On the First Day of a Feminine Christmas
This pretty little Christmas room has all the yuletide feels I crave. And Lord knows, I’ve tried to recreate it in my small living room over the years.
The problem is I’m not perfect and neither is my home. What’s more, I simply can’t part with the authentic and rich ornaments and trinkets I’ve collected over the years. At this point in my life, they are just too dear…I suppose that’s why I love this authentic room so much.
There is the paper bell my daughter made me when she was in kindergarten with the twisted and mooched tinsel glued haphazardly on the front. I love the little wooden sled with “1986” stamped on the front, the year she was born – a biblot that was handmade by an old neighbor now long gone. And of my grandmother’s small velvet ornament with the gold rickrack – never could I give that up. Same with all the lovely baubles from my mother through the years.
My Christmas things are quite out of style. But you still won’t find the enormous glass balls with sparkly “snow” inside in my living room – actually none of today’s ilk will find its way to my house. Nor the fancy and fanciful designer Christmas trees of varying heights to be placed on a mantel. I don’t even have a real mantel – just a skinny white wooden thing placed around my flame heater to look like a real fireplace set-up.
Still, a quick run-through Pottery Barn in December has proven to me that it has nothing on this beautiful room with its natural greenery and pretty flowers. There are no gigantic glass baubles, the said designer trees or any of today’s latest fad in holiday decor in this simple image. The more I stare at it, the more I realize my own room is actually quite similar already. I love a natural green look and a sentimental aura which this room has aplenty and which I am actually able to do quite well.
I know I will keep my native festoons and all my nostalgic ornaments. I’ll leave Pottery Barn-level Christmas decor to the younger set who as yet, have not lived long enough to collect their tender memories into precious objects.
12 Comments
Beth M.
Agreed! The meaningful Christmas vs. the commercial Christmas every time.
Marta
Hooray!!! I was hoping you would carry on with your tradition – I SO look forward to this special series every year. I too now have precious “ornaments” my daughters made and take them out each year. The girls tease me about being sentimental but I know they enjoy and appreciate seeing them as well; it helps keep their early youth alive now that they are young adults. It also re-inforces to them that each person’s Christmas can be deeply personal and helps to keep some of the commercial elements at bay…
Ann Y.
Love this…it’s the little things from the past that make Christmas special. Did not decorate a lot this year as we will be away for the holidays…but had to put out some things, including the little ceramic Santa mug that my mom always placed on the windowsill. I put it on my stove top and smile each time I see it!
A Lovely Inconsequence
Those small touches mean so much at Christmas!
Tracy
Love the cozy room above.
Like the picture, we put candles in the windows for the first time.
My mom was Christmas.
As a child I remember old ornaments and tinsel garland. My favorite.
As the years passed, the tree became Christopher Radko encrusted. Beautiful but too precious.
I kept a few of the Radko’s but gave most of them away. I did however keep all the oldies.
Oh, Christmas. It begins melancholy for me.
Her needlepoint ornaments bring on a huge wave of emotions.
Your Christmas posts help bring joy.
Thank you.
A Lovely Inconsequence
As we get older, a bit of bittersweet creeps into Christmas, doesn’t it?
Karen
I love this!!! And I’m right there with you! 🎄I’d say your house has the best of all holiday decor–anything from the heart feels more like Christmas to me than the latest trends. When I hang the tiny wreaths I hand-painted for my kids as little ones, I revisit the joys of those years. When I put my happy tumble of handmade elves on my garland, it’s Christmas! I never pay attention to trends–something classic that takes me back to my folks, that it really what it’s all about for me!
A Lovely Inconsequence
Karen, I was charmed to see that my daughter put a small Christmas tree in each of her children’s rooms. A new tradition in their house…
Marta
Your comment reminds me that I used to “decorate” the little cabinet with shelf over each girls’ bed with special little Christmas things and put those same items on then each year.
A Lovely Inconsequence
What a lovely touch to a child’s Christmas!
Cherre
Hi Donna,
I look forward to your feminine christmas blogs each December since I’ve been a follower. This was so sweet and made me sentimental thinking about Christmases past and present. xx
A Lovely Inconsequence
Thank you special Reader!