Welcome to the Christmas home tour of Casa Bouquet! We have many traditions when decorating our home for Advent and the Christmas season. You may see my husband’s west Texas roots, my Mama’s Nicaraguan influence, a tiny bit of Williamsburg, and family memories and travels reflected in what we do.
Outdoors
The Gardener was in west Texas when he was young and he says that’s why we have to have lights on the house. We have blow mold holy family with angels and Three Kings. We have inflatable holy family and a tropical Santa with a palm tree.
This bunny lives by the front door all year and I change what is in his backpack vase with the seasons.
Front hallway
At the front door I have my Betty Boop collection and a swag made from plastic Christmas balls. The large kissing ball is made from large embroidery hoops wrapped in ribbon. The small kissing ball was made by my mama: it’s a styrofoam ball with ribbon, pearls, and sequins stuck in with straight pins.
Tropical Christmas
We have an artificial palm tree with 3 trunks that we set up in the front window. All of our tropical ornaments go on this tree. I found artificial maile leis at the Aloha Stadium swap meet in Honolulu that are just right for draping on the staircase handrail.
Dining Room
We found this sweet little chair at an charity auction. It’s really low, like Mary Todd Lincoln would sit on it. The Santa with the sock monkey is the one from Polar Express. The swag is made from plastic ornaments strung on a ribbon. We are very serious about gravy when we feast and these are the containers I fill to make sure everyone is close to some gravy at the table.
Wreaths
I made a duct tape wreath for the door. The Advent wreath is made with a bag full of cuttings from our garden. I love to use magnolia, boxwood, nandina berries, camellias, and the last roses. We light a candle for each week of Advent.
Christmas tree and stockings
The Christmas tree has ornaments collected over many years, including some that have survived from our childhoods. I try to hang them in groups: Three Kings together, lighthouses together, and so on. The tree topper is a Hawaiian angel and the finishing touch are strings of beads, like jewelry for the tree. The needlepoint stockings have dog tags engraved with family members names.
The candy canes have felt horse heads.
Santa hats
I have started collecting Santa hats. I put one on the back of every chair (like the old-time antimacassars). It makes it handy for anyone who feels like wearing a Santa hat!
Kitchen
We have a pink tinsel tree in the kitchen. We use our ornaments from our Russia trip on this tree. I made the angel out of calico fabrics. I hang Christmas card icosahedrons from the chandelier.
I use an artificial garland wound with ribbon and bakers twine in the window. The Christmas cards we receive are attached with mini clothespins.
Christmas home tour: Needlework
I love the combination of cross stitch with patchwork. The first angel hangs in a niche in our guest bath. The Advent calendar has silk rattail cord attached to the quilt to hold charms, one charm each day for December 1 through 24.
Creche scenes
I have creches all around the house from Italy, Mexico, Peru, Hawaii, and Fisher Price! The big Fontanini set has a whole host of angels, villagers, and friendly beasts. Note the empty manger. Baby Jesus doesn’t appear until midnight Christmas Eve. The Three Kings (Tres Reyes Magos) are in another room with their camel, horse, and elephant. They start moving every day beginning Christmas Day. It takes them 12 days to reach the stable on January 6 with more presents for us!
I hope you enjoyed visiting Casa Bouquet for some holiday cheer. Let me know in the comments if you’d like to know more about how to make any of my Christmas crafts.
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