Post-snowstorm, we are settling into our holiday decoration transition period.  It’s too early for the obvious harbingers of St. Nick, like trees and garland.  Yet, I strolled through the grocery store recently, I realized, upon eyeing a huge crate of gorgeous red pomegranates that the time has indeed arrived for a little more holiday colour.  A large crystal bowl stacked with glistening red orbs announces the change of season; never mind the deep crusts of ice and snow outside the window…it’s only mid-November.  Luckily, we have already started gathering the tiny red rosehips from around our garden.  They are clustered within the spirals of a birch branch wreath still residing since last year’s placement on the brick wall behind the woodstove.  Extra rosehip clusters are “stored” with a few extra pomegranates amid the living room mantle bric-a-brac—a prescient display of the holiday season’s spirit. 

For many years now, my wife and I have been searching catalogues and corner stores, seeking out a brilliantly hued tree skirt to replace the dull swaddling cloths we had fashioned merely to protect the floor from water.  Each year we have challenged ourselves to hide these cloths behind layers of packages.  This year the tree skirt won’t be hiding.  While working with a client on a melange of red fabrics from Kravet (www.kravet.com), a brilliantly hued red, gold, and green silk plaid made itself known to us.  Without the context of the holidays, the fabric is merely colourful, so it will suit more than the floor-cloth of a tree.   We ordered enough to slipcover a back cushion on one chair, add bolsters to the slipper chairs, extra pillows to the sofa, and a throw for the piano.  Since the silk is bit too thin to place directly on the floor and too light to stay put on the piano, the floor-cloth/tree-skirt and the piano throw need to backed by a substantially weighty fabric.  Canada’s Maxwell house of fabrics (www.maxwellfabrics.com) came to the rescue with a line called Austin, an affordable faux suede, water and stain resistant, perfectly suited for facing the floor and holding a lightweight silk in place.  The tree skirt is made 54”x72” with a 16” centre hole to accommodate large tree feeders.  The extra width can be gathered under the tree for a layered effect.  With or without the tree skirt, the rest of the illustrious plaid options imbue a bright, happy counterpoint to the grey cold days ahead.     

For a subtle accent, simply gather some pinecones to fill a favourite ceramic bowl.  For drama, President’s Choice giant Santa Rosa pine cones will stand out anywhere you place them.  On my garden porch, I have a sage green ceramic bowl that always looks seasonally refreshed with the addition of pinecones.  The gaps can always be filled with extra rosehips, holly, or boxwood.  It’s a simple way to create holiday presence.