Why am I so Decor Challenged? Dollar Tree Recs, Inktober!!! // Sat Chat 9/30/23

I think I fit an hour of words in 28 minutes. Welcome to Sat chat!

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Video production and Craft ideas: Lindsay Weirich
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#thefrugalcrafter #watercolor #art

[genesisjessome]

My favorite Christmas tree hack is using 3 small trees of differentheights, 2ft to 4ft and cluster. Elevate them with a wooden box or bench, wrap burlap or christmas fabric around the bases. Did this with roommates one year and to prevent cats from destroying the ornaments left the trees blank, created a garland of ivy, pine and white lights twined together and put it up at ceiling height. Hung the ornaments on the garland and Voila! Was very cozy and Christmassy.

[OhJodi]

My first Christmas tree, in my very first was flat broke. Didn't have a tree. I took a big box and a bunch of aluminum foil from my restaurant job. I cut two tall triangles from the box, covered them in crumpled foil, slotted them and fit them together to make it stand up 3-D. Then I invited some friends over, gave them all those cardboard rainbow glasses to wear, turned out the lights, and shined a flashlight on the tree, LOL It was awesome! (The wine and smoke added to the festive effect, lol)

[pamelaavery]

Our house is 1048 sq ft. Our tree is a cat tree. We have an outdoor gazebo that I decorate for every season. We do our decorations outside. A few inside stuff but mostly outside. Happy inktober

[ssfoster]

We have a very small home as well. Several years ago I got a wooden tree at a craft show that the maker drilled holes in and put lights in. I put it in my credenza with some pine garland and ornaments. Simple but functional.

[GingahSnapsArt]

As renters, we don't have a Christmas tree. My partner and I make a tree as an art project every year! Ornaments and lights and all 🥰 It guarantees a few fun date nights every December.

We even have a "yule log" painting and hang wool socks over it. It's amazing.

Currently have two sets of nesting trays and every year, we update the paint and add more details to it. The trays are connected in a tree shape with medium binder clips and secured to wall with a couple command hooks.

It takes only a smidge of wall space, it's festive, and watching our little "tree" evolve with us is pretty delightful.

[thedomesticfox]

Thank you for saying it - yes - sick of rebuying stuff over and over again. My sewing machine is 50 years old and still running like a champ. The sewing machine repair store doesn’t even attempt to upsell me when I come in to have it’s yearly service and cleaning done. They know nothing they sell holds a candle to it. I feel the same way about a lot of things - if I can find vintage or antique that is still in great shape - that is what I buy. Buy once and done. 🤷‍♀️

[eagercrafter_]

Hang the tree upside down from the ceiling. They are gorgeous. Or get a half tree, it hangs on the wall

[ArtBrain]

You could always opt for a Festivus pole!

Your daughter's sewing machine may just need some oil. If the mechanisms are gritty, if can cause the needle movement to be sort of jerky (but the machine moves too fast to see the jerkiness), which can pull the thread. It can also be a case of lumpy thread. I'm not a thread snob at all, but some can be more troublesome than others. Adjusting tension isn't too hard, once you know how to do it. It can be frustrating until you learn, but I think it's beneficial long-term to learn to do it yourself. Happy Saturday on Sunday!

[rcl-crafter]

I love "scrub free" and used it for years then couldn't find it. Thanks for sharing that you found it at Dollar Tree!! I'm in the PNW so not sure if we have it but I'll look. Thanks for all you do!!

[joycepinkerton]

We downsized a few years ago and just don’t have the room or desire anymore for a big Christmas tree. We have a potted Norfolk Island pine that we set up on a little table and decorate with mini lights and homemade ornaments. It’s small but festive and on the table it’s tall enough to feel like a “real” tree without taking up too much space. It goes outside in the shade in the summer then back inside for winter. Actually we did the same thing before we had kids so I guess we’ve come full circle 😊.

[Peppermint_Paper]

Hi Lindsay, always enjoy your sat chats. Can't wait to watch your sketchbook video. I want to really watch and pay attention so I need to make time. I love your long videos! I saw a home beautifully decorated for Christmas. They had 2 artificial potted evergreens. They were both strung with lights and had lighted star toppers. I think they had some small matching ornaments and lovely skirts covering the traditional pots. To hang their favorite collected ornaments they swagged string lights on matching greenery garland and hung the ornaments between. It was simple, elegant, and space saving. The potted trees can used, undecorated, as year round decor somewhere. Hugs❤

[sammypuexxxxx]

I put up several trees. I put up our big one with all my radco ornaments. Then I also put up a military one with all military and patriotic ornaments in honor of my son who's in the Navy who just became a Chief Petty Officer. And then my very favorite, I have a Wizard of Oz tree which is all wizard of Oz ornaments. Plus I have the witches legs sticking out from the tree, Toto in a basket, a which's broom, topped with a witch's hat. All on a white upside down tree wrapped with a light gray netting to give it the appearance of a tornado. It is my pride and joy😊

[SheilaLandry]

Happy weekend to you ! :) I actually have what I call an "all-season tree" in my kitchen (which is a large, eat-in kitchen) . It is a tall and skinny artificial tree and I keep it up all year. I began with it when my kids were little and we all regretted how plain the house looked after the Christmas decorations were taken down. I loved doing little crafts with my kids, so we started out making 'winter' decorations for January, hearts for Valentine's day, Shamrocks, etc., for March, etc., My kids would love seeing their artwork displayed throughout the year. So thirty years later, when the nest is empty, I still keep the tree up and every season it brings back memories. My winter version is my favorite, as I put all polar animals and glass snowflakes and icicles on it and change the lights to blue or white. It is magical. I don't do the months as much as the 'seasons' (because I am lazier!) I do spring birds and bird cages, etc., summer beach theme, and sometimes Halloween - depending how early I change it - or just autumn themed with leaves, acorns and berries. I finally cracked and got a new one about a year ago as my original one was about 30 years old and had started kind of disintigrating. I did vacuum it when changing over, but age got the best of it, so I found a new one on Amazon that was reasonable and fit in the same corner. Also, they have fancy/dancy lights that change color at the click of a remote so I don't have to physically change the colors of the lights anymore. (Yay for lazy me!) It is our night light and a staple in our home. Anyway - have a great time tomorrow. I look forward to your Inktober video. <3

[wesewpro]

I've been sewing for 56 years, the best machines are the vintage 70/80's era. They are made of metal, yes they are heavy, but they stitch evenly, very few issues, and you can buy one at a thrift store for about $20. I only buy them at the thrift stores these days, and I have never been disappointed. I also teach sewing, and use the vintage machines for teaching because I know they will not let me down.

[BoundingSquirrel]

"I lack the ability to decorate like a grown-up, " you said. Oh, so do I, and it made me so happy that it isn't just me. (My husband has a theory on this. He observed that, "you're in another world when you're making art, aren't you? So it stands to reason you can't be there *and* think about how things look physically, at the same time.)

Anyway, just so glad to know am not alone in this, and your words just nailed the predicament in which I frequently find myself :-). Thanks so much, both for this and the whole video. Have a great week!

[lisastankiewicz]

First Christmas tree was a Charlie brown tree. No money so popcorn, gingerbread men, cranberries and tinsel. Favorite tree in 45 seasons!

[Craftaartissaurus]

Great chat. Ah the Christmas tree, we have an artificial one, um the leg thing broke four years ago so we just made one, it’s out of wood works great. Hubby 3D printed a clamp that clips on and this holds the middle of the tree, all good. Yep it’s old a good 14yr old. We love it and what the hey it’s up for like a month that’s fine. Enjoy your retreat, yep Inktober fun can’t wait to see your video. Have a lovely weekend.

[candywilliams]

Good morning. Just enrolled in the 30 Days to Better Watercolor course. My daughter asked what I wanted for my birthday in October and I told her your course. Haven't been painting for a while, I've been making cards and enjoying it but I do miss painting so this will be a good kick start for me. I usually paint landscapes and animals and I'm a very detailed painter so following your course will be a good way for me to loosen up and paint some subjects that I wouldn't normally approach. Enjoy your weekend.

[sewmuchglitter]

My mom got a pencil tree and loves it. My tree is a Halloween tree until Nov 1st. I will rearrange my LR around my holiday decorations 🤣

[AnitasDreams]

Lindsey I bought what they call Porch or Patio trees at our local Menard's store. I put it in our family room area & it worked great. The 1st year I sat it up on a table & the next year on the floor by our stone fireplace at the end of our hearth. Still gave us the feeling of a Christmas tree without the full big tree. This year I brought it out & it is decorated with some Fall leaves & orange lights for Fall.