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Holiday with Matthew
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Holiday with Matthew Mead
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Simple but special touches make the holiday season fun and festive. Here we've gathered some great ideas that can be accomplished in one or two steps to bring charm to every corner of your home.
Set the Theme:
This year, touches of lavender and purple add just the right note of color for a rustic, but sophisticated holiday celebration. I combined a scrubbed-topped pine country table with several yards of raw silk and my collection of Scandanavian inspired dining chairs. Mismatched purple glasses, purple tinged transferware and fresh greens complete the look. It's a diverse mix of country and refined which creates a relaxed, but also festive setting.
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Tiered stand with paper bowls
Download our paper bowls and simply cut out the pieces to create these unique and stylish serving dishes. We displayed them using an antique, three-tired plant stand recycled into a dessert buffet station for holiday sweets. Fill with kettle corn or white chocolate bridge mix. The bowls come in three sizes and would work as table favors or last-minute gifts filled with confections and wrapped with cellophane.
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Mini tree — It’s
the real thing!
I found this composite planter at the From Out of the Woods Antique Center— a local shop— and knew instantly it would make the perfect planter for a small tree. It's nice to have extra greenery around the house in the form of a living tree, and the absence of hanging ornaments makes a strong natural statement.
What you'll need:
- A planter… you can use absolutely anything for this. I happened to find a pair of these.
- 2‑ 3 foot mini tree from the grocery store or home center
- Dozen ornaments in shades of lavender.
- 1 pint of pea stone
- Sheet moss
Directions:
Water the tree well and let drain. Line the planter bottom with stones and remove tree from its plastic pot. Place the tree in the planter atop stones, and cover the entire root ball with moss. Top with ornaments and place in a sunny window. Water every other day.
Tip: Use trees for centerpieces, entry tables, or wide windowsills that need that holiday touch.
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Nubby and Nutty Wreath
If you remember the pinecone wreath of the 1960's garden club, you know that a wreath of nuts is nothing new. However, made on a small scale of walnuts and hazelnuts glued to a ribbon-wrapped wreath form, this wreath is rustic, textural, and delicate.
What you’ll need:
- Green styrofoam wreath form
- Hot glue gun
- Walnuts, hazelnuts
- Wide satin ribbon
Directions:
Simply wrap the wreath form with ribbon, and glue in place. Hot glue nuts in a pretty pattern around the entire form until covered.
Tip: Try a mix of nuts such as pistachios and almonds or pecans. Store in an airtight container to use year to year.
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Holly Wreath —green, red... gorgeous!
This traditional holiday wreath seems new and fresh amongst all the commercial embellishments of the season. My Mother was kind enough to let us clip from her holly tree which was abundant with berries this year.
What you will need:
- Oval wire wreath form
- Florist wire
- Fresh holly
- Florist clippers
- Hot glue gun
Cut the fresh holly into pieces 4” to 6” long. Use the florist wire to attach the holly to the wire form. If you have a few small empty places, try using the glue gun to tuck a smaller piece of holly in.
Tip: Keep clipped holly in the refrigerator or cellar bulkhead to keep it fresh until you’re ready to use it.
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Lovely and Light Paper Ornaments
Making decorations of paper is a passion for me, and I am always looking for ways to make something interesting and architectural. My assistant, Lisa, and I dreamed up these shapely, chandelier-type ornaments which hang nicely in a tree, from a garland, or in a window. Simply download the shapes on matte brochure paper and cut them out.
What you’ll need:
- Downloaded pattern
- Matte white brochure paper
- Small scissors
- Glue stick
Download the pattern for this paper chandelier ornament. You’ll need to print three patterns to complete one ornament. Cut them out.
Tip: Employ little scissors and lots of patience for this project… you'll be very pleased with the results.
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Snowflake and ribbon stocking
My great friend Leslie made this stocking for me years ago with ribbon from Hyman Hendler in New York. Several years later she embellished it with the most beautiful embroidered snowflakes. The ribbon gives it great style and is a simple way to create a cuff for any stocking. I love how the subtle snowflakes add to its special handmade charm. I think of Leslie every year when I hang it up for the season.
Look for a plethora of stocking patterns at your local fabric store and check out the Reader’s Digest Embroidery Book... for easy stitch embellishments.
Tip: Hang stockings at the foot of your child's bed instead of the mantle or railing, so it's the first surprise they see when they wake on Christmas morning.
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Pine Brush Sachet
Fresh, long-needle pine boughs, trimmed and bound with ribbon, make a lush and beautiful scented sachet to decorate any room in the house or to chase moths out of your closets. Gather pine from the backyard or roadside to make dozens of these simple, natural sachets to give as gifts.
What you’ll need:
- Several boughs from any long-needle pine
- Florist’s wire
- Hot glue gun
- About 2 yards of 1 ½ inch ribbon
- Florist clippers
Gather five to eight stems of pine and clear the end that will be wrapped of any needles. Lay the twigs together to form an orderly grouping. Trim the bare ends of the twigs neatly. Now, hold the grouping together in one hand, and wrap the florist wire around the stems several times. Twist to secure.
Start the ribbon wrapping process by securing one end to the bare twigs with hot glue. Proceed wrapping the ribbon around the bare end of the twigs. When you come to the end of the ribbon, secure it with hot glue. Tie a simple bow, and glue it on as well. Trim the ends of the ribbon.
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Strano Ribbons
Ribbon is one of those special embellishments that I am continually hunting at flea markets, tag sales, and gift shows. The owner of Strano Ribbons called to tell me about her great gross grain ribbons in hundreds of styles and a mix of sizes. She sent me these lovely samples which fit our color pallet perfectly, but these are only the beginning of what she has in her collection. Check out her detailed Web site, and use Strano Ribbons for everything from embellishing gifts and packaging to stitching on pillows, curtains, upholstery, and more.
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Revolution Tea
The people at Revolution Tea are fans of my Web site, so when they asked me to try their teas, I couldn't help but write about them and create some pretty pictures of their aromatic products. I wish you could experience these teas right now, but photos and words can only do so much, so I urge you to purchase some of their special blends and brew for yourself. The fragrance tickles your nostrils the moment you open the simple but engaging packaging and discover the sheer organdy sachet inside. Each delicate packet is like a small gift filled with fresh and colorful herbs, dried citrus peel, and exotic tea leaves. My coworkers and I boiled water immediately and clamored for our favorite teacups to savor the experience of a freshly brewed pot.
I've always enjoyed tea, but I’ve never had an experience like this— color and fragrance combine as the boiling water and tea fill the cup with shades of luminous golden liquid. I can't recommend this experience enough, and I can't choose just one flavor… so, try them all.
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Green tea is a modern taste that mixes well in a traditional cup worthy of a celebration.
I couldn't resist cutting the sachets open to see and smell the beautiful Lavender tea.
Lavender tea brewed nicely in a vintage pot served with tasty and beautiful organic can sugar
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Five teas in the holiday pack elicit joyful praise from my co‑workers.
From top left to bottom:
Citrus Spice Herbal Tea
Bombay Chai Tea
Honey Bush Caramel Tea
On right:
White Pear Tea
Dragon Eye Oolong Tea
Tip: These teas are really so delicate and flavorful, you don't want to overpower the experience with ultra sweet confections. Serve with traditional shortbread, toast points with cream, and fresh berries or plain cheesecake.
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