~THE TREE THAT DIED~
2010 Decorating
Yesterday my daughter, Adrienne, picked me up for a bit of shopping. We planned to visit Hobby Lobby to look at their Christmas Trees because the one I was using last year in our dining room decided to die on me. Although artificial the fifteen year old Tree was beyond help. The wire branches would no longer stay in place and most of the lights (about 1,000) struggled to stay lit. My Mr. AGPMan hand-wired the thing together so I could use it one more time and when Christmas was over it was trashed...
~ALL WIRED UP~
My girl and I looked around the Christmas aisles at Hobby Lobby before actually going to the Trees. As usual there was a massive amount of ornaments, yard decor, lights, gift wrap, flowers, bags, bangles and beads. I was overwhelmed. When we moseyed over to the Trees I found one I 'kinda liked'. It was originally $399.00 (are you kidding me?) but since they were running a 'sale' it was 50% off so it would only cost me $199....(???? again!).
I don't know about you but I truly hate inflated prices that are followed with half-off sales. As I said a couple of days ago in my post about sewing patterns...just give us a fair price and forget the promo based sales.
Anyway...I left without the Tree.
But that's not really what I want to say...
In all the years of shopping at Hobby Lobby (and I love this OKLAHOMA BASED BUSINESS!) I have never seen so much wildish, whimsical looking Christmas stuff! Not sure what was going on with the Product Buyers or maybe what I was seeing was ALL that was being offered and produced in the Chinese Wholesale Markets for 2011...not sure.
Am I the only one who thinks the new colors and so-called trends are harsh? All this bright, bright, bright, BRIGHT glittery red and lime green stuff reminiscent of the 60's filled row after row. And, even though I know it's early in the season I didn't see the stuff flying off the shelves. I left disappointed in what I saw and purchased very little.
~SAM'S TREE~
Next we paid a visit to our local SAM'S CLUB and there I found a 7ft slim Tree (which is what I need and want) for $129.00. Not too bad a price and this one came with 250 more pre-lit lights. Since I'm planning on painting the Tree (yes I am) and flocking it like my old one I didn't mind too much the dark, dark green of the branches...I'd rather it had been a "pine green" color but I guess for $129 that is all one can hope for.
Still...I left without a Tree. I do have a few more places to visit before I decide on just the right one... Right now I'm pretty much convinced if it's the softer and more romantic side of Christmas I'm wanting to see I'm probably not going to find it in the stores this year!
Bummer....
Hope your hump-day is lovely~
Love to you...
31 comments:
So many things about Christmas in the last few years have left me disappointed and you have named a few. One that has me concerned is a trend with some of the magazines not even mentioning Christmas at all...I will name them! House Beautiful had a combined Dec/Jan issue with no Christmas on the cover and maybe one tree in a home..you get the picture. The new 'December' issue of Architectural Digest has Nothing and I mean Nothing, as if Christmas never existed! I feel kind of betrayed. That's why I was so thrilled to see your pretty photo at the top, knowing that you will keep the sweet and pretty in this special time of year, thank you! xo
Dearest Rebecca,
Oh, I almost fell off my feet when I saw the price at Costco for a complete and lit tree, you can stack it away as a small package. Great if you have a huge home with high ceilings and an unlimited budget. We have not had a tree since we moved back to Europe. I did away with it in 1988 when we went to Pennsylvania and from there to Italy... No regrets!
We have our angels.
Hope you will find what you need as it goes so well with your soft decorated and romantic home!
Love to you,
Mariette
I absolutely agree with you about HL. They have some beautiful trees but the prices are very steep. Try Lowe's. That is where we bought our last tree. My husband wanted a tree with colored lights. I gave in and said O.K. Got home and set it up and the colors were bright pink, (not red) and a bright lime green and the blues would knock your eyes out. Not what I had in mind, but am stuck with it for a few more years. Give me white lights anytime.
Rebecca, our den slim tree died and Ron also wired it together for one last year. I was so sad to see that tree go....I dearly loved it.
I am looking for a new one and so far, no luck.
I have noticed the bright colors but I always do my own thing....so it never really enters the old brain box too much. Ha.
I can't find anything romantic right off....if you see something, please let us know.
Have a blessed day. I am happy girl today. The house is sparkling clean and ordered.....I love that!
xoBarb
Rebecca, do you have a Big Lots in OK? They have decent trees at decent prices.
Isn't it terrible how expensive artificial trees can be?? Hobby Lobby shows all their trees 50% off but they are still ridiculous! I thought about getting a smaller table top tree but I think I am going to keep my 7ft slimline for a while longer. I am wondering what you meant by painting your tree? I would love to flock mine but I am afraid I would make a mess of it. Your trees in your photo are just beautiful! Good luck in finding the right one!~Hugs, Patti
I agree with you about the holiday stuff...and it's not even Thanksgiving yet.
One of the places I visited had owls all over one tree...huh???
Must be because everything is from you-know-where.
If you are going to buy a tree, why not hit the thrift shops?
You can paint them??? What kind of paint do you use?
Love your blog.
Having a great hump day today on Wednesday!
I have noticed the NEW colors.
What if you got a real tree for this Christmas and then waited for the Half price prices after Christmas and then got that dream tree for half and have it ready for next year's Christmas? Good idea?
I still enjoy seeing the ideas out there and love Christmas decorating.
God bless,
d
Hi Rebecca!Im so with you on the new colors for christmas.Ugh, Im old fashioned a bit.I like the nicely lit,calm and pristine if you will, look to everything at Christmas time.
I so cant wait to see when you do some flocking to your tree.I know it will be lovely.
Blessings!
Rebecca,
How do you paint a christmas tree? Now, before you say with paint...I mean do you spray paint it? I know you are not afraid to use a can of spray paint! Try the local thrift stores. Sometimes people change tree styles and get rid of nice trees. Or try your favorite store Ross!
Deb
No kidding, try hardware stores. They sell some gorgeous trees. We will get ours from Menards or lowes this year. Tall and then as you described. The prices are fair & they always have weekend after thanksgiving sale. FYI.
Now on the garish colors, yes I say uggg!! I am green, white, red, gold & silver with pink. I can't do easter at xmas time. Two different celebrations of Christ. I want my holiday to represent the day it stands for. On a less serious side: Who the heck would want a throw up of fruit loops on their tree? Good grief.
;>}
Huggers
Tammy
I'm wanting to downsize this year to a slimmer tree just to make it easier on me. I love decorating my tree, but my shoulder limits me to how far I can reach. I just want to downsize on a lot of things, but it's so hard as I love Christmas.
A few of the little whimsical things catch my eye, but I still like traditional things the most.
There's a pool place in Shreveport called Splash that sells Christmas trees and the most beautiful decorations every year. We have bought trees from there as they are always of good quality. I wish I could just let them do my whole tree! They have something for everyone.
I'm sure yours will be gorgeous!
As much as I enjoy Hobby Lobby, I was disappointed as well with their selection of ornaments this year. A few years ago they had so many pretty decorations! I only bought one this year ~ a little pink Cinderella pumpkin coach. Your Christmas trees are so lovely.
The other thing I think about Hobby Lobby is their prices - they used to be so reasonable, but now everything is expensive. And what happened to Thanksgiving? sandie
I'm with you! I found one I really loved by Bethlehem lights and it was 7-1/2' tall and it was $599! Are you KIDDING ME? I could go to Bethlehem for that price!
Anyway, I found one a couple of years ago after Season. Now..don't laugh but try GW. Thee were lots of trees to choose from there and they were all under $20. Even if it is not THE PERFECT tree maybe you can buy a GW one and then a good one AFTER the Season is over (for next year).
Okay- If you DO buy a tree and flock it I would love if you would post some pictures of that process...or at least describe it. I know there is a right way and a wrong way to flock and I would love to flock one of these small trees I have. xo Diana
I would love to be able to comment on this whole price wars and Christmas trees saga cause then it would mean two things
A) I would be visiting my darling daughter it the USA
and
B) I would have a home to put the Christmas tree in :)
Sooo hope you find what you are looking for Rebecca and at the right price, enjoy the shoping around for it!
Hugs
Cxxx
Choosing a Christmas tree is serious business! We have one artificial tree in the drawing room, and a real tree in the hall. Our very first artificial tree gave up the ghost after 20 odd years, so that was pretty good going. The one we have now, we bought in the sales after Xmas a few years ago and it is in pretty good shape still. But ever since my boys were little, they insisted on a real tree in the hall, and I am happy to oblige. Every year my youngest son ( ahem, in his 20s ) and I go to a nearby farm and spend ages finding just the right tree. It is an important part of our Christmas preparations.
Love the trees you show. And I agree with you about the "new" colors this year for Christmas !
We have a really cute white table top tree...with tiny white lights. and we put all gold ornaments on it.....we love it..it softly lights up our whole living room for watching TV at night during those long cold evenings.
The Mexican population here in Houston is huge..and I am thinking they are catering to that market.
Since our grandkids have grown and MOVED away we don't put up a big tree any longer, in fact we gave our huge tree to our granddaughter when she was married..for her first Christmas in your own home.
And some treasured larger ornaments too that I asked her to pass on to her children ( when they come)..they were in the family for a LONG time already.
Trying to instill some sense of the real Christmas and family heirloom treasures.
Rose
A couple of years ago I purchased a Martha Stewart tree from Kmart. It is a "slim" tree I have in my dining room. It was about $75 and I love it as much as I do my more expensive tree. I don't know if she is associated with Kmart now but you might research it online.
I purchased my big tree at Hobby Lobby after Christmas and got a great price. I couldn't afford the before Christmas price!
I sm definitely in the 15 yr. slump with my artificial tree(s) that I purchased as a set from Cornelius Nursery when we moved to TX. Today, those trees look like something "Charlie Brown" would display for the holidays.
I need a 6-7 ft. slim line that looks good in a smallish corner in our family room. I was all set up to take advantage of early pickings at Garden Ridge about 3 weeks ago,,,a news alert came on, the entire store was on fire. An arsonist set the place on fire during mid day with employees & shoppers lives at stake,
So I need to check Lowe's..Hobby Lobby here is too pricey for my pocketbook this season..maybe Home Depot, even.
Wish me luck on my tree finding haunt.
Carol from
Good "Ol Texas
Hi Rebecca, We bought our 7 foot tree from Lowe's. It looks so pretty and real. I too do not like the bright colors. I do my tree in white, cream, aqua and silver. I am starting to get excited to have it up. Both son's and sweet daughter in laws will be home. Good Luck. Hugs, Terri
Hello Rebecca,
The prices of trees are really getting outrageous!!!
Just a suggestion as some of the other ladies have said Try GW to see if you can get a tree for the Holiday and then after Christmas get the tree you really want.
That is how I bought my white tree there was no way I was going to spend $200 or 300 for a tree no matter how pretty it is. But a couple days after Christmas I went to Target and found my white tree marked down 75 or 80%. I ended up spending $40 for the tree.
Any way I know your tree will be beautiful whatever you choose to do. I just love your decorating style.
Looking forward to see what you decided.
Suzann ~xoxo~
Rebecca,
I felt the same way about wild colors when the Spring wholesale catalogs came. (not that I order, since my store is mostly vintage), but the colors were awful!!
Good thing we have our own ways of making things beautiful! =)
Thanks for your always encouraging visits.
blessings
barb
I agree about the inflated price issue! They are so expensive. We purchased a new tree last year for our condo and love it. The price wasn't too bad. It was at Garden Ridge in Columbus. It's skinny, is prelite and has sparkles at the end of the branches... Perfect!!
Hope you find your dream tree.
Hugs, Sherry
PS I don't like the 60's colors either... been there, done that!
Oh my goodness, Hobby Lobby does have loads of bright colors! I will be using my same tree YET again! I would rather have a fair price to start with but the sales are what draws us in:) Have a blessed day on your tree hunting experience! HUGS!
I do not like the WILD colors of Christmas now either! I did not even like traditonl red and green! and went with pastel colors in 1987..long
before they became popular. My sons were horrified that I was using PINK!!
But i stuck to "my style" and have added to it over the years...I like soft, delicate and pretty...not the loud, garish decorations I see today.
I use mostly angels and nativities to decorate but the kitchen and breakfast
rooms are now snowmen...a lot I bought
from a very talented lady named Miss Rebecca!!!!!!
I am as curious as the other ladies as to how you PAINT your tree! Please explain that to us! Can't wait to see your house all "decked up" for the holidays!
We won't be home this year, so I am just putting a wreath on front and back doors and some decorations on the front porch...sort of hate not to do the whole house anyway, but I won't be recovered enough by then from back surgery..but I can ride in the RV to be with my sister's family, thank goodness!
Have a happy day....Love and hugs, Francy
Hi Rebecca~I don't have a hobby lobby here by me, but I too have been very disappointed on the Christmas items and colors that seem to be the latest trends.....
Just not for me either :)
I hope you find a beautiful tree :) please keep us posted :)
xo~Mari
Bought my christmas tree from a seller I was familiar with on eBay, fair price for both the tree & shipping. It's an open to consider!
Pam
Hello Rebecca,
Sorry you did not find the right tree. We also have a artificial one, I had thought about not putting it up this year. Part of me wants to get a real tree this year. ... or maybe just put up miniture somewhere on a table. Oh what to do....
Blessings~
Gwendolyn
Until a few weeks ago, we didn't have a Hobby Lobby this far south in Florida so I had never seen their Christmas decorations before. I've been thinking I'd like to have a 7' slim white tree so my daughter and I went to check out the new HL store last week. I was appalled at their tree prices...even at 50% off, and I heard several other shoppers remark how expensive they were. The other place I checked was K-Mart and they were equally as pricey. Maybe I'll try Lowe's, as several of your readers suggested.
I will say I thought HL's ornaments, all organized, en masse, by the different colors made for a pretty striking display but those colors are certainly not the look I'm going for on my tree either.
Your tree is/was beautiful, btw. And count me in as another who is more than just a little intrigued that you are going to paint your new tree! Hope you'll share more info on that. :)
Rebecca..I had that same experience on Monday. Only I went to Michaels and looked at their tree's. Like you, I left without a tree. I don't paint mine but it's probably because I don't know how...and I am not the decorater that you are. For something gorgeous, I have to visit you.
I tried to enter the contest for the preious little case that I have been coveting for years..but for the life of me cannot figure out how to do some of the requirements. I will try again tomorrow when I am less tired. I tried it back in October...and gave up then too.
The case is lovely and some very fortunate person is going to win it!
I haven't given up yet! :)
Love,
Mona
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