home style - holiday decorating

Holiday Decorating 201011

No hand is too small to help decorate forChristmas! Here’s how to get everyone

involved

Holidays 2010

PLUS:Tree trimming 101The one seasonal splurge worth making

PLUS:Tree trimming 101The one seasonal splurge worth making

All Handson DeckAll Handson Deck

Holiday DecoratingH O M E S T Y L EH O M E S T Y L E


ANATOMY 101The perfect Christmas treedoes exist. Here’s how to bringit home

DRAMA QUEENSome stale holiday traditionsdon’t need to be tossed. Theyjust need a modern twist

GAME CHANGERSWhy less is more thisChristmas, and why the moreyellow in a room, the better

A FARM CHICK IN A PEARTREESerena Thompson, founder of“Farm Chic” décor, shows howto go out on a limb this seasonand craft a unique holiday homewith items like umbrella stands,antique mailboxes, and simpleballs of yarn

STRAIGHT FROM THE HANDMADE HEARTGrab the shredded coconut,old photos, sequins and atrusty glue gun and get readyfor a Christmas to remembe

LOST AND FOUNDThe living room may be thestar of the holidays, but often-ignored rooms can find theirdecorative calling with thesestylish tips

THE HOLIDAY DECORA-TOR’S TOOLBOXHere are the go-to décor itemsto have on hand before Santacomes

THE LIGHTER SIDEColor, technology and hipposhelp the holidays shine brightthis year

CAUSE FOR CELEBRATIONSeasonal décor basics likecandles, white lights and silverbells are all any host needs tokeep the house ready for animpromptu holiday gathering

DECORATING 911Santa might be busy, but theselocal experts are on standbyready to rescue any home inneed of help and holiday cheer

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!


THE HOLIDAYDECORATOR’STOOLBOX

RIBBON“If you buy only one decorating

item, make it a giant roll of rib-bon,” Woodard says. Ribbon is asmall item that can make a largeimpact, and it can be used to dressup ordinary items. Tie ribbon onplants, curtains, the backs ofchairs and around throw pillows tolook like presents, suggests LeslieLinsley, owner of the LeslieLinsley Nantucket home acces-sories shops in Boston andNantucket, Mass.

FRESH GREENS AND PLANTSBring in the outdoors and place naturalgreenery and plants around the houselike fir and pine.You can venture outsideto collect pinecones,berries and branch-es or purchase potted plants.Mathiesensays to cluster poinsettias by the fire-place or a focal point in the living room.And who can forget mistletoe? “It’s great

fun,and it makes people laugh,”she adds.

ORNAMENT BOWLFill a clear vase or bowl with extra orna-ments or place it on a shelf or in a roomthat is often overlooked during the holi-days,like the bathroom.

STAIRCASE GARLANDGarland adds a dramatic touch to a stair-case.Just be sure it’s placed correctly.“Inever wrap it around the railing becausepeople use the banister,”says Mathiesen.Instead,she says to hang it over the side,or create a focal point by hanging it onthe mantle.

EXTRA WRAPPING PAPERIf there is extra wrapping paper,use itaround the house.“Pretty paper can beused to make cheap but elegant Christ-mas decorations,”Woodard says.

DELECTABLE DÉCOR Food also can function as decoration.Making gingerbread houses and cookieornaments are fun activities that doubleas décor items.Linsley suggests coveringdried fruits with sugar to give them afrosted look and placing them in bowls.

© CTW Features

Here are thego-to décor

items tohave on hand

before Santa comes

BY DANIELLE CADETCTW Features

Don’t get distracted by tinseland glitter.Here are the realessential décor items to haveon hand this year.

FRONT-DOOR WREATHHanging a Christmas wreath on thefront door is a classic way to welcomeguests,but they also can be placed else-where in the home. “Fresh wreaths canadd a sweet aroma and yuletide charmto any room,”says ,Kathleen Mathiesen,a Florida-based interior decorator and

owner of Decorating by Kathleen.Adding berries,pinecones or coloredribbon can help tie in a holiday theme.

CLEAR LIGHTS“For a more elegant look,go for clearlight,”says Kathy Woodard,home décorexpert who runsTheBudgetDecorator.com.“For more ofa fantasy look for the holidays,go for themulti-colored ones.Decorating for theholidays can be a great creative outlet;itis the one time of year we can really letgo and decorate in a fantasy world.”

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TreeBefore buying a tree, touch the

branches. The needles should feelsoft and supple, Sforza says. It’s also

important that the overall color isn’tfaded, the bark of the outer twigs isn’twrinkled and the exterior needles stay

intact when the tree gets gentlybounced. Fraser firs are one of the

most popular options, Sforza says.“They shed minimally and have aclassic, conical shape and strong

branches that won’t droop under theweight of heavy ornaments.”

OrnamentsTo give the tree depth, ornaments should be hung

toward the inside of the tree and on the branchends, Workman says. Place them where they won’t

touch the branch below. Keep from overcrowdingby exercising restraint and occasionally steppingback to see the tree as a whole. Use ornaments

that match the theme or color scheme, or personal-ize the tree with homemade decorations. Sforzalikes to create ornaments using a glue gun and

string to hang origami, family photos, baby shoesor old toys like Matchbox cars and wooden blocks.

Lights“When stringing lights, start at the bottom of the tree and

work up,” Sforza says. To make taking down the lightseasier, she recommends dividing the tree into three ver-

tical sections, and then running the lights through theinterior and exterior of the branches to add depth to thedesign. Consider using LED lights, which burn up to 80-

percent less energy and give off less heat.

GarlandAn average-sized tree (6 to 7 feet) will typically use 60 feet

of garland, Sforza says. She suggests creating home-made garland out of beads, faux pearls, knotted twine orrope, colorful buttons and satin ribbon. Keep the garland

approximately half an inch thick for an elegant look thatwon’t overwhelm the tree, Workman advises .

StandAn average-size tree requires a stand with a base of about 20 inches in diameter, Sforzasays, and it should hold at least a gallon of water. Only plain tap water is needed; do not

add bleach, aspirin or fertilizer, which can actually reduce moisture retention and increaseneedle loss. Before securing the tree in its stand, cut one-half inch off the base. A fresh cut

reopens the pores that take up water, Workman says. Check the water level daily toensure it stays above the tree’s base. “If the tree looks dry, adding hot tap water to the

stand can speed up intake,” Sforza says.

Floor décorEmbellish the base of a tree (and catch wayward needles) by draping the floor with an array of silk scarves in differ-ent patterns. Try luxurious velvet, silver organza or gold lamé fabric, Sforza suggests. Don’t forget that presents are

the best Christmas tree accessory. “Wrap them in fun colors that coordinate with the tree and incorporate prettysatin ribbons and dangly bits to make them extra special,” Workman says.

Anatomy1 1The perfect Christmas tree

doesexist.Here’s how to bring it home

BYANNA SACHSECTW Features

Want a Christmas treethat’s more than just areason to dust off oldornaments? Start by

considering an overall color scheme,says Michelle Workman,a Los Angeles-based interior designer who has com-posed spaces for celebrities like JohnTravolta and Jennifer Lopez.

For traditionalists, traditional col-ors like red, green, white, gold andsilver never get old. For a boldeffect,Workman suggests tryinghues such as fuchsia, chartreuse andturquoise. It can also be fun to cre-ate a theme, such as an “enchantedforest”with amber lights, pineconegarland, mini gold balls, owl orna-ments and faux birds nestled inbranches, says Nicole Sforza, senioreditor for Real Simple magazine.Either way, always start tree-decorat-ing with lights, followed by garlandand then ornaments,Workman says.Keep real trees away from directsunlight, air vents, heaters and fire-places to prevent premature dryingand accidental fires.

© CTW Features

Topper Stars and angels are classic tree toppers. Forsomething more unique, consider faux antlers ora thick satin ribbon tied in a bow, Sforza says.Think birds, too. Workman uses a colorful fauxpeacock to top off her tree.

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Choosing the perfect Christmas tree is in many ways like choosing afavorite music group or a favorite movie. Opinions vary greatly, and nochoice is every truly better or worse than another. Some like a tree

that pleases the eye, while others go strictly for the aroma a given tree can pro-vide. Families often let kids do the choosing, which can throw all previous stan-dards of judgement out the window.

Those with a deeper interest in Christmas trees may be interested in learningthere are actually a few different species to choose from.

Fraser FirOne of the most popular Christmas trees, Fraser fir is a uniformly pyramid-shaped tree. Strong branches are turned slightly upward and needles are darkgreen, flattened and feature a groove on the upper side and two broad silvery-white bands on the lower surface.

Scotch PineThe Scotch pine is well-suited to han-dle heavy ornaments thanks to its stiffbranches.With excellent needle reten-tion, the Scotch pine holds up wellthroughout harvest, shipping and dis-play.

Balsam FirAs a Christmas tree, Balsam fir has sev-eral desirable properties: a dark-greenappearance, long-lasting needles andattractive form. It also retains its pleas-ant fragrance. Balsams are so fragrantthat their needles were once used forstuffing “pine pillows” to act as a natu-ral deodorant.

Douglas FirSince the 1920’s, the Douglas fir hasbeen the primary Christmas tree usedin the Pacific Northwest.The needlesare dark green or blue- green, are softto the touch and radiate out in alldirections from the branch.They havea sweet fragrance when crushed.

Blue SpruceBlue Spruce, or Colorado Blue Spruce, is an attractive tree often used forChristmas trees or ornamentals. It has a narrow, pyramidal shape and cone-shaped crown.As trees become older, they often take on a more irregularappearance.The tree is very popular thanks to its symmetrical form and attrac-tive blue foliage. Blue spruces are often used as living Christmas trees (boughtwith root ball intact and planted afterward).

Christmas TreesCome in All Shapes and Sizes

Christmas trees come in manyshapes and sizes, and the speciesof tree can vary greatly.


Perhaps no holiday tradition ismore visible than decorativelights.Whether on the house or

on the tree in the front picture window,holiday lights help create a festive moodfor all.

While aesthetically appealing, holidaylighting displays can also be quite danger-ous. Older lights or poorly planned lightingprojects can quickly turn tragic. However,this much beloved holiday tradition doesnot have to cease and desist. Instead, somesimple safety precautions are all it takes toensure this year’s lighting display is bothstunning and safe.

- Make sure exterior lights are designedfor outdoor use. Not all lights can handlethe elements, so those old Christmas treelights might not be able to enjoy a secondlife as part of a home’s exterior lightingdecor.

- Plug lights directly into the electricalsockets rather than relying heavily on

extension cords. Employsurge protector strips ifthere are not enoughoutlets available.Before plugging any-thing in, consultthe fuse box todetermine howmuch each cir-cuit can safelyhandle.

- Don’t useddamaged lightingsets, includingthose with frayedstrings, unstableconnections,exposed wires, or bro-ken or cracked sockets.

- Make sure all external

lights are securely attached.Wind cando significant damage to bulbs,

which can lead to additionalsafety risks.As a precaution,

attach all lights firmly towalls or anything else thatwill not blow away whena stiff wind arrives.

- Inside the home, beextra careful whenusing an artificialChristmas tree. Electriclights should never beused on a metallic tree.

- Routinely check allcords’ temperatures. If a

cord feels too hot, unplug itand find a replacement.- Don’t leave the lights on

when no adults are home. If the

home is empty or if just kids are home,make sure the lights are off.Avoid usingtimers that automatically turn the lightson, as it’s possible they will turn on whenno one is home. Unplug all cords whengoing away for the holidays just to be safe.

- Make sure all cords are visible. Don’tbury cords underneath rugs or floor matsto avoid personal injuries.

- Hanging lights shouldn’t be a solo proj-ect.Whether hanging lights inside or out-side, never do so alone.A stiff wind mightcome along and blow the ladder away oran unstable ladder might lead to a fall.Accidents happen when hanging lightsindoors as well, so make sure to have anadult partner on hand to avoid injury.

- Make sure kids cannot reach lightingdisplays. Kids often adore holiday lightingdisplays and their natural curiosity is toreach for lights.Avoid potential accidentsby keeping lights well beyond the reach of children.

When Stringing Holiday Lights

Safety1st

Holiday lighting displays are a beloved tradition but one homeowners must carefully considerand layout to avoid accidents.

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BY JOANN GRECOCTW Features

“The objects and colors that we turn to over andover around the holidays are standard becausethey work,”says Alexa Hampton,the presidentand featured designer of New York City’s Mark

Hampton,LLC.“Sometimes,though,”she adds,“it’s a good idea to experi-

ment.”Think of holiday decorating traditions like the ubiquitous

little black dress,says Hampton,author of “The Language ofInterior Design”(Clarkson Potter,2010).“The black dress isand always will be a classic.But it becomes ours – and getsnoticed – when we accessorize with shoes,handbags,jewel-

ry,belts,scarves,whatever.”Hereare a few ways to play with traditional holidaydécor.

EMBRACE COLORTricia Guild has made a living out of helping reg-ular folks understand how to work color in their

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homes through her British designstudio,Designers Guild.“Nothingadds glamour and drama more easilythan adding a splash of bold color,”says Guild,author of “Tricia Guild:Colors,Patterns and Space”(Rizzoli,2010).She suggests switching outclear drinking glasses for jewel-tonedones as a quick way to bring pizzazzto the holiday table.

Hampton likes the idea of color,too,right down to the candles.“Evenblack ones look great with gold or sil-ver candlesticks,”she says.“They’reelegant but still festive.”Or borrow apage from the Hanukkah palette.Blue and silver is a modern but time-less color combination.

Designers caution that relying ontoo much red and green or on anabundance of shiny metals can jangleinstead of jingle.“Tone it down,”sug-gests architect and designer SuzanneLovell,principal at her eponymousfirm,which is based in Chicago andNew York.“Instead use tones like bur-gundy and olive.”

TURN OVER A NEW LEAFAnother way to bring new drama to

old holiday décor is to fiddle withfoliage and flowers.Instead of pinegarland,for example,consider mag-nolia leaves,Lovell says.“Its velvety,copper underside mixes so well withthe deep waxy green of its top,”shesays.

Winterberries,cranberries andbrilliant white birch are also greatnatural choices.“I like taking a largeurn and arranging a few tall winter-berry branches with blue spruce andblack pine,”Lovell says.“It’s a sophisti-cated take on the familiar.”Guild saysherbs such as rosemary and sage arebeautiful in their own right,and addtexture,greenery and a wonderfulscent.

SPREAD THE JOYTo update this year’s holiday decorat-ing,consider expanding your territo-ry.Lovell says tiny white lights “arethe most effective,easiest and variedway to celebrate the season.”Butdon’t stop at the tree.Drape strandsover stair rails,around mirrors andeven on a deck,balcony or terrace.

“The front of the house is foreveryone else,but the back is yours,”

Lovell says.“It’s magical to see all ofthis extra space lit up for the holi-days.Sometimes I even put a smallevergreen tree out there,decoratedwith just white lights.”

Throughout the house,think ofways to use wrapped presents asdecorative elements.“Play up what-ever motif you’ve chosen by repeat-ing one of the main colors in thebows tied around the gifts,”Hamptonsuggests.Then,showcase the beguil-ing and be-decked gift boxes in sur-prising places:ascending the steps,stacked on a burnished wood librarytable,next to the fireplace,whereverthe mood strikes.

BOWL ’EM OVEROf course,every family has its treas-ured ornaments and favored holidayknickknacks.No need to give themthe Santa boot;just look at them witha more critical and curatorial eye.“Avoid the temptation to overloadthe tree and every tabletop,”Hamp-ton says.

So what to do with all those trin-kets that clutter up homes and livesaround this time of the year? Lovell

has an answer:“I put everything inbeautiful bowls,”she says.“One bigwooden bowl might hold all of myholiday cards,another crystal bowlwill overflow with antique toy orna-ments and a few precious glass balls.Bowls filled with all kinds of goodiesare a wonderful thing.When it lookslike you’ve decorated with care andwithout resorting to pre-made,manu-factured things,you have instant ele-gance,”Lovell says.

SPLURGE ON SOMETHING SPECIALDon’t have the right statement bowl?Consider it as this season’s onesplurge.Or,think about a bold rug tomix new color and texture with win-tertime décor,Guild says.For Lovell,lavish fabric ribbons and fine glossywrapping paper are worth the extradollars.And Hampton recommendsindulging in luxe food and drinksand using them as decorating ele-ments.Sparkling pink champagneand glittering ebony caviar,anyone?

© CTW Features

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Chances are, holiday revelerswill find themselves underneaththe mistletoe at least once thisholiday season.While theymight know what to do whenthat time comes, they might notknow the history of that plantabove their heads.

Especially sacred to CelticDruids, mistletoe was believedbestow life and fertility, whilealso protecting against poisonand serving as an aphrodisiac.

Mistletoe would later take ona more political meaning, as theritual of cutting the mistletoecame symbolized the emascula-

tion of the old King by his suc-cessor.

Nowadays, mistletoe is typical-ly hung in doorways or entry-ways from one room to another.This tradition can also traceitself back several centuries tothe Middle Ages. During theMiddle Ages, branches of mistle-toe were hung from ceilings toward off evil spirits.ThroughoutEurope, mistletoe was placedover doorways in the house aswell as the stables as a means topreventing the entrance ofwitches.

The tradition of kissing under-

neath the mistletoe likely stemsfrom the belief that mistletoebestows fertility and is oftenassociated with the Roman festi-val of Saturnalia, a period ofmerrymaking that pre-datedChristmas. In 18th centuryEngland, a young lady standingunderneath the mistletoe couldnot refuse to be kissed. Oncekissed, the kiss would signifydeep romance or eternal friend-ship.

History also suggests thatmistletoe was a symbol ofpeace. In Scandinavia, mistletoewas considered a plant ofpeace.When standing under-neath the mistletoe, enemiescould declare a truce and spous-es could end any marital tur-moil with a kiss.

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BY CHUCK ROSSCTW Features

Holiday decorations cancreate great backdropsfor seasonal parties,butdaily life with all those

Santas,snowmen and miniature Vic-torian villages can wear on thenerves of someone who just wantsan unobstructed view of the TV.

So, instead of trying to find aspot for every last ornament,some home decorators are find-ing advantages in a simplerapproach that still speaks to theseason, but in a more understatedtone of voice. Such plans mightbegin with choosing one or twofavored colors. (Newsflash:Theydon’t have to be the classic redand green.) Then, add a fewchoice candles or tabletop pieces

to help emphasize the season.Ahall closet can hold special dishesor linens that can be brought outfor last-minute entertaining andthen easily put away.With thiskind of simplified plan, seasonaldecorations can still be comfort-able, instead of cloying, evenbeyond New Year’s Day.

Decorating maven ChrisMadden is a proponent of suchholiday schemes, which warm upwinter spaces without requiringdays of packing and unpacking(not to mention dusting).To her,

the urge to simplify representsthe solution to a very basiclifestyle equation.

“For me,stuff equals stress,”shesays.This philosophy also is thebasis for her new book,“The Soul ofa Home:Decorating with Warmth,Style and Comfort”(Rizzoli,2010).

Instead of hauling out an attic’sworth of decorations,Maddendraws on the “serene,”“adventur-ous”and “romantic”themes thathave guided development of hervarious home-furnishings lines.Each room’s plans are geared

Not so mellow yellow: Get bold with this year’s “it” color. Spice up a tabletop with yellow candles; pair pale yellow ornaments with gold ribbon; and use well-placed mirrors to reflect light throughout a room.

Ch ngersaaG meWhy less is more this Christmas, and why the more yellow in a room, the better


toward these ideas,drawing onsome very down-to-earth resourcesfor realizing her vision.Madden saysanyone can achieve her lived-in,lay-ered look with silver-sprayedpinecones,stacks of holiday-themed,coffee-table books,throwsof tartan plaids and sofa pillowswrapped in fabric remnants.“Thelayering consists of things you’vepurchased,things you’ve inheritedand things you’ve gathered as curb-side treasures,”she explains.

Angelo Surmellis grew up in aGreek Orthodox household inwhich seasonal decorating was any-thing but holiday-neutral,with astrong emphasis on nativity scenesand other religious imagery.Thelongtime HGTV designer,whoseangelo:HOME line of home furnish-

ings just hit QVC home shopping,has since opened his winter-décorplans to ideas that might be less off-putting to friends from other back-grounds.

“The best way to do that for mewas to create a festive atmosphere,”he says,“rather than one that’sfocused on religion.”Surmellis’plansgenerally begin with a color theme,which can vary from year to yearand often draws on hues he sees inretailers’color palettes.This year,forexample,yellow has shown up inmany stores’schemes.So,what’s thebest way to give yellow, the classicspringtime room brightener,a holi-day appeal? Surmellis says,it’s all inwhat the sunny color is paired with.

“You can make any color feelmore festive just by adding silver orgold to it,”he says,noting the addedimpact a little bit of luster can haveon even today’s popular amber fall-like tones.“If you add a little gold tothem,they feel really festive.”

Using this rule of thumb,Surmel-lis suggests adding silver or golddrapery panels to window cover-ings,or giving bare branches or

pinecones a quick coat of metallicspray paint.That reflective sparklealso can come from crystal or mir-rors.In fact,a mirror as a centerpiececan serve double duty,catching andreflecting surrounding candlelightand doubling the colorful,visualimpact of the holiday goodies beingserved up.Decking out the diningtable is a breeze with Surmellis’guid-ance.He prefers china in white,another favorite goes-with-anythinghue,paired with silver or gold charg-ers.Add a swag of holiday greeneryand,perhaps,an ornament or twofrom a table-topping chandelier tocreate an elegant setting worthy ofany holiday feast. If even this pared-down approach is pushing holiday-themed design talents to the edge,he suggests falling back on thepower of pleasant aromas to teaseout festive feelings.

“If you’re ever in doubt,even ifyou can’t bake,get some slice-and-bake cookies and throw them in theoven,”he says.“Nothing says the holi-days like walking into a home to thescent of freshly baked cookies.”

Party planner extraordinaire Pre-

ston Bailey doesn’t have much timeto host his own gatherings once theseason begins;he’s usually too busydecking the halls of his high-endclients,including Oprah,DonaldTrump and Catherine Zeta-Jones.Like Madden and Surmellis,he usescolor as a starting point for partydécor,regardless of the size of thegathering.

“I think this gives a cohesion,andevery year it looks completely differ-ent,”he says.Use a color theme tohelp breathe new life and a longerdisplay lifespan into an otherwisecliché holiday display,Bailey says.Simple twig wreaths can becomesomething special when sprayedthis year’s color – and could remaina fresh seasonal adornment until thespringtime sun returns.The onecaveat this otherwise more-is-moredesigner offers is to give the decora-tions plenty of room to breathe.

“Whatever you design shouldhave space around it,so people canappreciate it,”Bailey says.“That waythe elements are much more effec-tive.”

© CTW Features

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BY DAWN KLINGENSMITHCTW Features

Be careful what youwish for,you justmight get it.”

That’s what SerenaThompson’s mother told herwhenever the home décor mer-chant wanted something whenshe was growing up.It wasn’t athreat so much as it was hermother's way of saying,“If it’smeant to be,it will happen.”

Apparently,Thompson wasdestined to have style becauseone year she received the cor-duroy pants and matching vestshe’d wished for,even thoughher hippie parents could notafford them.They arrived in abox of outgrown clothes an oldfamily friend sent,just in timefor Christmas.

Those hand-me-down cordswith the fancy back pocketsmight have had a second life asa throw pillow or Christmasstocking had they survivedThompson’s childhood.“Inever felt like I wanted to re-create my childhood home orthat lifestyle because it wastough.We had no modern con-veniences,”including electrici-ty and plumbing,she says.“Butit made a real thrifty person outof me,a person who sees valuein things and how to use thingsin different ways.”

Using thrift and inventive-ness,Thompson perfected theart of creating a cozy home.

The signature style she developed,dubbed“Farm Chick”launched her career as a purvey-or of “junky treasures,”as she puts it,and thenas an author and Internet sensation.Her style,a countrified version of shabby-chic with adash of camp and a smidge of kitsch, is “com-fortable,accessible and practical but also taste-ful and pretty,”says Thompson’s publisher,Jacqueline Deval,vice president of HearstBooks.

“It’s a style that values tradition and simplic-ity,” Deval says.“It’s about rooms that are livedin and loved rather than sleek,empty showcas-es.And it’s particularly appealing during theChristmas season because so much of herhomemaking philosophy rests on family tradi-tions.”

A COOKIE-CUTTER CHRISTMASThompson’s new book,“The Farm ChicksChristmas:Merry Ideas for the Holidays”(Hearst Books,2010),brings readers into herhome and her friends’homes to show how todeck the halls,farm-chick style.

“I have a tendency to rearrange and redeco-rate my home on a regular basis,”Thompsonwrites,“and Christmas provides the perfectopportunity to indulge this passion.I love thechance to unpack my favorite holiday collec-tions and then decorate to my heart’s content.”Thompson’s Christmas decorations consistmostly of vintage collectibles and homemadecrafts.Her favorite collection is a charmingassembly of chalkware choir boys,some ofthem chipped.The figurines were a thrift shopfind.She also loves the look of Christmas cook-ie cutters,new and old,so when she’s not cut-ting dough,she shows off her collection in aclear glass pantry jar.

None of her collections were passed downthrough her family.As much as she appreciatesheirlooms,most of the ornaments she hadgrowing up were of the construction-paper

A Farm Chick in a

“Serena Thompson, founder of ‘Farm Chic’ décor,shows how to go out on a limb this season and crafta unique holiday home with items like umbrellastands,antique mailboxes and simple balls of yarn

Welcome wagon:Thompson greets holiday visitors on the porch with warm signs of the season, like pinecone-adorned wreaths and rustic mailboxes filled with greenery.

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and strung-popcorn variety.There was apriceless set of glass tree ornaments thatbelonged to her grandmother,but theywere lost in the fire that destroyedThompson’s childhood home when shewas in high school.

NORTH TO ALASKAAfter college,Thompson moved to Alas-ka,where she held a variety of jobs anddid her best to adjust to the flat,treelesstundra.“I remember feeling sad becauseI grew up with lots of trees around,”shesays.

And since her family had scouted andcut Christmas trees each year on theirown woodsy property,holidays on thetundra might have felt especially bleakand barren had her parents not shippedher huge boxes of fragrant evergreenclippings for her apartment.Thompsondid attempt to put up a live tree oneyear,but on the way home in sub-zeroweather,the needles froze and fell off.Asis her family’s custom,Thompson madedo with what she had on hand,addingornaments to the pine and cedar boughsher parents had sent.“It was really spe-cial,”she says.

Warmth and joy also came to the tun-dra when Thompson met her husband,Colin.The two eventually moved to hishometown of Spokane,Wash.Their firstChristmas they hadso little money thatColin gave her a gal-lon of distilledwater to use forironing.Thoughthey’re now morefinancially comfort-able,Thompson stillenjoys simple,inex-pensive gifts,suchas old toy pickuptrucks,which shefills with orna-ments and puts ondisplay at Christ-mastime.

“I like to makecute,Christmas-yscenes out of thingslike little toy barns,”she says.“I make lit-tle settings orvignettes with toycows with littlewreaths aroundtheir necks,andsprinkle shreddedcoconut around forsnow.That way,Idon’t feel terribleabout buying some-thing synthetic thatwill never decom-pose.”

Though she has a knack for creatingthe perfect decorative touches,Thomp-son says tree-trimming at her home “isnot a super thought-out form of deco-rating.It’s fun,impromptu and family-based.”

For example,she and her kidsrecently draped lengths of colored yarnon the Christmas tree in place of tinsel,creating an appealingly disheveledeffect.

STAR OF WONDERIndirectly,Colin helped launch theFarm Chicks phenomenon,and hiswife’s stardom,through his involve-ment with the Spokane volunteer firedepartment.When one of Colin’s fellowfirefighters was diagnosed with cancer,Thompson solicited donations for arummage sale to defray medical costs.“A guy drove up with a truckload ofjunky old stuff that I just loved,”shesays.

Held in a barn,the rummage salewas a success.Afterward,people con-tinued to bring her simple,worn itemsthat a snootier antique dealer mightpass up.Along with her friend TeriEdwards,who has since retired,Thomp-son founded the Farm Chicks AntiqueShow to sell off treasures for which shelacked space.

All smiles: Get the whole family involved in decorating the house for Christmas. Assign lit-tle ones tasks they can realistically manage (even with a bit of adult supervision) and canget excited about showing off to guests.


Once the enterprise took off, theeditors of Country Living magazinetook notice and invited Thompson andEdwards to write the first Farm Chicksbook,“The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen:Live Well,Laugh Often,Cook Much”(Hearst Books,2009).Now a contribut-ing editor for the magazine,Thompsonowns The Farm Chicks store inSpokane and writes a blog at TheFarm-Chicks.com,where folks can readabout her “darned cute store”and thefact that she considers herself “theluckiest girl in the world.”

Visitors can also monitor theprogress of Thompson’s dream home,afarmhouse in the countryside nearSpokane, that embodies the spirit ofher childhood home yet has moderncreature comforts like radiant floorheating.

“Wherever home is – a shack,anapartment,a mansion – you can make itfeel homey,”she says.“It’s the littletouches that make the difference.”

© CTW Features

‘Here a chick,there a chick’“Make every corner bright” is the Farm Chick philosophy for holidaydécor. Here are 6 kid-friendly ideas for spreading holiday cheer on adime. Calling all elves!

1) Form wreaths out of balls of yarn.

2) Fill an umbrella stand orbucket with rolls of sea-sonal wrapping paper – it’sboth pretty and practical.

4) For old-timey charm, use a galvanized tub to disguise the tree stand.

3) Place a rustic orantique mailbox on theporch and fill the openbox with greenery.

5) Stuff gifts into burlapbags. The simple fabriclooks like Santa’s own toteand keeps the focus on the tree until Christmasmorning, when everyone’sbrightly wrapped gifts areunveiled.

6) Put baking suppliesand tasty snacks ondisplay in glass jars.Let them mingle withholiday dishes in a cor-ner cupboard for fulleffect.

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As the cold weather and holi-days approach, homeownersare preparing to spend more

time indoors.Winter utility bills canget expensive, and in an economic cli-mate as biting as the frost, consumersare watching every penny. From insula-tion, to appliances, to faucets, theseupcoming months are an opportunetime for homeowners to make theirhomes more efficient, reducing costsand the family's carbon footprint.

Aside from the more obviousadvice, such as unplugging electronicswhen not in use to avoid phantomdraws, many long-term solutions willhelp you save energy and water everyday without any added effort.

"Homeowners are very aware oftheir responsibility to use less waterand energy each month, both for envi-ronmental and cost-saving reasons,"says Paul Patton, senior product devel-opment manager at Delta FaucetCompany. "But as the weather gets

colder, few are willing to give up theirlong, hot showers."

Patton adds that while changinghabits and behaviors is worthwhile,homeowners should also considerproducts that are engineered to offercomparable experiences with built-inefficiencies.

Here are five easy home improve-ment tips to help make your homemore comfortable and efficient thiswinter:

Replace your windows: Energy-effi-cient windows can save families a lotof money in the long run andalthough replacing them can be a sig-nificant investment, fall is the perfecttime to replace old windows beforethe freezing temperatures blowthrough. Some replacement windowscan be built to meet or exceed EnergyStar standards in all climate zones,making your home more comfortableand efficient.

Install ceiling fans:You might think

that ceiling fans are only for the sum-mer months but in the winter, a ceil-ing fan can push heat down from yourceilings, circulating warmer air aroundthe room.Your heating system won'thave to work as hard, cutting heatingcosts.

Install a water-saving showerheadthat doesn't sacrifice the experience:Warming up in a hot shower on a coldmorning doesn't have to feel like aguilty pleasure. Delta Faucet offerswater-efficient H2Okinetic Technology(R) that blankets the body in a warmspray while using up to 36 percentless water than the industry standardof 2.5 gallons per minute.The technol-ogy manages droplet size, velocity,spray pattern and thermal dynamics,which ultimately covers the bather inlarger water droplets that retain theirheat longer. More than 50 percent ofDelta bath suites feature showerheadsand handshowers that meet the latestspecification introduced by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency'sWaterSense (R) program.

Dodge the draft: Check for draftsand potential air leakages arounddoors and windows, in the attic andbasement, and throughout the home.To locate drafts, aim a fan at the cracksoutside of doors and windows. On the

inside, have someone hold a lit candle.If it flickers, you have a draft thatyou'll need to treat by sealing withcaulk, spray foam or weather strip-ping. Or have a professional conductan air leakage test using diagnosticequipment.They can make specificrecommendations to improve theenergy efficiency of your home.

Install a water-efficient faucet: Oftenwe let our faucets run longer thanneeded, wasting water and running upour monthly utility bills.The Linden(TM) pull-out kitchen faucet can helpreduce the amount of water home-owners use in the kitchen with awater-saving default flow rate of 1.5gallons per minute. For bigger taskssuch as filling a pot, a simple toggle onthe wand will increase the flow to ahigh-performance setting.

Remember, this year as the tempera-ture falls, so too can your monthly util-ity bills. Many federal, state and munic-ipal incentives will reimburse you formaking your home greener - savingyou green as well. Check out theDepartment of Energy website formore information on tax credits forwhich you might be eligible.Taking ona few easy DIY projects around thehouse could mean significant savingsin return.

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BY MARY K.FONSCTW Features

Reluctant to dig out the sameold,tried-and-true holiday dec-orations that helped usher inthe aughts?

Indulge.It's time toswitch up that worn-out Christmasroutine.Head to the craft store instead,where,for a little money and just a bitmore time,anyone can create hand-made holiday decorations that trulyinspire the spirit of the season.

“A handmade object has been madewith love,”says Lynsey Searle,co-editorof the popular craft blog Cuteable.“Itisn’t rushed,and it can be made toexact specifications.Basically,hand-made rocks.”

This is true especially around theholidays,when many people load up onseasonal accessories, inside and out.Loading up on too many pre-fab decora-tions can make a home look like a drug-store’s holiday aisle – impersonal andnot very creative.Handmade Christmasdecorations deliver the crafter’s ownbrand of holiday cheer.

“I love making trees for the holi-days,”says Anne Holub,member of theChicago DIY club The Crafty Ladies.“Idon’t know if it’s just the country girl inme stuck in the city at the holidays,butI love a nice snowy forest to pretendI’m dashing through the snow.”Makesnow-capped forest scenes from foldedpapers,Styrofoam cones wrapped infelt,tiny twigs or any combination ofthese and countless other options.Baby

powder,artificial sweetener,or evencoconut can serve as snow.

DIY: A FAMILY AFFAIR“Craft projects are a fun way to bringtogether friends and family to spark cre-ativity and spend time together gettingmessy and making something specialfor the home,”says Julie Schneider,headof “How-Tuesday,”a handmade how-to

blog at Etsy.com,the online craft retail-er.

“I have fond memories of makingholiday crafts with my mom as a kid,”Schneider says.“Many of the orna-ments and decorations we madetogether still get pulled out year afteryear at Christmastime and havebecome an integral part of our per-sonal family holiday traditions.”

Whether it’s a classic constructionpaper ring garland or a popcorn chain,kids love getting in on the DIY action.

“With kids old enough to handlepins,make ornaments with Styrofoamballs,straight pins and sequins,”Schnei-der says.“Use the ball as the canvas andput one flat-head straight pin through asequin,then stick it into the ball.Makegeometric designs,snowflakes,spell aname or even pin green fir trees on asea of white snow-colored sequins.Attach a loop of yarn to a pinhead andstick it to the top of the ball.Hang itfrom the tree and keep for next year.”

CRAFTING 101“In my book,some of the best craftprojects can emerge from plain-oldhousehold materials or otherwise recy-cled or thrown-away tidbits that havebeen quietly waiting around the homefor the right DIY project,”Schneidersays.And anything around the house isfair game when transforming a homeinto a holiday wonderland.

“Junk mail and out-of-date maga-zines and catalogs can be torn up andturned into recycled paper for cardsand tags, or folded up into cleverrolling ball ornaments or gift boxes,”she adds.

“There are many alternate sourcesfor craft supplies these days,given thatthere is a strong focus on recycling andrepurposing,”says Janice Rusnak,whoruns Papier Valise,a company that spe-cializes in sourcing provisions for DIY-ers in Canada.

“Vintage holiday décor is finding its

Stra ght from thehandmadeheart Grab the shredded coconut,old photos,sequins and a

trusty glue gun and get ready for a Christmas to remem-ber


way into modern daycrafting,”Rusnak says.”Dig out those old fami-ly photos.Look forphotos taken duringspecific seasons thatcan be copied andenlarged for specificprojects.Frame a familymember’s artwork.Iprefer to use vintageitems in a new way.It’sall about creativity andthinking outside of thebox.”

Homemade holidaycraft decorations arelike snowflakes:Thereare a zillion of them,and no two are exactlyalike.Read on for a few

fail-safe holiday crafting ideasthat require minimal suppliesand deliver major satisfaction –for both the crafter and thosewho will admire the handi-work.

© CTW Features

1HOLIDAY SCRAPBOOK CHAIN Collect old holiday greetingcards,colored card stock and magazine images thatembody the holiday spirit and cut into trapezoidalshapes.Paint stars or other holiday images on top,if

desired.Hang from tree,on doorknobs or over mantles.

2A SIMPLE SNOWMAN For a fun centerpiece that’s muchcheaper than flowers or big candles,fashion a friendlysnowman.Place a potato in the opening of a glass jar toform the snowman’s head.Cover entirely with felt or

cotton quilt batting.Create a scarf,carrot nose,eyes and buttonsfrom cardboard,paint and buttons.Voila!

3EMBELLISHED ORNAMENTS Breathe new life into glassbulb ornaments that are looking a little tired by dressingthem up with a painted design.Feathers,stars,berriesand any number of holiday images can brighten a

chipped or fading bulb.Find craft paints at a local craft store andapply with a thin-tipped brush.

© CTW Features

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LOSTBY JEFF SCHNAUFERCTW Features

Much like an awkwardteenager at his firstdance who just won’tdo anything for fear of

drawing attention to himself, somerooms in the house just simplydon’t know what to do with them-selves during the holidays. It’s niceto be able to spread holiday cheerthroughout the home, rather thandumping all the decorations in thepredictable rooms. Here’s how todecorate those awkward spots inthe home that seem ruled by theirfunction (bathroom, kitchen) andnot too concerned with holidayfun.And no, setting out your great-grandmas knitted Santa Claus tissuebox cover doesn’t count.

BEDROOMConsider brightening a bedroomwith a specially themed tree, saysConnie Lane Christy, president ofthe Christy Collection, an interiordesign firm in New Albany, Ohio.

Set up bedroom trees for everybedroom and create a differenttheme for each one, based on thepersonality of the occupant.“I havedone many silver/pink/purple treesfor young girls and many sportstrees for males,” says Christy.Thinkgilded trees in copper or bronzefor the master bedroom.“Metallicsare a little quieter and give the mas-ter bedroom and bath more of anintimate feeling,” she says.

MAIN HALLWAY Take a peek down the hallway. Seeany family pictures hanging up?“Why not replace the every daypictures with wonderful past holi-day pictures?” says Susan Prestia ofInterior Directions in Mission, Kan.Enlarge them yourself using a com-puter and home printer, or sendthem out to be blown up.“The fam-ily and friends will be talking aboutit,” Prestia says. Seattle-basedlifestyle and entertaining expertKelley Moore suggests changingthe runner in the hallway to a sisaltrimmed in bright red.And if

The living room maybe the star of the holidays,but often-ignored rooms canfind their decorativecalling with thesestylish tips

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sconces line the wall of a hallway,consider using the ceiling for a fes-tive touch. Moore suggests hangingclusters of round ornaments, all thesame color, in a row down the cen-ter of the hallway as if they were pen-dant lamps.Use small hooks painted inthe same color as the ornaments to hangthe clusters.

BATHROOMJames Vallejo, president of the Valle-jo Corp., a San Diego consultinggroup, says a little linen can go along way to bring holiday comfortto the bathroom.

“Add some bath towels, maybewith a tassel,”Vallejo says. Go withdeep red, green and gold accentedtowels for a traditional look, tan,brown and burgundy towels withwhite and silver accents for a mod-ern look. Brighten the mood with acandle, Prestia says. She prefersf lameless candles, to avoid potentialfire hazards.

KITCHEN"Most of my kitchens have a fruit,nut and vegetable theme,” Christy

says.“I use cinnamon, nuts and cran-berries to give the smells of the sea-sons, the red pop and thetimelessness that those embellish-ments create.” Set out dried fruitsuch as pomegranates, artichokesand figs. Christy hand paints hers sothe colors are more vivid.“Lush garlands above cabinets pullthe theme of the house into thebusiest area. By doing the embellish-ments above the cabinets, nothing isin the way of large family feasts,” shesays.

Lynn Jawitz, owner of Florisan, aNew York-based floral shop, suggestsflowering up the kitchen.“Bring in theoutdoors with amaryllis, Christmascactus, plants and foliage,” she says.

“For a double-duty decoration andholiday gift, purchase a phalaenopsisorchid, wrap the pot in colored foil,add a bow and put it on display.At theend of the season, give it as a gift to afriend with a green thumb who cankeep the plant thriving throughout the year.”

© CTW Features

A Good First Impression:Holiday Fun In The FoyerDuring the holidays, Seattle lifestyle and entertaining expert KelleyMoore loves to place a conversation piece on display right whereguests will see it as they enter the front door.

“I have framed a 4x8 piece of high grade plywood painted in chalk-board paint in a gold, over-the-top frame,” Moore says. “It’s a draw-ing of a life-size tree with room between the branches for friends andfamily to decorate, leave a message, sketch an ornament, or freeform the holiday greeting of their choice.”

Moore secures it to the wall so that just after Thanksgiving dinner, thetree is up and ready to be decorated. The gold frame – or if you aremore daring, red lacquer – gives it a high-end feel. Use the pieceevery holiday season or leave it out all year long, Moore says.

“It is a great way to capture memories throughout the [holiday]months and a way for people to feel connected to the space, allow-ing them a chance to add their personal flair,” Moore says.

Interior Directions’ Susan Prestia suggests using a mirror over theconsole to provide “double impact” – the decorative element and itsreflection. Think large decorative item (an angel, small tree or rein-deer) or accent lighting (tall candlestick lamp, candles, menorah.)The scene will welcome arriving guests and “send a farewell remem-brance” when they leave, Prestia says.

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year – until it’s time to untanglethat box of Christmas lights or clean the house from top to bot-tom before holiday guests arrive.

Don’t let the annual holiday hassles, or a few unexpected ones,trip up your holiday decorating plans. Whatever the challenge,local experts are on standby to help get any home in the holi-day spirit in no time flat.

© CTW Features

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BY DENISE DIFULCOCTW Features

One of the great pleasures ofthe holiday season is drivingaround the neighborhoodtaking in display upon dis-

play of festive lights.Decorating one’shome is a pleasure all its own,an annualactivity made all the brighter with aquick stroll through some local seasonalshop aisles.

LEDS ARE HOTThe market for LED lights has grownsteadily in recent years,despite the factthat they generally are pricier than tradi-tional incandescent bulbs.Not only doLEDs use less electricity and last longerthan their incandescent counterparts,they also don’t get as hot to the touch.But the big news in LEDs this year is thearrival of “warm white.”“It’s a white thatdoesn’t have a bluish tint and looksmore like an incandescent bulb,”explains Gwyneth Lodge,an associatemerchant for Home Depot.Retailers alsoare expecting solar-powered LEDs togain interest.

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The inadequacies of string lights couldlaunch 1,000 punch lines,but there aresome improvements that consumersshould look for this holiday seasonincluding “continuous-on”LED strands,where the energy flow is better regulat-ed to avoid pesky flickering.Another isbetter weather resistance.“In the past,the fault with the LED string was thetwo-piece construction that allowedmoisture inside the bulb,”says Paul Ses-sel,owner of Creative Displays,OverlandPark,Kan.Underwriters LaboratoriesInc.,an independent product safety cer-tification organization,recently changedits standards and now requires coppercontact points for the bulbs,whichshould make them more reliable.Also,anumber of manufacturers are now offer-ing sealed husks to protect those con-tacts from the elements,Sessel says.

LIGHT SHOWS SHINEUnlike the icicle lights of a decade ago orthe inflatables that have popped up overthe past few years,there isn’t one,bigbreakout holiday décor item this year,but there is more movement,such as ici-cle lights that appear to drip and displaysthat change color.For the do-it-your-

selfer,using software to coordinate lightstrands and even setting a light show tomusic is becoming more popular.Com-panies such as Light-O-Rama provideequipment and advice to create a Vegas-worthy display at home.Also,after yearsof elegant,all-white lights gaining marketshare,multi-colored strands are making acomeback,says Brad Finkle,owner ofOmaha,Neb.-based Creative Decorating.“Everyone wants to be a little unique anddifferent so their home stands out in theneighborhood,”he says.

TRADITION TAKES A TRENDY TURNThis year,stores are adding to theirinventory softer-hued light strands infun,fashionable colors,including pink.Lawn décor also is expanding beyondtraditional winter themes.Targetspokeswoman Tara Schlosser says thepink flamingo was so popular last yearthat the company has decided to addmore novelty items this season,includ-ing a hippo and a pig.“Another uniquetrend this year are lighted twig stakes,”she says.“Add them to trees or greenerypots for a chic holiday update.”

© CTW Features

130 Log Cabin Rd., Ste A • Milledgeville, GA

478-453-7447

SHIP OR SELL

is around the corner!Now’s the time to visit the new ebay® store

and let us sell your items for you!

We also can take care of all your shippingneeds at competive pricing.

Approved Fed Ex location

C&RCabinet

ShopCUSTOM MADE

CABINETS

Mark Salter478-452-1281

3037 N. Columbia Milledgeville

QUALITY TREES & SHRUBS, ANNUALS & PERENNIALS, GROUND COVERS & PINESTRAW

350 Sparta Highway 2 Miles East of the Oconee Bridge

478-453-7050

Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pmSaturday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Closed Sunday & Monday

THE GIFT STORE ATTHE OLD GOVERNOR’S MANSION

THE GIFT STORE ATTHE OLD GOVERNOR’S MANSION

INTRODUCING

MILLEDGEVILLETHROW

MILLEDGEVILLETHROW

MILLEDGEVILLETHROW

THENew...New...

Your One Stop Shop for All Your Christmas Decor & Gift Needs!Tues-Sat 10am-4pm • Sun 2pm-4pm

478-445-SHOP(7467)120 S. Clarke Street (Entrance on W. Greene St.)

Just in time for Christmas!

Includes many historic locations!

Not seen before!


home style - holiday decorating

Documents

holiday cheerhappy holidays

doubleas dcor items

dcor itemsto

unique holiday homewith

living room

delectable dcor food

e s t y

founder offarm chic