Women's Focus - December 2007 - (Page 59)

Creating a Natural & Rustic Winter Decór As snowflakes gather at the windowsill, we often find ourselves overwhelmed with shopping for gifts, dinner preparations, sending cards, the arrival of guests, and decorating our homes for festive gatherings. During this joyous, but hectic season, make time for quiet reflection by observing nature’s beauty, much of which can be brought indoors and used to brighten our homes with natural and rustic charm. In Kansas you can always find cedar trees growing along country roads or perhaps in your yard. Each year I cut branches of cedar with blue berries growing on them and form them into wreaths, display them on tabletops, twist them into swags and use them in winter arrangements. They provide a wonderful, fresh aroma and the berries add texture and interest to your creations. Red cedars provide a slightly amber color and can be blended with branches of spruce, pine or other greenery you are using. Pine trees provide an abundance of pinecones that can be gathered and featured in a large basket on top of a table, or scented with oils, such as pine or cinnamon, to add inviting fragrances to your room. You can also place these same scented pinecones in a large transparent container and blend with cranberries or hard shell nuts for added interest. A precisely placed candle in the middle of the container adds a flickering warmth to the design and coziness to a holiday dinner. W W inter onders$ The “Buck Bush” is a delightful little shrub that grows wild in Kansas and can be found along country roads, along walking paths and in many rural settings. This bush provides delicate, redcolored clusters of interesting berries that look fantastic alone or in winter arrangements. The leaves become dark green that complements the bent branches. I also like to use the bare branches of dogwood, or redbud trees, mixed with evergreens for creating corner displays. The bareness of the branches brings the simplicity and beauty of winter into your home. The honeysuckle that grows upon my fence is interesting as well, and can be twisted into long garlands that make great accents above doorways, around windows and even on the Christmas tree. For those of you who grow grapevines, try twisting them into swags and garlands as well. They can be kept for indefinite periods of time and are basically the same as those available in local craft and hobby stores. Remember, although harsher weather is approaching, there are still many interesting offerings to be found outdoors. Paying attention to the natural decor Midwestern winters offer may give you a warmer appreciation for the beauty that exists deep within the ice and snow. focus on H O M E ~BarBara Higgins-Dover W o m e n s F o c u s • w w w. F o c u s O n . c o m • D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 7 59 http://www.FocusOn.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Women's Focus - December 2007

Women's Focus - December 2007 Contents BEAUTY & FASHION Quick Change Wichita's Next Top Model Contest FACTS & FUN 12 Months of Shoes Organizing Christmas Stocking Stuffers and Last Minute Gifts Indulge Yourself: Harley Davidson Save the Date FLAVOR Christmas Entrees in Focus Winter Vines FAMILY & FRIENDS Cathy Carrier Forget Me Not Gal: Brenda Glidewell In Her Shoes: Larry Doss Kissin' Tells: KZSN Survey Results Sierra's Stars: Daniel Richardson Social Circle HEALTH Ask Dick & Jane Austism and A Gluten-Free Diet Endometriosis & Infertility Lexi's L.A.M.B.S. Losing Big HOME & GARDEN Crafts: Gingerbread Ornament Don't Bark Up the Wrong Tree This Christmas Holiday Homes Poinsettia Passion That's A Wrap Winter Wonders TRAVEL & LEISURE City Culture Share a Love of Reading with Your Child

Women's Focus - December 2007

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