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Thanks so much for stopping by! I believe that everyone can have a beautiful home without spending a fortune! One of my favorite things to do is find creative ways to re-purpose things I already have on hand, or have picked up at yard sales and thrift stores. Join me as I share with you some of my favorite ideas for crafting and decorating, as well as travel adventures, and fun things that I pick up on my treasure hunts! Much of my work is influenced by my love all things French, nature, and of course shabby chic! I have gotten so many creative ideas from you very talented bloggers out there, and I hope that I can be an inspiration to you as well!

Monday, December 19, 2011

The Christmas Tree Diet

Ok, did that title catch your attention??!!  Maybe I should have said "The Christmas Tree that Went on a Diet", 'cause that's what our tree looks like this year!
 Hubby and I were about to head out in search of a Christmas tree that we could cut at a tree farm.  But then our neighbor told us that she had a tree that she wanted cut down, and she thought we might want to use it as our Christmas tree.  Well, I was a bit apprehensive when I first saw it.  I personally love big fat, full trees! The fatter and fuller the better!  And this tree, well, it needed some help!  It looked especially sparse when hubby brought it into the house!!  So I joked that it looked as if it had gone on a diet!
 While I still am not in love with this tree, at least it was free!!  I've used only a small fraction of our ornaments on it. and hubby liked having to put only one strand of lights on!  I really love this sweet little birdie.
 And just look at the sweet face of this cute little angel!
 Of course there just has to be some glitter and glitz!
 Isn't this little squirrel adorable?  He is made out of seed pods and other natural materials.
 Ok, here in the day light you can see just how skimpy he is!  I wasn't even going to share him with you this year, but then I thought, "let's go ahead and keep it real!!"  I bet he is the skimpiest, scrawniest tree you have seen here in blog land!  He makes me think of a Charlie Brown Christmas tree!  Hubby joked that we didn't lose our view of the Puget Sound.  We can sit on the couch, look at the tree, and enjoy the water view thru the branches!

 He does look better at night, I think!  Next year, I'm definitely going to get the biggest, fattest, fullest tree that I can find!!
 I also wanted to share with  you today a wonderful gift that I received from my sweet friend Cindy over at Cindy Adkins Whimsical Musings.  Cindy is one of the nicest, most thoughtful people you could ever meet, not to mention incredibly talented to boot!  She created for me this gorgeous collage on a vintage book cover! And she also sent this cool necklace made from an upcycled domino.  How fun is that?
Cindy's attention to detail is impeccable.  I just love this pretty rose made from cheesecloth.  Who would have thought cheesecloth could be so beautiful?  Thank you again, Cindy!  I love it all!!

12 comments:

ShabbyESP said...

Hello Donna,
Your tree might be skinny something I wish I could do ;-)
It looks pretty with all the lights on it and how sweet you can still have the water view!!!
What a beautiful gift Cindy made you!!! She is a very talented lady and so are you!!!
Enjoy your Holidays
Suzann ~xoxo~

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Donna,
Oh my gosh--John is right--You can see the view, so it ended up to be perfect!

It's so funny that you said you wanted to keep it real because I was just thinking that on the internet we see so much white for Christmas and I feel like I'm going to be shunned if my ornaments aren't white!! So I am super-happy that yours are traditional and so warm!

And I'm so glad you like the necklace and the collage...The minute I saw that blue graphic, I wrote to June of Dezinaworld and said, "This is for my friend, Donna!" I was so excited.
XO
Cin

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Donna, I actually really love your tree...so sweet and simple!

Tete said...

Ok- no wonder she wanted it cut down- just kidding! LOL- I think you have more lights than needles, but I so love it and you're right- you can still see out the windows.
I am surprised you haven't glittered it.
It looks like a vintage victorian tree. So real and charming.

Musings from Kim K. said...

It looks like a Victorian feather tree. Honestly, you've done a wonderful job with it, Donna.

PS. I just posted my shabby Christmas bedroom tour. Lots of pink and white glitter, Donna!

Vagabonds Mercantile said...

It has a certain charm too it. I like the way it really makes the ornaments the feature.

Josie said...

I LOVE this tree! I personally like less then full trees because the branches allow the ornaments to hang nicely. Look at it this way, you gave this little guy one last chance to shine at life! Happy Holidays!

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Donna,
I like your tree. I think that it's easier to see all of your pretty ornaments.
If you will notice I've seen several photos of skinny trees on Pinterest and they all look pretty.

hugs and Merry Christmas.

Sissie

NanaDiana said...

LOL- Okay, Donna- gotta tell ya- that is probably the skinniest tree I have ever seen- but look how purty you made him/her! Next year, when you are "home", you can get a big, old tree and deck it to the hilt.

Love the cheesecloth from Cindy, too. xo Diana

Susan EvelynAndRose said...

You're funny Donna! That tree isn't so bad, and reminds me of lots of sparse ones in Jeanne D'Arc Living.
Love your ornaments, especially that cute angel. What a wonderful gift from Cindy - lucky you!
Have a wonderful Christmas!
- Susan

Ann@A Sentimental Life said...

no it is just vintage! look at those skinny trees they had in the 30's and 40s!

Myric said...

That Cindy is so sweet! The gift is soo gorgeous!! I actually like your tree! I think it is cute. Its like a grandiose charlie brown tree which i love! It is adorned with so pretty ornaments. I thought that squirrel ornament is very interesting!!! I love it! Very cute!!

I hope you are having a great day :)

Xoxo
myric