Graves Into Gardens

I love decorating for Halloween, I always have.  If you’ve been here a while, you know my excitement for this time of the year.  It’s nostalgic (we had so much fun decorating as kids), fanciful (I think my time as a performer makes me enjoy a costume more than most), and fun!  Every year I see how I can put a fresh spin on the event, and it brings me joy to see how excited everyone else gets with me.  Every year I also get some criticism.  Inevitably I get a handful of direct messages from other Christian women wondering how I can celebrate a holiday that is about death.  It’s an interesting question and one that I also kind of love because it gives me an opportunity to share why I think it’s ok to love Jesus and also enjoy Halloween.  I love talking about this with my kids too!

Because Jesus paid the ultimate price for my personal sin on the cross, and because he defeated death, I don’t have to be afraid of it!  Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We will all physically die someday, but as a believer redeemed by Christ I have the hope that I will spend eternal life in heaven with my savior.  What a peace-filled blessing!

I usually decorate with lots of bones and birds, spiders and snakes, all the creepy crawly things God created, but this year felt a little different.  In planning a decorating project with At Home I was trying to think of an interesting spin.  First I had the idea to mix a bunch of blue and white with Halloween.  I was pretty set on that angle and then a few nights before my deadline the idea of Graves Into Gardens popped into my head.  It’s a song that has filled my mind, spirit and voice all year, and I thought, “hey, that could be Halloween, why not?!” It’s been a really difficult year for so many, and I felt called to be sensitive to that, and if possible, to bring hope with my decor for Halloween this year.

I loved the idea of illustrating the concept.  I basically bought out my local At Home store’s floral department and got to work with my design partner in crime, Laura, to put together this mantle arrangement that starts in an urn with death and ends on the ceiling with life.  It also portrays the four seasons – from winter, working its way back to spring.  So many things end in death, but with God we get to end with life!  The installation also hits a few different trends.  Dried flowers and grasses are having a huge moment right now.  It’s a great way to bring life into your home that is no fuss.  The arrangements can last for years instead of days!  As the piece progresses it becomes alive and grows into a dutch floral still life.  We used faux fruit and flowers but the ivy and pumpkins I grew myself.  Everything is attached with clear 3M hooks to not damage the walls.

The painting is a piece I borrowed from my friend, Ryan.  He is a wonderfully creative person in so many areas, but he recently starting making these plaster pieces.  I loved his personal piece so much that I asked to borrow it for the shoot, and I’m having him do a commissioned piece for this very spot.  I can’t wait!

Most of the decor you see here (holiday and barware) is from At Home.  The book boxes filled with candy are from my dear friend, Grace’s, new line – so proud!  You can see past Halloween decor here.  Do you decorate for Halloween?  If so, how are you decorating this year?

 

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