My little white Christmas tree of gratitude

Last week I picked up this sweet little white Christmas tree for $20 at a local thrift store. When I posted it on FJI Facebook, I asked what you'd do with it.

One comment stood out. It was from a dear follower I met at Bella Rustica. This was Dana's answer.

I loved the idea! But decided to put it in my bedroom instead where I would enjoy it often.

I call this one my little white Christmas tree of gratitude.

Dana is so right. I've had so many blessings along this Funky Junk journey. While my Christmas tree forest in a crate and ladder tree were fun, this round I wanted the tree to actually mean something. 

The base trunk is covered in 'lacy' snow, some of these keepsakes from my mom's collection.

Inspired by Songbird's Christimas tree set inside trunks, this was my own take. The tree is simply sitting on top of one.

 My sweet parents. They allowed me to be whomever I wished to be. And how fitting is this vintage print of them enjoying a Christmas of their own?

This rusty old bulletin board will make more sense to you VERY soon. Stay tuned!

Along my blog journey, I've received gifts.  I don't have every gift I've ever received hung up, but a couple are JUNK GIRL from Rochelle via Whatever Lola Wants Lola Gets,

and this sweet rusty chariot from Sandra via Sandy Seashore.

I like to think of gifts from followers as gestures of 'giving back' what they feel I've hopefully been able to give them in some small way.

I also have aspirations yet to fulfil, and one will always be to 'write a book'.

Blogging is kind of a game of chance. You put yourself out there and see where the chips fall. I've created so many online connections I adore in the groups I'm involved in, the companies and opportunities that have come my way, and the followers that keep returning for more.

This passport is positively loaded.

It means a friend had enough faith in me to purchase the passport for me before I even applied for one. It was a 'sending off into the big scary world' gesture. 

It means Chris Srock from GMC had me flown out to the South for the World's Longest Yard Sale, allowing me to meet friends I've wanted to meet for a very long time, to see the South for the first time AND help someone in need. All involving junk! Amazing.

A month later, it means Linda Lindley spotted something in me and took Bella Rustica action. 

It means HomeTalk getting involved and helping make Bella a reality.

It means having the opportunity to meet great folks like Dana and her husband, that drove 11 hours to visit me. And more. So much more.

2012 has been such an amazing year!

This little jar filled with sticks reminds me of the farm I grew up at. Big towering untamed trees that have been there forever.

Nothing fancy. Just natural and very very home.

Inspired by Eclectically Vintage's Kelly's mason jar Christmas tree, a tiny snowy jar filled with rusty nails is to pay homage to where I came from and what I love.

My dad's nails in the barn were always in a tin can and rusty as can be. No wonder I love rust so.

The grapevine garland was an eleventh hour brainstorm. And was a breeze to throw on.

Thank-you Dana, for this lovely idea. It warms my heart to look at this tree and reminisce how much each object means to me.

And thank-you to everyone, for helping to create a reason to even have this little white Christmas tree of gratitude in my home! At a time when so many are hurting, this tree theme was the perfect fit.

Enter your email

to have Funky Junk's blog posts sent to your inbox.

Delivered by FeedBurner