Country Sampler Farmhouse Style Winter 2024

Earlier this year, I happened across an Instagram reel featuring a homeowner's “Christmas basement” that was left decorated year-round, from gift-wrapped ceiling tiles overhead to an electric train winding around the bases of multiple twinkling trees. The owner explained that she wanted to be able to escape into the magic of Christmas anytime, no matter the actual season. I certainly share her love of Christmas, but for me, the anticipation and the fleeting nature of this time of year is part of the magic. As Thanksgiving approaches, I am eager to haul out the boxes of sentimental decor and combine it with fresh ribbon and greenery to transform my home for the holidays. In this issue, we show you some great ways to stretch your holiday decorating budget by repurposing…

ANTIQUESMART Wisconsin-based company Antiquesmart has developed a new mobile app and companion website that make it easier to buy, sell and explore a marketplace of antiques and connect with other collectors. Available to download for free on both the App Store and Google Play Store, the app was designed to serve the unique needs of antiques enthusiasts. https://antiquesmart.com ROCKY HEDGE FARM Sarah Blankenship focuses on being content with the simple things on her 5-acre farm in Missouri. On Instagram, she shares her experience growing flowers, vegetables and herbs as well as making healthy homestyle recipes. She also offers a closer look at her family's DIY efforts to remodel a manufactured home to better suit their homesteading needs and less-is-more lifestyle. www.instagram.com/rockyhedgefarm CHRISTMAS TREE LOCATOR Easily find a real tree near…

If you love decorating your home with cozy handmade accents or creating heartfelt gifts, consider joining Annie's Holiday Crochet Pattern Kit Club. With a festive project every month, you can enjoy crocheting exciting and unique patterns that celebrate favorite holidays and the changing seasons. With a subscription to Annie's Holiday Crochet Pattern Kit Club, you will receive a monthly package containing a pattern and the premeasured yarn and special embellishments needed to crochet a seasonal project. You will only need standard crochet hooks along with basic household supplies, such as scissors or a ruler. Projects include Christmas mug rugs, autumn doorstops, winter table runners, Valentine's Day kitchen sets and more! The club is geared toward confident beginners, so it's best for those who have at least a basic understanding of…

Indulge in a cozy fantasy this season with miniature houses arranged in festive groupings or sweet solo scenes. Instead of the ubiquitous ceramic villages of the past, though, today's small-scale structures can be displayed in myriad ways, and decorators can choose from materials as varied as galvanized metal, distressed wood, white porcelain and colorful cardboard. Both premade and DIY house designs offer endless creative opportunities for decorators, and they bring a sense of warmth and hospitality to farmhouse-style rooms. The tradition of displaying miniature houses at Christmas was brought to the United States with European immigrants, who arranged handmade buildings and figures in Nativity scenes. In the early 1900s, retailers like F.W. Woolworth popularized the practice by selling inexpensive cardboard “putz” houses from Germany and then Japan until World War…

A fresh tree shining with lights, the scent of Grandma's sugar cookies baking, Bing Crosby crooning away—so many sensory experiences can transport you back in time at Christmas. It's a season abundant with nostalgia. Vintage decor, as well, can recall the simpler celebrations of the past and your own cherished holiday memories. Humble items, such as a worn leather suitcase, an old Christmas card or a chipped serving platter, can bring to mind visits with family members, heartfelt traditions, lost skills or the styles of another era—especially when displayed in a thoughtful and beautiful way. You can set the scene for an old-fashioned Christmas in your home by surrounding yourself with vintage goods or simply adding a few aged items into your traditional displays. The pieces you incorporate can be…

Being compassionate and supportive of others should be a year-round endeavor, but the spirit of generosity seems to take on special significance during the Christmas season. It's a time when organizations and individuals strive to support those in need. Here are some ideas for ways to do that in your neighborhood or wider community. 1 Gather Gifts for Hospital Patients. Check to see whether the hospital has a volunteer board that coordinates holiday activities and events for guidance on what to give and when donations are needed. 2 Treat Delivery Drivers. Set up a snack station near your front door so they can grab a drink and a treat or two in the midst of their busy day. 3 Visit Nursing Home Residents. Before going, call to find out the best time for…