Sunday, December 15, 2013

Winter White XMas, Ethereal and Natural

I want more of a seasonal change, more of Winter than a "holiday" and my decor reflects this.....a need of purity, brightness, coolness and Nature's Beauty bathed in the glow of candles. I wanted to use only  that which reflects a Season of Pristine, Quiet and Silence. Its a different kind of Xmas this year, I am celebrating  Spirit with my own chosen palette of Soulful Winter Whites in all Her shades.....of course with flowers, including baby's breath, pine cones, amaryllis and paperwhites and branches.
















showing the pink that is the sweet color of the house now.





 





In my room I added greenery from outside, plumosa fern is growing wild. In a vase lasts for months. I love its whispery feathery leaves, and tiny white flowers.......its wild spirals growing in long draping vines.
The paperwhites are inching up every day.


















 





 





paperwhites in silver bowl held with rose quartz crystals.....these bulbs are surrounded by pink love!

 







I saw a tiny 'cashmere tree' in the store for $5 and couldn't get it out of my mind. I don't like fake trees, but I kept seeing it in my room. It insisted it be bought and touched up with magic! So the next day I gave in, and the first thing I did when I got home was spread its squished branches. Then sprayed it with 'snow'.....ahhhh, finally it looks happy all dressed up in white! I added it to a tureen and it was instant elegance in all simplicity but I didn't stop there. I added a blue/grey organza ribbon with silver beads, baby's breath my passion of this season :D, and a few small white glittered pine cones. It is really very pretty!

 











I did not want to use ornaments, except for clear iridescent glass ones, but I had such beautiful colors in boxes. I also didn't want to do any more decor but these were perfect tones plus I had a large empty cloche, and I've seen these ornament cloche filled images all over blog-land, so I did it including some snowflakes which I am also very much loving lately....and I do like it alot, it sparkles! I cannot believe how many boxes of ornaments went into this one place.


















 The first one to get baby's breath was the Crystal Lady in the kitchen.....
 at night, dimmer switch on low......



 







then she got some icicles. Beautiful!


















 The porch chandelier was white but discontent. I added beaded garland and glittered pine cones and she is very happy now! Some chandeliers just don't like to be ''au naturale"....they demand some dress up.









 









 steaming mug of Vanilla Cream Masala Chai.....a must have for the season, or any day in my world :-)








The Garden Gate with a simple white wreath, beaded garland wrapped around it and gold bow.....
guarded by two stalwart Angels.

"The Keys to the Kingdom are Held 
By the Gardeners of the World"

......they have told me, and so it is.




 












I had a few apothecary jars that were empty. I gathered the things I would use this season, which were very few, no ornaments as I only wanted things from Nature like tree branches and white flowers.
However, this "pristine plan" was um....changed? shall we say? which now included some {awful fake} ''snow'' I was [ 'forced' to buy] told we ''needed'' lollol by a certain friend of mine who [insisted] kindly told me I also needed to do something with my fireplace like put some real logs and 'snow' during her visit .....and while we're at it.....she also [made me] { :D } asked me to make the rooms dark as the sun was so offensive to her since it did not evoke the log cabin vibe she was wanting at the time, so down went the shades, the doors to the rooms closed, and the shades in the kitchen went down, she pointed an unhappy finger at the unlit candle...what on Earth was I NOT thinking? lol so I lit it.....the air conditioning went on high and!!!...."and what else can I do for you little sister? is it right yet?" No....she glanced around and the little window on the back door was too bright too and she waved her hand disapprovingly, so I hung a crochet curtain on it which she thought was Angelic, and then!!.....all was right in the world for her and she, contented, sat down for a steaming mug of Chai! I adore her. I indulged every [order] suggestion with glee. She happened to be right again, it made for a very cozy ambiance! I didn't realize it myself, but I too was very much wanting a cooler feeling outside and a cozier one inside.
Christmas music went on and I keep humming "What Child is This" a beautiful tune.




I collected the empty jars, and conveniently had that ''snow'' to add, then slowly things formed. I wanted the bottle brush trees because they really do look like a little forest. I added the Santa and lamppost as those belong to the housemate and they worked well for a tiny bit of traditional color. I wanted my white village too and candles. I am done.
I wanted a wintery feel more than anything else. We are still having to use air conditioning here and it makes me too sad. Inside I can forget how humid it is outdoors.
 



















I had this lovely little silver round dish and a plain cloche and I thought it may fit, and it did, but what to put in it? I do not like overthinking these things, and I glanced around and in the basket were the giant pine cones I use every year, I put one in, and it was magic for me. The sparkles I love, but the Regal Pine Cone has a beautiful place of honor.....it really is the year of the Pine Cone for me this year, they are everywhere in my house....even above my bed....hangs a single one on a ribbon.



































































I added snowflakes to the mirror



















more pine cones. I made these last year. I love them all year round.


















 I covered the lampshade with tulle to soften the light and topped it with my Arwen Crown.. I love it.







 Plumosa Fern dresses up the mundane with ethereal whispers of feathery vine.


























Thanks for visiting me. May your Christmas be Soulful, Merry and Bright !

Lady

sharing this Post with Coastal Charm: Christmas Home Tour Party

and with A Return to Loveliness

and with Home and Garden Thursday

and with No Minimalist Here

and with Rooted In Thyme

and with FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE

and with My Romantic Home

and with A Stroll Thru Life

and with Blissful Whites Wednesdays

About Me

My photo
"Where better to care for the soul than in the details of our daily lives?....The soul has an absolute, unforgiving need for regular excursions into enchantment. It requires them like the body needs food and the mind needs thought... An enchanted world is one that speaks to the soul, to the mysterious depths of the heart and imagination where we find value, love and union with the world around us. As mystics of many religions have taught, that sense of rapturous union can give a sense of fulfillment that makes life purposeful and vibrant." ~ Thomas Moore.