My name is Kerri Tuttle – I’m a scientist and writer. My husband, Geoff, and I live in a 700-square-foot house in Joshua Tree, California, known as “Casa Wabi Sabi” (I run a company by the same name: www.etsy.com/shop/casawabisabi) .
Moving from a 3,000 sq. ft. loft in the city to a 700 sq. ft. house in the mojave desert was no small feat. As you well know, we gave up a lot of frills when we made the transition to tiny house living, including eschewing annual Christmas tree and most holiday decorations. However, each year around this time, our nostalgic sides emerge and so we try to re-invent the holiday traditions for small-space living and in a manner that treads lightly on the earth.
My husband is a sculptor, and several years ago, he made a giant red star as one component of an art installation that he installed in a Sacramento, California art gallery. That star had been collecting dust ever since, but this year, the time seemed ripe to dust it off, add some bulbs, and hang it on the kitchen wall. Of course that got us both in the holiday mood, so I surveyed our living room. We needed something more, I decided, and so I started stringing Christmas lights on our tumbleweed (I’d collected it some time in mid-summer and had given it center stage on top of our curio cabinet). Then, in an inspired moment, I recalled some kanji flash cards that I’d purchased for an art project from a seller on Etsy, I quickly grabbed them, and Geoff and I took turns adding cards to the tumbleweed until there was only one left. That one we added to the very top. But first, we looked at the back to read which word ended up being the “tumbleweed topper.”
The card was ‘Megumi,” which means blessing.
Kerri Tuttle, (owner, Casa Wabi Sabi) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.309264132434785.90514.286641701363695&type=3
I live in a small home… a 22′ Old RV that no longer runs…. we removed all the front area to make more floor space. I am a huge Christmas person. In out home is a small Pink Christmas tree that is 3.5′ tall and decorated in silver, white, turquoise and pink ornaments. It sits on a small heart shaped table that a friend gave us… close quarters but I couldn’t be without a Christmas tree.
Nice! I’m not too far away, out here in Landers.
I love that decorated Tumbleweed! The star is spectacular too. I probably would leave it up year round…
Megumi!
Honestly, you should be ashamed of yourself. $20-$35 plus shipping for tumbleweeds that you find loose in the Mojave? Btw, the tumbleweed strewn with lights look is neither original nor all that big of a deal so stop acting like you thought of something super-cool or artsy.
I find it so sad when I read comments filled with so much contempt; even more so on Christmas. Lee Anne, what’s up?
Reread story… no one bought tumbleweed – she collected it. The flashcards were purchased – from an artist.
As my mother taught – and too few mothers today – if you have nothing nice to say, stop typing.
I think Lee Anne is referring to the tumbleweeds sold on the author’s Etsy site, linked in the first paragraph. Just for the record, I have no opinion for or against the sale of wild harvested tumbleweeds, while not particularly interested in acquiring any myself.
Thank you for including us on your Tiny House Blog! We have enjoyed reading the holiday decorating posts, with one notable exception. I appreciate the publicity for ETSY and for our little storefront there, though our official website is http://www.casawabisabi.com for those who prefer to connect with a non-commercial site. To Lee Anne, thank goodness we live in a very free market economy. I’m far from having the patience of a saint that’s required to catch, tame, and ship tumbleweeds all over the planet. Thus the price per weed – that’s how much you’d have to pay me to catch one for you.
K.Tuttle, “can’t say anything nice don’t say anything” proponent
Thank you “all” for your opinions ~ you have the right to feel any way you want to but please take a 2nd look at the results to others when you do ~ for that is the lesson. I call you “all” my tiny house friends.