The Tiny Tree Vignette

To say this Christmas is....slim, financially speaking, would be an understatement.  

HOWEVER...   

One thing I appreciate about not having much money this year (did I really say that?) is that it forces me to be extra creative with what we already have. After all, I have plenty of "stuff" to be creative with, right?   

Yesterday, I was talking with my daughter about what, if anything, I had purchased specifically for Christmas decor this year, and all we could come up with was the ornaments the three kids chose, and this:

Isn't it cute?! It didn't start out looking like this, though. 

My oldest daughter called me from Hobby Lobby last weekend (an hour away from our house) and said they had 12" trees for $1.50, and did I want one? 
I told her to go ahead and get one for me. I was totally thinking I would give it to the younger kids for their dollhouse "forest". 

I wish I had taken a photo of what it looked like before, but I think everyone has seen these, right? The little bendy wire branches and a plastic base?

Perfect for a little dollhouse pine tree!   

But then something happened.

I had the tiny tree in my hand, and I happened to walk past a can of spray snow on the kitchen counter. I found 2 cans in my "stuff" that I had bought several years ago. 
Well, I had to see if it still worked, didn't I?

Well there was this tiny tree all frosty-snowy-cute, and I knew the kids weren't getting it for the dollhouse. I feel so selfish! 

The next thing you know I had my vintage looking glittered bird in the tree. The bird is sort of heavy and kept tipping the tree, so I needed a sturdy container to hold it up and just like that, it was in a cute clay pot.

  

I tucked in some of those pearly things on wired sticks, ripped up some cotton scraps to make tiny hand stamped peace, hope and joy banners, added my tiny bird flag to the top and I knew I had my inspiration piece for the wintery decor on top of the piano.




 As I have complained about incessantly mentioned before, we don't have a fireplace in this home. I showed you how I put together a faux mantel for my little electric fireplace in the master bedroom. 

Downstairs, I'm doing what many of you who don't have fireplaces do. I'm using the top of the piano as substitute mantel. 

 I strung my handmade "Let Heaven & Nature Sing" banner across the front of the piano and hung my twig wreath, with the vintage sheet music leaves, in front of a large antique mirror surrounded by a large white frame.

 
Lots of white details, some silver ornaments, bottle brush trees, candles, and the tiny tree as the centerpiece. 

  

Peace, joy and HOPE to you, my friends. 

Jeanette

Sharing over at:

CHRISTMAS PAST at SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE 



The Ivy Cottage Blog-Cowgirl Up! 
Family Home and Life-Wow Us Wednesday 
Between Naps on the Porch-Metamorphosis Monday 
The Dedicated House-Make it Pretty Monday 
Vintage On a Dime-Welcome Home Wednesday 
Savvy Southern Style-Wow Us Wednesdays 
Cozy Little House-Tweak It Tuesday
Embracing Change-Creative Inspirations
StoneGable-Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits
Common Ground-Vintage Inspiration
The Vintage Farmhouse-Creative Things Thursday

The Charm of Home-Home Sweet Home
French Country Cottage-Feathered Nest Friday
Craftberry Bush-Happy Hour!  
Liz Marie Blog 
Debbiedoo's-Power of Pinterest Party
Fox Hollow Cottage-Power of Pinterest Party
Faded Charm- Holiday Home 
 

Perfectly Pale

I wish I had some photos to share of our crazy, colorful little house we lived in years back. Mustard yellow and red in the bedroom, red in the dining room, green in the living room, black and white checked floors. 3 bedrooms in 960 square feet and full of stuff. It was visually pretty crazy, but back then it really made me happy to be immersed in all that color!


I still really do like color, and I use it at Christmas as you will see tomorrow : )
But, the last few years have been the most stressful I've ever experienced, and I'm finding that in this season of life I need things to be paler.....calmer. It just feels more soothing to me.

 My bedroom window

 

 Vintage bucket I decoupaged with pretty paper

Pale and pretty candles

 One of my favorite pieces of ironstone

 Over my headboard

Necklace I made for my daughter from one of her baby sweaters

Sweet little angel made by my grandmother. She was an avid crafter, and I often think about what fun we'd be having together if she was still with us : )

Vintage mirror in my bedroom

Pale candle chandelier I embellished with fabric and crystals

Pretty and pale details

 Tomorrow I'll share a little of the colorful side of life around here!

How about you? In your current "season of life" do you feel better surrounded by whites and neutrals or lots of color? I'd love to hear from you!

See you over at:
Timewashed-Blissful Whites Wednesday 
Family Home and Life-Wow Us Wednesday 
Vintage On A Dime-Welcome Home Wednesday 
Knick of Time Tuesday 
House on the Way-Twirl and Take a Bow! 
Savvy Southern Style-Wow Us Wednesday 
The Farmhouse Porch-Cowgirl Up! 
The Vintage Farmhouse-Creative Things Thursday 
Common Ground-Vintage Inspiration 

I'm linking up my shop at:

Etsy shop link party at The Ironstone Nest

A Sentimental Vignette

The other day I shared this photo of the beginnings of a vignette on top of my behemoth cabinet. I originally put the old tool crate up there thinking it might be safer-you know, keep the iron headboard from falling over on our heads. I just didn't want to secure the bed to the wall.....

Original post here

Well, I changed my mind (shocker). I decided it just covered up too much of the old headboard I really wanted to see. So I took it down. Sigh. Show of hands: Can anyone guess why Jeanette might have a bad shoulder? Two bad shoulders? I'm so glad I have an exceptionally tall (and helpful) 15 year old daughter : )

What can I say? I chose visually pleasing over safety. Please pray for my kids : )

 

I put a much smaller wooden toy box, along with a string of mittens and a hat, all from my kids' babyhood. I love using sentimental things to decorate!

 Two of these sweet little dresses my baby girls wore. The one in the middle has exquisite detailing and I found it at a thrift store for pennies.

 I made a little "clothesline" from a jingle bell garland.

 Add a sweet little doll and a classic Pooh bear.....

Sometimes it's nice to decorate for a winter look that can go beyond the normal Christmas decorations.

 Sweet and sentimental, vintage Winter charm. I like that. 

Sharing over at:
TIMEWASHED-Blissful Whites Wednesday 
Embracing Change-Creative Inspirations 
Common Ground-Vintage Inspiration 
French Country Cottage-Feathered Nest Friday 
The Charm of Home-Home Sweet Home 
Funky Junk Interiors-SNS 
 

Don't forget to take a look at the FREE vintage Christmas images I'm sharing here ! They are from an antique book that belonged to my grandpa when he was a boy. I'll be posting the rest of the images over the course of the week, so don't forget to check back! 

 A few new things in the shop-stop by when you have a minute!

 The Penny and the Pearl on Etsy

See ya soon!

Jeanette