Sophisticated Halloween Decorating

Martha Stewart

 

Who else loves decorating for Halloween? I adore it. For years, my daughter and I would duplicate the Halloween craft ideas from Martha Stewart Living.

A Chinoiserie Christmas Tree

Some of you may remember this fantastic bonsai Christmas tree from the December 2009 Martha Stewart Living. Here are the details if you'd like to create it yourself.

Asian-Inspired Christmas Tree

Who says Christmas trees have to be fir? Inspired by the bonsai collection at the Arnold Arboretum in his native Boston, Martha Stewart Living's Kevin Sharkey created this enchanting roost using an artificial bonsai. 

Spray-painted gold and accented with glitter, it rises out of a traditional pot topped with moss and snow. Japanese-lantern ornaments provide a pleasing change of scale, but the crowning glories of this tree are the birds -- coated in glitter and grouped in flocks of like colors.

The crowning glories of our Asian-Inspired Christmas Tree are the birds -- coated in glitter and grouped in flocks of like colors.

Tools and Materials

Birds: B&J Florist Supply

Fine glitter: Martha Stewart Crafts, from Michaels

Shard-glass glitter: artglitter.com

How-To
1. Working in sections, paint artificial bird body with white craft glue.

2. Hold bird over bowl of fine glitter; use a spoon to sprinkle with glitter.

3. Repeat process for bird tail, using shard-glass glitter for texture.

Chinoiserie Entertaining on the Fourth of July

David Netto in Veranda

Are you entertaining on the Fourth of July? Few of us likely have a red, white, and blue Chinoiserie dining room, but don't let that stop you from setting your Fourth of July table in red, white, and blue Chinoiserie Chic style. Check your house for things you already have-blanc de Chine, blue and white Chinese porcelain gingers jars, vases, or candlesticks, or blue and white china. Add blue hydrangeas or red carnations, roses, or poppies. Voila!

Windsor Smith

Domino Magazine

Thibaut

My Chinoiserie Home

Joe Nye's book Flair

Joe Nye's book Flair

Sara Gilbane

"O" Magazine

Carolyne Roehm

Horchow

Martha Stewart Living

My Chinoiserie Home

Red, white, and blue Chinese porcelain

Blue and white candlesticks

Red Champagne split

Blue Champagne split

Sunday Inspiration

Sent in by a follower of Chinoiserie Chic, a lovely example of a Chinoiserie tulipiere from Martha Stewart Living.

The Origami Christmas Tree

Orange and Chinoiserie