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Saturday, December 5, 2015 An Advertising Feature of The Topeka Capital-Journal

Jamie Kidd Garden Column – 2 Make a great escape with a specialty room for you – 5 A crafty storage solution – 6 Holiday greetings start with your door – 7 Service Directory – 10

2 | Saturday, December 5, 2015 | The Topeka Capital-Journal | At Home

The perfect Christmas tree Jamie Kidd

jamiehan@ksu.edu What do Christmas trees have to do with George Washington crossing the Delaware River (remember the famous picture of him standing in the bow of the boat?) and winning a decisive battle for the Colonial forces in 1776? Possibly a little bit of legend and a little bit of truth.

It is thought that Christmas tree traditions most likely came to the United States with the Hessian troops (mercenaries rented to Great Britain by German princes to fight in the Revolutionary War) or with other German immigrants. Legend has it that the Hessians abandoned their guardposts on a blustery, snowing

Christmas Eve to eat, drink and be merry around a candlelit evergreen tree reminding them of home. Falsely assuming that the Continental Army was in winter quarters and incapable of mounting any type of concentrated action, the Hessians found themselves under a surprise attack. It was decisive and quick and turned the tide for the Colonial forces.

Just a little bit of trivia for you to share with family and friends while you select your Christmas tree this year. Here are a few tips to help you with that task.

Farm fresh can be a real adventure for your family. Make a day out of it. Here’s how.  Measure the ceiling height in the room where the tree will be displayed.

Trees in the field look small when the sky is the ceiling. Measure the width also. 10’ tall trees will be 8’ wide at the bottom.

Make sure you have enough room.  Bring gloves and wear comfortable shoes and old clothes.  Leave “Rover” at home. Most farms don’t allow pets. If they do, please don’t let

him “mark” someone else’s tree.  Ask about the pricing policy. Some trees are sold by the foot, others are sold individually.  Select a tree that fits your measurements, style, and price range.  Check the trunk. It should be sufficiently straight. Pines will usually have at least some crook in their trunks.  Make sure the base is not bigger than your tree stand can hold. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk to fit the stand. The outer layers of wood are the most efficient in taking up water and should not be removed  ALL conifers drop a certain portion of their oldest needles. This is normal. Most farms provide a shaking or blowing machine to clean your tree before they net it.

Retail lot can also be an adventure. The hunt is a little easier and less time consuming (provided you can all agree).  Measure the space for your tree. (see above)

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Kidd: Caring for your tree at home Continued from 2C  Check out the different varieties the lot may have. Douglas firs have the best needle retention, but the least aroma.

Spruces are the opposite. Pines have fairgood retention and aroma. Balsam and Fraser firs have excellent retention and aroma, and usually command a premium price.  Look for a well lit tree lot that stores trees in a shaded area.  Ask the retailer when he/she received the trees and if they expect more shipments. This will help in determining freshness.  Do a freshness test on the trees. Green needles on fresh trees break crisply when bent sharply with the fingers – much like

fresh carrots. The needles will also bend not break when wrapped around the finger. Needles on fresh pines do NOT break, unless they are very dry.  Look for other indicators of dryness or deterioration: excessive needle loss, discolored foliage, musty odor, needle pliability, and wrinkled bark. A good rule-ofthumb is, when in doubt about the freshness of a tree, select another one. If none of the trees on the lot look fresh, go to another lot.

At home  At home, re-cut the trunk 1- 2 inches before placing in water. Do not cut the trunk at an angle or V. This can actually work against a tree absorbing water. Farm fresh trees won’t absorb as much water initially as other trees because they have

not had as much time to dry out.  Place the tree in water as soon as possible. Don’t bruise the cut surface or get it dirty.  If needed, trees can be temporarily stored (in water) for several days in a cool location.  As a general rule, stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter.  Keep displayed trees away from sources of heat.  Check the stand daily to make sure that the level of water does not go below the base of the tree.  Tap water is best to keep the tree hydrated despite some recommendations of adding sugar, pennies and commercial additives.

So, this year, when you shop for your traditional Christmas tree, remember the sacrifices our troops made and continue to make to keep our nation free and as always, keep in mind the reason for the season.

NOTE: The Kansas Garden Show will be Feb. 12-14 at the Kansas Expocentre. The theme is “Going to the Movies”. If you are an educational or non- profit organization (not commercial) with subject matter related to horticulture or the environment and would like a booth at the show, contact Jamie Kidd at (785) 232-0062, extension 104.

Jamie Kidd is a horticulturist with Kansas State Research and Extension in Shawnee County.

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Make a great escape with a specialty room for you

Sewing/craft room storage Family Features

It has been said that distance makes the heart grow fonder. When the demands of life make it tough to get away, you can actually find your escape closer to home – right in your home, even – by carving out a corner to create a retreat just for you.

A room dedicated to you and all of your hobbies or personal interests can serve as a welcome escape from the real world if only for a little while. These tips make it simple to get started planning your big escape with ideas centered on some of the most common specialty rooms, as well as a solution for fitting the ideas into a smaller home.

Create a space for crafts. If you find your frazzled senses defraying with a little threading therapy, look to create a space that celebrates this pastime. With the rise in popularity of websites such as Pinterest, which feature a plethora of DIY ideas, you’ll have ample opportunity to distract your mind and busy your hands.

A room designed to let you explore your crafty side can help prevent the kitchen or

Wellborn Photos/Family Features

dining room table from becoming a creative center or wrapping station around the holidays, and allows those areas to remain dedicated to family, food and friendship. It doesn’t have to be just for crafts, though. It can also be a place to settle down with a good book and just relax.

Keep your space clutter-free and ready to enjoy with a craft room such as those designed by Wellborn Cabinet, Inc., which can feature spacious storage and expansive countertops, providing ample space to create projects that help decorate both the interior and exterior of the home, or simply to unwind and relieve stress.

Don’t dismiss cars, bars and sports. If a room free of frou-frou decor where you can just unwind is more your ticket, a man cave may be just the answer. Man caves come in all shapes and sizes, from rowdy dens for sports fanatics to workshops decked out with the tools of your trade.

Even if decorating isn’t your thing, look for ways to make the place your own, whether you display trophies from your

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A crafty storage solution Family Features

A desk or workspace is one of the most difficult spaces to organize. Between the things you need to keep within reach and the mementos and treasures you want close by, chasing away clutter may feel like a losing battle. Especially when surface space is at a premium, try turning to your walls for creative storage solutions.

This whimsical organization board, a project designed by the crafting experts at JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores, lets you create a fully customized storage center to stash whatever you need. This design allows for everything from jewelry and charging cable storage to paper filing and photo displays to functional tools such as a clock or mirror.

Choose fabrics and paint to fit your space; there’s plenty of room to go bold with bright patterns and colors or tone it down for a more subtle look.

Find more ideas for creating storage with crafts at joann.com.

Room organization board Crafting time: Varies

Skill Level:

Some experience necessary

Supplies and Tools:

Cork board Dry erase board Stretched canvas in multiple sizes Cork roll Foamcore board Batting 2-3 coordinating fabrics Craft glue Straight pins Paint (coordinate colors to fabric)

Optional enhancements:

Ribbon Drapery grommets Cording Clothespins (large and small) Wooden pegs 3-piece clock kit Mirror

Jo Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Photo/Family Features

Wall organization can go a long way in keeping clutter at bay.

1. Lay out cork board, dry ting on front of board and wrap

erase boards and canvas, leaving around to back. Fold corners some space between each piece so they are neat and not bulky.

Adhere with craft glue, using for pops of color with fabric. pins to hold in place 2. Once composition and to- straight until dry. Iron fabric. Once each tal project size has been deterpiece is finished, place back mined, measure empty spaces into layout to make sure everyto make fabric-covered boards. thing is still properly lined up 3. To create a fabric covered and measurements are correct, board, cut foamcore board to making adjustments as needed. proper measurement. Cut bat- Repeat to make as many fabric ting 2-3 inches larger than board boards as needed to fill the open all the way around. Place bat- spaces.

4. Leave fabric covered boards for hanging storage. Turn it into

as is or add some storage. Hang ribbon and grommets for cable organization. Stretch cording as clothesline and use clothespins for displaying pictures. Add diagonal fabric pocket for papers.

5. Paint canvas pieces in solid

colors or patterns to coordinate with fabric. The stretched canvas can also provide interesting storage options. Hang it backward for a quick shelf. Add pegs

a clock with a simple 3-piece kit or add a mirror. Double it up with another canvas for extra dimension.

6. Once all pieces are finished,

hang together on wall.

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Style at Home

Holiday greetings start with your door

By Mary Carol Garrity Tribune News Service

Your front door is the first things guests see when they come to your home, so you want to dress it up with a display that offers warm holiday greetings, a hint of what they will find inside. I asked Bev, our seasonal floral designer, to share some of her secrets for creating beautiful holiday doors.

Bring the inside out Bev suggests that the decor on your front door be an extension of the look you’ve created inside your home. How have you decorated your tree and fireplace mantel? Maybe your tree reflects a snowman or Santa theme. Or your garland is dotted with pinecones. Maybe plaid ribbons twist their way down your banister and through the garland on your mantel. If so, Bev says to pick three elements from your displays, like ornaments, floral picks, colors or ribbons, and use them to create your door display. In the photo above, Bev dressed my door in a upside-down bouquet made from tying together a bare twig, some pine cones and evergreen picks, then finish it off with a plaid bow.

Sync with the style of your home The decor on your door should be in keeping with the style of your home. When I lived in my formal Greek revival historical home, my door displays needed to be a lot grander than they do now that I live in my snug little cottage. To match my little home’s personality, I’m opting for smaller, simpler, more casual treatments.

Pay attention to proportions When creating a floor plan for your home, it’s essential you pay attention to proportions, making sure everything in the space is on the same scale. The same goes for your front door design. If you have a small door, like I do at my cottage, you need a smaller, simpler door treatment, like this fun swag in the photo above. Those of you who have large doors and dramatic entries will need to ramp up the size of your wreath or swag. Just make sure to leave plenty of the door showing.

Do you have a glass outer door? Bev suggests placing your display next to the door instead of squishing it between the door and storm door. This year, bells are super popular. Bev used a trio of different-sized bells to adorn this large pine pick on my front door. She finished it off with a double layer of ribbons in burlap and plaid.

Coordinate your porch decor One mistake Bev sees folks make when they decorate their doors and front porches is to mix together too many dissimilar

Photo provided by Tribune News Service

Bev dressed my door in a upside-down bouquet made from tying together a bare twig, some pine cones and evergreen picks, then finish it off with a plaid bow. objects. The elements may be adorable individually, but they lack enough connection to work together as a group, and end up looking chaotic. She suggests that your door decor set the theme. Then, any other items on your porch should reflect the colors, theme and objects used on your door. For example, if you were to decorate your door with a basket full of greens,

you might want to put a Christmas tree in an urn by your door and decorate the tree with the same ribbons, pinecones and berry picks.

This column was adapted from Mary Carol Garrity’s blog at www.nellhills.com. She can be reached at marycarol@ nellhills.com .

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Rooms: Sharing a space with your partner Continued from 5C hunting excursions or decor emblazoned with the logos of your favorite sports teams. This is the room that allows you to relish in the hobbies you enjoy most.

If there isn’t a spare room or basement available, the garage can serve as a good alternative. With specific spots for tools and lawn care products – or even that car or motorcycle collection – the garage can meet the same needs as a more traditional man cave.

When two rooms become one. Whether space limitations prohibit separate quarters, or you simply prefer to share your hobby time with a partner, you can create a specialty room that accommodates both your interests with a little creativity and planning. Working as a team, you can find the right accessories and storage to design a getaway for two. For example, a creative room from Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. offers more than 600 door styles, wood types and combinations. The result is a chance to combine two rooms, such as the man cave and craft room, for a sanctuary you can build and enjoy together.

Find more inspiration for personal spaces and tools to maximize your space and storage at wellborn.com.

Accessorize Your Personal Space If creating a space all your own feels like a daunting project, these clever tips from the experts at Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. will help get you closer to a room you can get ready to enjoy:  Charging Solutions: Install a charging station in a drawer for phones or other handheld devices. Power and docking stations can easily hide devices and ports yet keep them readily accessible.  Accessory Racks and Holders: Hooks

for tools or coats keep them off of other furniture, including countertops where they can pile up and detract from your workspace. Cubby inserts and baskets help keep your things organized on shelves.  Sliding Shelves: Sliding shelves, drawers and baskets let you organize tools or crafting accessories while providing easy access to the items you’ve tucked away.

Wellborn Photos/Family Features

Above: Workshop storage and bench. Create organization and space in the garage.

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Service Directory

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