Page 6
East Oregonian/Hermiston Herald
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
November 2016
Today’s crafted ornaments,
tomorrow’s keepsakes
By JENNIFER FORKER
Associated Press
M
aking your own
ornaments and
decorations for the
holidays has its own rewards
— the need to create is strong
in many of us — but it feels
particularly good to dig out your
art supplies at this time of year.
As Bob Richter puts it in
his new book, “A Very Vintage
Christmas” (Rowman & Little-
field): “At the heart of it, this is
what Christmas means to me .
passing along warmth, memories,
tradition, stories and so much
more.”
Richter keeps his childhood
memories alive by decorating
with vintage ornaments, some
of which he received as a small
child from relatives. Each delicate
piece evokes a memory.
“As my grandmother grew
older, she took pleasure in
letting me decorate her tree, and
I have many happy memories
of doing it,” Richter reminisces
in his book. “Now one of my
favorite and most treasured
ornaments is her favorite Santa
Claus. Each year when I hang
him on my tree, I think of her
and smile.”
Our children’s handmade orna-
ments — perhaps incorporating a
tiny handprint, a school photo or
the year of its making — evoke
similar sentiments every holiday
season.
“Especially in this culture of
time-pressed, technology-ob-
sessed and often distracted
people, I think it’s more important
than ever to pass along the things
that really connect us,” says
Richter. “And Christmas does
that.”
From the December/January
pages of Woman’s Day magazine
come a few ornaments that evoke
holidays past. We’ve amended
them with another from the
magazine’s website that evokes a
vintage feel. These crafts require
just the simplest of materials, such
as toothpicks, yarn and wooden
clothespins.
Especially when little glue-
sticky fingers are at work, these
crafts could become next year’s
treasures.
Erika LaPresto/Woman’s Day via AP
This undated photo provided by Woman’s Day shows different ornaments hanging that may be crafted for the holidays using simple
items around the house, such as toothpicks, yarn and cinnamon sticks. Crafting ornaments gives families an activity to do together and
provides ornaments that may become next year’s treasures.
Knit bauble
“The ball ornament is the
most recognizable ornament at
Christmastime,” says Woman’s Day
lifestyle director Taryn Mohrman.
“You can use one that’s a little
chipped . with a bit of yarn, you can
turn it into something that evokes
soft and cozy, and adds warmth to
your tree.”
Remove the metal top from
a plain ball ornament. Hold two
colors of yarn together and hot-glue
them inside the opening of the
ornament. Once dry, wrap both
strands around the ornament to
cover it completely; use hot glue to
secure as you go.
Then apply red acrylic paint to
the balls of two rock candy sticks,
and trim the ends into points using
scissors. Once dry, thread these
“knitting needles” through the yarn
on the ornament and replace the
metal top.
Sweet scented tree
“These ornaments make great
gift toppers,” says Mohrman.
Bend a 3 1/2-inch piece of
naturally coiled wrapped wire,
available at crafts stores, in half to
form a loop, and then gently push
each end into the hollow part of
a cinnamon stick. Use hot glue to
attach cut sprigs of fresh rosemary
for branches and small gems for
ornaments.
Sparkling starburst
This ornament “is about the
metallic, the glitter and the shine,”
says Mohrman.
Carefully push whole and halved
toothpicks into a 1 1/2-inch foam
ball, and then apply one or two
coats of silver spray paint. While the
ornament’s still wet, dust fine silver
glitter over it. Use a dab of hot glue
to attach a string for hanging.
Clothespin snowflake
“This is a good sturdy ornament
that can be packed away and stand
the test of time,” says Mohrman.
You need: eight clothespins,
craft glue, white acrylic paint, a
paintbrush, a foam paintbrush,
white glitter, red string and scissors.
Start by carefully sliding
the metal clips off of the eight
clothespins and discard. Reattach
two wooden clothespin pieces
by gluing the flat sides together.
Repeat for the remaining wood
pieces. Arrange these reattached
wood pieces in the shape of a
snowflake and glue together at the
base; let dry completely.
Apply white paint to the edges
and one side of the snowflake.
While the paint is still wet, sprinkle
on white glitter.
Once dry, flip the snowflake
over and apply paint and glitter to
the other side.
Finally, slip a length of red
string through one of the openings
in the snowflake and tie the ends
into a bow; use it to hang the
ornament.
Even simpler
nostalgic DIY ideas?
Richter suggests stringing
popcorn and cranberry chains —
three popcorns for each cranberry
— and tying hole-punched vintage
holiday cards to tree branches with
red ribbon. Find boxes of old cards
at flea markets for a few dollars, he
says.
Furry, fuzzy, fluffy: holiday decor with a soft touch
By KIM COOK
Associated Press
T
his season, faux furs,
wools and other softly
textured materials are
giving holiday decor a cozy,
festive feel.
The trend was prominent
at this fall’s Maison et
Objet trade show in Paris.
Booths were populated with
winsome, appliquéd, felt
people and animals. Glam-
orous, jewel-toned feather
trees dressed up tabletops.
There were furry pillows
printed with wildlife photos
or embellished with metallic
threads, sequins and pearls.
“That natural, organic,
homespun feeling was all
over the runways and it’s
trending at home, too,” says
New York designer Elaine
Griffin. “For holiday, it
manifests as an emphasis
Target via AP
This undated photo provided by Target shows a soft,
cozy throw pillow which features a plaid and stag
print, from Threshold.
on bringing the outdoors in
— think stylish, simple-chic
arrangements of branches,
leaves, berries, pine cones and
moss — coupled with cozy,
textured, wintry textiles like
felt, faux fur and chenille.”
There’s a lot of versatility
in these materials because
faux fur, brushed wool,
hides, and even velvet or
feathers can say “winter
cabin” as easily as “luxury
suite.” It’s all in how you
incorporate other style
elements.
Emily Henderson, host
of HGTV’s “Secrets from a
Stylist” and a Target home-
style expert, is also a fan.
“Yarn and wovens are two
of my favorites — they make
a space feel extra warm and
welcoming, which is what the
holidays are all about,” she
says.
Grandin Road, an online
retailer, has a collection of
hooked wool pillows with
whimsical images of moose,
cardinals, foxes and various
canines sporting holiday garb.
A faux fur throw that looks
like pheasant feathers could
be repurposed as a glamorous
tree skirt.
Or get creative with 5 feet
of chocolate-y brown faux
fur trim, from New Orle-
ans-based ribbon designer
Donna Stevens. It could
edge a mirror, wrap a gift or
garland a tree, perhaps.
Best Wishes for the
Holidays and
Bright New Year!
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