The Chandelier

I love to add a little greenery to the "chandelier" over the dining room table. ("Chandelier" being quite the overstatement of the year!)

This year I got an inspiration from "The Nester."

You have met The Nester; haven't you? Oooh, if you haven't, you really should! Her mantra is, "It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful."It is definitely a site to check out! She posts every day and is always refreshing and inspiring.

So, anyway, back to my inspiration. Here is what she calls her "Ragamuffin Garland." I just love all that delightful tumble of fabrics one over the other.

(Photo used with permission.)

I decided to use just a touch of this on my "chandelier."

I had some really beautiful large checked silk that was left over from my dining room curtains, so I ripped some of it up into strips 15 1/2 " x 2" (the leftovers, that is, not the curtains!).

The greenery I used on the chandelier is a little more realistic than the norm . . . with some pieces that look like pine and pinecones sprinkled here and there. So, the garland of greenery was laid on the fixture, and I started tying on my "strips." Which, after tying on looked like this.

Now, here's the treasure. A box of Shiny Brite vintage balls from my grandmother, probably from the 50's. Look at how perfectly she kept things. The box isn't even bent. It scares me that this box even came in my door!

To finish off the chandelier "decor," I hung these vintage balls from gold oranza ribbon.

I just love it!

Now, this really gives me some tingly Christmas joy when I walk in the front door!