Every year, folks ask me how I came about my festive, naturalistic holiday decorations. I got it from my Mom, who was originally from Wisconsin and always dreamed of a white Christmas with a traditional “tannenbaum” Christmas tree. She always started with a base of greenery, gathered from our live Christmas tree cuttings, and then spliced in some red berries and an ever changing array of florals over the years, often cut from her yard (she was down in Louisiana). She would spray this across the dining table, and then sprinkle in all manner of white (or sometimes red) candles in glass or silver bases, of various heights. To this day, I am drawn to doing my own variations of the very same thing Mom did, here in Nashville, Tennessee. What I love about it is that it is so simple. The holiday season is full of joy, but it can also get hectic with all the planning, shopping, and decorating – all while working and taking care of the family. So here are a few tips and tricks, following along with my own holiday decorating this year – our studio kitchenette table for the office party, and a Christmas floral bouquet I made at a posh designer gathering at Ann Sacks, led by Joey, a stylist at AsheBlue. It now adorns my fireplace hearth at home.
Tabletop holiday greenery:
- Gather tree trimmings from your local Christmas tree lot. We did purchase our own Frasier Fir from the lot on 51st in the Nations this year, but Mr. Henley, the proprietor, was giving these extra tree trimmings away. I got a truckload for free.
- Visit your local wholesale florist and pick up some berries. I found these Hypernicum berries at Import Flowers in my neighborhood for $12 a bundle.
- Gather up some cream colored tea light candles.
- Cut the tree trimmings so that each one is a neat little “splay” that will sit flat on the table. Another reason to pick up lots of tree trimmings; so you can cut out all the funky legs and end up with the pretty ones.
- Feather them in along the middle of the table, allowing room around the edges for dinnerware and serving dishes.
- Trim out the leaves from the berries, and cut them into small clumps. Lace them in alternating on either side of the greenery.
- Lace in the tea lights alternating on roughly the opposite sides of the berries.
- Light the tea lights, set out the wine and cheese, and lower the lights! You are party ready!
Holiday floral bouquet:
This year, I was treated to a designer holiday gathering and floral bouquet arranging workshop at Ann Sacks, hosted by Angela and led by Joey, the super talented stylist with AshBlue As soon as I was invited, I knew I was THERE. You can’t keep me from a flower arranging workshop with a talented stylist such as Joey! That is undoubtedly my idea of a good time.
We learned hands-on how to create stunning holiday arrangements in minutes, to bring cheer to your home.
- Start with Seasonal Foliage
We started with some evergreen branches of fir and cedar, mixed with eucalyptus branches, for height and texture. The eucalyptus aroma also magnificently blends with the evergreens. These greens will last all season, and their natural scent instantly evokes the holiday spirit.
- Add a Few Bold Blooms
We then were offered green mums, red and white roses. Some folks went wild with the greenery, and sprinkled in the flowers; some created bold floral bouquets. It was so much fun to see what everyone did with theirs! I had never worked with roses for the holidays, tending to lean more toward natural florals, so I jumped into challenging myself. I mixed the white and the red right in the middle, with Joey’s help. Victoria, on the other hand, did something more soft and romantic with the white ones.
(Me and Victoria’s Bouquets)
And my floral now rests on my fireplace for a little festive seasonal flair!
These seasonal elements make the home feel and smell like a winter wonderland, creating the warm cozy to get you through these wintery months. So, take a few moments to create something beautiful and celebrate the holiday season with fresh flowers and evergreens. Here’s hoping you have a lovely holiday at home with family and friends.
XOXO Marcelle
