It’s December – again! How’d that happen? We’ve got to start baking, stringing bright lights, and decorating. Of course, that brings up a good question; “how to decorate for Christmas?” We’ve all be decorating for Christmas for years, and sometimes it can feel a little like we’re doing the same things over and over again.
We want to be able to keep Christmas bright and fresh for our families, so we can keep creating those warm connections with everyone – but how many yards of tinsel can you string?
Well, allow me to suggest a new way to decorate for Christmas with quilts!
Why Christmas Decorations Mean So Much
At first glance Christmas decorations don’t seem like such a much. After all, the real meaning of Christmas isn’t about trees and tinsel.
On a deeper level decorations are very important, however, because they help keep the spirit and magic of Christmas alive.
Warmth, Memory, Tradition
- Bright lights
- Sparkly tinsel
- Big trees
- And wrapped presents
Are all a part of the glorious golden dream that we keep in hearts year-to-year. The two things that makes Christmas so special to so many are the emotions and the memories.
This is why we have traditions – for the memories that they produce. Good feelings in the moment make for good memories lead to lasting good emotions. We all use traditions to produce this one/two punch because in the end:
‘Good memories are all that matters!’
Think about the memories you have of Christmases growing up and which ones brought you joy. They are invariably the ones that make you feel at home; where you are cozy, safe and happy.
This eternal home is the place we want to create for our friends and loved ones.
The Norman Rockwell Argument to Decorate for Christmas with Quilts
NOTHING says love, home and warmth like a quilted something. A full bed quilt, a wall hanging, a pot holder, really anything that’s been quilted carries with it a feeling of being homemade, of having been crafted with love.
It instantly throws people here in North America straight back into a Norman Rockwell painting.
Norman Rockwell was so popular because he painted the magic and longing for love and home into his works of art (never mind that the reality was quite different) and you can achieve the same effect with your quilted creations.
Young children especially long for the magic, mystery and warmth that Christmas should bring and the good news is that you don’t have to spend a great deal of time or money to achieve this.
While presents are exciting in the moment, children will quickly forget what they got for Christmas. What seeps into their hearts and bones is the emotions and love that come with it. If you have ever watched that greatest of Christmas movies ‘A Christmas Story’ you will know what I mean.
When Less Is More
However, most of us don’t have the time and resources to do wall-to-wall decorating like you see in those Hallmark Christmas movies.
And really, in some ways that kind of decorating – while visually pleasing – is kind of cold. It’s so perfect it’s unbelievable, and it doesn’t spark the same feelings of warmth that you get from Grandma’s hand-crocheted tea cozies.
So, less can and often is more. You can do a lot with a single tree and a few well-chosen and beautiful smaller pieces that are a part of your family tradition, or tie into your tradition in some way.
With homemade Christmas panels and decorations this is very easy to achieve.
6 Easy Ways to Use Quilted Items to Decorate for Christmas
I always like to do things as quickly and simply as possible. So I have for you here my top six tips for using quilted items to help bring the magic of Christmas right into your home.
#1 – Start with a wall that is a focal point in your house.
At my place, it’s one of my dining room walls. Here I hang my favorite large piece of Christmassy fabric art that I have. Sometimes it’s a panel, sometimes a lap quilt, sometimes a large quilt.
It draws all eyes and the fact that the piece is Christmas themed instantly kicks the Norman Rockwell response into effect.
#2 – Use as many Christmas pieces as possible in the main areas.
If you have more than one Christmas themed item, find similar places around the living areas of your house to display them.
I ignore all private areas such as bedrooms and offices, because who ever looks in there anyway.
#3 – Don’t overlook the small stuff.
Remember that your Christmas fabric art pieces can range from the very small – such as potholders – to the largest of quilts, and that a little goes a long way.
Some years I put out a lot of stuff, some years I only put out the staples, but I always try to make sure that there’s at least one bright spot of Christmas color in every main area of the house. No one’s ever complained!
#4 – Light it up!
I love Christmas lights!!! (It’s entirely possible that I love the lights more than the quilts, but we’ll leave it as a rumor).
Rather than have it look as though Christmas vomited in your house, maximize the homey and cozy effect of your fabric art pieces by adding lights around them. They instantly bring warmth and magic to your home. Use them judiciously – you don’t want to overwhelm and blind people with them, but do use them.
#5 – Always remember that the personal connection is vastly more important that technical perfection when it comes to making good memories.
Make great memories by having your children help you make Christmas decorations that will last, such as placemats, candle holders, fabric wreaths, etc.
You can purchase the wire wreaths at any craft store such as Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, or Joann’s. Then all you have to do is cut strips of Christmassy fabric 6”long by 1½” wide and double-knot each strip around the wire rims. It’s easy, quick, and looks fabulous and will live in your family’s hearts much longer than a store-bought wreath.
For years I bought Christmas ornament kits from Herrschners and the kids and I would spend hours constructing them. All these years later, they are still the favorite ornaments on our tree.
You can also make some of the easier kits and patterns in our store in a Christmas style with kids, or make the more advanced level ones as gifts – so be sure to check it out!
#6 – Think outside the normal “usage” box
Put placemats, potholders and table runners in places and on surfaces where they don’t usually go. This makes people look twice, gives you a lot more scope for the imagination, and gives you much more land for showcasing your talent; and let’s be frank here, which one of us doesn’t enjoy being admired for our talent and creativity!
Enjoy!
Using your own works of fabric art to decorate for the holidays will not only make your home unique and memorable, but it will bring those elusive positive emotions of joy, warmth, safety, and magic with it.
All the best to you and yours this holiday season!
Karyl (aka Princess YellowBelly)
P.S.
If you’d like to share pictures of how you decorate for Christmas with us you can do so privately by emailing me directly – or share publicly on our Facebook page.
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