Christmas 2008

Hello everyone! Just a quick note to say that this year, unfortunately, I'm experiencing a bit of a "hard candy Christmas" due to the economy and being laid off back in October. So we've opted not to put up my "gold tree" shown above.

This tree has a back story which is kind of neat: I spotted this in the window of a "seasonal" store which was set up at the Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco, California about 15 years ago. It was several weeks before Christmas and I asked the owner of the shop if she would sell me the tree. We agreed on the price and after paying she told me to come back after Christmas. I had made it clear that my intention was to take the tree with me right then and there - so I helped her remove the ornaments and 10 minutes later I had a small box packed with the dis-assembled tree!

Despite being made of plastic (doesn't look it, right?), I like the simplicity and the fact that it is assembled in less than five minutes and can fit in a small box. The photo below shows how I set up the tree on the 1920s era bar in front of the entry way mirror.



And to cover up the metal base, I use a gold shear table runner with some gold glitter leaf picks placed on top.

Packing It Up: Part 1

It is getting time to say goodbye to this year's Christmas tree. Normally I would wait until the Epiphany (we also called it Little Christmas) to take down the tree. To me, having the Christmas tree up on New Year's Day was a way of showing it off to friends and family who attended our Open House and didn't get a chance to see it before Christmas.

But the Fraser Fir we bought back on December 6th is no longer absorbing water. And the pointsettia is dropping its leaves as well.

So, starting this week I will be taking down the ornaments and boxing them away for next year. This will be a challenge since this is the first year that these decorations have existed.

In the next post, later this week, I'll have storage tips and photos of how I've packed away the items.

The Finished Project - A Catskill Christmas Tree

Well, I need to show off what has come to be about 6 months of work. Yes, my warped mind thought it would be great to start this project back in June, 2007.

See below for pictures of the 8.5 foot beast: Fraser Fir, 1500 lights, 300+ glass ball ornaments, 300+ handmade ornaments.

Moss Ball Ornaments

These are not easy to make but they are much cheaper than buying premade moss balls. I think I saw each of these for about $4.00 in the stores, and even at the wholesale florist places.

I'm not entirely happy with the way they look - I probably should have used large dried rose heads rather than the cedar roses - or even pine cones. Maybe I will dry roses over the summer and try again next year.

Materials:

Foam ball, 1.5" diameter
Sheet moss
Glue gun
Ribbon
Cedar roses
Star Anise

Instructions:

1. Select pieces of moss, enough to cover entire ball. Don't worry about having to use one continuous area of moss. You can patch holes with tiny bits of moss.

2. Place glue on one end of the ball and place ball in the center of the large piece of moss. Let glue set.

3. Then continue to place small dabs of glue on the ball, pull the moss up and hold it until glue sets.

4. Continue this process until most of ball is covered. Return to bare spots using glue and small pieces of moss.

5. Cut two pieces of ribbon, in equal lengths, each one should cover the circumference of the ball.

6. Glue one end of ribbon and let set. Wrap that piece of ribbon around the ball until it comes back and meets the glued end. Glue in place and let glue set.

7. Repeat with the other piece of ribbon in the opposite direction.

8. Place cedar roses at certain points of the ribbon - attach with glue and let set.

9. Place a star anise at the end where the ribbon ends are showing. Glue in place to cover the ribbon ends.

10. Take a smaller width ribbon and loop it through the end opposite the star anise. Create a loop bow as shown on the left.

Storage: again, better safe than sorry although I can't see bugs liking moss. Wrap in acid-free tissue and store in box with cedar chips or moth balls.

Note: I have also used brass screw eyes instead of the loop bow but it means you need to pierce the ribbon with an awl or scissor end and then glue it in place.

Gilded Dried Pomegranates

This is another fairly easy and quick ornament to make. I just wish the pomegranates weren't so expensive! The best deal that I found was at the San Francisco Herb Company - one dozen medium size, dried and dyed red, for $8.80.

I thought about leaving these unpainted but the red dye comes off pretty easily - so I would have had to use some type of spray sealer anyway.

Materials:

12 medium size dried pomegrantes
Electric drill with small bit
Brass screw eyes
Glue gun and glue sticks
24 kt gold spray paint
Dropcloth or shallow box

Instructions:

1. Place a pomegranate on a stable surface and lightly drill a small hole in the side opposite the "blossom" or stem. This is to hold the brass screw eye - so don't select a bit that is bigger than the screw eye.

2. Attach the screw eye. Use a glue gun of the hole is too big or the screw eye wobbles.

3. On a drop cloth or in a shallow box, apply a coat of 24kt gold spray paint. Wait 10 minutes and turn the pomegrantes. Apply more coats of spray until entire surface is covered

Storage: if you drill too big a hole you will notice that the pomegrantes are black and fuzzy inside - not pretty. That is why I seal the opening with hot glue if the hole is too big. If not, these might get infested with bugs especially depending on your summer climate.

Cinnamon Stick Bundles

These ornaments are not as simple as taking a bunch of cinnamon sticks and wrapping them in ribbon. For stability, they need to be glued together with a glue gun.

Materials:

1 lb bag of cinnamon sticks, 6 inch length
Glue gun
Ribbon
Scissors

Instructions:

1. Sort through the bag of cinnamon sticks and create two piles: thick sticks and thin sticks. The idea is to use thick sticks on the base for stability, use the thin ones in the middle and thick ones on top. You will need about 10 or 11 sticks per bundle.

2. Take 3 thick cinnamon sticks and glue them so they are side by side, almost like making a raft. Let glue cool and set a few seconds.

3. Take 6 thin cinnamon sticks and begin gluing them to the base and building a triangular stack.

4. Take 3 thick cinnamon sticks for the sides and top of the bundle and attach with glue.

5. Cut a 12 inch length of satin ribbon. Place bundle in the center and tie into a bow.

Storage: there should not be any special storage needed with these bundles.

Notes: if you really want the cinnamon smell to permeate, you can lightly grate some of the sticks (messy) or add drops of cinnamon oil to some of the sticks (but make sure it doesn't spread and damage the ribbon).

Copper Pinecones

Here's another chance to go crazy with the spray paint can! When I decided that I wanted pine cone ornaments on the tree this year, I had to think about several issues.

One issue was how to hang them - do I wrap them with green florist wire and then attach them to the branches? That would take alot of time and when removing them they would be difficult to see since they naturally look like part of the tree.

Another issue was what finish to apply - do I really need another gold item what with the Gilded Walnut Garland and Gilded Dried Pomegranates (a future post)?

I took about one-third of the pine cones that I bought at Kennicott, sprayed them with a copper metallic paint, and then attached brass screw eyes to the top for hanging. Again, a strong copper color against green and with some lichen and kiwi green ornaments gives a great and unique look.

Materials:

30 medium sized pinecones - (6 inch ponderosa pinecones)
Metallic copper spray
Dropcloth or large shallow box
Brass screw eyes
Electric drill and small (1/32") drill bit

Instructions:

1. Select the pinecones and place them on the dropcloth or in a shallow box.

2. Spray with the copper paint in a well-ventilated area. You may need to paint one side then turn them all over and paint the other. Don't forget the tops and bottoms as well.

3. When dry, insert brass screw eyes. You may need to create a starter hole with the drill and drill bit.

Storage: there should not be any problems with storage although some people have written that they tend to place pinecones in a 175 degree oven for a bit to kill any bugs that might be infested. I've never encountered this. I also use pinecones that are lightly lacquered - this seals in (or out) any creepy crawlies.