It is with TOTAL DISCLOSURE – and Liza’s blessing – that I offer today’s post about my brother-in-law’s local, seasonal business, Santa’s Trees. Nepotism aside, we would write about him anyway, as he is just the type of story we LOVE to blog about: local, passionate, and excellent at what he does.

One reason I knew that Liza would not exercise her veto power is because my brother-in-law, Jim McLeod, is a total entrepreneur. For those of you who don’t know Liza “the Entrepreneur” Graves personally,  I can vouch for her drive and determination to bring new ideas to the marketplace.  And, she absolutely applauds anyone with her same tenacity.  And, she applauds Jim.

As this post is about garland, wreaths and trees, I am also including some of our favorite ways to decorate with such gorgeous greenery.

Southern Accents

So here goes the story of Santa’s Trees:

Santa’s Trees was started in 1984 by my brother-in-law when he was 17 years old and still in high school.  His Mom and Dad, Shirley and Jim,  even pitched in on weekends to be sure that the money was safe and that the buddies he recruited to help out were actually doing the work!  Year after year, he interrupted his college or work commitments to take off a month and sell Christmas trees.  25 years later, Santa’s Trees now has five large lots and is the largest independent Christmas tree seller in Middle TN.

But the main reason I am devoting this entire post to Santa’s Trees is because Jim is selling the absolute most GORGEOUS garlands and wreaths you’ll find in Nashville.

Don't be afraid to put garland in unexpected places. Southern Living Dec 2009: Genia Gilchrist's home.

Let’s start with the garland. In my opinion, the most beautiful homes at Christmas are decorated with REAL greenery: evergreen garland with magnolia leaf accents, plus holly berries and pine cones to add color and texture. If nothing else, the smell makes it Christmas. If that’s your idea of an attractive holiday combination, then your first stop needs to be Santa’s Trees to get the garland to lay the base. This is the type of garland you would normally order from an expensive floral shop or have shipped in from New York.

Jim, owner of Santa's Trees.

The garland comes in four options:

1) light combination of white pine and Fraser fir for $1/foot

2) white pine and Fraser fir in a heavier weight for $3/foot

3) solid boxwood for $3/foot

4) multi-mix of white pine, Frasier fir, boxwood and arborvitae (simply gorgeous) for $7/foot.

The garland is made in North Carolina and shipped in fresh each week!  A shipment arrived yesterday.

Southern Accents

Now about the wreaths. The wreaths are handmade on-site at the Santa’s Trees lots, and are sized from 16″ to 48″. They come in three types: Fraser Fir, Boxwood, and Premium Mix, which is a combination of greenery.  Special orders  are available.  The wreaths are priced from $20-70, depending on the type of greenery and the size of the wreaths.  They are beautiful. PROMISE.

Santa's Trees: an example of a beautiful, fresh wreath

The actual Christmas trees can range from tabletop up to 12′. Most of the trees sold are Fraser Fir and they smell wonderful.  As the trees are cut and shipped to the lot each week, you are getting the freshest trees in town.  So, when Christmas morning arrives and you’re gathered around the tree to open presents, you won’t feel like you need to call the Fire Marshall to make sure you’re going to be safe through the eggnog portion of the day.  Tree prices are based on height. Tall trees are costly, because of the growing time, but they are worth the money.

Most importantly, Santa’s Tree will deliver and set up you tree!

If you are a romantic, fresh mistletoe is available along with fresh-cut holly and magnolia.  Tree stands are sold on sight and can save your marriage.  Jim has deemed his stand the straight tree stand: it’s guaranteed to stand straight, not fall and last forever. If you don’t buy the tree stand, then be sure to buy some mistletoe.

Country Living

Finally, for everyone who registers on the Santa’s Trees website (www.santastrees.com) by Friday morning (GO SIGN UP!  THAT’S TOMORROW!), Santa’s Trees will be giving away 25 Christmas trees for FREE to celebrate the organization’s 25th birthday.

And not that this matters in the least, but Jim is the proud father of 5 children and every tree he sells goes to a great cause: keeping his little peeps fed!

Santa’s Trees Locations:

Grassland – 2184 Hillsboro Road, Franklin…..5 miles South of Old Hickory Blvd Brentwood -

Hill Center in Brentwood - 289 Franklin Rd, not far from the REI store and just next to the US Bank.

Brentwood / Cool Springs – 567 Franklin Road - at the corner of Franklin Road and Moores Lane.

530 Cool Springs Blvd. - at the corner of Cool Springs Blvd and Mallory Lane – next to Walgreens in Franklin.

Hwy 96 at the Williamson Square Shopping Center – near the Kroger and Hobby Lobby…next to Suntrust.

You can read more about Genia Gilchrist and her holiday decorating ideas in Southern Living Magazine.

Genia Gilchrist's home shows the beauty of live garland in Southern Living Magazine Dec '09

Beat the Grinch and Make Merry in Berry Hill this Saturday

As I took a right onto Bransford Avenue, there was activity everywhere. A huge white tent was set up in front of a Curious Heart and merchants were bustling preparing for the holiday open houses.  And, in a show of support, all of the participating shop owners prominently displayed the open house posters in their windows.

Over 24 retailers are participating in the Making Merry in Berry Hill Holiday Open House this Saturday. I must tell you this is not a stop by and have some punch and cookies affair; this is a total ALL OUT PARTY.   The festivities kick off at 10AM with the Coco Bon Bon’s Kids Fashion Show and ends at 6PM with a Jazz Quintet and Wine Tasting hosted by Robert Lipman Brothers– all under the big white tent.  There are tons of musical activities throughout the day: everything from Swing bands, to Ballroom Dancing, to an Americana singer named Susan.  For the kids and fun-loving adults too, Hair Mafia will offer holiday hair painting and face painting.  The Piece of Cake Bakery will sponsor a cupcake decorating lesson and Santa will arrive at the  Pfunky Griddle at 1PM for pictures.  If your pooch feels left out, tell him or her not to fret because See Spot Eat will have a special Christmas for Doggies from 10-3PM.  By the way, there are 3 pet stores in Berry Hill so Bowser can have a darn good time all day long.

A couple of merchants on Franklin Rd decided Berry Hill’s boundaries can extend outside of the ‘hood and are offering some great specials: Fabric Gallery is having a 10-20% off sale and Melrose Neighborhood Pub will have drink specials featuring their new brews.

I couldn’t wait to knock on the door of some of my favorite merchants to see what was cooking inside. Gilcrest & Gilcrest had brown paper on their windows to keep out suspicious types as Gilcrest & Gilcrest truly  wants to unveil their gorgeous wares in a dramatic way.  (By the way don’t forget to pick up the holiday issue of Southern Living and see owner Genia Gilcrest’s spectacular home.)

I did sneak in the back door of G&G to take some preview pictures that were allowed just for our readers. Genia takes shabby chic to the next level with a sophisticated eye for furniture and vintage collections.   After leaving Gilcrest & Gilcrest,  I stopped by Manor– right next door.  Manor was also locked, but someone forgot to re-lock the door so I slipped in quite unassuming.  Once inside, I couldn’t believe some of the gorgeous holiday items and displays.  Another daring shopper did the same and walked in and after a quick assessment said, “I’ll take that  cabinet because I can’t bear to see anyone else have it.”  I kept wondering if it was some important country music type since it is CMA week.  I asked Earl, the owner, right after he wrote up the huge order, “Is CLOSED is the new OPEN?.”  Let’s face it,  you’d feel just a teensy weensy bit obligated to buy something after you barged in on the owner of a locked store.

Most importantly:  BOTH GILCREST & GILCREST  AND MANOR ARE OFFERING 20% OFF OF EVERYTHING -except items $10 and under THIS  SATURDAY. If that lady had just waited until Saturday.  But, I guess when you have to have it, you HAVE TO HAVE IT!

So let’s take a look at the WONDERS behind the locked doors of Gilcrest and Gilcrest and Manor, again, for your eyes only (but feel free to forward to friends!)

At Gilcrest & Gilcrest, gorgeous chaise lounge with pillows, christmas tags and trees

Vintage Christmas tree waiting to be adorned with ornaments, sale price $250 @ Gilcrest

Gilcrest has an impressive collection of Florentine for the holidays

I love these icicles made from fossilized salt, large $7 and small $5

Please Santa, I want this handmade pillow at Manor with REAL metallic threads

Don't get your hopes up for the cabinet, but don't you love the snowflakes from Manor?

Manor has great holiday hostess gifts including these candle duets in holiday fragrances

Making Merry in Berry Hill

Saturday, November 14,

10A-5PM

Gilcrest & Gilcrest/Manor

2823 Bransford Avenue

Norman, the store manager

Gilchrist & Gilchrist sounds important:  a law office perhaps, a name you may find tucked away on a street corner in London or maybe even in the quaint town of  Bath, England.  In Nashville, the name belongs to a darling shop located in an equally charming cottage in Berry Hill.   Once you step inside, I think you’ll be glad you made the trek.

You will probably read more about this in future posts, but my house is on the Home Tour in the Whitland neighborhood. Help! Gulp! For me, with 3 small daughters, the word “home tour” makes me break out in hives.  Speaking of the word break, once you sign on the dotted line to show your home, everything in your house begins to BREAK.  It’s as if the VOODOO doll was dropped on your doorstep to invite in evil spirits.

With the Home Tour in mind, I dropped by Gilchrist & Gilchrist to look for some pillow shams to match my comforter, which I freely admit is gorgeous.  I still had some birthday money yet to spend and I really want pillows shams so my bed will look OH SO COMPLETE for the HOME TOUR. Money spent.

unique gift items are everywhere

wonderful frames in all sizes

Gilchrist & Gilchrist carries several lines of lovely linens; all can be custom ordered in any shade you can imagine.  I ordered a gorgeous soft, muted pale blue linen sham with a euro sham in  cream which I plan to embroider with my initials ( just in case a thief breaks in and tries  to steal it.)  Some of the brands Gilchrist & Gilchrist  carry are Pine Cone Hill, Bella Notte, Papillion and Pom-Pom. All are simply wonderful.

Genia Gilchrist has a eye for all things white & whimsical

Probably what I love most about the shop is the sense of rhythm and pace you feel once you walk in the door.   Genia Gilchrist  has a refined eye for all things white, especially her white furniture and accessories.  Even more welcoming is her refined eyes FOR ALL THINGS WHIMSICAL.

How fun is this lamp shade?

My personal favorite is her new lamp shades by Cake Rocket a fantastic artist from Texas.   They also sell organic cleaning products from Maison Belle that are so safe for the environment that you can drink them. Maybe you want to hold off on that taste test, but I think you get the idea.

Maison Belle Products are environmentally safe

Best of all, Norman (see picture above) almost always  greats you at the door, eager to provide for your every need. A couple of dog biscuits and a belly scratch may get you the sister-in-law deal!

Gilchrist & Gilchrist

2823 Bransford Avenue

Nashville, TN  37204

615.385.2122