farmhouse christmas blog tour 2019

by | Nov 19, 2019 | All Things Home, Decorating, Holiday, Winter | 22 comments

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If you’re hopping over from Love Grows Wild, then welcome!  If you’re a regular here, you’re most welcome, too!

Sooo, when I said yes to participating in this year’s Farmhouse Christmas Blog Tour organized by Sheila of Maison De Cinq, I had no idea I would be just a few weeks out from major shoulder and bicep surgery.  Because my arm is still a noodle and I can’t lift anything at all, it may come to no surprise to you that I have not decorated for Christmas, yet.  I have started thinking about it if that counts!

farmhouse Christmas tour | missmustardseed.com

Really, if I didn’t have my current physical limitations, I think I would have my decor out, but I’m not as independent this year and I can’t just pull out the bins when the mood strikes.  We had our first snow followed by January-like temperatures and I am feeling that mood.  I’m for the glow of Christmas lights, for puttering around the house, fidgeting with greenery and decorations, and sipping on a Caribou dark hot chocolate while I’m playing and creating.

I didn’t want to bow out of this awesome group, so I’m going to share some of my favorite “moments” from my Christmas decorations last year along with some of my favorite Christmas traditions.  Looking through the ways I’ve decorated in the past has helped me prioritize what I want to do this year, since I need to scale back a little bit.

I absolutely loved what I did in our living room last year.  I really dragged my feet on taking it down, because it was just so beautiful.  You can find the details on the ornaments, stockings, the tree (an artificial one from Balsam Hill), etc. in THIS POST.  It was packed full of ornaments, lambs ear, bells, pinecones, ribbon, pom-pom garland, and lots of lights.

I made the tree skirt a few years ago and you can find the tutorial HERE.  The tree collar is from Balsam Hill and it was one of my favorite new additions to my Christmas decor last year.  I liked that I could layer it over my homemade tree skirt.

I bought the knit stockings in an after Christmas sale a couple of years ago from Crate & Barrel.  You can find them HERE.  Now that I have three weeks of crocheting under my belt, I might try to make some for next year, so they can be personalized!

Before we even moved in, I imagined a little Christmas tree in a crock or basket on a stool in front of the back staircase.  I’ve been using the same little tree from Target for the past three Christmases.  They had it again last year, but I can’t find it this year.

Last year, I discovered this LED candle hack when I was sorting through my Christmas bins and happened to have a pile of vintage-style candle holders nearby as I was putting batteries in the LED candles.  It’s such a simple little tree, but I love it.

One thing I’ve done for years is make an advent wreath out of candles, greenery, and an antique ironstone ring mold.  It’s my own take on a Christmas tradition.  Last year, for the first time, I used all artificial greens.  I learned our first Christmas in this house that cut greens dried out in minutes!  Well, not minutes, but they would be crispy brown fire hazards within a few days.  I prefer live greens, but I found a collection of artificial versions that looked pretty good, even on close inspection.  I share my favorite fakes HERE.

A tradition we’ve carried on for several years is filling mini grain sack stockings with little gifts and treats for the boys.

I’ve had the stockings hung in a garland and, most recently, decorated our dining room tree with them this year.  Given my limitations, I’m not sure if we’re going to put up the dining room tree this year, so I might have to come up with a different plan for the advent stockings.

One tradition I can carry on without an issue is putting out a bowl of mixed nuts.  My Oma used to do that every year and, even as a child, I gravitated towards the bowl and enjoyed using the nutcracker and tasting the contents of each shell to see if I liked it or not.  The walnuts were and are definitely my favorite.

I keep mine in an ironstone bowl and use an antique English nutcracker I bought on Etsy a few years ago.

And, I plan to make Nuts & Bolts again.  I am already starting to crave this stuff!  THIS is the recipe I use.

And, I’ve already solicited some help with making gingerbread houses and ornaments.  They are so much fun to make that it’s worth trying to figure it out with one good arm!  Royal icing is very forgiving, so I think I can manage some left-handed designs.

You can find the recipe I use along with templates HERE.

I even make little “name cards” with gingerbread dough leftover from making the houses.

We’ll put up our tree over Thanksgiving break, but before then, I’ll start putting out some greenery and decor.  If Jeff hauls up the bins for me, I can slowly do what I can do.

As far as new things I’d like to do this year…  I’d love to crochet some snowflakes for our tree.  My mom made them when I was a kid and I think that would be a fun project.

We’ll see what else inspires me this year…

Now, I’m going to send you along to the crazy talented Bre of Rooms for Rent.  If you aren’t familiar with her work or her home, you’re in for a treat…

Rooms for Rent

And here are the other Christmas home tours if you want some more inspiration…

 

Hosted by Maison de Cinq

Boxwood Avenue

 

Love Grows Wild

 

Tuesday’s Tours

Miss Mustard Seed | Rooms for Rent | Boxwood Avenue | Love Grows Wild

 

And don’t miss yesterday’s tours!

Maison de Cinq | Ella Claire & Co. | Maison de Pax | Thistlewood Farms

 

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    22 Comments

    1. Sandy

      Your Christmas home is lovely. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you and your family at Thanksgiving.

    2. Sheila

      Marian, I just love the old-fashioned charm of your Christmas touches! From the small tree in the crock, to the nuts in a bowl (we totally had that in my house growing up!!), to the little gingerbread houses. Your home truly shines in this season!

      Thanks so much for joining us again this year, and Merry Christmas!

      Sheila
      xo

    3. Connie

      Marian your home is always so lovely & inviting and even more so at Christmas time! I loved the advent tree in the dining room with the mini grain sack stockings last year. Things you leave off this year because of your shoulder/arm limitations will seem even more special next Christmas! We have a large collection of crocheted cotton yarn snowflakes & stars that my Mammaw made many years ago; she made both her daughters and each of her 6 grandchildren large collections, then when our Mom died we divided hers among the 3 of us. Our tree doesn’t feel decorated at all until those are placed with love on the tips of our live Fraiser Fir branches – always the last decoration I add!

    4. Brenda

      I saw some trees like the one in your crock at Marshalls. I love the idea of crochet snowflakes on a tree! I even thought a garland of crocheted snowflakes would be super cute! I know it’s tough not being able to use your arm, but your getting there!

      P.S. I love the blue velvet ribbon on your tree!

    5. Jenn

      Ohh I’ve seen the threshold trees this year at target only the basket is lighter in color and there is a slight silvery/flocked dusting on the trees for those interested

    6. Addie

      Hey Marian!!!
      I have an idea for you but….you might cringe a bit!!! Since you do have to be careful and not overdue with your recent surgery/healing……why not, just this ONE year, have all the bins out and let Jeff and the boys do all the decorating!!!
      You can sit back and give input. I know it will be hard!!! You might be really surprised (in a good way) what they can come up with. Your healing is most important so you can get back to all the other things you love to do.
      Who knows what the mustard seedlings can do!!! It’s an idea…Yes, it will be haphazard but it would be done in love.
      I didn’t say it would be easy….and it is for just one year.

    7. Karen

      I had one “vintage” crochet stocking that a great aunt made for me as a child. I found a couple to coordinate at Marshall’s a few years ago. I made little cross stitch tags with our names to personalize them.

    8. Peg

      Hi Marian,
      the current issue of Country Living has an article on hand made decorations. They show Christmas stockings like the ones you have but also an adorable garland that is crocheted or knitted and also looks like your style. Get well soon!

    9. Terrie from Atlanta, GA

      Marian, honey, what a trooper you have been…and now, making gingerbread houses with only one good arm?! Super Woman!
      I’ve discovered the power of teenagers on Nextdoor.com whenever I need an extra few pair of hands. Perhaps y’all have a similar neighborhood email group? Older, artistic high school or college students who could work under your direction would be perfect.
      Min. wage is $7.25 ~ I pay a bit above, or sometimes barter. And I’ve made some sweet friends, too!

    10. Louise

      Everything is just beautiful.

    11. monique

      Ginger bread house made with just one arm…I cannot imagine it. How can you roll the dough? I couldn’t do it.
      Having 3 men at home, be the conductor and direct them to follow your design, it could be so much fun for all of you. Take advantage of those family elves please.
      About the house tour, the very same style every where, all nice, all white, all pretty, but so similar this interpretation of the french style which does not really exist in french country side.
      Happy Thanksgiving and take great care for the poor shoulder.

    12. Judy Karlson

      Hello! I’m new to this blog and am wondering where the blog tours are? Which state??? I’ve met Marian at Junk Bonanza in MN and think she might live in Minneapolis?? Would love to join the blog tour if it’s near by.

    13. Claire

      Ann, your home is breathtaking. I so enjoy your blog. I feel like I’ve always been invited in for tea when I read your blog. There have been years when I had to limit my Christmas decorating. The year my mother died was one. Put up, with help, what you enjoy most. Ask a girlfriend to come help you and then go to her house and keep her company while she decorates hers. And drink tea. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

    14. Pat

      Marian,
      Your home is absolutely lovely!
      I loved the tree in the vintage cart!
      Thank you for inviting me into your Farmhouse for Christmas Tour!
      Filled to the brim with inspiration!
      Pat

    15. Joan

      oh Marian! it’s all so pretty!!! Wish I lived closer, I’d come and help you!

    16. joan

      p.s. are you eating lots of protein, or if you eat red meat…that’s supposed to help healing…is what the surgeon told us to make sure our Mom had lots of after her surgery <3

    17. Marai

      Thank you so much for sharing your Christmas past as it is still so inspiring. I’m sure that you will still rock it even with one arm!!!

    18. Leslie C

      I made the Nuts & Bolts receipe last year and it was a big hit. Looking forward to making it again this year. Thanks for the Christmas Tour of last year enjoyed it and appreciate all the inspiration. Hope you can enjoy this year’s without over doing it and just embrace the joy of season with your love ones.

    19. Marlene Stephenson

      Thank you for the tour of last year, it was so enjoyable, i always enjoy all you do, and that chex mix was wonderful, enjoy this time cause it won’t be long till it will get hectic again, praying.

    20. Jackie

      Frankly, I would like to celebrate Thanksgiving before I have to look at anything Christmas.

      • Marian Parsons

        Ha, well don’t go into any stores, then! 🙂

    21. Rae

      So sorry to hear about your injury. I am recovering from the same surgery following a bike fall. Torn rotator cuff. I hope your PT goes well.

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    I’m Marian, aka Miss Mustard Seed, a wife, mother, paint enthusiast, lover of all things home and an entrepreneur, author, artist, designer, freelance writer & photographer.  READ MORE to learn more about me, my blog and my business…

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