It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (at my house)

Since arriving home from caring for my mom Thanksgiving weekend, I hit the ground running in order to get Christmas going at my house. I love everything about Christmas! (You may have guessed.) Even the cold, soggy weather! The worse it is outside, the cozier it is inside, and the more hot beverages you can enjoy.
I get a lot of joy from the decorations and lights, so that was my first priority after the dust settled from my annual Etsy sale. Last year my big tree died (irreparable lights), so this tree is a new one (new and improved with LED lights). We got it out of the box, plugged it in and my immediate reaction was um why are the lights blinking? Because someone named Larissa didn’t read very carefully when she was ordering it, I missed that the twinkling is a feature, not a bug. But I’ve decided I like it! Twinkling is festive. But all the lights are never on at the same time, so photos are a challenge.
Getting out the Christmas storage boxes means seeing old friends again, and also getting to hang some new ones for the first time! Some of my favorite ornaments:
I got brave and dragged out my nemesis, the hot glue gun, to adorn these two new flocked wreaths with cheap plastic ornaments in Larissa colors for the French doors. Piiink! I think they need a few more smaller baubles glued on, but I like them! I’ll take a second pass at them next year. I’m not very good at hot gluing, so I have low confidence the balls will still be on when they emerge from storage.
And of course I have this skinny tree that I jam full of my handmade ornament samples and topper each year, but I’m mad at it. A light string right in the middle went out and refuses to be repaired despite the best efforts of my determined Schmoopie, so this tree will be retired after Christmas. But it’s just in time, because this time I found that I can’t fit my growing library of ornaments on it. It will be replaced with a slightly fatter tree with more branches.
And a few more little groupings making me happy:
And if you are 1) near Atlanta and 2) you dig Christmas lights, check out Zoo Atlanta’s Illuminights. I had never been until the other day and it was just lovely! Very carefully crafted displays of gorgeous flowers and creatures are displayed throughout the whole zoo, all done up in fabrics that are stretched over wire frames and lit from within. Some displays are kinetic too, with festive music and hot chocolate/s’mores stations to boot. I enjoyed every minute!
On the drive home from the zoo we kept seeing this weird pink/purple glow in the traffic ahead and we discovered it was this car, completely covered in strings of lights. Now, that’s deep commitment to Christmas cheer! Thanks for the laugh, whoever you are! We loved it!
You have a beautiful home. And that tree is wonderful.
We live in three rooms, so no space for a big tree.
So I enjoy looking at our peoples trees.
Than you
I love a tabletop tree! They are quick to set up, easy to decorate, and as a bonus, not a lot of money!
Beautiful! I particularly love your Matryoshka dolls!
I am distracted/intrigued/delighted by the basket (?) underneath your new tree. Did it come with that base, or is that a Larissa Made It Look Like She Wanted It?
Thanks! I got that tree skirt basket thingy at Target a few years ago! They are becoming popular and you’ll find them easily. Mine is one piece, but a lot of them come in separate pieces now, which is easier to store.
Your Christmas decorations are beautiful! I love your Matryoshka dolls. Our daughter lived in Siberia for a year so we brought several sets back with us when we went to visit her. As for the lights on your tree, if you’ve never tried the Light Keeper Pro, give it a shot. It’s how I kept every string on our pre-lit tree lit for 18 years. It’s truly worth its weight in gold! Also, we saw a car with lights like that too, and I took a picture of it to send to my son. I actually went back through my pictures to check and see if it was the same one, but it wasn’t, so apparently there are at least two people who are very committed to Christmas cheer! 🙂 And lastly, I wanted to tell you how excited I am for Christmas morning this year when I will be surprising my loved ones with 11 of your ornaments (including the graduation girl that I sent you a picture of on Etsy)! Can’t wait! Have a wonderful blessed Christmas Larissa!
Wow, eleven! You are amazing! Thanks so much! YES, we were gifted a Light Keeper Pro a few years ago and we’ve used it so many times! When I say ‘we’ I mean my husband has used it. He’s in charge of electronics around here, and he’s managed to save my Christmas trees from the trash heap many times. But this time it’s a no go for both trees!
Oh Larissa, I loved the guided tour through all your festive trees and home! I am deep in ‘Twas the Night land, loving it. I finished the little teacup mouse and just completed the stocking ( oh my gosh that teddy bear!!) for my daughter’s collection. And am now working on the elves for my daughter-in-law’s collection. Each ornament is so fun to do, and I just get so attached to them. When I give them as gifts I really feel I’m giving a piece of my heart. Wishing you many blessings for Christmas and the New Year.
🎄❤️. Sue Cole
Thanks, Sue! Yes, that’s exactly how I feel when I make them. It’s kind of hard to let them go, even when you make them with that purpose!
Larissa you never fail to inspire me . Every year I say that I have too many decorations and I must purge and then I look at your shop and think ‘ oh but just one ( or 10 ) more !
I find setting up smaller trees around the house to display themes is the perfect way to display your creations . Easier on the set up and packing away as well.
Thank you thank you thank you for being the wonderful talented you.
Ps. I made little elves for the staff at my yoga studio and included a link for those who craft to purchase your patterns.
Yes, thanks so much! I love a small tree! Or three! Giving those elves to your yoga studio was a generous gift of your time/love! Thanks for sharing the link. 🙂
The pre-lit trees are famous for having the lights “die”. That happened to me last year. I really liked the tree so I cut out all the lights and restrung the tree with new sets of lights. That way, if any of the strings go out I can replace them with a new string and still have my favorite tree.
Thank you for your lovely patterns. You are so talented!
Indeed, Betty, my husband is good with a Light Keeper Pro and electronics and has managed to fix them multiple times! I’m hoping LED lights are less prone to shenanigans.
I finished #1 Pear on Christmas Eve and put it on the tree (sans silver hanging cord) and today I finished the Partridge. Both used gifted wool felt as I was too anxious to wait for an order to arrive. Someday soon I’ll order the Turtle Dove. Your trees and decorations are beautiful. It’s good to have family ornaments to bring back good memories! Thanks for your beautiful patterns – they give so much pleasure!
So nice, thank you, Judi!