Raising kids. Keeping House. Choosing joy, every day.
December 5, 2014
Virtual Christmas Open House
I love decorating, and never more than at Christmas time. It’s a love my mother taught me. And like I told you in Merry Christmas, Meager Budget , my decorations are not elaborate or expensive, but they don’t have to be. Simple things make the home feel warm and cozy.
I mostly decorate with natural greenery, lights, and ribbon. I snip pieces of different greens and wire them in bundles and stuff them in corners here and there. It does the trick and makes the house smell beautiful.
I thought it would be fun to do a virtual open house, so come on inside.
I found this ribbon at Homegoods and fell in love with it!Come on inside.The kitchen. This is my favorite room to decorate. We spend so much time here. We homeschool at the kitchen table, so we are here a lot of the day.I absolutely love this antique jelly cabinet. It holds my extra dishes and behind the magic curtain I store home school resources.I stick cedar and holly everywhere. My grandmother gave me this brown transfer-ware gravy boat and dish set.I found this antique recipe box at an antique shop 20 years ago. It’s full of handwritten recipes. Someday I will go through them.I refinished this Hoosier Cabinet when I was 25. It was a wedding gift from my mother in law.Kitchen tree decorated with mini cookie cutters and mercury glass. My Hoosier holds all of my Gooseberry Patch cookbooks.
This beeswax lamb candle was made by my sister Bethy with an antique chocolate mold.Motto sampler in old Adirondack style frame.This is an idea I found on Pinterest. It’s an antique milk carrier, ball jars, and greens. It called for tealights inside the jar, but I substituted mini-lights…I was afraid it would go up in flames the other way.Vintage Eatmore Cranberry box. They used to sell berries in these.Family room mantle and tree.My friend, Jen, gave me this sparkly “Merry Christmas” years ago. I filled pots from Ikea with mini trees, added greens and lights. Easy.Our tree is decorated with handmade ornaments. This is from a dear friend. Cross stitched on linen.The kids learned a simple blanket stitch on felt ornaments.This mitten is needle felted onto a felt heart.Calligraphy from a dear friend.Another mantleGreens inside the fireplace that doesn’t work.
Entry wayHope set up this tea table.
Plum Pudding candle.Seasonal table.
That’s about it! I enjoyed sharing these pictures with you. Feel free to link up to your Christmas virtual tours or blog posts about what you’re up to!
I loved it, too. I got the mini lights at Walmart. They are battery operated and stay on for six hours then shut off for 18 hours. It’s not candlelight, but it works. 🙂
So thoughtful of you to share your warm loving home with all of us ! It’s so beautiful especially how you have the love of God through your home it’s truly from your heart how blessed your family is. Merry Christmas to you and your family
I was just recently telling some friends that I have this goal to come visit you someday…and now I’m more determined than ever. Smile. Thank you for sharing your loveliness with us. I’m so thankful to Kara for introducing you to me!!
Love your home Sarah! So welcoming 🙂 thanks for the great ideas! I have pretty limited space in my home but am trying to add a few things here and there. I recently just read The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey and cried! I like how you set up the book near the nativity set 🙂 And I love the I Need Thee Every Hour sampler…a favorite hymn of mine!
Thanks, Kim! We love The Christmas Miracle…and read it every year! Also, If You’re Missing Baby Jesus is a favorite of ours as well. Merry Christmas, friend.
….loved the ball jars with greens and lights!!
I loved it, too. I got the mini lights at Walmart. They are battery operated and stay on for six hours then shut off for 18 hours. It’s not candlelight, but it works. 🙂
Oh, Sarah! I LOVED going through your house with you! Thank you so much for inviting us in! It is just as beautiful as I imagined it was! Ahhhh!
Well you are welcome here anytime, Amber! Thank you!
So thoughtful of you to share your warm loving home with all of us ! It’s so beautiful especially how you have the love of God through your home it’s truly from your heart how blessed your family is. Merry Christmas to you and your family
Thank you! And Merry Christmas to you!
I was just recently telling some friends that I have this goal to come visit you someday…and now I’m more determined than ever. Smile. Thank you for sharing your loveliness with us. I’m so thankful to Kara for introducing you to me!!
The feeling is very much mutual, Lisa. I hope you do take that trip to Boston! We’d love to have you!!
I saw that wire milk jug with mason jars in it on pinterest and want to do it too! now to find the wire milk jug holder 🙂
You could use a small rectangular wooden box as well, Emily. 🙂
Love your home Sarah! So welcoming 🙂 thanks for the great ideas! I have pretty limited space in my home but am trying to add a few things here and there. I recently just read The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey and cried! I like how you set up the book near the nativity set 🙂 And I love the I Need Thee Every Hour sampler…a favorite hymn of mine!
Thanks, Kim! We love The Christmas Miracle…and read it every year! Also, If You’re Missing Baby Jesus is a favorite of ours as well. Merry Christmas, friend.
Beautiful! I had fun looking at the photos! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it! Merry Christmas!
Gorgeous!! What a lovely tour or your beautiful holiday home 🙂 Thanks for sharing your pics!!
You’re welcome! It’s my first one. I love touring houses IRL at Christmas time.