The Tree 2012

The Christmas tree is up and decorated although it's hard to be joyful.

This tree was inspired by last year's tree in the dining room. I wanted to see

if I could achieve a nature inspired tree that evoked the feeling

of a walk in the woods...well, a woods decorated for Christmas.

Let me show you some of the details.

As I revealed in my earlier post, I cut two Boston ferns and have used them as decorations. In the end, it wasn't at all necessary to wire the ends. I didn't like the look of them hanging as ornaments. If you're going to use them, I would recommend adding them last, and it's really easy to stick the fronds in to the needles and just let them hang.

Below the bird's nest are hops. I don't know if they're naturally green or whether they're dyed. I think they look like little caterpillars or bumble bees or something and I love their droopy nature.

I've also added pine cone garland, a few gold hydrangea, pine cones and vintage ornaments.

Even though I have a collection of vintage ornaments, I wanted a restrained palette of colors that fit the theme. Spacious skies, amber waves of grain, green green grass of home, from sea to shining sea. It was difficult not to use some of my favorite ornaments.

I made several of these bird ornaments just like the ones we made when we were kids.

I spray painted clothespins in a dark green paint (Montana's "Toad") and glued a nest and a partridge on each one. The "eggs" are rose hips I cut out of the garden but you can use two or three beads. Pearls always look nice.