[ Decorating for the Holidays]

With the Holidays quickly approaching, as they seem to do so every year, I like to remind myself not to let my day-to-day schedule over run the meaning of the Holiday Season… One of my secrets of being able to enjoy this special Season, is to keep things simple and within a budget.  From gift shopping - to decorating - to preparing holiday meals, I think is important that we keep it simple, so we may take time to enjoy the moments with family and friends.

As an Artist, I love to take a creative approach to Holiday decorating… I first look at the rooms that I will decorate as if they are a blank canvas - I sketch out in my mind or on paper the different areas of my home that I will choose to use as the focal points for the decorating story and theme. As I open my boxes of decorations, lights, ribbons, fabrics, garlands, traditional holiday books and flowers, these become my inspiration, my paints for the stories/themes to fill the blank canvas throughout my home...

My theme this year was created around Angels that I have collected throughout the years….

What is so wonderful with simple decorating is you really do not need a lot of things; you just need great imagination... Which makes it more fun to create a different theme every year.... That is why I always encourage family and friends not to rush through the decorating and preparing, but to enjoy the moments of creativity together....

Turn on some Holiday Music,

Light scented candles or create a holiday scent,

If you have a fireplace, start a fire, and

Listen to the crackles of the wood,

Imagine your theme-color, story, style etc. and

Choose your blank canvas…

You may start with areas in your home you want to be the focus of your theme, such as a Christmas tree, a Menorah, the fireplace or centerpiece for dinning table.  Once you find the focus area of your blank canvas, start painting with your decorations using colors that compliment your theme…

What I like to do to carry my theme throughout the home is by simply adding a swatch of pretty velvet fabric on a table with a Holiday Candle. Also add a bowl of extra bulbs and ribbons on a side table for color… and yes, I do love ribbon… I often create bows and tie them the tops of lamps or candle sticks to add some flair and softness to the look of the room. ***Ribbons are underestimated treasures, as they may be recycled from year to year.

So this year, I invite you to Keep it Simple as you are preparing for the Holidays. You will truly be able to enjoy the gifted moments of the season with family and friends.