Quasimodo [kwah-zee-moh-doh] noun: a grotesque hunch-backed evergreen indigenous to the upper states of North America. I found Quasimodo at a local tree farm, and it was ugly.
Alright. So what did I do? I knew I was going in a different direction with my tree this year because of the new curtains. I wanted something more natural and in line with the color scheme of the living room. But…I didn’t want to spend much money (shocker). Enter stage right—Hobby Lobby. I’m pretty sure the most I spent on any of the ornaments below was $1.00. At the dollar store.
I bought some grapevine (for half off) at Hobby Lobby and used the burlap garland from past years. A few light blue picks and ornaments tied in a touch of blue so it wasn’t too neutral.
Wanna see some close ups? The Joy to the World ornament was pricey. $4.00? But I wish I would have purchased 75 more of them. Love it.
The grapevine garland and I didn’t get along well. It was touch and go. At one point, I was pretty sure I was going to be wrapped in a cocoon of grapevine, but I won. In yo’ face, grapevine!
The feathers add a little touch of wild, eh? Let’s just say you agree. I love the look, and I love how it offsets the Quasimodoism of the tree.
And of course…the night shot. Oh. my. Christmas. I could stare at it for hours. I do stare at it for hours. And then my daughter interrupts me and says, “Mommy, aren’t we supposed to have presents under our tree?”
Step off, little girl. Mommy’s gettin’ her Christmas on.
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Gorgeous! I really, really…. like it. Loads. All the elements came together beautifully. The feathers are the perfect touch. Merry Christmas.
Thanks so much, Shannon! I appreciate your comment!
Just beautiful! I so love Christmas and once the tree is up, I never want to take it down.
Merry Christmas!
Really really gorgeous!!!! I’m so glad I stopped in tonite!!!!
Thank you, Dawnee! I’m glad you stopped in too. 🙂
This is really beautiful! What lens did you use to take the night shot? I love staring at our tree, too! It makes my heart fill with joy. 🙂
Gasp… that’s gorgeous! It’s so puffy and awesome! LOVE!!!
Lookit you with that fancy shootin’ to boot. Mine twinkle if I zoom in REALLY close. Whoops. 🙂
Donna
Thank you, Donna! “Puffy and awesome”–perfect! 😉
WOW! This is so gorgeous … and to think from whence it came! You are amazing! I would stare at it for hours too! LOVE! (Please tell me how you got your lights to look twinkly in that night shot!)
Well thank you! I think I’ll have to do a post on that, Polly Dove! It’s amazing what different camera settings will do for a Christmas tree. 🙂
Oh I am lurvin’ your special Quasi! Nice photog slilz
too!!
Thank you, Linda! Your comments always make me smile. 🙂
Gorgeous!
The tree looks beautiful and lush , I love it , we can’t have real because of allergies so I went with a white tree , I have always wanted a white tree now I’m hooked .
Chris
I’m with you. White trees are beautiful! We have a smaller one of them, and it’s a fun tree to decorate! Thanks for stopping by, Chris!
WOW. Seriously gorgeous. Can I come drink hot cocoa and snuggle up next to it? Thanks! 😉
Pamela @ pbjstories.com
Oh how I love your Christmas tree. Every year I get all caught up in “Black Friday” – not the middle-of-the-night kind, but early morning with my daughters and then on Saturday, I shop some more. The problem with this is that my young’ns get all carried away and decorate the tree while I’m gone. They do a beautiful job, mind you. It’s just not a themed tree all gorgeous and done up by me. This is why I love your tree so much! 🙂
Have a blessed day,
Carol
I don’t know if I should congratulate you for having a family that decorates the tree for you or feel bad for you that you don’t do it yourself. 🙂 I’m sure it’s beautiful!
It’s beautiful!!!! I absolutely love all of it! It’s such a full tree, seriously, you’d never know he’s a quasi!
Thanks so much, Kim! Merry Christmas!
Your tree is absolute beautiful. It has such and elegant feel. I personally love the feathers, grapevine, and all the OTHER natural “things” you used. Just perfect.
Thank you, Janelle. It was a nice mix this year. My kids like it, so I guess that’s the stamp of approval, eh?
Chris! It’s beautiful!!!!! I love every. single. thing. about it!! Merry Christmas!! 🙂 xo
Thanks so much, Myra! Merry Christmas to you, too!
Basically my favorite tree in blogland this year. Just sayin’.
Basically, my favorite comment this year. 🙂 Thank you, Cindy!
You should feel proud that you gave this tree a home for the holidays 🙂 It’s lovely!
Pretty proud, Kendra. Thank you!!
It’s gonna get redundant but oh. my. gorgeousness. And that last night shot! Beautiful! Quasimodo never looked so good!
Ha! Who knew Quasi could go through a makeover, eh? Thank you, friend!
Awwww quasi is gorgeous, well done get your Christmas Freak on Hun x
Love it!! One day I will have a grown up tree like that:). Right now, I’m in a colorful hodge podge. Truly beautiful!
I love it–a grown up tree. Thank you, Kim!
Chris, it is GORGEOUS!! Way to go, you whipped that tree into shape and made her beautiful. Love the ornaments, natural, feathers, burlap, all of it. Merry Christmas, my friend!
Thanks so much, my dear! I appreciate you stopping by!
I LOVE this tree!! I’m pretty picky when it comes to tree decorations, and have some high standards for my own… yours is magnificent. Thanks for some great ideas for next year!
Whew! Thank you, Mary! I appreciate knowing you have high standards, and I met them. 🙂 Thanks again!
Beautiful!
That is a beautiful tree! Great shot with the lights. With twin 2 year olds and a five year old I’m just happy to have a tree up let alone decorate with any plan. I have tree envy.
I went through that same stage, Laura! Good luck!
The tree looks great! You did an amazing job photographing it too. I really struggled to capture decent pictures of our tree this year.
Photography is all about trial and error. I’ve had a LOT of error. 🙂 Thank you, Shannah!
wowwy!!! The feathers are genius!! very nice!!
Feathers–love decorating with them! Thank you!
It’s simply beautiful!
Thank you, Dayle!
Freaking brilliant. That last photo rocks — and it’s so cool you can see the beauty in the wonky.
Thank you, Lori! Wonky–I love that word!
Absolutely love your tree. I wish I could have a real tree but being a renter I am not permitted to for fire regulations.
Your tree is beautiful!!!
Pinned your tree on Pinterest and it went viral baby! Yep. It’s that good.
I’m a new reader to your blog. I’m a Michigan native…GR area, but I live in FL now.
Anyways just stopping in to say hello and that I like your tree.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas
=)
Well hello, Katie! We live in the GR area! My best friend lives in Florida–he sure misses the change of seasons, but not the snow. Thank you for stopping by!
How cool! Small world sometimes. I miss the changing of the seasons too, however I do like it to be 70 degrees at Christmas.
Your tree is beautiful…. absolutely gorgeous!! I’m so jealous 🙂
I’ve been going through tree withdraw since we moved this summer into a VERY small house with no room for a big tree. So I have my good ol porch tree to keep me company this year. Next year however I hope to have my tree look just as good as yours once the new house is built.
Thanks so much for all the Christmas wonders you create and pass on
Best wishes to you and your family this holiday season Cheers!
Oh man, Shannon. We spent plenty of years in a small house, so I can definitely relate. Thank you for the sweet comment! Merry Christmas!
I love, love, love the picture of your tree at night. The lights are stunningly amazing!
Thanks so much, Ginny! Who knows how I got it. 🙂
Chris, your tree is gorgeous! In fact, I think everything you do is awesome. I’m using this for inspiration.
Oh wow. Thank you, Susan! What a nice comment!
holy gorgeous Christmas tree!!! That is just beautiful!
Gorgeous!! My favorite christmas tree I’ve seen yet this year, love it!
Wow! What a great compliment. Thank you, Ashleigh!
LOVE this . JOY is my thing, so I always appreciate JOY on a tree.
love the look…..great job.
Hi there,
I just discovered your blog by pinning your last year’s Christmas tree I recently found on Pinterest. I think it’s one of the prettiest trees I’ve ever seen. This is going to be my tree’s decor this year, 2012. I’ve been able to find most of the same ornaments you used and some that are very similar. I did notice you bought some paper mache rectangle shapes, but I didn’t see them on the tree. Did you use them and if so, did you just hang them plain or did you decorate them?
Love it Chris! Get on those presents, JAG! 🙂
Beautiful job – I’ve always loved neutral color palettes.