After our Thanksgiving events each year, it has become our family tradition to decorate for Christmas. It mainly stemmed from the fact that this is the only weekend my husband, JC, gets an extra day off. And I figure since I take it down the day after, why not start a bit early. My main goal is for simple Christmas decor and this quilt I found at a garage sale is the key my whole scheme this year.
When I saw it at a garage sale I got excited. I love old handmade quilts! However, I wasn’t to excited when I saw how worn it was with holes everywhere, even burns. I felt the history it had and bought it anyway knowing I could use it for some other purpose. While my original intent was to make things for my shop, I decided to cut it up to make stockings for my gang of 8. It wasn’t until I found these three oil paintings at the thrift store that made up my mind they would make the perfect soothing Christmas mantel decor.
While last year I went with traditional reds and greens, this year I wanted to have decor that I could leave up after Christmas that had a winter theme. I love the cozy feel this has and my whole family enjoys it too.
Each year I have made my bird tree toppers that fly out of my shop, but decided to take a break this year. This is the one I kept for me after 3 years of making them. Isn’t he cute?
THE TREE
Our tree is a hand-me-down and I use cut up thrifted tablecloths to make garland. Almost all the ornaments are handmade, and I even use thrifted lace tablecloths for my tree skirt.
Below is my childhood rocking chair with the lapghan I made my oldest son. Everything in my simple Christmas decor is not perfect, and that’s the way I like it. I really don’t understand the drive of some for magazine-worthy decor. It’s fun, but I like lived-in, loved-on, stuff.
This rusty buck was at the bottom of a thrift store bin. (love me some #trashure!) I bought all the little woodland type decor on clearance after Christmas last year.
Up to the right on my bookshelf, I created a little village of barn wood scraps from our kitchen remodel. These are actually the ends of hand-hewn posts that we’re using to build our peninsula. I can’t tell you how excited I am to get that silly kitchen done!
To the right of this is my Buck – my firewood and railroad spike dude. I have the tutorial on how to make him HERE. He’s so cute he had to come back this year.
I had intended to make more for my shop again this year, but my ol’ shoulder ain’t havin’ it currently. I am doing much better, but playing it smart.
DINING
Now, if you do an about-face, you’ll see our dining area.
Here is the hub of our home where meals happen, but also homeschooling, and just simple fun times. I’ve shared how I made our repurposed lighting with those farmhouse clamps and how I made our window treatments too. It’s a fun read on both accounts.
Oh, and don’t forget how I came about that antique pew. (I got it for FREE! You have to read the story.) The afghan, pillow, baskets, and crocks all came from the thrift store. All except the smaller crock that was my mothers.
CENTERPIECE
My table was going to have a different look, but since I’m taking it easy, I pulled out my barn wood (aka weathered pallets) centerpiece with my canning jars and candles again. It’s so nice to have a stash!
I just took a piece of scrap (cheapie) garland and wrapped around, took a few cuts of my pine and holly bushes and we’re done. Nothing smells better than my beeswax candles.
The room I never really show you is our living room. That’s because it’s my furniture storage place for now and is always a wreck. It is on the list of to-dos, but my oldest daughter always loves to decorate our piano with our favorite simple Christmas decor.
The tiny houses are paper and have flameless votives behind them and look so pretty at night. Those velour trees I made last year and share the tutorial in this post. The mirror was my mother’s and the lamp was a hand-me-down from a neighbor.
Funny story about the mantel scarf. I bought my mother this exact one a few years ago and she has used it every year. She is known for updating all the time, so when I found this scarf at Goodwill I thought for sure she had donated it. ha! Turns out I found another just like it and now we each have one. Fun!
PEACE
For me, Christmas is about the birth of our Savior and what I tell my children is this…if his mother, Mary (or Jesus himself), were to peek in our window, would she be happy with the way we are celebrating her son’s birth? Are we focused on things or on His coming. While it’s easy to get caught up in the season with it being thrown in our faces at every moment, I try to keep it focused on simple.
Do I think highly decorated homes lack Christ? Not at all. Simplicity is what does it for me and my family. God created us all unique and it is the flavor of variety that makes life fun. My greatest prayer and hope for all of you is to find Peace.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
I hope you have enjoyed this mini tour of our home as we prepare for this special season. Do pin and share to encourage others that their home doesn’t have to be magazine-worthy, just full of people and things they love.
In the meantime, be sure to sign up for my newsletter because I’ll be sharing later this week how this dresser got a new look. HEAD HERE.
Have a blessed week!
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Also, more simple Christmas decor tutorials for you:
I think your Christmas decorations are absolutely charming. I tend to decorate like you do and bring out the handcrafted, collected and gifted items year after year. It all adds personality and meaning.
It certainly does, Debra. 🙂
I like how you ask the children to imagine a scenario where Mary peeks in their window, and then asking if she would like how we made our home ready to celebrate her Son’s birthday. It’s a nice way to help them (and us) focus on the reason for the season.
They like that idea too and we discuss our home. It certainly isn’t perfect, but it works for us. Thank you!
Very beautiful!! Love the idea of a lace tablecloth for your Christmas tree, as a ribbon and a tree skirt. Great idea!!
It was much cheaper than buying lace spools and I love the idea of reusing. Thanks!
May God bless you and your family this Christmas season; I so enjoy your blog. What a wonderful way to use an old quilt that had seen it’s time!
Thank you so much, Melinda. The more that life throws my way, the more I ache for simple.
Lovely simplicity! That was a GREAT use for a tired quilt! And yep, it’s all about Christ and family here too. : )
Good for you, Becky! If it weren’t that the quilt was falling apart as it sat, I would have kept it, even for picnics. But, now it should last much longer in this form.
You know how much I admire your talent for turning junk into treasures. There is no exception in the way you do it for the holidays as well. Love the rustic, warm, simplicity and charm! Everything in your home has a story – what’s not to love about that. Beautiful decorating – beautiful message, Larissa. Pinning and sharing 🙂
P.S. Glad to hear your shoulder is mending.
Thank you, Marie. I don’t want to sound snooty, but I just can’t stand box store decorations. I want it to be our home decor made by me and those I love. Yes, shoulder is almost up to par, so I’m giving it a workout on that dresser and so far so good!
Hello,
I love your simple decor and am ready to do the same this year. No more craziness and being so tired from decorating and making everything “perfect” that I don’t enjoy the holidays myself! I think your home is charming and worthy of a magazine. As for your blog, it is one of 3 I look forward to each day. Wonderful makeovers on all the furniture and repurposed items.
I had a revelation one year that I was so in to making it cozy that I was missing out on life. No more for me. Just simple and lots of loving on those that matter most to me. Thank you!
Love all of your decorating and refinishing jobs. Have always loved to fix and reuse items that no one else wanted.
Good for you, Darlene!
You are a lovely lady, and even though we do not know each other I love your spirit and creativity. You inspire me and I want to thank you for sharing with all of us. God Bless you and your family.
That is very sweet of you to say, Sandy. It’s my absolute pleasure and blessing that I can share. Thank you!
You are a lovely lady, and even though we do not know each other I love your spirit and creativity. You inspire me and I want to thank you for sharing with all of us. God Bless you and your family.
You have made my day, Sandy, as you are seeing what I’m trying to share. Thank you so much.
Love what you share….spent many summers in Loundonville, OH..love Ashland and Mansfield too!! Keep up the great work..glad your shoulder is healing nicely.
Thank you, Katrina!
Your Owl,winter paintings,seed pillows,candle holder on your table I adore this.Such great holiday decor.Your owl wants to live with me,my grams had owl lamps my whole life.They were great I love owls.
aww…she is a gal after my own heart. We are avid bird lovers here and your grandma would fit right in!
Thank you, Larissa. I’ve been struggling with the my home doesn’t look like a magazine layout. As much as I try not to get caught up in the perfection on blogland, it still haunts me at times. Your home is so warm and cozy looking. I love all the sweet meaningful touches. The stockings look great – what a perfect use for an old worn quilt! Now it gets to live on, still loved. (Happy sigh)
Love your home decorated for the holidays. I love the fact that you use hand made and/or have re-purposed items throughout your house. Your idea of using tablecloths for garland, brilliant! I also love the fact that your things are not perfect but they have meaning to you. That’s what I try to do throughout our home. When my daughter comes home for the holidays, she loves to go around and see what I have done different this year or she looks for the things that there every year such as her baby shoes on the tree.
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
That is such a sweet sentiment, Cathy. I’m sure those will be memories she cherishes forever. Thank you for stopping by!
I Love you tree topper! You home looks yummy and cozy and welcoming. Handmade, recycled and upcycled decorations are the best!! K
They are, for me, my family’s story being told over and over again. Thank you, Karen.
Larissa that was such a smart idea to use the quilt to make stockings for the whole family. I love a good repurpose. I hope that you and your family have a blessed Christmas.
It was kinda something I wanted to do, but wasn’t brave enough to cut. Oh, I had so many thoughts going through my head about the people who not only lovingly put that quilt together, but who is was given to and used by. So much love.
I have to pick just ONE?! I love it all but I think that centerpiece has my heart! It all looks so wonderful!
You are so sweet to stop by, Laura. Thank you so much and I wish you the merriest of Christmases!