Mission: Cabin Decor Using Natural Elements

Warning- post with pictures 'o plenty!

Take five women.


(Mom, Leigh, Beth & Elaine)


(Sister Sledge in her first women's craft appearance)

Put them in a quaint cabin in the middle of the woods in Mentone, Alabama.



And let the creative juices flow! Or that was the plan, anyhow. To decorate the cabin for Christmas (and the expected arrival of my cousin and his family from Denmark!!-shout out!-)

But first we would need supplies! I cannot think of any better inspiration than in nature. And what better way to decorate a cabin in rustic charm, of that which is found in the elements outside the cabin doors.

So off we would go!


Up the road....

Down the road....


Through the woods


By the Brook



In search of those natural items. And for deer-who my daughter Sledge was determined to see.
We began collecting twigs, vines, pine cones, and berries-whatever struck our fancy!
And we cut

and gathered:


And stockpiled.


And took notice.....that we weren't alone!



But still, we didn't see any deer.
So we gathered our goods and piled them into the car.



We took our treasures back to the cabin to take stock in what we had found:

Reeds


Piles of Baby's Breath and Rabbit Tobacco
(It is my understanding that the rabbits do not actually smoke this)


Pyracantha


Poison Sumac (the risk one takes for beauty)


And wild holly, pinecones, and multiple sorts of pine:


It's not rocket science! Just whatever we came across that we liked.
And then we got down to the nitty gritty and began to work:



Sledge, in her very first girls crafting weekend-welcome to the club- grabbed up a pile of straw and crafted away.


All by herself...




Then she and my mom worked on a wreath.







Look out Martha Stewart. Not only is my mom holding a glue gun, she fires really well! Get a look at that wreath!

While she and Sledge worked on the wreath, and Elaine and Beth worked on the indoor boughs. I began to separate into two piles assorted pieces for outdoor pieces for the gate.


And I whipped this up in no time.



From there mom and I worked on the outdoor boughs for the window sashes so we could keep up with the gorgeous boughs that Elaine and Beth had worked up inside. Elaine fashioned the bows.




Sister Sledge made a pine cross for my cousin Molly's Memory Gate.

And I noticed an empty basket on the wall beside the door....it needed to be filled with greenery:



We left nothing without a "touch of spirit".
Even "Rudolph".


And look! Sister Sledge! His friends approve!
Sledge was so excited! We finally saw some deer-about 8 to be exact crossing a field at dusk.


The only thing missing was the snow.
And nature even provided that too!



Three to Five inches of snow.

I am certainly in the Christmas spirit now!

Come back tomorrow for a tour of the cabin. It's adorable!