CC, I love your ideas, now that's what I'm talking about! I have a lot of small teapots on display (not miniature), so if I were to buy a miniature set, how would I hang them on the "branches? I could use tiny ribbon for the cups, but not sure about the plates. But...teapots would be more for kitchens so I think I want this in the LR because of the color of the tree. I especially like the clothespin idea. Not sure about the quotes, etc. I want the display to be visible without having to get next to it. Okay ladies, put your thinking caps on. What can I use the clothespins for which would fit with the LR decor? The decor is on the rustic, country side. Colors are the jewel tones, burgandy, green, some blues, brass, silver and copper. Karen, thanks so much! It's about that time of the year where I'll be looking at the inspiration pictures again!

Mary, I love that link that you sent, adorable. Now go figure, pre-1900 main house, turn of the century remainder..... Love the nostalgia, but want our life-styles....poker tables, neon lights, bar, game rooms, all with a complete respect of the old while injecting our current traditional lifestyle..... Hah....someone come up with a decorating term for that...ecclectic....duh. Jim, I think that is the look I'm envisioning for that tree! Gorgeous! I've run out of rooms.....but you have inspired me to find a corner SOMEWHERE to put up this 6' silver tree and make it work!!!!! I love looking at your inspirations! Alex

Thanks for the nice comments. The figurines on the mantel are a collected assortment. The birds (yes, they are metal) and the gargoyles (which are supposed to be hung) are antiques that were always in my in laws home which I admired and as they are in the downsizing mode have found their way into our home. The Father Frost (wooden) is from St. Petersburg Russia where our 2 youngest children are from -- it makes me happy. I didn't buy one when we were there the first time, but made sure to the 2nd. I'm trying to think what else is in the picture . . . oh the ark is an advent calendar (I think from Gardener's Eden???) - has to be up on mantle because it's person is only 2 years old and it is breakable :-)

Love seeing all the lovely trees. This thread has definitely made me smile! Ours is an eclectic "memory" tree also. Our kids are aged five and nine so we have many ornaments made by them and also let them pick out one or two each year to add to the tree. We also have many that have been given to us and purchased, handed down, etc. It makes for a merry mix! Every year we go get a fresh tree, either a Frasier Fir or a Blue Spruce. The past couple of years we went with Blue Spruce because the branches are sturdier and can hold the heavier ornaments better than the Frasier. But I got really cut up after doing the lights. Back to the Frasier next year! Our angel was crooked at the time: And a shot w/ our reading corner that has our advent tree in view: MY yearly ornament purchase of this year. My Dwight bobblehead. How's this for fun?! Here he is set back in the tree: This ornament looks almost just like our Havanese dog, Luke. I had to buy it: Yoda (We have a strange amount of classic Star Wars and Disney ornaments on the tree): My Mardi Gras Crawfish I've had for years: One of our LSU Ornaments: A really pretty ornament I found this year also. Just white, pearly and lovely: This is my Sweets Tree in our casual dining room. I created it last year after seeing a larger version in a store while shopping with my mother. I've always loved white trees but we always get a live tree. This is my way of having a fun, white, colorful, themed tree of my own. My DD and I had a lot of fun setting it up this year: Another shot of it in the room: My console table I did for the first time this year (On a side note - see that green tree by the red lit one? I didn't realize that my 9 y.o. DS had taken my other two trees, a shorter green one I'd put to the left of the tiered stand and a silver mirrored one I'd put by the red & green trees, and stacked them UNDER the big green one. It'd been like that for two weeks before I caught it! Little sneak!) : Oh, my DD and DS also have tabletop trees in their rooms on each of their dressers with the tiny ornaments on them just for them. It seems like every time I go in my 5 y.o.'s room, something new is hanging on there. Last night her 3" tall Wizard of Oz Tin Man was hooked on their with the hanger from a new pair of tights we opened. Inventive. I should've taken pictures of them too but didn't think about it and now they're asleep. I've been wordy. This is an enjoyable thread!