Natural Christmas
(Book)

Includes index.

In this day of the commercialized holiday season, Madderlake has provided the ideal guide to creating the natural Christmas of ages past. Looking back to how this most spiritual of holidays was celebrated before the advent of the artificial Christmas tree and mass-produced ornament, Tom Pritchard and Billy Jarecki demonstrate how easy it is and how much more satisfying to add a distinctly individual touch to the season. Whether you live in the city, the country, or somewhere in between, searching out the perfect ornaments, tree, and decorations become adventures that add immeasurably to the joys of the season: the local flea market is a treasure trove yielding charming and offbeat old ornaments that also make wonderful gifts; cutting your own tree, be it truly in the wilds or at a tree farm, offers a unique opportunity for a family gathering and maybe the start of a new tradition; and with a little imagination and step-by-step instructions from Madderlake, handmade wreaths express the beauty of local flora: pink and green pepperberries, dark burgundy heather, or wild smilax vine. With an impeccable sense of style, Madderlake also provides new ideas for trimming the tree, wrapping gifts, and creating just the right mood with candles. And it wouldn't be a Madderlake book without glorious floral arrangements - all shown here in glorious detail. Tom and Billy encourage you to break with tradition and let your imagination roam: vallota flowers red enough for Christmas, hybrid begonias, and an offbeat tropical centerpiece of Jerusalem cherry, confederate jasmine, and mistletoe fig. Poinsettias are here too, but cut and arranged as flowers in glasses throughout the house.