I’ve been hoarding amassing holiday decorations – specifically ornaments – for several years now. When Martin and I got our first tree, we had to run out and buy enough balls and things to cover it. Ever since that first Christmas, I would peruse the after-Christmas sales in fancy places, like Holt Renfrew and the Essence du Papier offerings in the downstairs level of Ogilvy’s to pick up pretty tree bling and baubles at less than half price.
The best part? Opening up my decor boxes in the following December, and finding the brand new, and long forgotten items I’d squirreled away from the past January. JOY!!
I generally like a cohesive theme running through the house. In past years it’s been more “natural” with twigs and branches, green lichen and mossy bits, bark, feathers… of course we’ve had more “traditional” scenes, with reds and golds – sometimes with more hits of chocolate and copper-y hues. I can add and subtract as my decorating arsenal grows.
A few months ago, my friend Tony Moriello, who is an artist and graphic designer (look him up) offered to loan me a piece of artwork from a recent collection, since a bunch of items were coming back from a recent showing, and he had all kinds of large canvases leaning against the walls of his house. He said I could come and choose any one I wanted.
*skips and claps doing happy dance*
I cannot photograph it directly, since the image is… um… pornographic, but to the naked eye, it just looks like an excellent arrangement of coloured squares, all mod and groovy-like. I chose the overall colours I liked the most, which read as pinky-peachy reds with hits of greens and purples. And it’s glossy.
It’s delicious, I tell you.
Anyway, since it’s now hanging at the top of our stairs, I’ve decided to make the whole entrance decidedly more glam and modern. Or, as my sister and I would call it, MOD-ren. (Raise your eyebrows when you say it and clutch your pearls – it’s more fun that way.)
Between Zellers, Canadian Tire, Dollarama, and the place the rhymes with Sinners I picked up some ornaments in a new colour palate to mix with the stuff I already have. I really didn’t buy a lot (nor did I spend a lot!) since some old mixed with the new goes a long way. Now, we have shiny, candy-coloured ornaments in glass vases. Chartreuse disco balls. Black feather boas. Huge turquoise balls covered in glitter…
Okay, I had the boas and the disco balls from years back… and it’s not quite finished yet, but it’s coming along. I think we’ll get our tree this weekend, though it will probably be more traditional in colour, all told.
I think I need more orange tones. And golds. Yes, I need big golden balls. *snickers* Man, the twelve-year-old in me laughs QUITE a lot around the holidays, what with all the talk about balls.
So, are you traditional in your colour-scheme around the holidays? Do you infuse with new stuff, or do you stick to what you already have?
Of course you can! I’d avoid red boas though… though holiday coloured, they, um… denote the wrong kind of effect, I think. *snort*
Do it. They’re SO much fun!!
I mUST be rubbing off on you! Actually, isn’t it nice when stuff kinda goes together? If you’re picking up new things anyway, why not run in a theme you like, right? I want to see pics of your tree, lady!
oooooh……can i do the feather boa thing? pretty please? that rocks my world! wait until my 2 girls see that…they’ll be in heaven!
big golden balls you say??? I’ve actually bought stuff that has matches art work and pillows in my house…are you rubbing off on me!!!!!!! I going purples and blues and silver…I looooove it!! My tree will still look totally unmatchy of course…