Christmas in August

I went to Michaels Craft Store today on my lunch break and there they were - holiday ribbon and snowmen. Granted I would like a snow fall today, something to break the 100 degree heat and 200 % humidity.

Anyway, got me to thinking about lights and colors to start looking for this year, my second Christmas at this lovely 1910 home. I used white lights around and multicolored on the faux tree on the porch. White lights on the trees inside (3).

I want to stick with white lights but want a different ribbon color against this blueish gray and white home. I thought about Gold or Silver. I know it won't stand out to well and then thought about purple to bring out the blue in the house. I need ribbon/bows of something other than red this year. Suggestions?

I had white lights along the fence, along the porch rails in a swag pattern and a large faux tree on the far left porch. Lights going up the steps too. Bows need to go on the fence and porch posts. - suggestions

I'd stick with the white light and silver bows..if they don't show up enough I'd go for a brilliant blue...

Put a spotlight in the yard. I do this at my house and it really helps. The small lights show up just fine, and the bows are visible, no matter what color.

I like the spot light idea and I have to stick with white lights. Any other suggestions?

What about bows that are red - but a red with a blue "base". You know, not orange red, burgundy, or crayola red, but a red with just (a little) blue in it? You might have to find the ribbon and make them yourself though.

Another idea.... In my faux Christmas tree with white lights built into it (pre-lit), before I put anything else on it, I wind a whole long bolt of gold leme fabric around the trunk making my way down each layer of branches, spiraling my way from the very top to the very bottom. I place the fabric 2/3rds of the way out between the trunk and the end of each branch (putting it closer to the end of the branch, and then fluffing the fabric once it is all in place). What this does is make the look of a gold "tornado" swirling INSIDE the tree. Then I put all my ornaments, star, etc. on it. The gold lame fabric sparkles with all the white lights.

I got the idea from Christmas trees that were decorated in one of the Hudsons stores, here in Michigan, many, many years ago. I've done it every year since, and still LOVE the look!

What a great idea. Do you have pictures from any former trees to post here? I would love to see it, to make sure I've got the drift. Or do you know of a web site that would have it?
Seems like a great idea.

I will make the ribbons anyway, just finding the right ribbon is the thing.

I'm out of town right now, but when I get home I will look and see if I have a picture of last year's tree. I think I have one.....

:) Glenda

Great. Can't wait to see it.
Kathy

Those white lights on every house in a subdivision is one of the most boring things I have ever seen. Since you have a 1910 house, why don't you ck. out the local historical society and see if they have any ideas about how houses were decortated in that time period. I would much rather see different color lights. Love colors and refuse to live my life surrounded by boring colors. LIZ

I can appreciate this but my house is on a main road and the 2 neighbors put up NO decorations. A house this large seems to 'feel' better in white vs. a big red house or blue. I'm with you on color, I love it. On the tree on the porch and inside trees have colored lights and they pop out with white on the exterior and the colored tree on the porch pops out with the outside white lights too.

It's a great idea to research decorating 1910 homes but I don't know how much lighting they would have used. I also put a candle in each window.

Hi Kathy!
Well we made it home, and sure enough, I have a picture of my tree from last year. I took the picture so that when we go to Bronner's in Frankenmuth, MI http://www.bronners.com/, I'll be able to know what kind of new ornaments I want to buy.
Anyways, back to the tree…. Now keep in mind that this was taken AFTER our 6 grandkids and family celebrated Christmas, so the tree and fabric are a little disheveled.

See the gold fabric peeking out from the inside of the tree? It would be easier to see if my decorations were not on it. Anyways, that whole bolt of gold leme fabric is spiraled down, going once around on each level of branches. The place where I drop down to the next level is in the back so that you cannot see the transition. I just tuck each end (at the top and at the bottom) into the center of the tree so that you cannot see the raw edges of the fabric.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
:) Glenda

Beautiful tree. I see now. You take the ribbon around each LEVEL of branches, not on each branch. That's where my confusion came from. If there's 6 rows the you go from one row to the next by going down a row in the back of the tree.

How wide is the fabric? How many feet do you think it took? I have an 8 ft, fat tree.

Kathy

Yes, you've got it exactly!

I bought a (full) bolt of gold leme from Joann Fabrics. But I've never measured it... It's a standard width like the average bolt of material at Joann's and the full length of a bolt of fabric. :- ??? I don't know what to tell you..... It IS a lot of fabric though. When we lived in our ranch home, I use to lay it out, from one end of my house to the other end, just to make it easier to wind back up on the cardboard it came wrapped on. ....My tree is a standard height. We have 8 foot ceilings in our house. But it is a full size tree - not the skinny kind. I would suggest trying one bolt of fabric, but make sure they have two bolts of it in stock, just in case you need more. Or, buy two bolts but make sure you can return one, or half of one, if you don't need it. ......The trick to making it look really good is to have the fabric set back from the end of each branch, about 8-10 inches. Just so there's enough branch to show green and to handle your ornaments. Then "fluff up" the fabric - pulling the fabric apart and fluffing it slightly.

Hey, I've got an idea; take a spool of twine and wind it around your tree, from top to bottom, 8 inches inside the end of each branch - just like you would the fabric. Once you've done that, cut the twine where you want it to end. Now remove the twine on your tree and measure its length. That should let you know how much length you need. Right???? I would think that would work.

I used gold, but I bet silver, or any other color of leme would be beautiful! All depending on the color scheme of your tree.

Should you end up doing a leme swirl in your tree, please make sure you post a picture of it! I'd love to see it!!

:) Glenda

great idea about the string. That's what I'll do. The gold will be great in my living room. The sofa is rust (faint paisley that you can just barely see in a light orange) and a dark green leather recliner and a fireplace!

The parlor has 2 blue wing back chairs and I use a white tree with homemade and store victorian ornaments in white, glass, and pink. I always hated white trees but with white lights and the soft, pale pink and white and glass on it - it just sparkles. The attic has a tree in the middle window with only lights.

The tree on the porch had multicolored large lights to stand out. I get fake trees at the thrift shop after Thanksgiving and get come really great trees.

I forgot to mention that I ordered online glass ball ornaments and used the small containers of paint, putting in one color and rolling the glass ball around and pouring out the excess. After that drys I added a second color, or don't wait until it's completely dry and it makes a marble effect. Tie thin ribbon to hook.

This gives you the option of having odd color combos that you can't buy.

That's a brilliant idea!! Can't wait to see it!!

....I was at Hobby Lobby a couple weeks ago - in AUGUST, and they already had Christmas decorations out. ...That's just crazy.

I'll find the link where these glass balls. They have every size, from 1 inch to 3 or 4 inch glass balls. It' very cheap too. A friend made maroon and orange and sold them as Va Tech colored oranments. Would make a gret gift for any football person. They look great without anything on the outside, just the acrylic bottles that are less than $1 - often 50 cents.

I put very thin lace or eyelet ribbon on the look and made a tiny bow. I used metalic acrylic in cooper and dark orange in some and it's stunning. The deep marble happens when the first color is still wet - like 20 minutes old. You can make half the glass ball one color, let sry and tilt the ball and put in another color - endless choices

That sounds beautiful! I know they sell the clear ornaments at Bronner's. My daughters and I go every November, before Thanksgiving. I'll look at them when we go this year.

Just for fun, I Googled "1900's Christmas" and found some websites with info, pictures, etc., from the period when your house was built. (Maybe) looking at them will give you some decorating ideas for your 1910 home. I even went to Thomas Kinkade's website and typed "Christmas" in the search box. I brought up all his Christmas paintings. Most homes had light posts with a small wreath with a red bow hanging on it. …You know.... two light posts at the bottom of your top flight of stairs would be pretty. Gaslights would really be cool with the flame flickering. An old sleigh, decorated for Christmas, would be beautiful in your yard. ….I know I'm suggesting bigger ticket items, but I'm just dreaming and imagining. :) …Make sure you post a picture of your house all decorated for Christmas this year! I can't wait to see it!
~~ Glenda

http://www.merry-christmas.com/stories/histortree.htm
Through the years many different things were used to decorate Christmas trees. As the world moved into the 1900's, many trees were decorated with strings of popcorn, homemade cards and pictures, cotton to look like snow, candy in all shapes and sizes, and occasionally, fancy store made glass balls and hand blown glass figurines. Candles were sometimes used, but often caused devastating fires, and many different types of candleholders were devised to try to prevent tree fires. Electric tree lights were first used just 3 years after Thomas Edison has his first mass public demonstration of electric lights back in 1879. The early Christmas tree lights were handmade and quite expensive.

http://www.livaudaisnet.com/xmas/xmascard07b.htm
Christmas cards from the early 1900's

http://www.indexstock.com/content/topsearches/1900-1909_photos.asp
Photos from 1900 - 1909

Thanks for the links and research. I did lots of research last year but since we moved here Sept 1 I really didn't have much time to think about it with unpacking, etc. Plus I didn't have the "feel" of the home and appreaciation that I do now.

I'll check the links and get some ideas. I think the light post would be great but I may wait until Christmas clearance this year to buy something like that. Send any suggestions and links if you find more. Thanks for helping.

Kathy

I'll keep my eyes open for vintage Christmas ideas for you. ;) I know what you're up against. My home is a "Civil War home" and I'm always trying to "stay in period" as much as possible.

:) Glenda