As I get ready: Last entry by LeCygne
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Description
Okay, this is it for Christmas past. I promise you that this is the last one. :)
This is what I set up for 2005. I wanted the decoration atop the piano to say “New York City.” So, I got the idea of creating a huge cocktail drink using ornaments that would dominate the piano area. I knew that I needed a huge cocktail glass of sorts, so I went to Pottery Barn and found exactly what I was looking for. I placed the ornaments starting with the champagne (off white) color ones (cheap, Martha Stewart ornaments from K-Mark). I topped the cocktail (garnish) using the red ornaments (not cheap, from Bombay- the store, not the city). I used the red Christmas tree topper (also from Bombay) as a swizzle stick. The red garland hanging from the edge of the glass is also from Bombay. To finish up the drink, I added the foam dripping over the edge of the huge cocktail glass. I re-used this idea last year, but this is the original set up. This year I am using the cocktail glass again, but in a totally different way.
The “drink” along would not have conveyed the Manhattan motif by itself; the drink was just the icing on the cake. What truly gave it the NYC flavor was the use of those buildings from my collection of Department 56’s “Christmas in the City” series. The following year, in 2006, I used only churches from the same collection; here I used NYC landmark buildings: The Empire State Building, Time Square Tower, Radio City Music Hall and the Brooklyn Bridge. The nutcrackers are actually Claire’s. She collects them. I used some of them for the parade. I left all the larger ones out. I did not want them to overpower the display; after all they were not the focus.
I shall be quick talking about the mantel. Color does have a role to play here as well, but I will not go into that. I just want to say that this set up came out to be too symmetrical. The mantel is balanced. If you were to draw an imaginary line from the yellow vase, to the Star of Bethlehem at which one of the Wise Men is gazing, and from the Star to the green vase, you will get a pediment (or a pyramid of sorts) seen in most classical buildings. You could cut this mantel vertically in half starting right above the Star of Bethlehem and end up with basically the same “stuff” on both sides…except for the champagne glass which echoes the drink on the piano. Inside this “normal” sized glass, sitting atop the red beads (because the garnish adorning the huge drink is also red), are a couple of the roses I carried with me and gave to Claire the very first time I went to her house to pick her up to go on our first date (quite a few years ago LOL!!). She had processed and preserved them. I learned about her endeavor years later, and was shocked that she had done that. She asked me to put them in that glass while I was setting up. My idea was to recreate a true to life replica of the drink on the piano, but I wanted to please her and used her idea instead of my original plan.
Well, that is it. I am in the middle working on this year’s decorations. The two Carnevale di Venezia masks for this year’s tree are basically finished. The reason why I some years place masks on my Christmas tree is because they make the tree seem alive. People who visit our home during the holiday season say that it gives the impression that the tree is looking back at them. LOL!! I agree, though.
Once again I want to thank you for your visit and thank you so, so much for your incredible comments on my two previous postings on this topic. I did not think that anybody would care to look at that stuff. I was surprised and extremely appreciative when I read your comments. Now I would love to be able to say a couple of grandiose things to let you know how your comments made me feel, but the only thing that keeps popping into my mind is a simple “thank you.” So, I will say it: thank you!!!
Clemente
(The last photo is from 2004) :)
Comments (24)
delbeke
So enchanting! You have a very sincere Christmas house. Absolutely fabulous! :o)
shahlaa
Beautiful yet again and I'm still waiting for you to come do mine.....LOL....I love that mantel...You have an eye for flair, very well done!
RobyHermida
Excellent work!!!!!!!!!!;O)!!!!!!!!!!!!
delaorden_ojeda
Fantastico ! tienes un gusto muy refinado, el trabajo fotografico y el de la decoracion son divinos, felicidades !
Loveheart
Looks like heaven!!
babuci
I see you have some stronger color here instead of the faery like soft whites and pink. Thanks to share how you prepair and celebrate your christmas.
RubyT
Wow, love your sense of play and elegance!!
alphalioness
Just beautiful :D You guys really go all out for the holidays!
krakosky
un collage realmente impresionante, buen trabajo.
MagikUnicorn Online Now!
Oui Impresionnant collage (de toute beautée)
ontar1
Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MrsLubner
OK, a question... I would think that because of the tuning issues with a piano, placing it near the fireplace might not be good for the sound. Do you find that the heat messes with the tuning? The color coordination that has gone into this decorating is so perfect. And BTW, I am fanatical about the nutcracker collection. If I had any room for another collect in my house, I'd do nutcrackers. I simply can't call the 4 I have a collection... I would need at least 40 to do that. LOL Fabulous shots here and all very clearly taken with great povs.
Steff_7
Awesome series of shots and lots of fun to be had in each. Excellent flashback and thanks for sharing...
LeCygne
Hello friends. Thank you all for taking the time to visit and comment on the series of Christmas images. You are so very kind to have done that. ------------------------- delbeke, thank you you say the nicest things!! :) ------------------------- Marlene, I did laugh out loud when I read your previous post and this one as well. Tell you what... I let me finish mine first and then I will help you set up. LOL!! -------------------------- Roby, thank you y muchas gracias por su visita! -------------------------- Tony, my amigo, gracias por sus palabras sobre las fotos. En realidad, estas tomas no me gustaron mucho, pero desafortunadamente no tengo otras mejores. -------------------------- Loveheart, thank you!! And thank you also for that fav!! :) -------------------------- babuci, thank you for visiting and for your words. I must tell you that I was not too thrilled about all that pink. :) -------------------------- alphaliones, you are right, we sort of overdo it a bit during Christmas. It is lots of fun, though. :)) -------------------------- krokosky, gracias for haberle gustado mi photomontage and for haberme dejado una notica. :) -------------------------- Magik, merci bien. Vous êtes vraiment gentille!! -------------------------- ontar1, thank you for your visit! :) -------------------------- PJ, I did ask Mr. Willis (tuner) about the spot where we placed the piano when we first placed it there. The old gentleman does not see anything wrong with it. I do know that the piano must be tuned with the changing of the seasons; or if it is even half a foot from where it stands. I tune it twice a year. Mr. Willis was here this past Saturday and he will be back in May. That is the schedule we have...November and May. Mr. Willis always checks the sound box, etc. to see if there are any hairline cracks and such. So far everything is okay. In reality, we do not make as much use of the fireplace as we would like to do. We use it only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Aside from that, a couple of other times more and that is it. We do not use it to truly heat the house. About those nutchrackers...Claire is crazy about them. I have bought for her many of the ones she owns. As for the room....well...I know what you are saying. My Department 56 collection is huge (during the last inventory it was over 165 litle houses + accessories) and I had to have an entire room dedicated to the collection. This room is also known as "the display room" where I build my cities. :) -------------------------- Steff, thank you for taking the time to stop by and leaving a comment. I am enjoying your series as well! :) --------------------------
Erynn
Amazing!!!!!! Absolutely amazing!! I'm speechless..
Valerie-Ducom
Wowww, your decoration is awesome and you make an excellent picture on it. I like this low light and for me, the best it's with the 3 mages in the picture number 5... Excellent ! Good day :)
AlteredKitty
I have so enjoyed your mini 'Christmas Decor' series and would be sad if I thought it really was at an end so am hoping this years scheme will be posted in full very soon :) ___ali x
bakapo
wow, this is another amazing setup. I am truely in awe. I think I will just sit and stare at these postings for a while... thank you so much for sharing all this.
Hendesse
Excellent collage. Wonderful colors and fantastic details. A lot of beautiful christmas decoration to see here. A pleasure for the eyes!
HeartsRender
Super photos thanks for sharing!
MedicineBird
Spectacular, And A Wonderful Creation...
L-dibbs
You have great talent an creative mind. It all so lovely to see. Your family an friend must have great memorys of these holiday in your home!! Beautiful!!
Richardphotos
very lavish display and beautiful
titch12
lol you must love xmas