Christmas Decorations

I'm having a little bit of a hard week....the end of the semester is such a crunch time for me (as a professor).  There is so much family stuff going on, so much school stuff going on, letters of recommendation to write for students wanting to apply for graduate schools (and deadlines of December 1 or 15, what's up with that?!), etc.  It's hard to catch my breath sometimes.  Not much sewing going on.

I did want to show you a couple of my Christmas decorations and to ask Donna, who is a master of tablescapes, for advice on my mantle.  (Hop over to her blog and check out some of her posts.  You'll see what I mean.)  It just isn't getting it.  Maybe you all can help me out with some suggestions.

First, here was my Christmas present from Papa Pea last year...a Jim Shore nativity scene.  We both really liked this blue set, and he got me the whole set for Christmas.  I thought it had a camel and some sheep with it, but maybe we opted not to buy that.  I set it up on Papa Pea's antique library table with some "snow."  I think I need some little white lights twinkling up from the snow.  It sort of needs something else (like some camels and sheep--ha ha).  I'll have to work on this a little more.  But it is so fun to set it up this year.  (Wow, you can really see the lake behind our house now that the trees have all lost their leaves.  I see it all the time, but it doesn't usually show up in photos like it does in this one.)

This is a little guy I made oh, 10 to 12 years ago, now.  I just love him.  I made one for my mom, sister, and SIL that year, too.  I always smile when I take him out.  He makes me happy.

Here's my mantle.  It's sort of blah.  I like all the decorations, but it just seems to be a jumbled mess.  I like my NOEL letters (I made those at a scrapbooking store two years ago), but maybe they're too much.  How do you like how Sweet Pea put her Barbie with the Nutcracker down on the hearth?  (She has the Barbie Swan Lake movie, so she thinks they need to go together.  LOL.) My mom gave me the Santa on the right, and the two brass angels on the left were my grandmother's.  They are all tarnished.  I should polish them, but I sort of like them tarnished.  I also  need to get some candles in the candle holders.

Okay, Donna and the rest of you...How do I make the mantle more cohesive?  Do I need to get rid of some things?  What do I need to add to tie it all together?  Thanks for your help!

I hope we get our tree this weekend.  We haven't had a tree in so long, because we're always traveling at Christmas.  We decided to stay home this year, so I am excited to get out all the ornaments and decorate the tree!

Until next time,

Mama Pea

Comments

[Caroll D]

Love your tablescape. Looks great to me. As for the mantel, I'm no decorator, but when I compare it to some things I saw on Donna's blog, I just think it needs more stuff, closer together, and maybe some larger pieces. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with it. Then you can help me.

[sisLH]

I think your table looks fine. White small lights as you said would indeed give it some sparkle. The mantle if anything could use some greenery around the noel letters.

[Little Bits and Pieces]

I noticed the lake right away - before you mentioned it. It's so pretty. (I love that blue set too) Okay, I'm really not a decorator, but I would string some popcorn (maybe add some crandberries) and make a garland to hang along the edge of the mantle - scallop it along the edge. And then the greenery was a good idea - greenery with little white lights?

[sisLH]

ps: I think that you think it all looks blah because as you said-you are stressed- so nothing will look good to you. Just remember on anything-'less is more'. Too much ornamants on the table/mantle will detract the eye from the focal point. Popcorn/cranberry garland sounds nice.

[Lynn]

Maybe the mantle needs a nice, cheery quilted holiday cover. I know I have seen patterns online, but I can't remember where. I think it's basically just a skinny table runner with a fancy edge on one side that hangs down and looks nice. I'm not sure how fire safe they are though. Might need to move it if you use the fireplace.

Love the Barbie with the Nutcracker!! Mine cleaned his room and earned a small tree for his room. He picked a silver tree from Walmart. It actually looks quite nice with his ornaments on it. Better than I thought it would anyway.

[Nima]

wow..that looks lovely...

Thank you for stopping by my blog and posting ypur lovely comment

[Donna]

You posted twice on the 2nd! I missed this one :)
Sweet Pea you are too funny! Mine is just something I play with and "throw" together! I have no professional deocrating experience at all!
I love the Jim Shore nativity set! Love it as it is! I would put some greenery on the mantle and if the angels seem too small put books or something to raise them a bit and maybe add a little greenery or berries around the larger candle. I love the Noel letters. Just tuck a little greenery in around them too ... not much - you want it to be the focal point. The Santa is adorable on the other end of the mantle just add a few twigs of greenery around him to balance each end of the mantle. Again if he needs elevated put a book under him and cover it with greenery just to give each end some height.
I love the little guy you made.
If Baby Pea wants to put her Barbie with the Nutcracker let her! It is about the kids! You could put a basket of greenery on the hearth.
I will post my mantle later today. I have elevated my glittery trees with clear glass jars and they are hidden behind the greenery.
Hugs,
Donna

[Linda in Calif.]

I wanted to buy some of that "snow" for lack of a better word that you have around nativity set. Do you know what it's called and even better what type of store sells it?