fresh perspective

ALWAYS LOOKING for something fresh when designing a new tree, I am rarely drawn to the traditional color schemes of the holiday season it seems. Not that the traditional reds and greens aren’t beautiful and symbolic of Christmas—they are  absolutely iconic. It's just that I find great pleasure in combining new shapes, color and form. I steered far from the traditional with the first tree I designed that is crafted by Dennis Bauer: The Decorated Tree's Alpine Feather Tree (sold here at Hometraditions.com) In Matthew Mead's beautiful holiday publication, the tree decorated in rich pinks and oranges (as appearing in the pages of Matthew Mead’s Christmas All Through the House (sold here on Amazon.com). The tree is also detailed in this blog post.

IN A SIMILAR, but much more subdued warm color scheme, I've decorated this beautifully sparse “natural-cut” tree (yes, it's real) for Christmas this year. I found this tree at at Atlanta's Georgia State Farmer's Market—grown and sold by my favorite sellers there—Joel and Inez Owens. Their trees are grown in Tuckasegee, North Carolina and brought to Atlanta every year. Decorated in summery tones of yellow, gold, silver and several shades of turquoise, this color scheme reminds me of a memorable trip taken to Tulum, Mexico last November, where the turquoise Caribbean water and the golden sun and sand were an inspiring part of the everyday landscape. Nights there, the sky was filled with awe-inspiring stars, so I've also used tiny LED Starry String Lights from Restoration Hardware to light the tree (a decidedly modern version of Martin Luther's lighting the first evergreen with candles to rekindle the starry night sky inside his home).

HERE, I ONLY used the top two-thirds of the tree, and left most of the long trunk formed by trimming off the less desirable bottom branches. This way the tree fit nicely into a tall metal urn, which I packed with moistened sand—ironically enough—to hold the tree firmly in place.

WHEN FOLLOWING the paths least traveled in life, the world becomes ripe with wonder and surprise again. This is my symbolic and literal way to usher in a fresh perspective to my life that has drastically changed this year. Hopefully, I can soon find my way back to happier and more prosperous times again. It's been a process, so please excuse me while I decorate for Christmas and welcome sunny colors to the mix that brings the warmth of the Caribbean to my living room.

WE’RE INUNDATED with the expected every day. And because of these mental habits, we tend to become disengaged with the immediate world around us. It’s only when we travel, either physically or metaphorically, that we can let our minds wander and experience the awe that makes life new and exciting once again. One of my favorite YouTube videos I've encountered this year says it all—about awe. Please take the time to watch it:

IN THIS VIDEO, "Performance Philosopher" Jason Silva explains that "one of the ways we elicit wonder is by scrambling the self temporarily so that the world can seep in." If we don’t do this from time to time, we no longer are engaged by what we perceive as the everyday banality of the mundane. "We have eyes, yet see not, ears that hear not, and hearts that neither feel, nor understand," according to this video. As an artist, the creatively productive zone where I find new ways of looking at things is a necessary process in moving outside of my comfort zone—to find a fresh perspective. It's sometimes an extremely arduous process, as this year has definitely been for me. But as Jason finds the words to express the reconfiguring and assimilating that takes place to create poetry in our lives, he concludes this hopeful video with the words, "we have a responsibility to awe." So with that said, I wish everyone that reads my blog an AWEsome holiday season ahead.

©2013 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

collecting, photography and styling by Darryl Moland.

the (un)decorated tree

ALPINE MAGIC | The Decorated Tree's first tree, The Alpine Feather Tree is now for sale to the public. Sure to become your next family heirloom, you can purchase yours here.

I AM HAPPY to announce the first (and second) exclusively-marketed trees designed by yours truly at The Decorated Tree. I drew up the plans and the first trees that you see in this post were made-to-order by Dennis Bauer. The trees went live on the Hometraditions.com website just this weekend.

The front of the tag for the tree reads: THANK YOU for selecting The Decorated Tree’s Alpine Feather Tree. An artist’s unique vision and a craftman’s fine handiwork are united to create a museum-quality heirloom. Hometraditions is pleased to offer this feather tree designed by Darryl Moland, creator of The Decorated Tree blog. Each tree is handcrafted from real goose feathers by Dennis Bauer in Ohio, one of the best-known craftsmen stateside to uphold German tradition. www.hometraditions.com is proud to provide you with a fresh take on an old craft.—MANY HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The back of the tag for the tree reads: EMBELLISH each season with The Decorated Tree—holiday fantasy intertwined with the rich symbolism of nature. A time-honored Yuletide ritual has become a modern tradition any time of year. This large (12"x 12") 144-page, hardbound and dust-jacketed coffee table book contains the best of the blog’s informative stories. Accompanied by 183 inspiring full-color images, this book will become your decorating resource for every holiday, every year.—CELEBRATING THE SEASONS 

FEATHER TREE TRADITION | The alternate version of The Alpine Feather tree is more traditional in shape. It is wider and features seven rows of snow-capped branches. You can purchase yours here.

HOMETRADITIONS.COM is known for their finely-crafted feather trees handmade by Dennis Bauer, who has also made many custom trees for the staff of Martha Stewart Living magazine, which are also available on the site. Ann Pummel, proprietor of Hometraditions contacted The Decorated Tree and in our conversations, we arrived at the idea that I could design a tree for them. I know all about decorating, but this was a first for me in thinking about an undecorated tree. For sure, I immediately knew I wanted a slender tree with a long trunk that would fit into a small space. I dubbed the tree "The Decorated Tree's Alpine Feather Tree." It was an amazing opportunity to have something made that I would like to see on the market. Now it is a reality—a dream come true—thanks to an amazing collaborationd between Ann Pummel, Dennis Bauer and I. Please place your orders early, as each tree is handcrafted individually by Dennis. Even though it's only September, the holiday season is closer than you think!

TAGGED AND READY | Your tree will arrive with this tag tied to its branches. You can see and order both versions here, available in your choice of two trunk colors. Whitewashing the trunk with thinned milk paint (instructions on the Hometraditions site) gives it a snowy effect. Order both versions here.

THE DECORATED VERSION of the slim profile tree at the top of this post will be featured in Matthew Mead's Christmas All Through the House. I can't reveal much about it until his publication hits the market, but let's just say the tree is transformed into a bright and modern take on an old tradition. I'm very excited about the unveiling of the final results in the magazine. A lot of collaboration between Matthew and I went into developing a plan for the overall color scheme and some of the details included in the story in which it is included.

YOU'LL HEAR MORE about Matthew's magazine/bookazine (two versions) on this site when it becomes available sometime in mid-to-late October on newsstands everywhere and on Amazon.com—so save the date! Right now Matthew has an amazing Halloween Spooktacular publication for sale. You'll also be able to check back on Matthew's site when it shifts gear as each holiday issue is published.

THE DECORATED TREE would also love to see how you decorate your tree purchased from Hometraditions. I plan to have my first decorating contest involving readers of this blog! Join me in the excitement of creating meaningful holiday decor for every season!

©2013 DARRYL MOLAND | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

tree design, photography and styling by Darryl Moland
handcrafted tree by Dennis Bauer
 for Hometraditions.com