A Crafters Guide: Holiday Centerpiece

Hello Paris Market Readers!

My name is Jessica. I am a Paris Market shop gal, vintage fanatic, and how to guru. I have flown over from my blog Strawberry Moth to bring you a series of weekly projects to jump start your handmade heart and spread the holiday spirit.

The holidays are an extra special time for me and my family. I love to decorate my home and create Christmas crafts to add something special to my festive decor. One of my favorite projects is to plan out my table and create a memorable centerpiece. This year I will be creating my very own table tree using my collection of vintage jewelry and antique beads to add a sense of old to the new year to come. This is a great craft to share with friends and little ones, so pull out your jewelry junk drawer and join me on making this unique centerpiece.

 

Step One

Gather your supplies!

Supplies Needed:

Floral Styrofoam Cone (found at most craft stores)

Glue Gun

Straight Pins

Tube of Acrylic Paint

Paint Brush

Craft Glue

Beads

Vintage Jewelry (Grab bags available at Paris Market)

Any other buttons, gems, or pieces that inspire

I love incorporating vintage pieces into any project! Try using some family hand me downs to add a touch of sentiment to your centerpiece.

Step Two
Using your craft paint, coat your floral cone from top to bottom (I chose white to give my vintage jewelry a pop).

Let your cone completely dry. Use this down time to enjoy a hot cup of cocoa.

Step Three
Once the paint is dry, begin adding your vintage pieces. I chose to use a collage of antique brooches and earrings. If you are using special family items, try just pushing the pin back into the cone avoiding any glue. This way you can preserve your treasures and take them off later.

 

Try mismatching textures and tones! Or for an extra crafty look, try using vintage buttons!

Step Four

Add some strands of faux pearls or old necklaces to create the shape of garlands. It is a fun way to use up any broken bits you have lying around and will create some depth and detail in your centerpiece.

A glue gun can help string this step along quickly, but for more precious strands that you want to keep in tact try using straight pins to tack down your treasures.

Step Five

To fill in the spaces between your vintage jewelry, try using an assortment of beads as your filler. I chose to use this collection of different sized faux pearls. They make a great contrast to the colors I have chosen for my centerpiece and the different sizes make it possible for me to create various patterns.

I used simple straight pins to attach my beads to my centerpiece. This allows me to move the pearls if needed and also keeps my fingers safe from the hot glue gun. If you're doing this project with you're little one, straight pins are a great way to attach all the pieces and avoid any sticky situations.

I just love all the different textures together!

Step Six

No tree is complete without a star! Once you have finished attaching your pieces you will want to craft a top to your centerpiece. I chose to make my own using a wooden star (craft store find) and some sparkle. When choosing what to use as your topper, try an over sized star burst brooch or your family initial. Whatever you choose it will bring that extra something special to your Christmas creation!

 

Now step back and admire your craftiness!

We used a palette of silver, whites, and greens to decorate our holiday table. The use of textures and light catching surfaces will give your guests an extra dose of Christmas cheer!

Tune in next Wednesday for another handmade how to, and be sure to come visit me on my blog for more vintage and project love! Happy Crafting!

xo, Jessica

Celebrate the Season: France

Noel en Provence

When Christmas comes to Provence, every town and village is animated with Christmas markets. Adults and children can find handmade gifts, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, and of course local food. 

images: sablethome

But the best part of all is the “Santons” -little figurines dressed in provencal fabrics made from the fine clay of Marseille. The Nativity Scene can represent all the people in the village, such as the mayor, the policemen, bakers, butchers, etc. Homes and animals can also be represented.

skynetblogs

During the month of December, markets remain open to the rhythmn of “pastorals” (songs of Provence) until the Kings are added to the nativity for the Epiphany on January 6^th, an occasion called “The Cake of the Kings”

The big dinner is served on Christmas Eve and requires real staging. The table contains many symbols: Three candles for the Trinity, small balls of red holly, and bread and wine on a white tablecloth. The meal takes place until the hour of midnight mass. It is a meatless meal, as Christmas Eve is a day of abstinence.

Traditionally, there are seven lean dishes with seasonal vegetables, fried cod, mullets with olive, snails along with cardoon, artichokes, stew of eel, octopus stew, gratin of spinach, lentils, omelettes…Each region of Provence has its own customs.

Then there are the 13 desserts! The number 13 is symbolic of the Last Supper - Christ and the 12 apostles. And when the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Eve, Father Christmas fills everyone’s shoes with wonderful gifts!

The Thirteen Desserts

Presented on the same table after the great supper, accompanied by mulled wine.

~ Oil Pump – The “Poumpo” 

(based on flour, olive oil, water, orange blossom and brown sugar)

~ White Nougat with Almonds ~

~ Black Nougat with Almonds from Provence ~

~ Candied Lemon ~

~ Calissons of Aix: Candied Melon ~

~ Nuts (represents the order of the Augustinians) ~

~ Almonds (represents the order of the Carmelites) ~

~ Figs (represents the Franciscan order) ~

~ Raisins (represents the order of the Dominicans) ~

~ Winter Pears ~

~ Apples ~

~ Oranges or Mandarins ~

~ Dates ~

Enjoy the Season!

Inspiration at The Paris Market

Our whole raison d'etre at The Paris Market is to inspire people. From the creative team designing displays (Shelby and Kelsey) and doing special projects (like our fabulous windows) to creating espresso magic at the coffee bar, we love to put our energies and talents together to create an inspired and energetic atmosphere alive with possibilities. So, I get excited when the enthusiasm spills over and people respond to our ambiance by incorporating The Paris Market into something that's special to them. From cheeky photoshoots to weddings to wacky writing projects, The Paris Market has inspired a gamut of creative manifestations. It also allows me to see the store through fresh eyes and gain a new perspective on things.  And of course, they always bring their a style and panache all their own.

Vintage inspired shoot with Perla Middleton

Love the angle on this shot and the kicky red heels!

photos: Joe Burke at Seraphim Imaging

model: Perla Middleton

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A pic sent to us via our twitter feed:

photo: Allie Morris

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 photos: Lily Lewin, more at her blog ojobox

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Kelsey's wedding: getting ready at The Paris Market

Jessica Keener - Jessica Keener Photography

love this shot!

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And of course, me: I thought it would be the perfect place to write. And it was!

 

 

It's all about inspiring people. What's better than that?

What inspires you?

Celebrate the Season: Russia

Celebrations in Russia

The Russian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar and Christmas is celebrated on January 7^th. It is both solemn ritual and joyous celebration. At the onset of the Soviet Regime, religious practice was greatly suppressed and Christmas along with ALL other religious celebrations was banned for many years. It wasn't until 1992 (roughly 75 yrs later) that Christmas was openly celebrated again.

 

Prior to 1992, Christmas was celebrated under the guise of New Years instead, and St. Nicholas was replaced with Ded Moroz or Grandfather Frost- the Russian spirit of Winter - who brought presents on New Year’s Day. He looks very much like a western Santa but is dressed in a blue suit. He is accompanied by Snyegurochka, or the snowmaid Few, who helps distribute gifts. Of course, the Christmas tree (or Yolka) was also banned, so to keep the custom alive, people decorated New Year’s Yolkas instead. The trees were trimmed with handmade decorations and fruit.

 Two interpretations of Ded Moroz "Grandfather Frost"

images left-right: All Creatures and Chrism

When the clock strikes midnight they write their wishes and desires for the New Year on a piece of paper and burn it with a candle. The ash is mixed into a glass of champagne and consumed. Toasts are made for the old and new year to come. Popular beliefs are to return debts before the new year and to wear brand new clothes on New Year’s Day. People celebrate with fireworks, champagne, lavish dinners and gifts, and listen to the President count down the final seconds of the old year. The bells of the Kremlin then chime, ringing in the New Year.  Russians welcome the New Year by saying "S Novim Godom" which means "Happy New Year to you" or "Best of luck in the New Year"

Enjoy the Season!

Wrapping it Up

Some people shop a little all year and then they're completely done by the time Thanksgiving rolls around and they're all ready to go carousing around town enjoying the season without any stress. I am not one of those people. I like shopping in general, for myself, for others...but I have to be psychologically pumped and primed with christmas music, holiday cards, hot chocolate, temperatures below 70 and maybe a little bit of glitter before I get going in full force.  I have the most fun when I just go to stores with no lists from anybody and I see something and its just perfect for my mom or for one of my friends that would normally be impossible. Of course we have lots of cool stuff at Paris Market that will make great gifts, but we also have really cute paper and stickers for when your ready to wrap it all up and give it away.

 

Celebrate the Season: Germany

This year, we decided to decorate in the spirit of the season around the world, highlighting a few different countries and taking our inspiration from them.

Christmas in Germany

Traditionally, the day of gift giving in Germany is the 6th of December - St Nikolaus day. The night before, children leave their slippers or shoes out by their door or window and in the morning they are full of candy, fruit and small gifts. St. Nikolaus, who wears a bishop’s hat and red velvet robe is followed around by a dark sidekick. In some areas of Germany it is "Knecht Ruprecht", a man dressed in dark robes and a dark beard who carries around braches to beat children who have been bad! An even scarier version is "Krampus" a devil like character who fills the same role.

  illustration by Kelsey Garrity-Riley

 

 Krampus!

Advent is a very big part of the Christmas celebration. Advent wreathes (Adventskranz) are very common- made out of pine branches, berries and ribbon with four candles, one candle gets lit each Sunday up until Christmas to mark the waiting for Christ's birth. Advent celebrations are also common in villages - at night booths are set up in the main square, and logs are stood around and lit on fire. Everyone drinks warm spiced wine, eats bratwurst and the children stick dough on the end of long sticks to cook over the firelogs.

In general, the aesthetic of the holiday is a very natural and nostalgic one- famous German ornaments are made out of shiny glass or carved wood, and houses and towns are decorated with fresh trees and berries and branches.

The Christmas tree itself is of German origin (called Tannenbaum). They are typically set up on Christmas Eve and decorated with lighted candles, tinsel, and candy etc. The song "Oh Christmas Tree" is of German origin as is the popular Silent Night.

Enjoy the Season!

Cozy up your computers

We have some really fabulous bags to put under your tree this year. Felt and leather totes, laptop covers, ipad pouches and little phone cozies. They feel beautiful and these covers are an instant classic in their simplicity. Choose from these bright cheerful colors, or go with a sophisticated neutral. These will be a big hit this year I can tell. After all they do for us, don't our little machines deserve something cute and cozy?