It’s been 4 years since I closed my seasonal decorating business, and never before has the craving to decorate been this strong. This impulsive urge saw me take on a dare from friends to make one of those famous Pinterest Christmas tree dresses. A tailor form and discarded artificial Christmas tree branches are used. The rest is up to your imagination! Besides I could use a tailor form when sewing! Bonus! But first, I had to try this dress thingy because, you know, I love a challenge!
I just so happen to coordinate a window display at a vacant shop generously supplied by W. L. Peters Furniture and Appliances in Prescott. It’s part of a beautification for the town until the space is rented. The previous tenant had left behind a treasure trove of seasonal decorating items like fall floral arrangements and coincidentally, an old artificial Christmas tree! Everything was deemed for to be dumped soon, so I didn’t waste time in acquiring the branches and any old ornaments I could use. You see, I had donated all of my decorations and props to “A Country Christmas Remembered” in Spencerville (another event). Even with supplies, I still had nowhere to display it, which of course didn’t stop me!
Things have a way of coming together when you are going with the flow and feeling happy vibes about doing something you love. Sure enough I happened upon an article in the local paper about a fund raising event: Christmas trees for Children in Prescott. Participants donate to the cause (Autism) and receive an artificial tree and supply/decorate a tree. This tree is then part of an event where they are raffled off to raise further funds. I felt my calling! I contacted the organizer. She welcomed help with the decorating who came with a suitable prop! My tree dress will be part of the decor! The poor woman has but a few strands of tinsel garland with which to decorate a community hall. I was wishing I still had my hoard before I donated it all. Again life has that funny way of sending you what you need, and on a whim I contacted the Spencerville event’s coordinator. Seems they had downsized to just one building now and were overwhelmed with an excess of decorations. She was happy to loan us whatever we needed. The next day I filled my car to overflowing with wreaths, garland, ornaments, bows, bells, you name it. Anything that would fit the Dickens theme and I thanked her profusely.
This also gave me much needed supplies to furnish my tree dress and I now had a theme with which to brainstorm a decorating plan. I was so pumped that I had to visit our Town Hall to see the room where the event was taking place. Beautiful multiple paned windows filled the room with light form one side of this heritage building. It was perfect for the three wreaths I scored. I had three walls to work with and drop ceilings that can easily attach garlands to. I can’t wait to meet this lady on Monday an tell her my wonderful news!
Here’s what I’ve got planned thus far for the dress:
I just so happen to coordinate a window display at a vacant shop generously supplied by W. L. Peters Furniture and Appliances in Prescott. It’s part of a beautification for the town until the space is rented. The previous tenant had left behind a treasure trove of seasonal decorating items like fall floral arrangements and coincidentally, an old artificial Christmas tree! Everything was deemed for to be dumped soon, so I didn’t waste time in acquiring the branches and any old ornaments I could use. You see, I had donated all of my decorations and props to “A Country Christmas Remembered” in Spencerville (another event). Even with supplies, I still had nowhere to display it, which of course didn’t stop me!
Things have a way of coming together when you are going with the flow and feeling happy vibes about doing something you love. Sure enough I happened upon an article in the local paper about a fund raising event: Christmas trees for Children in Prescott. Participants donate to the cause (Autism) and receive an artificial tree and supply/decorate a tree. This tree is then part of an event where they are raffled off to raise further funds. I felt my calling! I contacted the organizer. She welcomed help with the decorating who came with a suitable prop! My tree dress will be part of the decor! The poor woman has but a few strands of tinsel garland with which to decorate a community hall. I was wishing I still had my hoard before I donated it all. Again life has that funny way of sending you what you need, and on a whim I contacted the Spencerville event’s coordinator. Seems they had downsized to just one building now and were overwhelmed with an excess of decorations. She was happy to loan us whatever we needed. The next day I filled my car to overflowing with wreaths, garland, ornaments, bows, bells, you name it. Anything that would fit the Dickens theme and I thanked her profusely.
This also gave me much needed supplies to furnish my tree dress and I now had a theme with which to brainstorm a decorating plan. I was so pumped that I had to visit our Town Hall to see the room where the event was taking place. Beautiful multiple paned windows filled the room with light form one side of this heritage building. It was perfect for the three wreaths I scored. I had three walls to work with and drop ceilings that can easily attach garlands to. I can’t wait to meet this lady on Monday an tell her my wonderful news!
Here’s what I’ve got planned thus far for the dress:
 I saved and delicate petals of dried hydrangeas may be spray gold. The ornamental grasses have a lovely beige colour and soft fluffy texture. |  Dollar store feathers in spelled browns with a thin coordinating satin ribbon to tie them up in bunches. The gold glitter wire onion shaped ball ornaments will give just the right amount splash don't you think? |
Our local thrift shop ($1) had a straw hat which will sprayed gold and converted into a Dickens style Bonnet, with some scraps of gold lammé ribbon. A brown satin fabric shower curtain ($3) will be used for the upper body covering and a waist sash to hide the mechanics of attaching the branches. I have enough brown plaid velvet wired bows to use as gathers for some gold beading I also scored (50 cents!). I'm not 100% sure of the colour coordination yet. something is not quite right. Either the curtain or the bows may need to be changed.
So there you have it, the beginnings of the Christmas Dress! Next I'll show you how I assemble it and share my adventures during the visit with the event organizer.
With Love,
Rolande
With Love,
Rolande
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