I have mentioned it a couple of times already…I am really excited to decorate for Christmas this year! It’s just like old times when the countdown would begin leading up to the day after Thanksgiving and I could finally haul out the bins and put the Christmas music on. For the past few years, I’ve been burned out on Christmas decorating. Decorating for retail spaces and freelance projects all throughout the year left me unenthusiastic about decorating my own home. This year, I only had a few Christmas projects in April and have otherwise been able to enjoy the seasons in their proper time.
Kriste has been talking about getting her Christmas tree this weekend and I snickered a bit. Well, I went to Wegman’s with the family today and saw a cute, squat live blue spruce and I immediately plopped it in the cart. Jeff looked over at me, palms to the sky, eyes squinted, head shaking and with, “Why in the world are you putting a tree in the cart?” written all over his face. “It’s for a photo shoot”, I mouthed back across the store and he shrugged, knowing it’s futile to argue with that response.
Kriste and I are going to start working on Christmas projects and it’ll be nice to have a live tree for those shoots. And I always feel like the Christmas stuff is picked over by the time I get to it, so I decided not to wait this year.
When I got home, I put the tree in an antique white bucket and placed it on the industrial cart/coffee table that I recently moved from the studio to my living room…
It’s always funny how I find uses for things that don’t sell at a market. When this bucket didn’t sell at the Chapel Market, I remember thinking I could use it for this very thing and I was content to take it home. I lined the bucket with a couple of grocery bags and dropped the tree in, plastic container and all, and it fit perfectly. It was meant to be.
As I was styling the room, I tried putting some things around the tree, but it just looked best by itself.
The light coming in the windows at this time of day is so pretty, so I tried to capture that…
I added a couple of other small winter touches in the room…
…but I can’t wait to add more.
Now the challenge is to keep this tree alive through the holidays!
Before I go, I wanted to share that Decor Steals is featuring MMS German Glass Glitter as their deal of the day today! It’s just in time for holiday projects. They are offering it in Tiara (silver), 14 Karat (gold) and Fallen Snow (white.)
For more early holiday inspiration, Joss & Main is running one last #holidayhostess sale – a collection inspired by the beautiful home of Courtney from French Country Cottage. I absolutely love her style and the collection does not disappoint.
23 Responses
Just the right touch of Christmas to start easing into the joy of the season…wonderful!
Beautiful photos! Sadly, live trees are recommended to be kept indoors seven to ten days! Our artificial twig Christmas trees are up and the live, cut Christmas tree will be bought on and put up on Black Friday! We are embracing the shortened days by decorating to afford time to spend with family and friends and take in holiday shows/open houses/concerts. The trees are lit from early morning til night! Have you given any thought to an studio holiday open house? Can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeve over the holidays!
It looks perfect!
I was just going to say what Donna said….live trees need to stay outside. Let it decorate your front porch until a week before Christmas!:)
I can’t wait to put lights up in our windows…that extra brightness is greatly appreciated and we leave them up until Valentine’s Day!:)
Cant wait to see what you have in the works for Christmas…I know it will be lovely! I have really added to my vintage mercury ornament collection this past year so I will be using them a lot in my Christmas décor.
I’ve actually had this conversation with more than one person today – I think the decorating is going to start early this year at my house, too. My kids are already singing carols – I’m usually a stickler and make them wait till after Thanksgiving but I’ll admit…I’m feeling it, too!
-b.
Marian,
Your white walls and ceiling look very pretty! Are you happy with them after living with them for a little bit now? I am still so glad I repainted our family room from antique white to white. It makes me sigh happily to see the subtle, yet noticeable to me, difference.
The little tree is just adorable. 🙂
Have a great Monday!
Hi Marian, I wanted to tell you I have been reading your blog for years and have always loved your style, BUT your living room now is my very favorite EVER!!! I love all the changes you have made. Its beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
Love the junky/industrial elements you’ve added to the living room; sensing a little style influence from your new fave T.V. Show?? I only follow her IG, but am feeling it too…
What TV show are u talking about? Thx!
That is the cutest little simple & rustic tree ever!! Looks great with your style!! <3 it!
Paige.Rose
http://www.TheQuaintSanctuary.blogspot.com
I love how beautiful, natural and best of all, how simple the lone blue spruce looks in the bucket….It’s so calming compared to all the flash and chaos of the retail spaces….
Beautiful, Marian! x
Aww. He’s such a cute tree! (He looks like a he to me. ;)) We want a little tree for our daughter to decorate this year so I think it may be off to Wegmans we go to see if ours has one!
Somehow I always wait for too long as well and everything is already picked over. Better add that Wegmans run on this weeks to do list!
It definitely seems to be trending on Pinterest, small live trees with nothing on them! Yours is so cute! I also love the thinner ones, more like a “Charlie Brown” tree as they are quite sculptural. Hope yours lasts till Christmas.
The spruce in the bucket looks great on the wheeled coffee table. I found a new version of the table on Target on line but the cost was high….lucky girl
Hi.,Marion…would.you.consider.distressing.the.top.of.the.cart?..in.the.pics,the.white.seems.to.take.over.
I’d.probably.take.it.down.a.whole.lot,and.definetly.further.dirty.it.up,leaving.the.other.whites.in.the.room.as.the.main.”stage”…looks.like.the.top.has.been.recently.painted?.the.tree.in.the.tub.is.very.nice.
love the pictures and the room is heavenly !! I can’t believe that bucket didn’t sell at the Chapel !?? If i was closer to attending I would have bought that i a second 🙂 I would still like to offer to buy it if its still for sale?? please let me know – I love it and would love to have it 🙂 thank you and please let me know @ theallens3@comcast.net thank you – Hope Allen
Hi Marian,
I wanted to introduce myself as I’m a new subscriber. I’ve seen the Mustard Seed name around blogging circles for a little bit and decided it was time I checked out your blog for myself. I just love your style! I’m relatively new to blogging myself (5 months), so I’m very much enjoying each holiday that arrives. I’ve actually thought about trying my hand at painting furniture, as I’m an artist first and foremost (actually fashion designer by trade), but I must admit the scale of working on furniture intimidates me. I’m still a bit overwhelmed by all one needs to learn to launch a blog, but as things start to smooth out I hope to read more about milk paint and furniture refinishing. Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and let you now you have a new reader. Oh, and your comment, “it’s for a shoot” totally resonated with me! My husband is already into the shaking his head stage as I come home with all kinds of things for my next project… 🙂 Looking forward to seeing your holiday decor evolve!
Best,
Lory
Lory, welcome to blogging! Thanks so much for leaving a comment and I wish you the best in your journey! 🙂
Hi Marian,
I just knew that table would come home with you one day! And, I adore the bucket…I live in snowy, as of today, Minnesota, so am not lucky enough to attend the Chapel Market…however, if I could and if I had been there..the bucket would be mine! It looks beautiful with the tree in it~ the whole room is just waiting for the holiday decor to present itself~ enjoy! Off to work with your glitter that I purchased earlier in the year!!!! Yipppppeeeee! Here come the holidays!
Ooooooppps~
I got so excited I forgot to sign off!
Take care, stay well~ Cynthia
What a cute fat little tree. … and the bucket is fabulous! Cool that it didn’t sell!
Cindy