All I really wanted for Christmas -- other than peace on Earth of course -- was to finally finish a certain project that has been on my to-do list for quite some time.
It started more than a year ago when I saw this in August 2010 at Bouckville.
Cute, I thought, so I snapped this photo, put it on my blog, and then promptly forgot about it. And then I got an email from Amy of Into Vintage, who asked if she could use my photo on her blog. She said she had been inspired and she had an idea. Sure, I said, flattered that anything on my blog could inspire the ever-amazing Amy.
And then she came up with this:
And you might say the rest is history as I'm guessing that this is probably one of the most "repinned" images on Pinterest.
So naturally, I had to create an ornament tree of my own.
But first I had to find just the right screen. I needed something large because I wanted to hang the tree above our fireplace in our great room, where there's a cathedral ceiling.
Lucky for me, the junking gods were listening because the perfect scalloped window screen was by the side of the road during our annual town cleanup in April.
And then for six months, the screen sat in the shed. Just before Thanksgiving, I realized that Christmas was indeed coming and that the ornament tree wasn't going to make itself.
So I added some new screening and repainted the frame. And then, using some small vintage ornament hooks, I started hanging ornaments. Big ornaments. Little ornaments. And then, I fussed far too much, arranging and rearranging.
But finally, a year later, here's my version of Amy's genius:
And here's how it looks above the fireplace.
A few closeups:
The repainted frame, which I promptly distressed with some sanding and some dry brush strokes of gold and silver paint.
A clear plastic star ornament at the very top.
A "trunk" of teardrop ornaments at the very bottom.
And lots of wonderful vintage ornaments in between.
To say that I love it is an understatement. Over the years I've searched for just the right look for the fireplace and I was never quite happy with a succession of wreaths that have occupied the space. But now my search is over. This is going to be there for forever with just a little minor fussing to rotate in new vintage ornaments that I love.
Peace on Earth indeed.
Thanks again to Amy for sharing.
Beautiful! Methinks we'll see a lot of these in 2012!
Posted by: Sue | December 30, 2011 at 04:42 AM
That looks fabulous! Now I'm inspired, thanks to you and Amy!
Posted by: Gina @ Vintage Junk in My Trunk | December 30, 2011 at 06:05 AM
OMG! IT'S AMAZING!!!!
Posted by: Linda H. | December 30, 2011 at 07:19 AM
You got what you wanted with that treasure over the fireplace...it is perfect! Isn't it a nice feeling when something you have thought about doing just all comes together and is MAGNIFICENT!
happy day!
Posted by: laurie mapgie ethel | December 30, 2011 at 09:28 AM
This is just gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Kathy | December 30, 2011 at 03:35 PM
Beautiful.
Posted by: Judy | January 01, 2012 at 04:50 PM
Wow!! I *love* your tree, especially seeing it hanging over your fireplace (never mind all the mercury glass I'm coveting). That scalloped screen is perfection, btw. Thanks for the shout-out -- none of this would have happened without your original & inspiring Bouckeville photo.
happy new year!!
Posted by: Into Vintage | January 02, 2012 at 12:34 PM
PS Just pinned it.
Posted by: Into Vintage | January 02, 2012 at 12:35 PM
I love it! It's great! (can you see the envious grin on my face - I hope not - okay, I confess - I WANT ONE TOO!)
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Janelle | January 02, 2012 at 12:51 PM