I took all my Christmas decorations down. My house looks so empty! I loved it for about 5 minutes, and then I thought…January is a long month, I’m not a lover of winter, and Valentine’s Day is a long ways away. I decided instead of “getting through” this long month, I will embrace this winter season and all it’s beautiful, freezing cold, white, glistening, snowy glory.
I went to Target and bought some wintery, clearance Christmas decorations and made a garland for my kitchen windows. Snowflakes, ice skates and mittens, snowmen…bright colors. 
Abbey and I created a winter scene with glittery snow and trees (clearance again!) and little forest animals (tree decorations I didn’t put away).
I found a beautiful white blooming hydrangea plant for my dining room table and set it in a glass salad bowl.
I love the mitten garland above my chalkboard, but it’s a little too Christmasy for me. I’m going to attempt to make a new one with felt and ribbon and rickrack, using some different colors.
And all these winter touches worked like magic…I feel cozy and warm in my sweet little house.
I forgot all about:
Putting boots and mittens and hats and scarves on thousands of times.
Stepping in slush left all over my kitchen floor.
Having chapped hands.
Freezing my bum off going sledding.
Shivering in the car.
I love the whole idea! I usually leave an icy wreath on my door and some form of icy tablescape in the dinning room but I'm doing the garland too this year! Wonderful!
Robin
All Things Heart and Home
I love the decorations! Check out the Purl Bee blog (from Purl Soho). They made a cute garland out of felt circles – so colorful and festive. I may put Annie on that project when we take down our things. I'm happy we have snow at least – kids have been out sledding every day. But we have to face/embrace this for a full 3 months! And what a great idea to battle the grey with a bit of color, whimsy, and charm!
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Great idea! Sometimes we can be in limbo…not quite ready to move on from the festive season…but the Christmas decorations need to be put away…this is a great compromise
Very cute. I do a "snowman" theme in my classroom. I leave up the white lights and put out snowman decorations. The kids love it. I hope it will magically give us a few snow days!
Sarah-
I just wanted to say Happy New Year. January 3rd marks one year of blogging for me, and I will never forget how generous and helpful you were when I first started.
Thank you,
Laura
That turned out soooo cute! I just bought some of those same ornaments at Target on clearance.
I took down our holiday stuff and went straight to Valentine's Day! I am soooo done with winter since we have had one snow storm after another! Spring can't get here fast enough!
Love all the ideas….and the choice to be happy and embrace the long month of January!
Very cute…I am taking all my stuff down today…it will feel very empty but I am ready for that :)!
sandy toe
Adorable…I was wondering, could you possibly do a tutorial on how to make your header larger?? I love all of your tutorials and have tried to use them, but just can't figure out how you get your header so wide.
Wonderful! Very whimsical and fun.
What a great idea! I'm trying to muster up the energy to put away the Christmas decorations today. This was a great boost.
Adorable!
Mary….follow the the tutorial on making a cute header using Picasa…at the bottom it talks about sending that header to a folder and Picasa lets you pick the size…it also depends on the template of your blog…you need to choose Minima Stretch. Hope that helps.
What a great way to enjoy January. 'Cause I gotta tell ya', I'm looking at "making it through" right now. haha.
Happy New Year, Sarah.
XO*Tricia
so pretty.
we got snowed in and didn't get to do the target after christmas sale.
All the little mittens on clothes pins are my favorite! so cute!
You have your christmast decorations down already! You go girl!
Your winter decor is ADORABLE! Great idea, may just have to make my own. The little owl is so cute!
I love your idea! I think it will make me feel better about taking down the tree 🙂
I love your garland! And those mittens are just scrumptious!! Adding a little winter cheer to our house is on the agenda for today. Thanks for all the beautiful inspiration!
I too decided to leave some Wintery Decorations up for January. The house always look so bare when all the Christmas decor comes down. I am glad we are going to leave some up, there still needs to be some decorations up!
I love this idea! I tend to leave my snowflakes all out after Christmas and this year I have decided to leave out my pretty evergreen and pinecone garlands as well.
Looks darling!! Love all the bright cheery colors!
Hi there. Happy New Year. I have been stalking your blog for some time now. My daughter and I both do . Love it!!! Just thought it was time I said hello.
Love your winter garlands!
Kris in So. Cal
Too cute! I will have to hit up Target for some decorations! Great ideas!
I LOVE this!! I have been confined to bed rest in my little bed room, so I'm going to spend the next few weeks pretending I live at your house (or Meg's from Whatever) ha!!
I love your winter decorations. I also packed my Christmas away and even though I'm enjoying the clutter free of my home, I think I need something too. You have inspired me….I think I'll work on a banner tomorrow. Happy New Year!
wonderful decorations!!!
That is adorable! I just told my husband that now I have to go to Target and see if they still have that garland…
Your winter scene on the buffet reminds me of the nature tables that you see in the Waldorf schools. My kids went to a Waldorf preschool and we've often tried to keep a nature table in the house. You've inspired me to put something out for January.
That's perfect! I should have thought of that. I saw that cuteness at Tar-jay too!
your lovely cheerful decorations could take you clear through to spring!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the winterscape! I am an owl fiend, and I have all of the cute little Target owls. So cute, and a great idea to keep things cute and festive after the holidays!
Wonderful! I love the garlands especially. Funny thing, I posted about winter decor today too, but I'd love to add these ideas to my house.
I love your mitten garland. I actually made mine into an advent calendar this year. you can see it here: http://beautyinallthings.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/advent-calendar/
Love the snowflake garland. I've been on the hunt for similar things, thinking the house will be just a little too bare when I finally get around to taking down the Christmas stuff 😉
L.O.V.E. your big ol' chalkboard!! Did you make it or by it? If you made it, HOW?? I so need one like that!
oh, it's wonderful!! thanks for sharing!
The little winter scene on your sideboard is too cute!! I love it 🙂
Love the garlands! I added your post to my Friday Favorites list!
~Liz
Thanks for stopping by Frenchknots! So glad you did because then I got to see your amazing blog, with your beautiful kids and house. Love the chalk board. Your post has inspired me even more to decorate for the long January ahead. Thanks.
Can I have your mitten garland, please!!!! It's so cute! I featured it at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com Grab mY "featured" button.
Sarah, this is one my favorite posts of yours yet. I love the idea of freshening things up, rather than just taking decorations down, and yours turned out so great. I can't wait to come visit. Which will be soon. Really.
Adorable, I love the chalk board and the mittens hanging over it! Great decorations.
Just dropping by to let you know that I linked to this post in a round up today from the Home & Garden channel at Craft Gossip. 🙂 This will appear in the main Craft Gossip RSS feed, on the main home page and can be found directly here
http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/9-advent-calendar-ideas/
If you would like a "featured by" button, you can grab one here!
http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/grab-a-craft-gossip-button/