When the spirit moved for me the other day, I knew immediately I had to pull up my boot straps and move with it! And, in case you were wondering, I'm referring to Christmas decor...
I've had my tree and decorations up for a while now....just wasn't feeling very inspired or creative this year. Until I found these stockings I sewed last year and threw in a drawer! My goal for 2012 is "finish what you start" so what better time than the present to start!
The stockings are not your standard size....more for elves I would say. They are made out of
osnaberg fabric and embellished with some fun bits and pieces.
I adhered some old watch faces to some pleated ribbon, as well as the numbers 2 and 5....a nod to my junk sister Andrea.
Next up, an aluminum "C" for "Cassie" or "Christ" or "Christmas" and some jingle bells....for dashing through that snow we don't have just yet....
In secret anticipation of said snow, how about a sparkly snowflake ornament with a vintage button taking center stage?
What could be prettier than a vintage mother-of-pearl buckle? How about a m-o-p buckle with some rhinestone
bling added?
I used twine to make loops for the stockings, and added some evergreen from one of my shrubs. Yes, the evergreen is dry.
We need snow....shh...
They're small enough to hang almost anywhere...
Here they adorn a chippy, open shelf cabinet bottom....my make-shift mantel for the season!
Dear Spirit.....please move me much earlier next year!
Find more holiday spirit here:
My motto holds true for this old door bell button: Never throw anything away!
I adhered some old watch faces to some pleated ribbon, as well as the numbers 2 and 5....a nod to my junk sister Andrea.
They're small enough to hang almost anywhere...
Here they adorn a chippy, open shelf cabinet bottom....my make-shift mantel for the season!
First, take one honking-heavy rusty urn from the garden...
Fill with branches and twigs...
And as far as Heaven goes....
Do you "spy" the junky elements?
The Bachman House in Minneapolis is all decked out for the holidays! Someone's blog (sorry, I don't remember which one) posted many pictures from the house, but this one caught my eye. I have a LARGE wall above my basement stairway and decided to try and do something similar to this JOY in that space...okay, let's just say "copy it"!
Funny thing was, as I was literally hanging over the stairway, balancing by the tips of my toe nails against the railing and wall trying to hang it (and center it all), my 17 year old son gasped and INSISTED on helping me! (Have I mentioned before the child is a peach?!) I did say "no" initially, but then contemplating my situation and realizing his over 6' height would be an advantage, I quickly took him up on his offer! I really like the way it turned out!
Not that these are "inspirational", but here are more photo's of my holiday decor, just thought up by my little old self. Hanging above the beast of a tv upstairs:
I used fishing line and straight pins to stick them in the ceiling. The two narrow wood windows came from an old hotel.
The monster tv sits on an old wash stand but underneath is a vintage suitcase filled with lights and greens.
The birdcage sits in the dining room, filled with a beautiful poinsettia plant. 
I scrubbed up this old rusty chair from my garden, sprayed her with poly and filled her seat with a red poinsettia. Love her.
Surprisingly, there is no "junk" on the tree, but it is sitting in a piece. I love this rusty old basket!
And last but not least, I had to throw in a picture of my "JOY" hanging helper - son #2 on the left and our even taller college boy on the right. We surprised them early with their Christmas present: GB Packer tickets to last Sunday's game!
May you find the inspiration you need
