Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Holiday Homes Tour 2011

Welcome to the 2011 Edition of the Holiday Homes Tour. Please, take a walk up the path and join me in my little storybook cottage.


I try to do something different with the wreath every year. This year I went with the traditional woven Scandinavian Hearts. It was a pain to make them so tiny!


I never really have a theme. I just put the same old things in new places.

We have my vintage elf collection.


Now I have a tree collection! The tree on the left I've had since I was young. The candleholder tree I found at a thrift store last year. The matroishka tree was a gift from a friend. And the pinched clay tree is a masterpiece by young Frank.


I have to display my favorite holiday photos. Look at how cute the dandelion fluff Ernest's hair is.


The nutcracker collection has grown since last year.


Frank was instrumental in lighting and decorating the tree.


He chose a cat to top the tree. It has been The Year of the Cat around here, hasn't it. Yes, that is Chewbacca underneath.



He picked out the ornaments most similar to Homer and Francine (Fifi).





But you can never have too many cat ornaments. So I hung the rest of them in the powder room  Gallery of American Vernacular Cat Art.




Last year's creative masterpiece, the Recession Wreath, has new life as a tree skirt for the Charlie Brown tree.


And the Recession Tree itself? I saved the whole thing. Stuck it in the closet, lights and all, ready to use again this year.


I went a little wild on the piano, with the leg lamp and disco balls.



Why yes, that is a theremin. Doesn't everyone have a theremin?


The tomato cage Recession Tree so inspired me last year, I painted another cage and hung some of my overflow ornaments on it. I kept it up through Valentine's Day, redecorating with a red, pink and silver motif. But wouldn't you know, I didn't take any pictures of either version.

This year I gave the extra tree a theme -- my bubble lights, which are older than Frank, and all the cute home made ornaments. We've got the jigsaw puzzle piece and cotton ball frames, the cardboard angels, and some other assorted semi-hand made wooden pieces.


I've got another tomato cage painted. I'll decorate it if I can just find a place to put it!

Thanks for visiting! Stop by any time. (If you'd like to visit prior years, here are the links:

21 comments:

Jen said...

Lovely tour, I really like the recession tree!

Jodi Anderson said...

I enjoyed the tour quite a lot. What stands out to me though, is that we have one same ornament. In the cat ornament photo, the black and white one on the far right. We have one like that in memory of Kitty, who we had from 1990 - 2003. Aw. :)

You have a lovely home.

barbra said...

The wreath looks really beautiful this year with the hearts!

I love how crafty and artistic you are.

I think my favorite is the cat ornament gallery! You're so funny! xoxo Merry Christmas, friend!

T.J. said...

your house is so festive! Everyone must love visiting:)

Bear and I were admiring the pictures and at first the nutcrackers won him over, but then he saw the cat topper and he was done- WINNER WINNER! I adore that you have a cat tree topper.

Anonymous said...

I do so enjoy collections--what a great cozy cottage overflowing with neat things! And the trees--what great TREES!

Soccer Mom said...

The vintage elf collection is just awesome!! Love the cats in the powder room, too! :)

jen_alluisi said...

I want to move into your house. I've always dreamed of living in a Tudor-style cottage (rather than our 4th-floor condo)! Jealous! Also - recession wreath and trees!! Genius! And hilarious! Love!

bdaiss said...

Kitties! We too have a large collection of cat ornaments/decorations. Most of ours are black cats, as that seems to be what we collect in real cats (we're on Black Cats #5 and #6, but they do have real names (Holly and Sophie)).

I adore those vintage elves! Gorgeous!

Thanks so much for sharing your home with us!

Molly said...

This is about the cutest dang house I've ever seen. I LOVE the front door wreath.

Anonymous said...

Oh, the cat ornaments! So wonderful. *sigh* Add in the Tudor style house (which I could not afford in the game of Life last night) and your recession tree and I just want to sit and sip tea with you. :)

Andrea said...

I love all of it, especially the vintage elf collection, all the cats, and the nutcracker collection. Lovely!

Jen on the Edge said...

I *knew* you'd have all sorts of creative and artistic decorations to share with us.

And do you know that in all the years I've been reading your blog, this is the first time I can remember seeing the exterior of your house?

Glennis said...

what fun!! Love your traditional tree with cat ornaments, but then I had to love the recession trees! Very clever ideas!

Lover Lady said...

I really like your vintage elfs (BEFORE elf on the shelf!) and the Charlie Brown tree.

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

You do a great job--I am have to make a recession tree next year!

Kimbra Kasch said...

I love how you used the red and white hearts - an absolutely wonderful way to celebrate. We always make a few and hang them on the tree to fill with cookies on Christmas morning.

Susan said...

The wreath is darling, the elves made me laugh and who knew there were so many cat ornaments!?

Patience_Crabstick said...

I love your recession tree and wreath, and the cat you put on top of your tree!

Lala said...

Beautiful and just the way I like it! Love the year to year collections, but I especially like your recession tree. I've told several people about it and they may just steal your idea! Merry Christmas!

Unknown said...

Love all the hanging ornaments! And I am a huge fan of the elf collection.

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh my gosh, those bubble lights remind of my Grandmother! She had them on her tree when I was a kid. I LOVE your kitty ornaments! I collect them, too, but didn't even get them out this year! The tree topper is too cute. Happy Holidays!
Cindy