Creative Inspirations, Creative Projects

Decking the halls and walls and the tiniest of places. PART ONE: Outside

Jane Balshaw

Magic.  Its what we all want with winter holidays.  And this year more than ever we need it!  So follow my decorating journey this month to see what I can come up with to make this life of isolation a month of joy.  Todays post; outside of my home during a snow storm.

My chosen life here in this part of New Hampshire is one of simple pleasures with country roads, gardens and traditional ways. This is the environment that stimulates my creative self.

The swag on my sign post is traditional but over-sized & dragging on the ground to add some whimsy. A wired together cluster of red light bulbs mixed with giant Christmas bulbs finish it.
My front door with an enlarged decoration to be visible from the road.  This is a thin plywood cut-out painted with acrylic and embellished with over-sized Christmas balls.
My garden shed is a new found backdrop for staging decorative displays.  The bright garden bench transforms the simplicity of a plain wreath with a brightly painted watering can.
At the small window in the back of garden shed, where only we can see if we crane our necks out the upstairs windows, is a simple gardening tool with bow.  The idea here is to honor my shed with the joy it has provided me with. 
David’s He-Shed that he built, otherwise know as the Dwell-Shed based on his inspirations from Dwell magazine. Cut wood is scattered outside readying itself for some carving and turning. A 30″ real wreath becomes Dr. Zeus-like with multi-colored 6″ balls.
We had to take down the tree that held these bird houses so I repurposed them for winter in my hanging basket at my studio door. When I pruned my variegated euonymus hedge a month back I saved the trimmings; they added the yellow color of the He-Shed Dwell-Shed and allowed me to use the yellow birds, gifts from a friend. A mini Alberta Spruce dressed up the urn at the backdoor.
The window box outside my gallery space complete with paint-tipped paint brushes.
To dress up the road at the back bottom of our property I fashioned a holly leaf from cut-out plywood like on the front only this time painted with outdoor paint. I found the 3-D balls at a craft store and painted them on the inside for durability.
Festive lights wrapped around the trees add the final touch of magic to share with passers by.

Published by Jane Balshaw

Food writer, artist and co-owner of the Canterbury Country Store

10 thoughts on “Decking the halls and walls and the tiniest of places. PART ONE: Outside”

  3. What a wonderful way to start my day here in Snowless Callifornia…there really is a North Pole after all…and its in Canterbury NH! Looks like your art and your heart are limitless.
    I will visit daily to see if there is more posted. Hugs, Mom

    Reply

  4. I love everything, of course, but the multi-colored lights wrapped around the trees looks so cool!! Just bought the ingredients for cranberry chutney….yum!

    Reply

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