Sparkle and Berry Front Porch Christmas

“Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.  Just keep going. No feeling is final.” Rainier Maria Rilke

2015 has been a difficult, tragedy-filled year from Paris to Charleston, and I am struggling to find the Christmas spirit.  It even seems trivial to post the décor of the front porch although it is my readers’ favorite.  Then I stumbled upon this quote by Norman Vincent Peale: “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” and thought, if I can brighten even one person’s world, I should.

The wreath was created by layering a red berry wreath over a twig one, adding glittery pinecones, white berry sprays, clusters of silver mini ornaments on florist pics, suspending a glitter star ornament in the center and crowning the wreath with a cascading red ribbon bow sparkling with  silver snowflakes and a cheerful pair of silver sleighbells on a velvet ribbon. The wreath set the theme for the rest of the porch décor.  The wreath was repurposed from what was in the Christmas closet and is probably my favorite wreath ever.  It really shimmers when the light catches the glittery bits.

Black urns flank the door and are filled half way with soil then topped to overflow with pinecones collected from the yard. I placed another red berry wreath on the top of the urn then inserted 5 kinds of branches: silver spraypainted, snow-flocked, red twigs painted red, red glitter sticks and curly natural willow. I nestled a silvery bird/dove ornament on top of each urn with a few more clusters of silver mini ornaments. The pictures don’t do justice to these urns. They are restrained but so beautiful especially as the light catches them just right and they sparkle.

In a large elevated planter which is always on our porch I created a story corner.  Our sons have all been away at college and a mother is never complete again until all her children return home.  The planter showcases a twig tree topped by a red star layered with a heart.  On a blanket of snow, I created a village with our family’s narrative:  a university building, a village clock tower and a little house. Above this I hung an old frame recently painted red in which I framed a chalkboard message for my sons.  Waiting nearby for the boys’ return in a red wicker chair is our family’s first and favorite Santa, nestled on a faux fur throw with fresh greens and red velvet cushions.   Elements of this natural-red and spakle theme continue throughout.

Wishing you a season of warmth, peace and joy.