Happy Holidays, Everyone!
It’s time to
take a break and enjoy some much-needed time with family and friends, which means that Passport To Design will be on a temporary hiatus from December 23rd until January 3rd…closed for the Holidays!
"Holiday Rum Still Life" from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
I wish you all happiness, health and love during the Holiday Season, and can’t wait to bring you more Travel-based Design content in 2011!
In the meantime, here’s a look at how my little Christmas corner in tropical Panama turned out. Sadly, the house is too large for me to deck all the halls, so a wee Christmas corner will have to do :)
…And yes, the faux pine tree set against a landscape of swimming pool water and palm trees is still surreal to me.
Starting off with the raw materials...Christmas boules, a humble faux tree, some sea shells and stones from the beach, bendable wire and ribbon.
Finding ribbon is virtually impossible here in Panama. I was very happy to re-use the ribbon that came with the decoration packaging.
I pluck up all the oyster and clam shells I see on the beach, along with the smooth rocks (some of which are natural pumice stones...my feet are thankful). These shells will be decorations soon enough...
The large clam shells are used as candle light holders (these are large tea lights...not the little ones, just to give you an idea of scale).
The colour scheme for the dining table is burnt orange, gold, palm green and apple green.
Pretty boules in a black wood boat-shaped bowl.
Luckily I was able to find some shells with holes to use as ornaments for our tiny tree.
Here are some more. A little wire, a little ribbon and voila!
I stacked the boules inside a series of vases, and added some red boules to the "Christmas corner" decor.
Imagine my excitement when I found pine cones in Panama! Yipee!
I re-located the flowers in this fishbowl vase and filled it with more Christmas corner goodness!
In lieu of a tree skirt, I placed some of my beach findings beneath our little tree. The heavy stones also help keep the base sturdy when it's windy.
So there you have it…the makings of a Christmas Corner for my first tropical Christmas. Here are some photos of the completed area:
Christmas corner in all it's glory (in the daylight...)
I'm short on pine this year...palm leaves will have to do!
The candles and twinkly lights make for a good ol' glowy show.
All sparkly and ready for Santa!
I can't help but think how much more I could've done with a glue gun, decorative ribbon and a bigger budget, but for now, I am happy with how my Christmas Corner turned out :)
Best wishes for the New Year, see you all very soon!
*Tania
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A Little Bit About Me
Welcome to Passport To Design! My name is Tania. I love Design almost as much as I love Travel, and here is where my two loves collide. Check out the "About Me" page for more info. Thanks for reading. Happy travels, my dear design-loving friends.
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Twitter: ShannonKFitz
| December 23, 2010 at 2:23 pm
It looks so beautiful Tania! I love how you used everything you had to the fullest! Have a wonderful Christmas and New Years night and see you in 2011! xoxo
Twitter: Staci_Edwards
| December 23, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Awww Tania, it is adorable! Love what you have done, it is so tropical, yet festive – I love it! Hope you and Jeff have a perfect holiday season in your new place!
Miss you.
xo
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| December 23, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Thanks, ladies :) I wish we could’ve had a Christmas drink together…maybe next year!
Twitter: SogniESorrisi
| December 23, 2010 at 5:15 pm
What a great job! The green and gold are part of my colours and I love the addition or the orange, which is so appropriate for the tropics. And those candle holders are darling!
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and all the best in 2011!
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| December 23, 2010 at 5:18 pm
Thanks, Connie! Glad you like it…it’s not much but it makes us happy. Merry Christmas to you too!
My hubby an I were in Maui in November and we didn’t want to leave! I’d love to be celebrating Christmas just they way you’ve shared it in your photos!!
I wanted to drop by and thank you for commenting on my guest post over at Kelly’s “JAX does design”! I’ve been on a blogging break for a few months so it was fun to pull a little something together, and terrific of Kelly to post for me (not sure if you’re familiar with our history – we used to be blog partners at DesignTies). Every once in a while I hope to contribute posts to JAX that showcase the projects I’m doing, so I hope you’ll watch for me!
Happy Christmas!!
Victoria
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| December 23, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Hi victoria, thanks for stopping by! I loved your post on JAX Does Design, and look forward to keeping an eye out for you :)
Hope you have a Merry Christmas!
Gorgeous! I’m so envious of that pool!
Have a happy Christmas and all the best to you and your man in the new year. How can it be anything other than amazing – you have each other and a beautiful life in Panama!
J
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| December 23, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Thanks, Janice :) The pool is pretty sweet, I’m not going to lie! Hope you and hubs have a wonderful Christmas in your gorgeous home as well!
Twitter: coreasotropa
| December 23, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Happy Holidays Tania! Your little Christmas corner is very festive and perfect for celebrating the holidays in Panama. Looking forward to reading your posts in the New Year.
Tania, I love your christmas decor….it looks fantastic…and the little tree is too cute. I remember we spent one christmas in Florida and it did feel weird being in a warm place for christmas but I could definitely get used to going to the beach on christmas day.
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| December 23, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Thanks for the comments, Jacqueline and Meira. Glad you like our little Christmas corner! Happy holidays to you both :)
Hi Tania! Last minute Christmas wishes to you! Peace, love, happiness and success for 2011. BTW Love your colour combo of burnt orange, gold and greens you’ve chosen for your ornaments. Deborah, Green Light District Design
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| December 23, 2010 at 11:11 pm
Merry Christmas to you too, Deborah :) Thanks for the compliment on the decor… I was so excited to find such pretty ornaments! :) Hope your holidays are filled with fun and happiness.
Love it Tania!!! :)
Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!!!!
Twitter: vanessajfrancis
| December 24, 2010 at 4:20 am
It looks great Tania! Love the shell ornaments. Hope you have a wonderful, tropical Christmas. All the best in 2011!
Twitter: Indounik
| December 24, 2010 at 6:44 am
You did good! Hope you get to sample another tropical Christmas in Bali one day. Even though it’s the biggest Hindu outpost outside India, and it alone remains Hindu in the world’s most populous Muslim nation state, little Bali goes to a lot trouble to create a real sense of Christmas spirit for those who journey there at this time of year.
Shop windows are decorated divinely. Resorts too. And watch out for wonderful Christmas decorations made by local handicraft artists.
I usually sign off at this time of year by saying: “May a warm breeze blow you to heavenly shores.” But you’re already there!
Selamat Natal, Tania and Jeff. Selamat Tahun Baru.
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| December 24, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Thank you all for the Christmas wishes, Wendy, Vanessa and Indounik! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season as well. I look forward to catching up with you in 2011 :)
xoxox on this first of many Christmas celebrations for you and Jeff.
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| December 26, 2010 at 7:57 pm
Thanks, Mom :)
LOVE how you Christmas’ed up your beach findings! Looks so beautiful. You’re the BEST Tania!
Twitter: TLC_Designs
| January 5, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Thanks so much, Angela :) Glad you liked how Christmas corner turned out!! Thank goodness for all the beautiful seashells I found – I owe it all to Mother Nature!