The Holiday Edit with Joss & Main

It’s time to deck the halls once again!  I really can’t believe that it’s almost December – I’m honestly feeling a little behind on my mission to create a entirely new Christmas tree theme – inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream – for my Mom!  I’ve been working long nights making ornaments, so when my friends at Joss & Main wanted to chat about the holidays, I was excited to take a break, make a hot cocoa, and talk about all things cozy, sparkly, and wintry for The Holiday Edit.

Joss & Main: What signifies (drum roll, please) “The Holidays” to you? Is it the dropping temperature, the lights going up downtown, or Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby on the radio?

To my detriment, I honestly can’t really get into the holiday spirit until it snows!  As a DIY content creator, every year I make a lot of seasonal decor and ornaments to pepper in with store bought finds, and although I know I really should get started months in advance, I can’t get into the mood until there’s snow on the ground.  Then I crash around at the last minute, just like everybody else!

Joss & Main: What’s special about this year’s holidays? Any intentions or big goals for this season?

Well… this year is very special because I am setting up a Christmas tree in my home for the first time ever!  I just ordered a tree stand and I plan to cut down a fresh one because growing up, we always had a live tree.  I’m nervous about how my two dogs will react though – I hope there are no glass ornament casualties…  We have 13 foot ceilings and a wall of windows in the living room, so I’m hoping we can get a spectacularly tall tree – so big that the neighbors across the bay can enjoy it too!

Joss & Main: Is your home feeling ‘winterized’ yet? How do you plan on adding more cozy elements to your home?

My home is not decorated yet!  I’ve been so focused on making an entirely new Christmas tree theme for for my Mom (I’m in the weeds making ornaments and sewing a tree skirt) that I haven’t had time to decorate my own home.  I am setting aside the first weekend of December to decorate and put up the tree, lots of twinkly lights, and my collection of tabletop trees.  Although I did already hang some outdoor lights – and I’m proud of myself for not waiting for the coldest day of the year to do that…

Joss & Main: Where do you get your inspiration from for holiday decorating? Do you lean more to “Little Women” with handmade orange slices and primitive garlands- or go classic with cream tones and clean lines a la Cameron Diaz in “The Holiday”?

I usually have a fairly clean lined and minimalist interpretation of holiday decor.  But I love to decorate with sparkle and glow – to temper the blistering cold outside.  And of course any holiday decor must coordinate with my signature decor palette of creamy whites and watery hues, inspired by life on the shores of Lake Superior.  But for the holidays I welcome some gold tones into my home – that’s the only time they’re allowed in, and it’s a fun way to change up my decor a little bit.

Joss & Main: What products from the Joss & Main Holiday collection resonate with your decorating style? How would you incorporate them into your home?

Because I have never before set up a Christmas tree in my home, I am a huge fan of tabletop trees in different materials, and Joss & Main has so many gorgeous ones, including these illuminated cone trees, this distressed glass tree, these textured ceramic tree sculptures, and then of course this gorgeous irridescent blue glass cone tree is MADE for the lakehouse!  I really want a table full of them, they’re so stunning.  Because I’m designing a whole new tree theme this year, I am single minded in my shopping and so these jewel tones ornaments caught my eye for the new Midsummer Night’s Dream theme – as did these star sequin ones!  I also love this white tassel garland and white pom pom peace sign wreath because they would look so perfect all winter long.  And I always want Iittala anything, so I love these Iittala glass ornaments.

Here’s a Shortlist of My Lakehouse-Approved Faves:

I’ll take one of each 😉