Kicking off the 12 days of Christmas, I am here to share with you a little bit of Christmas cheer – rustic style 🙂Â
Last year, I scored some uber-good deals after the holidays. As Posh would put it – “it was major”. Over at Target, they had some marked down items that were a little rustic in style but I couldn’t help but put them into my cart.
Okay.
Let’s be honest since we are celebrating baby Jesus and all.Â
I pushed over a little old lady and then snagged these from her cart.Â
BUT in my defense, she was wearing white shoes….after labor day.Â
Besides, the deal was too good to not fight for.Â
See?
You would commit geriatric abuse for this too.
So this December, when we pulled out our green & red bins, I was prancing around like it was Christmas morning.  Not only did I get to open new packages tied up with string…but the items inside were even CUTER than I remembered! Let’s give Jesus a couple hundred points for that one, shall we?Â
Ok – So I got to work laying out a bunch of stuff for our soon-to-be-rustic tableau. I decided on the demilune console table in our living room as the perfect place to create a little ode to country Christmas. It normally looks a little something like this:
But for the holidays, I threw out some more rustic lookin’ pillows and strung up some pinecone garland from our curtain rods. I also gathered everything that I could think of that looked a little more ‘homespun’ to see if I could get my creative juices going.Â
First thing I did was convince my pregnant-belly-lovin boyfriend to help me get the fake tree situated into the basket. After we removed the legs, we used cd-file books to wedge (heehee….wedgies…heehee) the base of the tree down. It actually worked like a charm. And after we got the tree sitting up in the basket, I whipped out some fast country-ornaments to make the tree pop.
Sticking with a color scheme really helps me…so green, browns, tan and white were chosen.
As ornaments, I used most of the carved wooden reindeer and also some brand new cinnamon-scented pine cones. They were just on sale at Michaels recently for $2 for a package…and boy do they smell good enough to eat. I also used some of my fall decor – namely the woven fruit that I have used as everything from tray filler to vase ornaments.
And going with our color scheme allowed me to work in some of the white poinsetta flower picks that I got for free (my mom cleaned out her Christmas closet last year….and I received many a holiday decor item as the angels in heaven sang the Halleluia chorus).Â
And the fun rustic goodness didn’t stop there.
Oh no it didn’t.
On the table top, I decided to create my own little gathering of reindeer…as they warmed themselves by the fire.  Now that I think of it – it sortof resembles a scene from a movie where homeless guys gather round a fire in a trashcan. Hmm. Interesting how christmas inspiration can come from anywhere 🙂Â
And behind our income-challenged reindeer…I did a little stack of books topped with the biggest pinecone in my $2 bunch.Â
On the other side, I reused my brown-and-white-check-ribbon-adorned cake plate from the fall and topped it with a rustic bowl. Inside the bowl (it might actually be a planter) is a few moss covered balls and a couple more pinecones. And it was great to move this little planter from our fireplace hearth to a place of honor….I mean….how many times in your life are you gonna be put on a cake plate?!?! Can I get an amen?!
And then down in front is another little horned fella with a pinecone and a votive. And it looks like this one is keeping his carved wooden tail warm. Good for him.
Above we have the pinecone garland that was just my favorite thing ever…especially since it has those cinnamon sticks…my gosh, why am I craving cinnamon now?
But besides the delicious scent – those little green hued balls and the bundles of sticks made me wanna jump for joy. And don’t even get me started on pinecones.Â
Sweet pinecones. With your texture and your warmth. you are my favorite this year. just don’t tell the boyfriend. he can be rather jealous at times 😉
So there you have it folks – one rustic christmas tree in a basket. Dontcha just love the country feel? It makes me wanna spend the holidays in a cabin. and learn how to knit socks. Sure I probably couldn’t have a whole house sportin’ the pinecone appeal…but this one little area in my home is perfect. Dontcha think? And I know that there has got to be some southern gals out there with a spot in their heart for the Christmas cottage look. Any takers? Or maybe you have a different style for the holidays? Spill those holiday styles peeps. And while you are at it…tell me, what is the best deal you have ever gotten after christmas?
that looks great katie! that’s the best feeling – putting away stuff you bought after christmas without opening it- and getting to experience the newness of it a year later!
What a steal!!! Target is the absolute best place to find super awesome clearance stuff. I’m def. a fan of the rustic look you have going on, too — because it just seems more nostalgic than glitzy, sparkly ornaments do. I dunno, x-mas always seems like a good time to have a bit of that feeling going on.
Our style is more crafty (if you want to see a pic of our tree, just go here http://neverhomemaker.blogspot.com/2009/12/weve-decked-halls.html).
Anyway — our best deal was making our own yarn ornaments out of some foam balls, yarn (yep…), and beads, sequins, felt, etc. Plus — it’ll be cool someday to show our kids how awesomely creative we are!
Love those green chairs, ps <3
I love using pine cones as Chirstmas decor. I remember collecting them as a child and then spray painting them silver and gold. So pretty! This year I want to add a little rustic charm to our current glitz but I’m off to a poor (literally) start. I’m always jealous of people who score the super awesome deals after Christmas as I have never had a chance–I spent too many years working retail (thus working on those super awesome deal days) and now that I’m not working retail, we live close enough to go visit family who live in a small town with limited shopping.
You know, Katie Bower, I am not a big fan of country/rustic decor but every time you do it, I think to myself, “Now that is a class act.” It surprises me how much I like that aesthetic when you do it. Nicely done!!
love the greens + browns! and that pinecone garland is to die for! this year, I went for a bit of nature + glitz. you know, pinecones and glittery gold ornaments with a little fake snow for good measure. but our tree always features the ornaments that we’ve collected over the years, so it’s theme is “yikes”!
Your home is so gorgeous. I, too, knock people out of the way when holiday decor goes to 90% off. I’m glad you are keeping it real.
I love opening holiday boxes for the same reason. I often forget that I even had some of the things. I have a natural-looking tree this year, too, but I haven’t posted it yet. I used LOTS of pinecones and pulled out the burlap.
Did you make the garland or get it at Target too? I love that.
Hey there Kim my friend – the garland was from Target too…and it was also that cheap. RIDICULOUS, isn’t it?!?! And I only wish that I could make it…although I betcha the materials would cost more than the finished product. Can’t wait to see your tree!
XO – KB
I know I’m a little country myself so this should come as no surprise, but I LOVE IT! Those reindeer…oh! Good news for you, Target as a ton of cute rustic-y stuff again this year. All of the sparkly stuff is all picked over but I’m betting there will be plenty of the country-chic things left after the holidays. woo-hoo.
and next year I WILL put a small Christmas tree on top of a table. Don’t know why I haven’t yet, I always LOVE THEM.
I LOVE IT! RUSTIC and Beautiful!! Ok I am lost did you make the garland yourself??
My year-round decor is modern and minimalist, but come Fall and Christmas, I love for everything to look homemade for a cozy, cottage-y feel 🙂 It’s a fun change for a couple months!
Katie, I love the country look. I think that “natural” is so pretty! BTW ,I have the most amazing homemade cinnamon (yum) ornaments anyone can make from scratch,and they make the house smell sooo good! Shoot me an e-mail if you want the recipe. My “country mamma” makes a batch every year. They make good gifts too. I mean, who doesn’t like ornaments that remind them of food? 🙂
Hi Christine,
I wish I made the garland…but no. I did not. It was store bought…for a dollar a string also. But if you figure out how to make some – you let me know, ok?
XO – Katie
I love the look. It’s exactly what I was going for this year as well, just with a little spark as well 🙂 And as for the after-xmas-Target finds, I was just there yesterday scoping out all the items I wanted this year but didn’t want to spend full price for. Come Dec. 26, I’ll be heading out to Target bright and early to knock over some old ladies myself! Can’t wait!
I love this, Katie, and the idea of having different decor styles in different areas of your home. I snagged those metal snowflakes in your first picture on clearance as well, and they’re now hanging from the chandelier in our bedroom – just a little hint of the holidays.
So is the mini-tree in place of a bigger one or is that still to come? 🙂 Just curious! Haha the whole area looks great though, very festive!
Merry Christmas Lauren – and yes, there is the big tree still to come. We had gotten all our decorating done in advance for me to host the 12 days of Christmas thing. It takes me a while to brainstorm, edit photos, create videos and write posts…all with a fulltime job and MANY renovations in the works….not to mention growing a baby….so doing these all in advance really helped. Tomorrow will be our big tree reveal…and then after that we have some craft ideas, decor, gift ideas, tablesettings and more! SO YOU GOTTA STICK AROUND…kay?
XO – Katie the preggo
I love it Katie, it’s fab! 🙂 So cute, it reminded me of home (my ‘rents have a log cabin-y house on the farm!) Can’t wait to see what you have in store for the next 11 days! 🙂
Wedgies. Teehee. You are priceless girl!
Although I’ve never commented before, this is one of my favorite blogs.
I recently watched ‘Night at the Museum 2’, now everytime I see ‘Bower Power’ in my email list I read it mimicing the thinking statue that says ‘Fire Power’ in the movie.