Nostalgic Nature Inspired Christmas Tree

Hello Guys, last few days it started snowing and the world looks like a winter wonderland. When you're a grown- up, snow is more like inconvinience, we have to clear the driveway and watch out for the ice on the road. But when I look at my children I can't resist thinking about the fun that I had on the snow when I was little - building a snowman, fighting with snawballs and sliding down the hill. Those were the times...

Every year, when I decorate a tree I come back to those memories, I dig out ornaments from years past and return to that carefree days in my memories. Today I want to share with you a way to decorate nostalgic nature inspired christmas tree in golds, blues and whites. 

Step 1: Tree Skirt

It's best to add a skirt before you even prepair your tree. This year I went hunting for some vintage goodies at my Grandmother's house. I checked her attic and her barn, and imediately when I sew this piece I thought this would be perfect for the base to my Christmas Tree. I asked my Father about this and he said that it was a part of the machine that was used to separate wheat from weed. I'm sure that you heard about this at some poin, and my Grandparents were farmers back in a day so they're barn is full of the finds like this. I love the worn out wood and the ageing on this pice. I will show you the rest of my finds in upcoming posts.  

Step 2: Preparation

Before you even start decorating it's best to prepair your tee. If you have the real tree - skip this step, but if you have a faux tree like me this step is crucial. After storing your christmas tree for the year the brunches are bent and look so nice. That's why it's so important to shape the brunches so they're are looking nice and as realistic as possible.

TIP: I like the brunches to be bent upward this way the tree look similar to the pine. 

Step 3: Lights

First decoration that you put on the tree should be lights, this way when you add your ornaments on you can cover most of the cord. 

TIP:

If you don't have pre- light tree, I found great metod to put on the lights, simply wrap the cord around the brunches - this way lights are close togethe and that creates great visual effect. I used 2 strands of 500 lights on my tree. 

Other than that I added subtle candle shape lights simply for decoration. We had thoose on the tree every year when I was a child. Those add that sentimental touch. 

Step 4: Garland

I started decorating process with my Music Notes Garland that I wrote about in my previous post. I found out that it's easier to do this at first. 

Step 5: Greenery 

Next step is to layer greenery, I choose cedar sprigs, becouse from my experience those stay looking nice for the longest time. I paired them with dry hydrangeas, that bring nostalgic touch to the tree. That was hydrangeas that inspire the colourway of this tree, I love this pastel green, pink and blue tones, that's why I decided to repeat them with my ornaments. I created some bouquets with the brunches and placed them diagonaly forming sort of argyle shape.

TIP: For the best proportions and balanced look, add bigger flowers on the bottom and smaller add the top.

Other than that I added Rhododendron bruncheds - dark green leaves adding some depth to the tree, but after some time the leaves can curl down, but that doesn't bother me. 

TIP: If you don't removed the flower stems from your rhododendron after blooming, you should do this, becose they're willbloom better in the following year, thos way the bush don't waist energy producing seeds. 

The tree looks wonderfull already and you could leave it at this point but I want to incorporate some whites and golds too. 

Step 6: Tree Topper

I choose blue and white tree topper that I makeover with you guys in my previous post. I decorated it with this delicate blue silk ribbon and leave the ends long so they're drape beautifully down the tree. 

TIP: Add one ribbon in the front and one in the back so it look fuller. This way your tree looks great even from the back if you want to place it in the middle of the room as a statement piece. 

Step 7: Balls

It's time for the ornaments, at first I added feather balls that I made earlier. You can find a tutorial here.  I love this subtle touches of white and beige- they're compose great with my vintage Music Notes garland and fit well within my color palette. I used velvet ribbon to hand them on the tree, this adds elegant touch.

TIP: I hang my champagne gold boubles with narrow satin ribbon, and left the ends long for a sophisticated look. 

Step 8: Grouping of ornaments

Bigger ornaments make bigger impact. I groupped together small balls to create large splash of colour. For this I used balls that I painted green and blue to highlight the hues of the hydrangeas and some gold baubles.

TIP: Place large ornaments deeper in the tree, and smallers at the end of the brunches. Use wire to wrap it around the brunch so they're doesn't hang low fom the tree. 

Step 9: Sentimental Touches

Of course no christmas tree can be withought sentimental touches. You can add some old plotos or decorations that you or your children made, or other Family Hairlooms. Every year I received some ornaments from my mom, some of them have about 20 years, like the one with the Santa Clause and the kids, and some are quite new. I choose those that fit well within my theme. Lastly I added some glass pinecones that I gave a little makeover and tiny cherubs that my Mother in Law decorated the tree with.  

And that's all - the Naturalistic Christmas Tree. I really love this look and I'm very happy how it came up. If you're intrested in the whole decorating process- you can watch it here. 

Leave me a comment how you like this look, or maybe you prefer more traditional red look. I wish you very pleasant decorating and happy new Christmas memories.

Love, Ana