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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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November 28, 2012

A Tale of Two Trees..Christmas Tree Blog Hop

a tale of two Christmas trees

We are so excited to be sharing two fun and unique Mini Christmas Trees that each reflect the parts of the country that we call home! Join us, along with several talented bloggers on a cross-country Christmas Tree hop!

Up first we are visiting Vanessa in the Pacific Northwest….

As soon as we started brainstorming ideas for our Christmas Trees I knew I wanted to pay homage to my beautiful Willamette Valley. Many don’t know that the Pacific NW, where I am privileged to live, is home to some of the most fabulous wineries in the country….dare I say world?

Oh yes, I dare!

And, I dared to decorate a Christmas Tree that I feel represents the beauty of this area.

 In keeping with a more natural look, a bow of burlap ribbon at the top then winds it’s way around the tree to add softness and texture.

Grapevine branches make the perfect tree topper to honor wine country.

Twiggy garland with small gold berries add just the right pop of color and reflection almost making the tree look as though it’s lit up.

Wine cork ornaments are so easy to make! Almost so easy I’m embarrassed to explain it…but I will…cause this is a blog and that’s what we’re supposed to do right?

Either use corks you already have or buy some at your local craft store. Open up one end of an ornament hook and stick it into the middle of the cork.

See, told you I didn’t really need to explain it!

A galvanized bucket becomes the perfect Wine Country Christmas Tree stand.

 And my tribute to the Willamette Valley Wine Country is complete!  

This weekend we’ll be heading up into the mountains to cut down our fresh Christmas Tree and I can’t wait to get it decorated and share it with all of you!

Onto Heather’s home in the Bluegrass State….

Welcome to my country kitchen in the hills of Kentucky! I’ve always wanted to have a “kitchen tree” and I thought what would be more appropriate than a nod to nature with a “birds of a feather” themed tree!

Of course it wouldn’t be a nature tree unless it was a fresh tree. I found this darling little pine, the perfect size for the corner of my kitchen.

Birds of a Feather Kitchen Christmas Tree from At The Picket Fence

I created this simple little canvas pendant banner with pre-cut pendants from Hobby Lobby and wired twine.  I hot glued the pendants onto the twine and wrote out the words “tweet tweet.” That’s the way birds say “Merry Christmas” after all. smile!

Birds of a Feather Tree from At The Picket Fence

In addition to the metallic acorns and various feathered friends I’ve picked up over the years, I also mode these book page birds that seem quite at home in their little nests.

Book Page Bird in Nest from At The Picket Fence

I picked up little wooden bird cut-outs for .29 each at Michael’s and after tracing out their shape onto book pages mod podged them and hot glued them into tiny nests.   Of course it wouldn’t be a bird themed tree without a little birdseed! Using the same cut-outs as I used for the book page birds, I applied a thin layer of glue and lightly pressed them down into birdseed.

Birdseed Ornament from At The Picket Fence

The sunflower seeds made perfect little beaks!  I adore how this tree turned out.  It’s a bright and cheery spot in my white kitchen and makes me happy every time I’m in there, which is often during the holidays! The fresh pine smells wonderful and my sweet little birds are there to keep me company during hours of baking and cooking.

Birds of a Feather Kitchen Christmas Tree from At The Picket Fence

 I can’t wait to share more of my home decked out for Christmas next week…and as this hectic and sometimes stressful season gets underway, my little bird tree helps to remind me of this… “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”  Matthew 6 

Birds of a Feather Kitchen Christmas Tree from At The Picket Fence

Have you seen the other fabulous trees that our friends are sharing today! Be sure to visit Angela from Unexpected Elegance, the hostess with the mostess of this fun Christmas Tree Hop,  KariAnne of Thistlewood Farm, Kristin of My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Laura of Finding Home and Kelly of Eclectically Vintage!They are each sharing their gorgeous themed trees with you as well!

 

 

 

 

As always we love having you here with us, where the Christmas season is in full force…and we’ll see you tomorrow afternoon for Inspiration Friday, with some fabulous features! Thank you for joining us today…at the picket fence!

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34 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts, Decorating, DIY, Good Ideas, Holidays Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas craft, Christmas trees, holiday

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Comments

  1. Michal says

    November 28, 2012 at 4:57 AM

    Precious. Love the bird one. I’m going to copy. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Miss Flibbertigibbet says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:18 AM

    Great idea! it’s fun seeing a variety of tree ideas! Love them!

    Reply
  3. Laura @ Finding Home says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:38 AM

    I absolutely love both of them – alike in size and location – but totally different in execution. The burlap bows, the little bird seed bird ornaments! And anything with cardinals makes me think of my Grandfather – so I love it even more!

    Reply
  4. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:46 AM

    Both trees are so pretty, ladies! I’d love to do something with all the wine corks I’ve been saving.

    Reply
  5. Brenda says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:52 AM

    Both trees are so very sweet! Love!

    Reply
  6. Sue says

    November 28, 2012 at 6:00 AM

    Too stinkin’ cute- both of these ideas! I have yet to begin my holiday decorating…. way too much going on these last three weeks. Hope to hit it today, as all my bins and boxes got brought down from the attic on Monday. What a mess! LOL 🙂 Sue

    Reply
  7. Vanessa says

    November 28, 2012 at 6:05 AM

    Hi, Heather and Vanessa

    These two trees are beautiful. Love the different elements you used.

    Vanessa

    Reply
  8. kristin says

    November 28, 2012 at 6:54 AM

    Love the tree’s girls, so pretty! So happy to kicking off this party with you!
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  9. Thistle says

    November 28, 2012 at 6:54 AM

    Both of your trees are beautiful and wonderful and incredible (just like both of you)….but can we discuss the photography…..seriously.

    Absolutely amazing 🙂

    Have a blessed and wonderful day my friends!
    karianne

    Reply
  10. Christi {Jealous Hands} says

    November 28, 2012 at 7:03 AM

    Both trees are adorable! I hae a bird tree in my breakfast room every year & I love it! xo

    Reply
  11. Anne says

    November 28, 2012 at 7:35 AM

    Pretty trees! Love the wine corks so cute!What a cool idea with that ball jar too!
    xx
    Anne

    Reply
  12. Athena at Minerva's Garden says

    November 28, 2012 at 10:39 AM

    These are both gorgeous trees, but I am in love with Vanessa’s tree with the wine cork ornaments and grapevines–lovely!

    Reply
  13. Angela says

    November 28, 2012 at 11:07 AM

    Both of your trees are so cute. I love how they are in unexpected places in your homes.
    Thanks again for all your help and patience!! Hope we can do something like this again! 🙂
    Hugs,
    Angela

    Reply
  14. Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage says

    November 28, 2012 at 12:17 PM

    WOW – no wonder you girls are sisters! You both knocked it out of the North Pole with a giant snowball!

    Of course, anything wine related makes me go all weak in the knees so I can really appreciate Vanessa’s gorgeous homage to wine country (get that guest bedroom ready for me)!

    I am in LOVE with that tweet little tree Heather! Those birdseed ornaments are the cutest – what a fun idea!

    Glad to be hopping around the Christmas trees with you both!
    Kelly

    Reply
  15. Aimee - It's Overflowing says

    November 28, 2012 at 3:39 PM

    So creative! I love both trees so much!!! Thanks for the great inspiration! XO, Aimee

    Reply
  16. Kim says

    November 28, 2012 at 4:18 PM

    I love both of y’all’s trees. Cute themes for both.

    Reply
  17. Judy Clark says

    November 28, 2012 at 5:00 PM

    Heather & Vanessa – Both trees are just great!! You both did a fantastic job!!

    Judy

    Reply
  18. Emma Briggs says

    November 28, 2012 at 6:55 PM

    What a nice feature you have here Heather and Vanessa; I love the wine country Christmas tree.

    Reply
  19. Sharon says

    November 29, 2012 at 1:30 AM

    Girls, you outdid yourselves! Heather, I love the tie in to the scripture.

    Reply
  20. debra says

    November 29, 2012 at 3:13 AM

    Love both your trees! 🙂 Beautiful!

    Reply
  21. Nana Diana says

    November 29, 2012 at 4:12 AM

    I love both trees. They are just darling. It is so much fun seeing how everyone does Christmas in their part of the world/country- xoDiana

    Reply
  22. Judy says

    November 29, 2012 at 5:01 AM

    I love your mini trees and how they express where you both live. We were joking last night that maybe that’s the size tree we should put up this year – period. Lol We are putting up our tree this weekend. Last night started the other decorating. I love seeing how everyone decorates their trees.

    Reply
  23. Debbie says

    November 29, 2012 at 5:47 AM

    I think they are BOTH adorable. I would never have thought of the corks, but what a wonderful idea! I actually do have a little bird themed tree in my powder room. It needs a facelift because I’ve just been doing the same stuff year after year. THANKS Heather, for some wonderful ideas to amp it up.

    And next year, Heather will have to do a land o’cotton tree.

    Reply
  24. JP says

    November 29, 2012 at 6:29 AM

    Girls…they are both adorable! Looking forward to seeing more trees!

    Reply
  25. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    November 29, 2012 at 6:27 PM

    Just loved all of your beautiful and creative trees!!…and I love the idea of cutting down your own Christmas tree…you would think that in the land of Frasier Firs (NC) I would do so…hmm, next year!!…

    Reply
  26. Sherry says

    December 6, 2012 at 9:23 AM

    Both of these trees are adorable! I would love to try this next year! Thank you for joining HSH!
    Sherry

    Reply
  27. where to buy waterbed says

    May 2, 2013 at 8:54 AM

    Hi there i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere, when i
    read this piece of writing i thought i could also make comment due to this sensible post.

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Trackbacks

  1. An “AWESOME” Christmas Tree 2012 says:
    November 28, 2012 at 5:01 AM

    […] some of my friends, as we Christmas Tree Hop around!  Just click on the photos below. * At The Picket Fence  *  Finding Home  *  Thistlewood Farm  *  Eclectically Vintage  * *  My Uncommon Slice of […]

    Reply
  2. It’s Inspiration Friday No. 91! Welcome says:
    November 29, 2012 at 1:18 PM

    […] We also joined several other bloggers in a Christmas Tree Hop and shared our own Themed Mini Christmas Trees: […]

    Reply
  3. I Dreamt of a White Christmas Tree says:
    November 29, 2012 at 3:19 PM

    […] marshmallow world in the winter …” White Glitter Tree Trio Vintage Ornament Tree  Wine Country Tree … and a surprise For the Birds Tree Vintage White Letter Banner Tree Advent Calendar […]

    Reply
  4. “Birds of a Feather” Kitchen Tree and DIY Book Page Bird Ornaments says:
    December 1, 2012 at 2:02 AM

    […] You can find more great Christmas tree ideas by visiting us over At The Picket Fence. […]

    Reply
  5. Book Page Birds & FOLK Magazine Blog says:
    December 1, 2012 at 3:00 AM

    […] I shared my Birds of a Feather Christmas Kitchen Tree with you. Today I’m sharing how to make these easy Book Page Birds over at the FOLK Magazine […]

    Reply
  6. Lady Behind the Curtain » 15 – DIY Christmas Trees says:
    December 8, 2012 at 11:44 AM

    […] WINE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS TREE […]

    Reply
  7. Welcome to Fridays Unfolded! | nancherrs WordPress says:
    October 3, 2013 at 8:39 AM

    […] girls from At The Picket Fenceshared a tale of two Christmas […]

    Reply

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I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
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…It was just the beginning!
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Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

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So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

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If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

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