Once Upon a Christmas Tree

Hello all you lovelies, oh my goodness it's been a while since I last chatted. I don't know why; I enjoyed the most wonderful time away with my family and upon returning home I suppose the days just slipped by. Anyway, before Christmas comes aknocking on my bright pink, front door I thought I might pop by quickly.

It's that time of the year again. Unless you have been living on a deserted island with no telecommunication connection......it's Christmas time. Yes indeedy everyone everywhere is busily preparing for the season of goodwill to all men (and ladies). Even here in my humble abode there is an air of sparkling and twinkling Christmas cheer.

Do you remember my Christmas tree of old?? I wrote about my oh-so-beautifully-elegant tree waxing lyrically about it here, if indeed you are interested in a rollicking Christmas tree tale of  my rather idiosyncratic tendencies of 'must-having' the perfect tree. Well, my oh-so-beautifully-elegant Christmas tree is no more. No it hasn't been banished to some dark, hidey hole......it is standing tall and ever so elegantly in some other family's home. Last Christmas I sold it together with all the decorations that bedecked it. I know, I know, 'tis a demented gal that I am........but you know what, for the last few years I had become weary of clambering up and down the 9ft tree over and over; and over again, precariously teetering on a ladder with garlands and lights in hand, risking life and limb. For the last forty years or so my tree decorations were red, green, white, silver and gold so I decided now is the time for a different look, a different aesthetic. My home is oozing with all things coloured pastel, so I threw caution to the winds and at the risk of my daughters never talking to me ever again, I just did it! Yes indeedy, I posted the whole kit and kaboodle on one of the local selling sites here and before I could change my mind somebody bought it. As soon as I posted the advertisement a big and bold SOLD sign appeared in less than a minute!!

"Oh dear, what have I done!!!" It was the quickest sale ever in the annals of the 'Sharman's Wares to Flog'. I must say I was shocked, even a little depressed that my beautiful tree with the ethereal angel looking down upon me from on high was never going to grace the parlour ever, ever again. Sorry for the histrionics........but I was rather attached to my tree. But you need not worry, I am okay, I am rather loving the parlour's new pastel Christmassy look.

Over the last few years I have searched high and low for a lovely white, elegant tree but could not find one to suit my persnickety sensibilities.....at least one that would not require a mortgage on my very little humble abode. Last week, quite by accident I happened upon a tree that I love. Believe it or not there is not a leaf nor a pine needle to be seen, clinging to the naked branches.....it is actually a bare tree with LED lights. Shock!! Horror!! Quite a change for me but you know what I love it! I love this new look of simplicity and it is more suited to my white and silver and pastel aesthetic. No ladders needed, no moving furniture around the entire house to fit the tree and the new tree decorated within a couple of hours....I can't tell you how deliriously happy I am about that!! AND.....I might say my good husband is beside himself with great joy at the prospect of never, never having to help me unwind blasted lights and garlands and wind them around and around the tree, ever, ever again! Why, me thinks our happy marital union might just well last for a few more Christmases!

Quite a change from the the heavily decorated, BIG tree. BUT.....I am rather enamoured with my little 'bare' tree.

Starry, starry night.

Though the sprinkling of Christmas lustre throughout my humble abode is definitely less this year, nevertheless it is always joyous to sprinkle some shimmer and sparkles here and there.

As my pretty, embroidered curtains draw closed on yet another year, I would love to say thank you to each one of you whom has visited my little place throughout the year. Thank you for the gift of your visits and for blessing me with your sweet comments each time. I know I have said it before but you all truly make my heart sing! May your Christmas be filled with wonderful wonderment as you celebrate with your family and friends. May your Christmas shimmer and sparkle as your joy touches and brightens others' lives. I for one will be cherishing the peace I am blessed with as I reflect upon the real spirit of the joyousness of Christmas......Jesus'  'Birth'day, the miracle of Christmas.♥

Until the new year........

Christmas is nigh

The Christmas spirit has once again (albeit a little late) come ever so lightly tapping on my bright pink, front door, but this year I have  opened the door just a little for the Christmas magic to slip in. In previous years I have been that gal who goes all out in sprinkling Christmas glimmer and sparkles throughout our li'l ol', humble abode. Alas, this year, my 'more is never enough' approach to decorating is not evidenced. Is this really me speaking? Me, the gal whose decorating wand crazily sprinkles Christmas dust to each room. Sadly, yes 'tis true. With all that has transpired this year I wanted to speckle just a little Christmas magic to our parlour. The evidential proof of my sprightliness to the subject of 'All things pertaining to the subject of Christmas Decorating, a la Kim Sharman Style', in previous years can be seen here and here......that is of course if you are so inclined to take a few hours minutes to have a bo peep.

But to the parlour.........

The Christmas tree is up and twinkling at me; and all whom should happen upon our abode and sit awhile in our parlour.

Of course, if perchance you should sit in my festive parlour, we would enjoy a cup of tea. You and I would partake in the gentle art of tea drinking; pouring tea from a pretty Royal Albert teapot and sipping from a pretty cup. Oh, I always take tea in such a grand fashion! Would I tell a fib?? Never!!

This year the thought did cross my mind (oh all right, the thought muddled around my brainpan for quite a while) to perhaps acquire a white tree which is a little smaller than my 9ft beauty; and doesn't require a crane to assemble and a ladder to clamber up and down for a weekend, in order to hang each decoration one by one. But no, with my daughter stating categorically that she would never speak to me again if I perchance sent this elegant 9 foot tree to dark and musty environs forevermore, where spiders seem to exist in abundant numbers, it is yet again standing ever so lovely in the corner of our parlour.

It is an elegant tree. It is a tree where family members' names hang, bringing to mind precious memories that stay forever in one's heart. It is a tree where angels abound. Over the years I have crafted all manner of sweet angels. I have a penchant for angels, for these heaven-sent beings. It is a tree filled with many, many hand stitched and embroidered pretties and lovely store bought baubles which have tickled my fancy.

With the tree decorated and sitting rather handsomely in the corner, the next task at hand is to gussy up the mantle.

I haven't bought Christmas decorations for a good while, but this year I wanted to cast an elegant, white look to my mantlescape. These sweet little ceramic houses found their way into my bag. A tea light is placed inside and they burn brightly giving a lovely festive ambiance. They are so very pretty.

This lovely cherubic light has been sitting in our cupboard for 10 years. Originally it was a present for our oldest daughter but as she lives in the USofA, I unearthed it and asked our friendly sparky to install it and....voila!! Originally it was sheathed in gold and as I am not a fan of an over-abundance of gold, I painted it white and then rubbed it back so that touches of gold shine through. I am in love with my cherubic being hovering above.

Christmas isn't Christmas without a few candles shining brightly. Just a 'few' candelabras that I have collected through the years. An old and rusty bird cage stand adds a lovely milieu to my chandelier.

My two babies. So many cherished Christmas memories revolve around my girls' delight and happiness on Christmas morning. It's wonderful, is it not, seeing the magic of Christmas through little childrens' eyes.

Mirrors abound in our home. I think at last count there are 30 of these looking glasses gracing corners of our home. No I am not one of the narcissistic creatures that is forever gazing at one's reflection, quite the contrary........I love how they reflect gorgeous light.

To cover the soot stained fireplace I placed a length of white voile to cover the bricks, a couple of mirrors and of course, candles. I love, love, LURVE the ballerina sashaying across the mirror!

My beautiful angels which is a receptacle for flowers. The roses are abloom in our garden at this time of year.

When decorating for Christmas I love to use things I already have. These angels normally sit above a doorway, looking kindly upon everyone who enters our home.

Are not these celestial beings, beautiful??

A parisian boot, ready to be filled with pretty surprises. I designed and stitched this (and the elf boot) a couple of Christmases ago. This pretty is for me.........

.....and this elf boot is for my good husband.

It's a wrap. The adornment of the parlour is finished. Of course the bedecking of my parlour seemed to take forever! Every year I have to psyche myself up to begin the begin of decorating for Christmas.....but....I am always happy with the result. I love the calming and restful atmosphere of my parlour; it is  a lovely place to sit a while and ponder the meaning of Christmas.

As I sit here in my parlour and reflect upon Christmas, I am reminded of the Christmas story, when Jesus was born that first Christmas morning so long ago, and the love and grace that surrounds it. I am reminded of the depths of God's love for me....amazing really. I am reminded that Jesus is the reason why we celebrate Christmas.

I know 'tis a wee bit early but........

May your Christmas be decorated with much love and precious memories as you gather around your family.

May there be moments when you ponder the Christmas story and the beauty therein.

Wishing each one of you the loveliest of Christmases.