I know this article is probably a bit late for most of you, but I haven't put the Christmas tree yet! LOL Me and my mother are doing it tomorrow evening ;) Yes, no Christmas cheer in our house yet.. every year happens the same, christmas doesn't arrive to this house until 20th December or so.
Aaand tomorrow is national lottery day! Not the biggest prize of the year, but the day with most prizes. So, let's hope we win something tomorrow =)
How to Trim a Very Vintage Tree
by Jessica W. is a copywriter, an ice cream lover, and a nail-biter.
My grandmother’s Christmas tree was a spectacle. Every year, Granddad chose the only Douglas fir on the tree farm lot that seemed to aspire to be in someone’s home. It must have spent years planning just how to splay its branches for optimal ornament dangle. Unencumbered by an imposing “theme,” the tree was a hodgepodge of decorations, crystals and lights. It was massive but humble, and it seemed proud to exist for the sole purpose of making people happy.
Here are a few ways to create this kind of special Christmas tree.
1. Buy fresh, let it rest. The key to a long-lasting Christmas tree is cutting it down yourself. Let it rest on the porch, in water, for up to a week before you bring it inside. It will drop its first initial needles, but this kind of conditioning will adjust the tree to the indoor climate…at least according to Granddad.
2. Hunt for old ornaments. The most efficient way I’ve found is to limit yourself to estate sales. Nearly every grandmother has her own expansive array of decorations. You’re likely to gather enough for an entire tree just by scavenging one basement. Plus, you won’t have to pay antique store markup.
3. Blend old and new. My line of suncatchers called Ornamentary, My Dear (www.ornamentarymydear.etsy.com) does just that. These ornaments are new, but their antiqued silver lead-free solder and bubbly cathedral glass make them look like they’ve been passed down through generations.
4. Let there be light. Old strings of tree lights may have broken insulation, frayed wires, or any number of other problems. Avoid them. Instead, purchase brand new tree lights, but stick with white or pastel hues, not the brighter ones, and definitely NOT blinkers!
5. Round up icicles. You can use crystal icicles, but my grandmother’s plastic ones looked just as good. Or, if you ever come across vintage lamp crystals, purchase them for an elegant interpretation of an old standard.
6. Go for garland…maybe. That’s up to you. One word of caution—choose thinner garland; thick, bushy tinsel garland looks more 1982 than 1952.
When you’ve gathered everything you need and the tree is ready to go, spend an afternoon bringing your elegant evergreen to life. Make some mulled cider, turn on the Victrola, and create a spectacle of your own.
Copyright 2008 by Ornamentary, My Dear.
Thanks Jessica for writing such an amazing article! =)
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