The Inn at Christmas

I was at The Inn for a meeting this morning and took a few pics of our 2011 decorations – in purple, red, and gold this year.  Looks like we are very ready for the Big Day – and we’re full through the weekend.  If you can’t stay with us, at least you can enjoy the view!

I almost made it around the corner - just as Santa was disappearing into his house after chiming the hour.

Even a drain pipe can be beautiful at Christmas!

And I leave you with a photo of my favorite spot – the bench by the pond.  Even though we are right on the parkway, this spot manages to be serene and quiet and restful, always.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Christmas trees! More Christmas trees! (part C)

.. did you run out for a cup of hot chocolate or cider?  Because more trees -coming at you now ..

A white ballerina tree, glittering with white crystal-like leaf sprays and sparkling ribbons.  (I think guests may be harvesting ornaments from this tree already!)

Right next to it, our ‘tween tree, a lavender dream filled with Hello Kitty lights, texting cell phones, Converse All Stars, high heels & Uggs.

Y’all, I am just mad for these pink and blue flowers!

Are you more of a traditionalist?  Here’s a spectacular red-and-green composition.

What the..?  Alright, who’s the smarty pants who thinks they should be rewarded with a big slice of cake after all that tree-decorating inspiration??  Calling The Partridge & Pear for take-out, are you?!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

P.S. That cake number is 865-868-0575 ..

P.S.S. Sorry about the “y’all” – I was just over in The Boutique and they have a cute new collection of Southern Sass T-shirts!

Christmas trees! More Christmas trees! (part 2)

Enjoy some more …

Wouldn’t everyone use barbed wire on their Western Christmas tree?   (I think it’s made of leather, actually.)

Check out the pheasants in the top of the tree:

This one was one of the hardest to photograph – it is so very sparkly, from the stems added as decorations to the foil accents and multitude of light strands and lighted stems – it sparkles much more than I can show here.  Someone catch that Elf before he falls off the top hat!

Do you see the reindeer flying a plane out of the middle of the tree?  I’ll help with another photo:

Poor girl has lost a propeller blade!  I hope it’s around to be reattached.

Santa’s helping the elf jesters and getting into the decorating spirit!

I really love the swirly red & green stems!

 

Janet @ The Christmas Place

Christmas trees! More Christmas trees! (part 1)

Enjoy!

Do you suppose there really is a green tree under there somewhere?

You, too, can suspend snowflakes from the ceiling – just need a little cup hook!  These things weigh almost nothing.

Now I see - it’s a flocked green tree.

Just next door, a snowman tree:

The snowflakes in this tree are really glittery white – it surprised me when they showed pink in the photograph – there’s more color in white than we might see.  I wonder if I could get them to look blue from another angle.

 Okay, I’ll stop here for now so the system doesn’t crash & burn.  Follow on…

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

Pictures! Tree Pictures!

We built a tree in the store this year – two stories tall! – and wrapped it in hundreds? thousands? of brilliant white LED lights.  It’s breathtaking!

It’s only inhabitant so far is this snowy owl.

{Early Alert – start counting the lights now!}

At the bottom of the stairs, a glistening silver & white tree highlited with snowmen, nutcrackers, and winter maidens.

Designer’s tip:  notice that they mixed silver & gold on this tree, along with red poinsettias and black dogwoods.  They also used a few ornament spinners on the tree, and the frosted ornaments really twinkle as they rotate, adding extra life and sparkle to the decorations.

That’s all for today.  Study these over the weekend, there will be a test on Monday!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

P.S. Don’t forget our artist signings this weekend with R.J. McDonald, Ne’Qwa Inside Art ornaments, and Ginny McCormack, cookbook author!

On-line Only Specials!

Don’t you love specials?  Just in time to place your orders before the holiday rush, we have three offers that will help you get ready to decorate for Christmas!

 

Possible Dreams Santa figurines – 15% off!  These are very special characters that will become family heirlooms – funny Santas dressed for different occassions, often accompanied by other favorite characters like Mrs. Claus and Rudolf.  Included in the collection are several really charming Charlie Brown figures along with a Mickey & Minnie.

Fontanini Nativities – 20% off!  These highly-collectible nativity pieces and sets will be treasuered additions to your celebration.  You can design your own nativity, starting with a stable and adding all the people and animals you like, or purchase a complete set.  Landscaping elements, ornaments, and a handsome snowglobe are also part of the sale.

Christmas Tree Garland – Buy 2, get a 3rd free!  Now that’s a good deal!  You’re going to need at least 3 strands to wrap your tree, aren’t you?  Maybe even more?  Well, I know I do for MY tree (okay, maybe not for the 3′ pink foil one I showed you last year…).  We carry so many styles, and almost half of them are included in the sale – from whimsical peppermint candies to realistic-looking popcorn (guaranteed not to attract bugs), gumdrops, pearls, snowflakes, balls in all colors – I think you’ll find what you’re looking for! 

Also, through the end of this month when we’re focusing on Breast Cancer victims and survivors, don’t forget to enter our Vera Bradley tote giveaway – we’ll draw the winner on November 1st.

I don’t mean to scare you, but there are only 62 days left til Christmas!  Just sayin…

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

P.S.  I almost forgot to mention – FREE SHIPPING on all Web orders of $75 or more – plus we’ll include a free Snowball Snowman with your order.  Talk about getting more for your money!

Pretty Stuff! (Part II)

As promised, here are the rest of my pictures .. for now!

In our nativity area, we’ve updated the large tree in front of the stained glass window with a collection of lush purple, burgundy, green and gold decorations, along with all the other colors of the rainbow.  Here are close-ups of some of the highlights.

 

In the next shot, I wanted to highlight for you another peacock feather we have – this delicate gold one is just amazing!  Also notice the perky little green bird with the extravagant tail feathers – a real charmer.  (So, his tail is mostly hidden ~ oops!)  The camera’s flash makes the peacock feather appear a little bolder than it is in natural light – it’s a very subtle, light gold shade with a pretty aqua, brown and tan eye.

 

Now, take a look at this stunning tree – decorated by our floral team.  This one literally touches the ceiling.  Again, the camera’s flash is making those green blooms jump out a lot more than they do in reality – they are tart, but not blindingly so!  Notice the giant gold butterflies positioned on the tree and above it – without the lead of a designer, would you think to put something so large on your tree?  Yet they work beautifully.

 

 

Velvet Magnolia Wreath

The petals of this magnolia are velvet, and there is also a mesh petal layer woven into the bloom.  This is a very champagne-colored wreath, and a striking way to incorporate metallic leaf sprays into an arrangement.

Also in the floral department is this tree featuring a 3′ tall golden herald angel.

 

I also love that orange-and-gold-colored glass ball just to the side of the angel.  I love how you can work orange, burgundy and red into the same scheme – just like nature does in the fall, of course!  Here’s a close up of some of the other items on this tree – including a hanging votive candle holder, which would be perfect with a battery-powered votive candle or tea light.

 Wow, that’s a lot of serious decorating!  Next time, I’ll take you through some of the more whimsical decorations we have to offer – think Peter Pan, the Wizard of Oz, and Cinderella.

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

 

What’s New? A Lot!

When you come to the store for you next visit, you may not recognize us – except for all the beauty, of course!  We’ve got that and are adding more every day .. but the elves have been so busy this winter & spring rearranging, it’s like a new store!

Just a teaser of a couple of pictures to start things off .. here’s my new favorite tree in its “naked” state:

Have you ever seen one this white and lush?  When you come, it will be transformed into an undersea vision of Christmas!

Over in Department 56, we’re getting in lots of new products as well.  Here’s one tiny peek into how the process begins when we rebuild a display from the ground up.

Lots of possibilities.  Does it fill you with anticipation to see the finished display??  I think this is the new home of North Pole Village.

Here’s another favorite of mine – the Winters Frost collection.

Look at how our designer, Kristy, has amplified the cool factor by filling a crackled glass urn with icy white lights and using it as the base for a house.  She did it again in this scene for the new Snowbabies “SnowDream” collection – Snowbabies highlighted with vintage silver glitter.  A  mirror framed in silver and used as a table top reflects the sparkle and brilliance of these figurines, and two votive candle holders turned on end display a couple of charming Snowbabies at different heights so each is a standout - copy this trick at home!

Here are a few more SnowDream pieces displayed on glass bricks (hmmm, we just pulled several of these bricks from a house- now I know why we need to keep them around!).  I love the Dream Glitter House, Barn, & Church accessory sets – each set includes a building, one tree, and an accessory figurine.

I’d better not show much more until the designers are finished with their handiwork - the final displays will be brilliant, though, I predict!  Next week I’ll show some pictures of Santa’s newly redecorated performance stage, including the animated reindeer flying overhead.  The kids will be enchanted!

Happy Collecting!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

We’re on the move!

No, we’re not leaving the building - but we’re moving all around the store!  Who knew we even had this much floor space?  And who decided to play twister with all the trees???  I can’t wait to see everything in place for the season, and all the new items that will be filling trees and baskets and bins.  Til then, take a look – ohp – those two trees just moved again .. sorry!

New Silver & Crystal Gallery at the Front Doors

One of your favorites, the cardinal tree, is on the other side of the front doors. You’ll have fun discovering a whole new layout when you come this year – in the mean time, staff is having fun rediscovering themes we thought we had missed.

Check out the gianormous butterfly I found on a tree back in the corner – amazing!  Its over 3′ across.  We used two on the tree, one on each side – just beautiful.  (The green orb-y looking thing is a glass ornament – no, not a giant froggy eyeball peeking out!)

You know how I love the glitter & glam – found these handsome sparkling winter gentlemen in the same gold and white corner:

I also found this shiver of Snowmen keeping it frigid – but with such a warm message on their little bellies, who could resist!

What’s your favorite tree theme?  Bet we have it!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place

P.S.  You know, this was supposed to be a Two for Tuesday, but I got behind.  And then today it should be a Food for Friday, but again .. how about a couple of pictures of the scrumptious Turkey Pot Pie, Christmas Salad, & California Cheesecake from the restaurant instead.  Will that hold you over til next Friday?

Yes, I just did that to you!!  Happy Weekend!

Two for Tuesday

I found these very antique-looking glass ornaments on a tree in the Custom Floral Department.  They are a rich copper brown that would work with any antique color theme.

Not pictured is a coordinating round ornament with the message “Season’s Greetings.”

When you see these next pictures, you’ll know right away why they caught my eye – just the right amount of sparkle!  These are crafted of very light-weight mesh, arranged into stylized branches or limbs, reminiscent of a type of feather tree.

Whimzy Christmas Tree

 Don’t the sparkles on the gold tree look like diamonds?  The gold tree comes in three sizes; the green Whimzy tree also comes in a couple of sizes and is accented with snow on the “branch” tips and shiny glass ornaments in assorted colors.  One tree or a grouping of different sizes on a mantle or foyer table will make a beautiful focal point for your holiday decorations.

 I hope you’ve been enjoying our new shopping site this week!  Did you notice the enhanced search-by-category feature?  This should help you find just what you’re looking for on the first click.

We were delighted to see the sun for a few hours today in Pigeon Forge … hope you saw a little of the big yellow guy in your neighborhood, too!

~Janet @ The Christmas Place