I did it. I can’t believe I did it.
I wasn’t going to get into Christmas this year. My wah wah post spelled it all out. I missed my mom and I just wanted to pout my way through the season.
But then all the blogland party deadlines approached. And I did what any blogaholic with passion does. I rose to the challenge and I met the deadlines.
This post is WAY long. About 7 posts worth. However I was faced with a reveal deadline today so it is what it is. 🙂
To accompany your viewing pleasure, here’s a song I’ve always loved. However, THIS year, each and every word is 100% applicable to how I’ve felt in the past little while. Thanks Faith Hill. You hit the nail on the head this year for me.
(if YouTube doesn’t work, right click / new tab HERE)
Welcome friends!
To my junk / memory style Christmas. 🙂
~ Front entry ~
My dad’s jean jacket.
~ The tree ~
A real tree, glistening with all of my favorite things alongside some special family mementos, set the theme this season.
The tree stand was placed in an old tub to resemble a root ball attached.
Full tree reveal and story can be found HERE
~ The fireplace ~
How to make an old gate from scratch tutorial HERE.
A fireplace, garnished with antique jars and a handmade old weathered gate, help carry on the theme of all things vintage and rustic.
Jars of all kinds are illuminated with mini lights behind them.
The glass angel hair offers an amazing snowy glow.
The wreath is loaded with special memories.
My dad’s tie clip.
A lovely vintage pic of my mom.
Forever a farmer’s daughter. 🙂
Grainsack, sandbag and pillowcase = no sew stockings bagings. 🙂
~ Sawhorse side table ~
When opportunity knocks to bring in a new furniture piece, never overlook something someone else is throwing out. 🙂
Full sidetable reveal and story can be found HERE.
~ picnic coffee table ~
I couldn’t resist using this new found relic (my big junkin’ day HERE) for a seasonal coffee table! The colour and size was perfect.
Real greens in clay pots along with ‘new fallen snow’ provide the ‘walking through a snowdrift for a Christmas tree’ feel.
~ The card ladder ~
Special pieces from my mom’s jewelry box sparkle up this little rustic card display.
The mini Whoville tree combined with the mandatory pet photo. 🙂
Even the old weathered wood collection posing as windowsill art wears festive colours.
~ Kitchen ~
Modern windows are vintaged up, creating unique frames for the twig style wreaths.
A touch of real greens and a sparkly wired ribbon ring in the festive season.
Window from my parent’s farm.
A coke crate becomes a festive and helpful centerpiece to the kitchen island.
The white twig chandelier (reveal HERE)
gets prettied up with mini lights, icy delights…
… and a little surprise visitor once belonging to my mom.
~ Blog office ~
Freshly strung cranberries trim out the front of the display areas.
(original blog office reveal HERE)
Thanks for your visit my way!
Please don’t forget to grab a peppermint sugar cookie on your way out. 🙂
Everyone in blogland helped encourage me. Thank-you for saving my season.
Oh my gosh.. I’m done! Bring it on, Christmas! I’m in the mood now. 🙂
(see you this upcoming weekend for your full Christmas reveals!)
Festive, fun, funky!!! Perfectly you!
So glad you are doing better.
I know God will carry you through each and every day of the holidays and beyond. He will bring a smile to your face when nothing or no one else can.
God bless you, Amy
It’s beautiful!
Your home looks great Donna! Very nice and festive. Even though you weren’t in the mood, I’m glad you decide to get into the Christmas spirit. I really love your tree and your twiggy chandelier 🙂
Hi Donna, I am so glad you decided to decorate for Christmas! Everything is wonderful but I especially love the tree with license plates and rusty junque. Fabulous!
Happy Holidays,
Sherry
Absolutely beautiful!
I absolutely LOVE your style! You have such an eye for decorating to be able to put together the things that you do. Christmas looks like a lot of fun at your house!
Susan : D
This is so beautiful and so special how you incorporated memories of your parents into the decor. I know how hard this year is for you. It’s better with decorations than without though….isn’t it? It would be hard for me to look at their personal objects mixed in but yet, I think it’s a very fitting tribute. And in this manner they are a part of your holiday. And so nice for your son to see these mementos.
You have the most beautiful way of showing the true meaning of Christmas through the special way you use little things to remind you of the special people in your life I absolutely LOVE THIS!!What an awesome job!!Have a Merry Chritmas and thank you so much for sharing!!!
Beautiful! Love and Prayers are with you this season. Know it will be tough but the memories are priceless. Thanks for sharing, Vicky
I love it all! Have a wonderful Christmas and my prayers are with you too.
Kim:)
LOVE IT! … Can you come over and finish my house for me?
LOVE the cow bell on the wreath and the dancing Santa in the office shelf!
Well done! This house is uniquely you. No glitter, no shine, and just one color. Funkilicious! Ann
Thank you for the lovely tour, Donna. God Bless you and your family this Christmas!
: )
Julie M.
Awesome, awesome Christmas decorating. I’m so you glad you made the effort and I bet you are too.
Anne xx
I grabbed two cookies!! Ha!! And they are delish! Your home looks fabulous! I love all the “junk” touches…it looks so festive.
Love it very much!!
Hugging you
SueAnn
Wonderfully, beautifully eclectic and WARM! Favorite house tour hands down.
your house is seriously amazing. you make ‘junk’ look priceless and beautiful. if i tried to do the same it would look like junk … while yours is a masterpiece!
thanks for sharing!!!!
I love the way you make pieces that would be just junk to other people look so beautiful. I love your imagination. So glad you decided to decorate for Christmas, and the pieces from your mom & dad, what a sweet touch.
Merry Christmas!
I love what you have done!
Just love the little touches of gingham ribbon and beads throughout your home mixed in with the old. Everything is simple, rustic and elegant!
Everything looks lovely and perfectly Donna. 🙂
One word: AWESOME !! Merry Christmas and be blessed always : )
Dear Donna ~ I sat here smiling the whole way through this post. It was your lovely tree and another blogging friends tree posted recently, that got me in the mood to decorate and I finished yesterday. So I thank you for your inspiration. I love everything you’ve done to lovingly decorate your home with memories and funky junk.
You are dear and I wish you and your son a lovely, peace and love filled Christmas season.
Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady
Every little touch so perfect. Love coca cola Santa, the ribbon just twirled and drapped, all the family touches. Now just sit back and enjoy!
I love the personal touches. Your dads jacket, your moms glasses, these little things are what makes your holiday home so special!
Robin
I love everything about your very personal and purposeful Christmas decorations this year. Not only are your ideas unique and so very creative…but the sentiment and meaningful family touches are so authentic …it is truly you.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful creative ideas and your beautiful self this Christmas season. 🙂
Love your style!
I think your Christmas decor is fantastic, or to be more specific “FUNky”! You have such a clever eye for decorating.
CAS
Wow!
I am stunned. What a wonderful HOME you have this Christmas. Love all of the momentos you used and I love all you your rust too!
Thanks for sharing….everything is beautiful!!! Happy Holidays!!!
I love all your Funky decorations! It took awhile to view your post — so many interesting things to see!
love it all…don’t know what my fav is exactly, but I did love your Dad’s jacket…..I love old clothes and have them displayed everywhere….but have never pulled out my Grandad’s old tattered jean jacket….now it is a must!……..sometimes we just have to jump into something to help with grief….so glad you did, and will be thinking of you this season….blessings~Denise
Lovely, Lovely, Lovely. I had a lovely time. I C that U also put the lights above the kitchen. I like them. Merry Christmas
Very different and unique! I am loving your funky style. I love how casually your ribbons are used too. Very pretty!
It all looks so fantastic! I love so many things but that red coffee table needs to fly south for the winter! I love that. You just have a way with your photographs too.
Your stockings! What did you call them? I forgot. Anyway, they are my favorite and I have them right here to copy you. I hope you don’t mind, I will tell where I got the idea from, I promise. I’m so glad so got into the spirit because you do so much for me and I”m sure a lot of other bloggers.
Enjoy your holiday friend.
Hugs from Florida!
LOved all of the decorations but your special memory wreath touched my heart. Thank you for sharing.
Sue
Awesome! You knocked it right out of the park!! Do you make housecalls??
GAW-JUS!!!
I love the story and memories dabbled all over your home in the decorations!
The greens in the little pots – well – I melted a little when I saw those, too!
The cookies look sooo good. Maybe I’ll put that 90# bag of flour on my counter to some good use!
As always, thank you for the inspiration!!!
~K
Oh my word! I love looking at all your pictures – so whimsical and fun! I’m happy to hear your are enjoying Christmas after all. Blessings to you and a warm and merry Christmas!
Donna, thanks for the tour. Love the front entry hook area, too fun. I am sure someone already said this, but the way you draped the runner on your side table, my first thought was angel wings…?Have a great day! Laura
Love it all! The table looks great and your runners are just adorable! Your Funky Junk Christmas touches are perfectly you!!! 🙂
Hi Donna, A few words in this little text box cannot begin to capture the loveliness and memory-filled inspired decor of your home. You hit it way out of the park yet again, girlfriend. My two favorite things: The wooden bead garland scattered here and there (I’m not sure why, maybe because it captures your sensibility along with traditional decor?) and the wreath ON the hanger, classic Funky Junk. Seeing your entry coat hooks took me way back–I think that was the first project I saw here. I’m wishing you comfort and blessings this holiday season.
Love your home tour ~ Festive, Creative and Inspiring, great work!!
Dang Girl! See, this is why you’re a natural decorator. Nothing looks overdone, it all looks original and unique, it totally fits you, and it makes me want to come drink cocoa in your living room.
I’m so glad you decided to decorate for the season…so much of what you’ve done could stretch you thru the winter months too! Glorious.
WOW…..what a cozy home you have. I would give anything to live in your home!! I have some crusty, rusty, vintage things but cannot make “it fit”…..can you come to North Carolina, please?! All your little touches are such big inspirations. I hope to be able to duplicate some and actually make it work. Have a wonderful Christmas!!
Donna,
You did your mother and yourself proud! You not only honored her loving memory but had the courage to create a new one for the ones you love, bravo for the courage and effort it took. Your decor is simply stunning and I nearly melted at the tow sack and pillow case stockings – genius! I inherited my grandmothers farm house and we will start a little remodeling after the first of the year, I do hope you will feel flattered if I copy a few of your wonderful home decor ideas, especially the tow sack stocking idea. There are old ones we used when we dug potatoes out in the storage shed and what a great way to use them. Have a very Merry Christmas!
looks wonderful Donna so glad you got into the spirit….blessed holidays to you and your son
Perfect!! This is what this time of year is all about, reflecting on memories, people we love and miss, and surrounding our selves with things that are special and dear to our hearts and our families! Like Charlie Brown says, It is not about the commercialism!! I feel like I could come over and kick my shoes off and be right at home! Merry Christmas!!
Your ideas of mixing old and new, rustic and shiny, green and rust! Perfection! Well done lady! Well done. Loves loves loves it! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Deb.
‘Swonderful. ‘Smarvelous. It’s. . . It’s. . . well, I just can’t think of any more adjectives to express my admiration for all you’ve done. It’s funkily fabulous, that’s what it is.
Those little swirls of gingham ribbon? That, my friend is pure genius. Really.
Merry Christmas!!
Oh Donna, I just love you Christmas decor. I am awestruck, I have just never seen anything like it.I just love how you incorporate out of the ordinary items into your decor! The coffee table is great, the lantern, the tree I could just go on and on!I love that you used your mothers jewelry in the card display, so special!You are amazing~ Merry Christmas!
Your tour rocks Donna! Great way to show off your gorgeously unique home.
Oh my goodness, your tree is a riot! I love the topper! Have a great holiday!
Your house is beautiful and FULL of delightful Christmas spirit! Thanks for the tour! 🙂
You are amazing. Giving me inspiration to go on without my mom, and decorating with all your incredible junk! Love it all, especially that cute red table!
Merry Christmas to you
Becky C
I love your style! And everything about your home, it’s truly chic and amazing. And that twig chandelier? How can I get some of your creativity?! 🙂 Looks great!!
I had fun on your house tour. Loved it!
I love it, of course! It is totally you! Just the right amount of funky and rustic. And that repeating red ribbon is a nice addition. Thanks for sharing!
There’s no way you could have “hurried” to do all of this! It would have taken me a YEAR. Of course, that would mean I would be right on schedule for NEXT Christmas.
Everything you touch is magic, and this is no exception. Rusty, vintage and home-y perfection.
AMAZING!!!! I love that you used so many mementos! LOVE IT ALL!!!!!
Bonnie 🙂
peppermint sugar cookies sound delightful about now! I really like the wooden hangar with the wreath. the ribbon touches everywhere make it all seem “alive” and like a party is just waiting to break out any moment. I enjoyed my visit. Thank you! Kelly
Everything looks amazing Donna!
Carmen and the Primcats
Looks fabulous Donna. So perfectly you. Your Mother would be proud.
Merry Christmas.
Hugs, Deb
Wow!! I am so glad you decided to decorate for Christmas. It is all very beautiful, Donna!
Love the tree with all of the little reminders of your family. What a sweet idea.
Hope you will have a wonderful Monday!
Beth.
I don’t have a blog. Have never, ever commented on anyone’s. Tears flowed as I looked through yours. The song. The memories. The beauty. Exquisite.
Love the rustic festivity. I’m totally stealing that red plank coffee table. I have one in the garage almost like that, except with table hright legs on it. I think I’ll cut it down and paint it red now. (Thanks for the inspiration :))
I’m glad to see that decorating has transformed your mood this year. I know it’s a difficult time for you, so I’ll be keeping you in my prayers for sure this season.
I’m actually going to decorate my house afterall – that is IF I can get home this week. I’m currently stuck at my mom’s due to an ice storm!
I could just move into your house and be happy as can be!!!
Merry Christmas!
Beautiful! Love it all. You have been such a huge inspiration to me in so many ways over the past year. Thank you, and may God Bless you and your son this Christmas and throughout the New Year! -Tammy
Love the infusions of red and the natural elements that you have incorporated…just breathtaking and so welcoming!! I could just grab a humongeous cup of something warm and curl up and be quite comfy for the rest of the Winter!! Happy HOlidays xOxO
Oh, Donna, you’re absolutely brilliant. Truly. I find myself absolutely speechless to express the emotion that this post has inspired in me. Your Mom and Dad are most definitely there with you in spirit.
My thoughts can only echo everyone else’s – and they have put it more eloquently than I. Such strength comes when we work to overcome ourselves. I truly hope your reward for your hard work is blessed with a season full of everything you need it to be.
LOVE all that you did Donna! Such rustic charm!! Gorgeous photos… gorgeous decor girl!!
I especially LOVE the sacks on the mantel…great idea! And…lots more stuff can go in them…LOL!
Kendra
Creative Ambitions
Everything is so pretty, I love the mix, perfect for you!
I’m so glad you got in the spirit, your kids will thank you!
Being the first Christmas without my dad and grandpa it will be hard, thank goodness for my kids they are what it’s all about!
XO
Kristin
Wow!
Merry Christmas from New Brunswick! I love your blog, and I absolutely LOVE how you decorated your home for Christmas….very nice! And, adding the simple touches remembering your Mom and Dad make it even more special and interesting….thanks so much for sharing, I’m glad you decided to decorate after all 🙂
God Bless you this Christmas season and fill you with peace and comfort…kathy
Absolutely perfectly scrumptious. And that’s not even trying a cookie. Beautifully done Donna. 🙂 ox
I’m totally stealing your gate at the front entrance. That would be perfect for our home! You are so creative! Thank you!!!!!
I love how you used your mom’s photograph! It’s a great idea that I might copy next year.
Beautiful, thank you so much for taking the time to do all that decorating and share it with us!
Your home looks amazing…you did a wonderful job. What a great way to honor your mother by incorporating her things into your home. It’s another way to keep her memories close to your heart, and I hope that you’ll have a wonderful Christmas as you look around your home and see pieces of her that are still with you.
I thoroughly enjoyed each and every picture and all of the special memories your decor provides you!
I so loved your photos! Gave me so many great ideas as I collect the same things! Love the old great junk! 🙂
Merry Christmas!
…so many wonderful ideas…love the Tree Topper!….and your kitchen windows are dreamy ..I could look at them all day!
You know I love it all! I REALLY want to steal that red coffee table.
Angie
You have such a cool sense of style-LOVE it!
Ok, let me pick up my mouth off the floor. Your home is absolutely cozy and inviting all decked out for Christmas. This season is hard for us also. My sister (Beth @the stories of A2z)and I lost our dad earlier this year. So we understand what you’re going through.
I just love everything that you do. You make magic happen with everyday junk. Your mom is looking down on you with a big ole smile.
Gorgeous! Love, love, love it. So “you”. You really need to write a book with tons of pictures of your home. Truly one-of-a-kind and totally awesome!!
Happy holidays,
Danielle
You have outdone yourself my friend! I am not feeling the Christmas spirit myself but for other reasons than the loss of my loved one. I almost cried seeing all the things that you have surrounded yourself with to remind you of your parents – that is such a neat way to pay tribute to them. To walk into a room and know that she is “there” in a small way hopefully brings a smile to your face (as well as a tear to your eye and a tug at your heart.) Blessings your way. Elaine
beautifully inspired Christmas for a beautifully inspiring person!
Thanks for the tour it all looks so Funky-Junky!
love it
Very nice – thanks for sharing 🙂
Love, love, love!!
Love everything about your holiday home, especially those little curls of red and white ribbon. They’re like fillips of style and color everywhere you look. Once again, you’ve made me want to live in your house. LOL! Bless you, Donna.
Wow your house is fabulous and I love the rustic feel to it….so great! I really love how you incorporated the coca cola bottles and the wreaths are stunning….
Summer
I love, love, love your funky style! Just awesome and so fun. I miss my mom, too…she went home to heaven four years ago. And, she loved Christmas. But, she always made it special and focused on the joy…even when life was hard. So, I try to do the same…even as my heart aches for her.
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to you!
I love all your details, especially the wreathes in the windows!!
Your home is so beautiful!
~michelle~
Love your style!
Love everything, but simply adore that tree! Brilliant! Cheers!
Awesome home tour…I just adore your tree…one of my favorites this year! Super cool decorating…love it! ~Deb~
MY FAVORITE!!!!!!!
~destiny
Oh my gosh, I LOVE your style!! Everything looks so unique and beautiful
LOVE LOVE LOVE everything! I want to live in your house. I am using some of your office storage and decor as inspiration. We are redecorating our loft office and I have been collecting “junk” your style will lead me in a fun direction
Looove the level, hanger and sign combination on the window sill! I never think to mix. My new mantra…mix, mix, mix…I hope that your cranberries are holding up. They look great!
Nifty site—shows how funky can also be beautiful-funny–and certainly inventive Sherron
oh my goodness! i adore it all!! the tree is my fave i have seen. so warm and inviting with so many stories hung from it’s branches. thanks for the constant inspiration!
Just wanted you to know that thanks to your blog I have started my own. You are an inspiration. Your creativity is AWESOME. I love your style. Texture, texture and more texture!!!!!
Bless you and your son this holiday season. Christmas reminds us of our childhood. Missing loved ones are close to our hearts at this time of the year. A big hug,Mandy Please come and visit 🙂
I am so in love with every picture you posted, especially that birdhouse in the entry way.. I am SO jealous of that!! I am going to save some of your pictures to give myself some inspiration! and I put your links on my page so that I can start linking up with you at your parties! 🙂 love your blog!!!
Donna,
MY kinda Funky-Junk Christmas all the way!!
Love your brave style, that Lic-plate in the tree is great:)
I am sure your Family, Friends, and Guest enter with a smile, and leave with JOY! in there hearts.
Joyeux Noel
Cheers
~Dore~
I love, love, love your eclectic Christmas decorations, and how they include so many meaningful items. Truly inspiring.
I guess everyone that has lost a mother goes thru this at Christmas time. I squall my eyes out most of the season, but behind closed doors. Grands get upset if they see their memaw cry. :))
Your decorations are wonderful.
And, thanks for the cookie.
I am really digging those license plates in your tree and the STAND!! You really know how to put things together well.
Oh Funky Junk Lady! You are just too much! Such creativity! I am bowing to you as we speak!
So very funky! So much fun!!!
Great taste in putting things together, for the Christmas feel on all the otherwise junk stuff!!
Loved it all!
Thanks for sharing!!
Now that I’ve wiped the drool off my keyboard and can type again….OMG I want to come and live in your house! LOVE your junk tree along with everything else. What an imagination. Merry Christmas Donna and may you be blessed with many wonderful memories.
Loved the tour, you put “junk” together so beautifully…I remember seeing your numbers chest last yr., I loved seeing it again…May your heart be lighter and I wish you a blessed Holiday!
mmmm! your peppermint sugar cookies are divine!
Love your Christmasness!
xoxo,
Michelle
This is my first visit to your blog and I love it. Your home and individual style is just stunning, wishing you a peaceful Christmas x
Oh my how wonderfully creative youare!! I LOVE everything you did!! I am so in awe of how you put everything together!! GREAT job!!
xx-Gina
Donna, you and your home are always an inspiration! I love all the vintage and personal touches you used to put Christmas in your home. Your comments and facebook sharing was really appreciated! You really made my day!!
Oh I see we both used our ladders as a card display. 🙂
Don’t usually comment on most bloggers BUT had to on this one. I LOVE LOVE LOVE old stuff and you’ve given me some really great ideas. I have an antique shop and spend all my thoughts and creative energy there but once I get home nothing much gets done. I’m trying to change that. Your blog has inspired me. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Hello there,
Your home is beautiful. I love your unique style! Could you be so kind as to share the paint brand and color you have in your blog office? I absolutely LOVE that color!
Happy holidays!
Girl, everything looks absolutely stunning, beautiful, and above all, warm. You can feel the love here, you can.
My first Christmas without my Mom was so difficult. I understand.
It’s my hope that in doing this, you found some comfort in bringing the love home and surrounding yourself with it.
xoxoxo
Wow!! Love the style! Now I am ready for some hot cocoa with those cookies!
love the simplicity and your country style.
I so admire your mix of art and sentiment to create such a beautiful and unique home for Christmas. I hope all your memories bring you great peace and comfort. You inspire us all with each of your posts and projects. I’m sure your Mom is both proud and happy to see how you use your talents and strength.
May you and your son have a blessed Christmas,
Leslie
Your house looks beautiful, and so unique! I understand about not being in the mood to celebrate. I lost my Aunt who was VERY close to my heart 2 weeks ago and tonight we had to put our dog down. I am going with the flow and trying to enjoy things and make a Merry Christmas for my kids but it is so difficult when you miss those loved ones not here.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Donna, I know that angels are lifting your spirit to a place of peace. The healing process is hard and throwing yourself into something you love is part of that process. Good for you. The beauty you have within comes out in every projectyou do. Thank you for that. And, I’ll let you in on a secret……you and many other recently found bloggers have helped me in my healing process. Though not healing from the death of a person, but of relationships and loss of people in my life this past year. Thank you again for that. Keep inspiring us onward.
You did a beautiful job. I loved everything about your home and the decor. Take care and may his blessings shine upon you. He will give you strength and guidance to get through what may come. Merry Christmas to you.
Cheryl
YOU did it!!! it looks amazing donna! 🙂
Donna, your rustic Christmas decorations are beautiful! I love all the “little” touches like the pine tucked in here and there! Wonderful job…Have a blessed Christmas!
You are one of the most creative decorators I’ve seen! You see potential in the most mundane things. I love it all and there’s some super ideas here!!!!
Girl, you are amazing! You make the most random things look absolutely perfect as decorations. I especially love the eye glasses, watch and spigot handle on the Christmas tree. Oh and the pepsi bottles in a wire basket. Sheesh, I wish I could have thought of that. Perfectly charming!
Thanks for sharing.
Brittany
http://www.prettyhandygirl.com
I love your home and the decor you have put up is so meaningful and beautiful.
Thank you for sharing at Holly Bloggy.
What a beautiful and creative home ~ you are a great inspiration!
These are such beautiful images….one of my favorites is the jacket …tree star…and personal items on the tree!
I’m so glad you got in the spirit! What an amazing way to remember !!
Hi, Donna
I just love all your Christmas decor and the new table you found its just lovely!
Vanessa
you are awsome you should have a tv seies like the juck gypsy your stuff tops thiers totaly love your stuff