Well folks, early November wouldn’t be early November if someone wasn’t trying to jingle you into the Christmas spirit. Usually the spirit hits me in August, which is profoundly inconvenient btw, but this year I held off long enough to let sweater weather set in. And this time it was worth the wait! Every year I pick a theme for one of my Christmas trees, and as Michael’s was kind enough to let me participate in the Dream Tree Challenge again this year, I wanted to push the limits.
Last year I challenged myself to put together a gorgeous, traditional tree for less than $100 (with supplies from Michaels of course). This year, I challenged myself to decorate the entire tree exclusively from homemade ornaments. Grandma style! Nothing on here is actually a ready-made ‘ornament’ in the traditional sense; it’s all handmade or resourced from items intended for other purposes. And where can you find the supplies?
You guessed it: Michaels.
I love the way this one came out. This will be in my top ten, for sho!
It looks real good at night, too.
Now lets go in for a close up…
It’s granny. It’s bohemian. It’s YARNTASTIC!
So, theme trees are nothing new, but I think it’s fun take holiday inspiration from non-holiday concepts. With that in mind, I wanted to give credit where credit is due. These four images have been pinned to the top of my holiday Pinterest board in my head since Valentines…
1. This tree. Cindy from Skip to My Lou put together the most incredible crochet tree a couple years ago. If I knew how to knit, or crochet more than a potholder, I probably would have tried to copy this concept, because it is so gorgeous!!
2. This cathedral. In 2011, thousands of granny square afghans were put together on the steps of the Helsinki Cathedral in Finland (all of the blankets were donated to charity after the event). I’m a big fan of yarn bombing in general, but this is like a whole new level of street art. That fact that these beloved treasures lead into a house of worship speaks of all kinds of metaphors you can take or leave as you like, but seriously, this is ONE HUNDRED KINDS OF RAD.
3. This camel. Obviously. No explanation needed.
4. This village. I’m calling this the Granny Chic tree because the core of it all came from a Granny, specifically, my friend Kiki‘s Grandma Seal (short for Lucile) who made an entire village of plastic canvas crochet. These kits were all the rage back in the day but you can still buy the supplies at Michael’s today (YESSS!). Grandma Seal made her little houses extra special by putting a music box inside each one, then displayed them under the Christmas tree each year. There is a farm, a barn, a toy shop, a train depot, a church…a bunch more. Super precious. VERY SEVENTIES. J’dor! When Grandma Seal passed away a few years ago the village was the one thing Kiki really wanted to take home, and she did, but she has found it difficult to display them in her home. Fact: Cats and Christmas villages don’t mix. It was a Cat-Godzilla thing if you know what I mean. I suggested she nestle the houses inside the tree instead of under it, and Kiki said that was insane, “The Christmas village can only live under the tree or on a sideboard or maybe a coffee table…but in a tree? What craziness are you even talking about? THAT DOESN’T EVEN MAKE SENSE.” So I borrowed them and I put them in a tree. And of course, she saw them, and is now insisting they stay in the tree. She will get them back at the end of the season, and they will likely go in her tree next year. I’m telling you people: get your villages off your sideboards and put them in your trees! Let these little houses party with the other ornaments! Set the Christmas village free!
The school house music box plays “School Days” but I think the rest are Christmas jams. Grandma Seal knew what she was doing.
The Swiss Chalet is my favorite. It plays Edelweiss from the Sound of Music. I’m not sure if Edelweiss is officially Christmas music but I know for a fact it appears on Julie Andrew’s Christmas album, and that’s good enough for me. Actually, it’s good enough for all of us. Nobody is stupid enough to pick a fight with Julie Andrews.
If you are not into posts featuring lots of photos, I can tell you now, this is going to go on for a while…
I’m still working on the tree skirt situation. I usually like to put trees up on a skirted pedestal but this particular model was too tall for that. You’d think I’d have an afghan laying around for this specific purpose, but no (and here I was thinking the yarn had gone away for the season). Right now I’m just using a sequin gold cardigan. Weirdly enough, it works surprisingly well. It’ll need to change though because I’m wearing that cardigan for Thanksgiving. Ideas welcome.
I used individual granny squares as the base layer for the ornaments. They make a terrific filler! If you are one of those people who has made granny squares but never got ambitious enough to make a whole afghan, here is your chance to show them off. If you are not into crochet, you can easily purchase piles of granny squares in thrift stores or on Ebay, but there is something to be said for the energy that comes from using things you make yourself. Also, you can use them as potholders the rest of the year. That’s just good news for everyone.
The Christmas spirit hasn’t spread to any other locations of the house, but it will. It will. A garland. Another couple of trees. That chandelier is crying out for a new party dress…
There are tassels and pompoms and every variety of yarn art on this tree, but my new favorite is the Gods Eyes (SUCH A WEIRD NAME). These little yarn spinner things. I guess everyone (but me) learns to make them as kids, but they were new to me, and I struggled a bit. Luckily I got some great advice on Instagram, and then they took off. I’m now making them by the dozen!
But of all the nifty bits in the tree, these branches below are the magic makers.
Adding an airy ‘fringe layer’ of something to the outside of the tree makes such a huge difference. This tree doesn’t have any sparkle in it at all and it felt so heavy…almost kind of dull if you can imagine…but then I added the branches and POW! I’ll give you details on how I made them in a later post. I might need some more for around the house.
Yes, need is a funny word.
Welp. That’s it folks. It’s not your everyday glam tree, but it’s mine. It’s a little old, a little new, a little folksy, and a lot of weird…but it’s mine, and the cat loves it. So it’s staying!
Many thanks to Michael’s for inviting me to participate in their Dream Tree Challenge again this year. Inspired to start decorating your own tree? Make sure you visit Michaels’ blog, The Glue String, to see the other 49 Michaels Makers’ dream holiday trees that were created this year.
PS: From now until November 14, you can get FREE shipping on all Christmas trees that are 6ft or taller on Michaels.com!
I love it! I want to be you when I grow up. This tree is so freaking epic, I love every part of it!
Jen, you are too sweet! And I LOVE your tree too. Classic!!
1. This confection is beautiful and funky and Christma-licious.
2. The plastic canvas Christmas village being relocated up in the tree is like an alpine village up high in the mountains. Kind of like Santa’s workshop or a ski resort or Who-ville. Why wouldn’t the tree be the most logical place for it? You can’t put a ceramic Snow Village IN a tree. That would be odd.
3. For the tree skirt, what about more Granny squares attached together but on the angle, like diamonds? They would make a rick-rack edge peeking out from beneath the tree and carry the yarn theme all the way to the floor. I love all the yarn!
Alpine village….I love the way you think, Deb! And I’m curious about the ceramic village pieces in a tree. The branches on fake trees today can hold some heft! Perhaps not with vintage collectables or anything pricey…but the kind you paint yourself 9you know the type?) Yeah…I might need to try that 🙂
The tree you did last year was beautiful, but this one is so much more you. And this tree skirt needs to live with this tree: http://saraplath.blogspot.com/2014/02/diy-woven-pom-pom-rope-rug.html
!!!! YESSSS !!!!! That is my skirt!!!!
The branches really do set it off. The tree is awesome!
Dang, this tree is AMAZING!! I love the colors, the pompons (always my fave!) and the village is to die for! Maybe a vintage chenille comforter/blanket as the tree skirt?
That’s a good idea!! And I have a lime green chenille somewhere…
I am mad at the world for starting Christmas before Halloween is even out the door, but hot damn I love this tree. I think I’m going to work on developing my son’s fine motor skills by having him mass produce those pom pom branches for our home this year.
Heck yeah! Put the kiddos/elves to work asap. They make the best stuff anyway 🙂
This is my first Christmas with a cat. How do you keep the cat from diving into that tree?!?!?
I have never known a cat to dive into trees (but I have heard that they exist)…she’ll swat at a few along the bottom, but that is it. If you are worried about it in particular you can spray perfume along the bottom of the tree — that will usually deter them. Cats hate perfume!
Louis the cat used to be feral and is almost certainly inbred. It shows. He is an insane cat. His best friend is my 132 pound American Bulldog, and he bathes in the toilet as if it were a birdbath and he, a sparrow. When we go for walks, (yes, Louis comes for walks with me and Gussie the bulldog), Louis jumps into each and every tree along the way.
I believe Christmas is doomed.
Oh my stars!!!!!! THIS tree is luscious! I haven’t decorated for Christmas for several years now, but this is making me want to do so!
Btw, I am pretty new here & I just had to ask…is that a portrait of Inigo Montoya in your living room?
Your entire blog is eye candy for my soul!
Cheers,
heather
It is indeed Senor Montoya and you want to search the blog for the story behind him. (It was a couple of years ago I think.) While you are at it, search for the story behind Mrs. Snow the chandelier, also Christmas plaaric reindeer. I think it’s cool, but then I have a family where there’s an bulbous, upright coattree/mirror contraption named Fezziwig.
I love it when a tree is just as pretty in the daytime as it is at night. Those pom pom branches are magical!
Absolutely, love that TREE! The pompom branches were a perfect addition. I am now ready to embrace the Christmas spirit. 🙂
Congratulations — this tree is the first thing pertaining to the holidays that hasn’t made me want to scream, “We haven’t even eaten all the Halloween candy yet! Can I just get a minute?!”
I love it, and the pics are fantastic! This post is exactly the kind of brilliant, colorful, smart, fun stuff that keeps me excited to see your blog posts every single time. Keep up the snazzy work. 🙂
Nice, unique, fun, cozy!
I just spent my morning christmas thrifting and now have all the inspiration i need. Beautiful work!
With last year’s tree, you did an excellent job teaching us the basics of tree decorating but THIS year…you made a tree that embodies your irrepressible spirit! Thank you so much!
LOVE IT! What a glorious, joyful, cuddly tree! It’s exponentially more interesting than the other 49. Really. Amazing work, as always!
The poms on branches!!!! Yes yes and YES. Oh my god’s eyes. This is the best, the best, the best. Cannot tell you how much I love it.
Absolutely the best, cheeriest tree I’ve ever seen. Gorgeous, dear! I had just seen stems of decorative wheat wrapped in colorful yarn and stuck in a clear vase, thought of you, and then saw this. Wow! Breathtaking!
I love your exuberant use of colour. (not spelled wrong-Canadian!) The pompom branches are my favourite part!
EPIC. I was speechless for a little bit but then came up with EPIC. and yes those branches are really what blew my mind the mostest….Looking forward to the post!
Gorgeous!!!! I can’t wait to learn about the branches!
This is such a happy tree. I love it! I would just go to Goodwill and get an afghan for the tree skirt. They always have them and they are cheap.
I love it!!! I’m for sure making some of those pom-pom sprays for my tree this year.
I love the popcorn trim as garland, and the God’s eye ornaments sure bring back memories. They were the first crafty thing I ever made as a child. Great tree!
Dying from cuteness. LOVE this tree and love Melissa from Julia’s Book Bag for introducing me to you!
xox,
A.
This tree reminds me of the game “candyland”. I also love the the pom pom branches, they are awesome.
OK this did it. I ran out and bought a pom pom maker… bliss 🙂
I was noodling how to get your ribbon idea from last year to work with my stuff…and then you dropped this on us. Wow.
This gives a future to all that yarn in the craft cupboard and those half done god’s eyes (we had a phase). Better still I now have have a plan for those beloved sweaters that had the tragic moth encounter. They are going to be reincarnated into beloved ornaments my yarn tree!!!
I’m totaling looking forward to the rest of your posts on this. Are you twisting yarn before you make tassels? Tell us how, please.
Thank you so much, I really enjoy your blog.
Thanks so much Margaret! There are some great pompom and tassel makers on the market, but I did a tassel tutorial a while bacK that might be handy (and it’s easy) http://www.auntpeaches.com/2014/07/yarn-tassel-knob-bobbles.html. I make them in a big batches. It’s a good way to kill an afternoon!
OMG, this is the tree of a lifetime. I am stunned. It’s so beautiful all of the color and whimsical charm.
Thanks Donna!!
I am inlove with your granny chic tree, so colorful and cozy and fun to look at, the village looks great in the tree.
This is my new fave!
And now I have a new way to keep daughter’s hands busy during Christmas break. Old Christmas movies, cider, popcorn & yarn, here we come.
Get it!!! I haven’t string popcorn in years but I’m feeling it this year!
The plastic canvas ornaments are to die for! My parents always had a handful on the tree when I was young and we collectively shoved them in the back. But lately I’ve been real into the look and I can’t get enough. Now I have to make my own. If you posted a tutorial or a template, I’d be all over that!
How about a yo-yo quilt for the tree skirt?
I love your tree. It’s so happy and colorful. Perfect!!
This put a huge smile on my face! It’s just so magical and wonderfully creative! xx