Small changes create festive atmosphere for holidays
Here we are again, the holiday season. I say it every year, so why not again, “Where did this year go?” I am so over the summer heat, as I know all of you are too, but I’m sure as heck not ready for the holidays. I don’t know why I’m feeling that it snuck up on me since I’ve been seeing holiday decorations in the stores since May. And here we are with Halloween on Sunday.
I’ve mentioned in the past that I’m not a big holiday decorator, but I did bring out my Halloween things this year. Just a few simple things for my fireplace and tables. I’m going to try and get into the season this year. I have a good start, but will have to see how it goes. For those who are like me and just don’t have the time or any kids at home but want to do a little this year, I’m going to share a couple of things that I do.
First, do you have any collections that have holiday themes? I have a collection of Holly Hobbies. Yes, you read that right. My brother bought me my first one more than 35 years ago and I still find them sweet. I’m very much a reminiscent person; special gifts mean more to me than anything new.
One room in my house is just for me. Although my husband would love to take it over to expand his office it’s not happening. It’s filled with special gifts and memories. I have my father’s high chair, a rocking chair that my godmother had at her house for me and my Holly Hobbie collection.
A simple thing that I do with my Holly Hobbies is move the ones for each holiday out into other parts of the house. After a while you no longer see things that are out every day, but when you move them around, you appreciate them again.
Next, I have a simple wooden tree stand that my mother bought me. It has six wooden cutouts for each month, so I switch them out each month. It takes about five minutes. It’s a simple thing you can do with a small wire tree and seasonal ornaments. All of the dollar and craft stores have them. As you can tell, I’m more into charming and simple than fancy and elaborate.
I love candy corn; it so reminds me of trick or treating as a kid in New York City back when you could run around on the streets. So I fill a bowl with them and then try to stay away and keep from dipping my hand in.
For Thanksgiving I like pinecones, gourds, Indian corn and fall leaves. We used to go to Vermont every year for the changing of the leaves and always brought back some for show-and-tell. As soon as we got home, we would iron them between pieces of wax paper. I know we really don’t have too many fall leaves here, so I have some very realistic silk ones.
My favorites for December are colorful glass ornaments, candy canes and crocheted snowflakes.
Lastly, you can create a quick floral arrangement. Start with two tall glass vases, one of which is smaller and fits inside the other, leaving you a couple of inches between each vase. The inside vase is where you’ll place your flowers. Fill the inside vase with silica sand and just start placing stems inside. I’m not taking about doing a fancy professional arrangement, just simple stems. I like silica sand versus floral foam because it is easier to work with and holds the stems in place. Use sticks for Halloween, leaves for Thanksgiving and berries for December.
With your inside vase completed, place it in the larger vase and fill the area between the inside and outside vases with something interesting. Some of the things you can use for Halloween are spiders, candy corn or bats. For Thanksgiving try leaves, very small pumpkins or Indian corn. Then for December use ornaments, snowflakes, wrapped candy, candy canes or fake snow. Or, you can use anything else that brings the look and feel of the season to you.
This is something fun that you can leave up all year for a quick holiday touch. For New Year’s use noise makers. On Valentine’s Day use candy hearts. At Easter try jelly beans. For the start of school use pencils. I think you get the idea. It’s really something that’s very easy and fun to do for a quick seasonal change.
Oh, I almost forgot. My mom also made me table toppers with holiday fabric.
Enjoy the changing of the season, renew your spirit, revive your home and create new memories for next season.
Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.
