What’s a Christmas Cloche?
It’s one of the key components in my shortcut method of Christmas decorating.
Gracie Lee would tell you cloche is French for bell. Merriam-Webster defines cloche as a dome or bell-shaped cover. During the holidays, I consider a glass cloche to be an excellent way to display favorite ornaments.
I’m not putting up a big tree this year. I never thought I would be the person who didn’t rush out and buy a fresh Christmas tree. But as life changes and traditions evolve, it’s good to revisit what we think we have to do…
So, rather than decorate a large tree, I’m displaying my favorite ornaments in bowls, vases, and yes, cloches.
I have two sizes that I use year-around to display old books, tiny ferns, winter wonderlands, etc. If you don’t have a cloche, you might consider adding this to your Christmas list or gifting yourself one. You can find them at hobby stores and places like Target, as well as on-line from $9 to howevermuchyouwanttospend.
How To:
This Christmas display is easy to achieve.
- Give your cloche a cleaning so the ornaments will clearly sparkle inside.
- Hold the glass upside down and slowly place your favorite ornaments in the bottom with thought to which side of the ornaments will face up and out.
- Add filler ornaments in the center to stabilize. This may be where you place not-so-special balls.
- Tiny ornaments help fill in the cracks as you load up the cloche.
- Once the cloche is filled to the very top (which is the bottom) and level, place a silver tray or wood platter on top (which is the bottom). Or, maybe your cloche came with a base?
- Gently, very gently, turn it right side up.
- C’est magnifique!
Think of all the design possibilities! You could fill your Christmas cloche with only red baubles, or silver and gold, only Santa ornaments, etc. You can add jingle bells and old-fashioned, colored light bulbs. How about tangerines and peppermints? Or glittery pine cones.
See? So much fun.
Slowly but surely it’s beginning to look like Christmas at my house. Even without a big tree.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
We didn’t have a tree for about 10 years. We went to Big Cedar and the cabins came decorated. Randy would “red bow” the house and put a cute tiny tree out. Now with two offspring living here we have started putting up small, fresh trees. Yep traditions change!