Natural Christmas Decor - Seashore Vignette

Living on Cape Cod, we are surrounded by seascapes and an abundance of interesting shells. So this year, I decided to create a holiday seaside vignette. This is one of three natural settings I was asked to design for The Boston Globe, although this one didn't make it into the final article. I used a mix of local and more tropical shells, corals, starfish, etc., that I have collected over the years, along with fresh greens cut from my yard, and branches that I painted red to resemble branch coral, using a floral spray from Michael's Crafts.

Inspired by my husband Jack's painting of two turkey wing shells, the setting is on a table in one corner of our living room.

I incorporated strings of pearls, since they come from the ocean, as wells as several carved cinnabar boxes I have, which are coral red. Crab shells and some orangey-peachy hued scallops bring out the colors of the shells in Jack's painting. The red buds visible in the foreground, here, are from our red mountain laurel bushes.

Little votive candle holders wrapped in caning hold tea light candles. I also tucked miniature white Christmas lights in and around the greenery (trying hard to hide the cord). When lit, the entire effect is magical - like a snowy beach.

A favorite garden container made of concrete with cherubim (a Christmas gift from Jack years ago) adds to the Christmas spirit. In it, I placed a tall topiary trellis wrapped with fresh ivy from our yard, and then hung glittery sea urchins and draped it with strands of pearls. (In addition to my own pearl necklaces, I bought inexpensive pearls at Michael's Crafts.) I glued a starfish to the top of the topiary frame.

In the end, I am thrilled with this holiday setting that comes almost completely from nature!