this year and make it up to my kids! Thanks again!
Posted by: maia on November 22, 2003 10:30 PMYou know that plastic, tacky strung costume jewelry you can find at thrift stores....well they're endless possibilities with the kitchy looking stuff.
Posted by: naomi on November 22, 2003 06:18 PMthat's a wonderful list of things to try :) thanks keri, as always.
Posted by: stef on November 21, 2003 06:54 PMWhen my husband and I had our first Christmas tree and were really broke (still are...hmmmm), we created ornaments for our tree using a bag of clear marbles and some somewhat thick wire. We made springy hangie things with the marble gently wrapped or wound and hung them on the tree near the mini white lights. They are so lovely. Even if I could afford store bought decorations, I would choose these. They are really special.
Posted by: Chara Kingston on November 20, 2003 06:11 PMI have a Christmas decoration idea. You can buy a pack of popsicle sticks from the craft store. Paint them with glitter paints and configure them in snowflake shapes.
Or you can glue two popsicle sticks together perpendicular to each other and wrap yarn around them in a diamond pattern. It's cheap and pretty.
Ooh, Christmas. I love Christmas!
-penelope
Posted by: penelope on November 20, 2003 03:47 PMyour suggestions are so lovely. you are so lovely!
food you've already bought can also be pretty decorations. clementines, apples or other fruit in a bowl is so pretty. i've seen nuts look amazing in a glass bowl. i also like to get a variety of hard squash and display them and then i get a treat when it is time for dinner!
Posted by: lena on November 20, 2003 09:09 AMLoved your suggestions. Being the origami enthusiast that I am, I'm already making paper stars for my Christmas tree - although my family says that there's one too many folding ornaments in it (I strongly disagree)...
I can sugest the site http://www.origami.com for some good free diagrams (including the traditional crane and stars). You never know what you can learn!
Posted by: Anna Carolina on November 20, 2003 06:42 AMOooh I am seeing paper snowflakes everywhere. Oops....maybe not this year - the baby will eat them. Hmmmm.....off to think real seriously about this. One year, when we had a toddler and a puppy at the same time - yes i was MUCH younger then! - we just put all of our stuffed animal toys or decorations, snowmen, reindeer, etc, in the tree. Every day the puppy had her way with the Christmas bear, and every day my daughter found a new friend, and every day we redecorated the tree!! Hehehe. That was a fun memory!
Posted by: Dianne on November 20, 2003 02:57 AM