We finally did it… We had been talking about it for so long, but that attachment to the smell of the fresh-cut fir-tree had too strong of a pull on me. But I live in the city, so no wild trees to pick and cut down. We had 3 options : Feed into the mono-cultured over priced tree lots that we have around here (how I wish we had responsible sustainable growers), go artificial (but I really don’t want all those VOCs hanging around our house) or do something completely different.
Many factors went into choosing option #3 : The fact that we have a small house and a Christmas tree takes a LOT of floor space. The fact that we have 2 cats and they are both very rambunctious! The fact that with the active nature of our Little Man, the idea of a tree falling down multiple times a day was just too much.
So hanging, salvaged (all the branches were taken n our land after storms or breaking under snow and ice) and completely different seemed just right.
Our Advent Day 6 activity is creating a star for the top of the tree. Needless to say, the Angel we had been using is now a shelf decoration. We are thinking white clay and lots of silver sparkles… More on that to come!
Have a lovely week-end everyone.
***** ADD-ON : Picture of the assembly *****
I was asked if I could share how we put the tree together.Here is a picture of the branches before the actual decorations went on (it’s just jute twine) :
My husband used copper wiring to create a “hoop” for the top and little finishing nails all along the branches to hang the ornaments. It holds on the wall by hanging off 2 screws anchored in. 🙂 Hope this helps!
Family, Faith, Food and Fabric 
Oh my!! Yanic, this is beautiful!! What a neat and special tree!!
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Thank you so much Summer… We’ve been searching for years for just the “right” type of nouveau-tree for us. 🙂 This felt right. Can’t wait to put our star on top… Homemade clay cooling now! 🙂
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Yanic this looks stunning!! I love the smell of real trees and put up with fall out of needles every time a passing border collie checked the decorations out and felt guilty when I chucked the tree out in the New Year. Last year I bought my first artificial tree 😦 but it wasn’t all bad and and a few stems of eucalyptus in a vase filled the room with a very Christmas scent 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
Ooh the needles… that is another one for me. With cats and a toddler, I’m always scared someone will swallow one. *shivers*.
Mmmm… eucapytus… That is a very good replacement smell for sure! 🙂
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How lovely! I admit, I’ve been thinking about non-traditional trees as well.
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I think Christmas is truly what you make of it. Whatever fits your family and brings you peace and joy has my Christmas stamp on it. 🙂 Hope you find a fun solution!
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It looks lovely! I’ve got a post about our tree and other things coming up on monday. We bought a rosemary bush! 🙂
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What a great idea! Can’t wait to read about it… the smell must be amazing!
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This is such a neat idea! And it looks really beautiful and special. When I worked on the farm in upstate NY and we sold in the city, the farmer cut huge bottom bows of his overgrown Christmas tress and sold them as “wall trees.” I thought he was a bit bonkers, honestly, but people bought them because they didn’t have room for a big tree in their tiny Manhattan apartments! Both beautiful ways to bring in life and light into the home during this special time.
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How fun… I wish growers would do that here!
I just wish I had a place to go pick my own wild growing tree… maybe I’ll have to talk to some of my friends with bigger lots outside of the city! 🙂
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This is really beautiful. I love that you have made this from materials from your own property.
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Thanks… And my husband made it a point to vary the branches as well so we have linden, maple, larch, pine, cherry and birch! 🙂
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Oh my gosh, I just love your tree! It’s absolutely perfect! So glad that you went with that option and I hope you do so for years to come! xo
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Thank you.. The glow makes it so lovely at night as well. The cats haven’t even noticed it. It’s wonderful! 🙂
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That’s such a brilliant idea! We aren’t getting a “real” tree this year either since Goen would knock it over and take everything off it. Not a fun experience. Instead, I’m going to hang ornaments on the story vine I made a couple months back. Its a strand of lights with fabric tied all along it and hung on the wall somewhat out of reach. I think next year I’d like to try your idea. Do you mind sharing how you put it together?
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I would love to see your set up as well! Sounds beautiful!
The branches were tied together with simple jute twine. Let me update my blog post. Come back to it in a few minutes. I’ll post a picture we took before we hung it up!
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Done!
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Wow! It looks beautiful!
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Thank you Sophie… and it’s complete, we just put on the clay star! (Pictures tomorrow morning)
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that is so creative and I love how festive and bright the tree is! What a space saver 🙂
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Thanks! It truly is a space saver… My husband and I just keep staring at it. It makes a beautiful light in the living room.
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beautiful! well-done to the whole family!
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Thank you! 🙂
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What a great idea!
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Thank you! And so easy too…
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I LOVE your tree! If my daughter hadn’t brought me the one I have I think I would make one just like yours. We usually cut one down, but with everything that has happened here lately I just didn’t have the heart. And the cat!! Oh my, cats like Christmas trees don’t they? LOL
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Thank you…
Oh yes, cats LOVE anything you don’t want them in don’t they??? Mine are no different. But honestly, I was worried about the toddler even more. LOL! Next year, I am thinking of having my husband make 2 smaller scaled versions to hang in the kids bedrooms so they can decorate them the way they would like. 🙂 But again, my son will have to calm down quite a bit. I caught him trying to rip off the lights yesterday… *sighs* Crazy little man!
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your tree is so beautiful !!! what a wonderful idea.
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Thank you! 🙂
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It looks gorgeous, what a great space saving idea, and extra lovely for being made with your own wood.
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I’m completely in love with it… At first I thought it would be something while the kids grow older, but I don’t know if I’ll ever go back! 🙂
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This is soooo Beautiful! I LOVE it! What a great idea.We’re allergic to pine sap (skin contact only) and have an artificial tree, but I do love the smell of pine. When I was little my mother would trim the pines in winter and put the fresh cut branches above the cabinets in the kitchen so we could smell them without becoming puffy red eyed allergy puffs 🙂
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Thank you… We love it. It’s been so beautiful and such a space saver! My husband has already been approach to make 3 for friends and family next year. We are thrilled. 🙂
Oh, I can’t imagine that. Thank goodness it’s just on contact. Are you just allergic to pines or all conifers?
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This is so innovative! Great job and it looks great, too! 🙂
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Thank you!
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I really love what you did for your tree! So pretty, and exactly something I’d do if we didn’t live in the woods. Happy Holidays to you & your lovely family 🙂
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Thank you! I was undecided about thee lack of “evergreen smell” in our house, but luckily, we got our hands on fresh fir tree branches and I will be making a nice arrangement for our home so it will bring that amazing smell indoors. 🙂
Happy holidays to you as well! xo
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