More Holiday Decorating Questions

I am going to answer a few more questions tonight...and in a few days a surprise, so tell your friends to check out my blog. It seems like just sharing as I think..which is scary, worked fine in answering the questions last night...so I will do that again tonight.
I really do want to give you some tips that will give you a new look, make decorating your tree easier and give you some new ideas.

One blogger wrote today that she could not imagine having someone else decorate her tree. Most of my clients are so thrilled to leave home early in the morning and come home and their halls are DECKED. Several have told me it is the happiest day of the year to them. So that makes me happy.

One question was about her tree being too short for her ceilings, what do I do?....I have several customers that have that problem.....Using plywood, make a box to place your tree on top up...It works perfect, and you can use lots of fabric or an extra large tree skirt over the plywood and it not only lifts your tree, but gives you a beautiful way to display your packages. If you have questions about this email me.

Many of you want to see pictures of the trees from years past...I will be glad to post them, but want to be sure and check with my clients first. ....plus I will be posting (hopefully) every few days as we finish trees this year...and mantles and staircases and buffets, front doors (we go no further than the front door wreath)! NOTHING OUTSIDE!!!!!

Do I use my clients things or my things? In
most cases I have originally bought their things at market in years past and helped design their look, but I always incorporate anything of theirs that they want to use. (unless it is so ugly that I just cannot do it). Believe me I have seen some UGLY stuff... We normally figure out some way to use any heirlooms. Also, most of my clients want to add something new every year. This is something we normally discuss the year before. I am always on the look at market for new things for my trees.

I am a big advocate of letting small children have a tree in their room and have it just special for them. I have seen some of the cutest trees that kids have put together....that express their interests...As a matter of fact you can use so many different things on a tree....not just ornaments.

Do you like colored lights? Just a flat no, though I do them at a very few houses. I don't like blinking or colored lights. I like the peaceful look...We will discuss this later.

No, I do not have a degree in interior design...just have a business tax number and just work....

How did I get started is repeated over and over. WE all know and have the confidence in SOMETHING that we just do well, with little effort. I do trees! I don't cook, I don't sew, I don't do a million other things, but I can decorate a tree.

Memory ornaments? Put them on a special smaller tree....You will be able to see them better and they will not get lost in your big tree. I have a customer that has all his grandmothers old ornaments...the thin, easily broken glass ornaments...He loves the memories that each represent...so we show them off on a special tree.

What are some of the big don'ts? Don't use hooks, don't think too hard about getting things balanced when you are decorating the tree. I start in the middle, move to the top,then move to the bottom, no particular reason....it just all comes together like a mosaic. Don't be afraid of mixing many different things. Don't have one tiny thing sticking up on the top of the tree....Use the gauze netting. It covers a MULTITUDE of SINS. (I will show you this later)

Do my clients give me free range? Almost always...I know what they like but rarely are they there when we are working. (I know most of their housekeepers well and most of them cook for us which we love)

Do I do just the tree or the whole house? Normally the entire house. Do I still enjoy it? I had to laugh at this question..It is super hard work. I hate the banisters and normally have someone working for me, do these. It just kills my legs. I don't take chances on 12 ft ladders like I did for years. I am much more careful, but I will tell you I am tired to the bone every night. Come home, unload and reload for the next day. My SUV becomes a traveling tree. I have to be ready for anything that comes up. Most days we work 12-16 hours. We count down, as in 33 to go, 32, etc....But what I do still love is the feeling that I have made someones life so much happier. I keep using the words client and customer and really all these people are my friends.

Ok...that's probably enough for tonight. I will leave you with a few pictures....that happen to be on my computer...most of our trees from last year are on a computer that one of my best helpers EVER, has. She is our photographer. And she did send them to me, but I cannot find them tonight. Just the truth...
In a few days there will be more questions and answers and you can always ask me anything as well. In the next post I am going to tell you how to LOAD your tree very inexpensively. I have a feeling it is a trick you have never seen. (unless you know me)

I would really rather talk football than trees, but I am thinking most of you would be bored.

This happens to be my mantle which is larger than this and I will show you a better picture later. Yes, that is fresh garland layered over artificial garland.

This is part of my collection of Disney ornaments. I am going to do a big Disney tree this year, but this was the centerpiece on my table. I loved it and we figured out a way to keep it lit by using a tree skirt and running the wires under it and down to a plug. Everyone wondered how I had it lit. This is not a great picture of it. I will find a better one later. And to top it off, it was on one of the old green tinsle trees. (one I had to buy new and pay way too much for)