Christmas in the North Woods

Here in Washington State, we have had frigid temperatures for over a week. 

While it has been bitterly cold outside, I have been busy crafting and decorating by the fire. 

This year I have used natural gatherings to create a woodland style Christmas. 

Step inside and I will show you what I have done. 

Let me take your coat...

I'll hang it here on the treasured coat rack my Dear Father made years ago

 from hand cut and painted metal.

He was a tool and die maker. 

The red plaid woolen jacket on the end was his. I wear it every day to feed the birds. 

It wraps me with the warmth of his love. 

I made this 'tree of life' weaving when my children were young. 

I will light the candles as the days are not too bright this time of year. 

I have collected brass candlesticks over many years. 

The silver star was my Mr.'s since he was a young boy. 

It hung on his childhood bedroom ceiling. 

I created the garland over the window as you look to the left. 

I simply tied pine cones to garden twine and added dried orange slices hung with ornament hangers. 

They create a lovely glow when the sun shines through.

Nature's stained glass.

To make your own, dry fruit slices on cookie sheets 8 hours in a 140 degree oven, then air-dry. 

This works for lemon, lime, oranges, apples and even star fruit. 

It fills the house with a wonderful scent. 

Come in and sit down - I'll put on the tea kettle. Lately I have been enjoying Twinings Chai tea spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger. I think you will like it!

I've created a holiday mantel display from my woodland gatherings. 

Pinecones and mossballs and votives in tart tins. 

And a pinecone wreath. 

(I will give a tutorial in a later post)

Two stags and a hemlock cone garland complete the scene. 

I made this delicate garland by tying waxed twine around each cone in a simple knot. 

I made the same garland for the tiny tree. 

Nestled in a large blue bottle and decorated with tiny white lights, 

small white and silver balls, and garlands of pinecones and cranberries. 

The idea to use the bottle was inspired by this post on Vicky's Home

If you have never visited Vicky's blog, you are in for a real treat. 

After the holidays, the cranberry garland and pinecone/orange garland over the window

will go outside for the birds. I will pack the large pinecones with peanut butter and bird seed. 

Rustic twig baskets hold paper-white bulbs. 

Potted with fast draining cactus soil in a plastic liner

 and marked with hand made clay markers I bought at a local botanical garden gift shop. 

A rustic wood planter holds hyacinth bulbs just beginning to sprout. 

When the dark days of winter become cold and dreary, 

these will brighten the house with reminders that spring is on the way. 

And of course I had to create a kissing ball! 

Created by covering a styrofoam ball with moss (using hot glue)

 and then gluing on tiny hemlock and alder cones. 

To create the hanger, wrap the moss covered ball (before adding cones)

 in waxed twine just as you would wrap a present with ribbon.

Knot it tight on top and leave the long ends to tie together for hanging. 

I added a garden twine bow on top by tying to the waxed twine. 

Hung between the living room and kitchen, this ensures lots of sweet kisses. 

I hope you have enjoyed my simple woodland decorating. 

And I hope this inspires you to add some woodland touches of your own this holiday season. 

Please come back soon to see my Christmas Cottage Kitchen. 

xoxo

The bird a nest,

The spider a web,

Mankind friendship. 

William Blake (1757-1827)

English poet, painter