The leaning tower of Christmas.....

[putrid]

I can't tell you how many years I've done this. Seems I really do like repeating the same mistake over and over. LOL The tree is leaning forward. I use a level to make sure the pole is straight. Then put 50 lbs of glass on one side. Every year I keep telling myself that I'll put the pole on an angle to the back to compensate for all the ornaments. I even have one of those "ultimate tree stands" with two levels of clamps. Looks like I'll have to do what I do every year. Shove something under the front side of the stand to re level the tree.

I've done worst. One year we had to wire a tree to the wall to keep it from falling over. Individually the glass ornaments don't weigh much. Get past the 300 mark....LOL Just bought five more. Found some room on the tree. There's still room, I can still see green. LOL

[bethene]

that's funny Putrid, I can't say as I've ever had too much ornaments on the tree to make it lopsided, but I DO love to have alot of ornaments, I add more some years even after the tree is done, I see a perfect spot that is missing a ornament! And every year, I just buy more, either after at clearance sales or before, on sale of course-- Hobby lobby always runs half off, so I pick one up here and there all season long!!

[Mummy deer-est]

We just put up the tree today....and our lop-sidded-ness begins at the get go! I guess we aren't very good at ensuring a good level cut at the bottom, but this year isn't as bad as last year! You could see it leaning in all the pictures, but it never once fell over. Here's hoping it will stay upright again!

[meestercranky]

One year we had to wire a tree to the wall to keep it from falling over.

I do this every year! Just to be safe. I tie it with a nice red ribbon around the trunk and attach it to a hook on the windowsill where the tree always goes.

Kitties and little children (of which I only have a kitty now) can wreak havoc ya know. But I do live in earthquake country so I still do it.

[putrid]

[QUOTE=meestercranky;4039]I do this every year! Just to be safe. I tie it with a nice red ribbon around the trunk and attach it to a hook on the windowsill where the tree always goes........QUOTE]

meestercranky, I may do that just to be on the safe side. It has a good 6 inch lean to the front on it.


Mummy deer-est, I did have one fall over one year. Not because of the lean. The stand gave way. Lost over 100 shapes and figures. About a 3rd of what was on the tree. I still have a few broken ones that I use. Just put them where you can't see the holes. LOL

bethene, Hobby Lobby???? that's a BAD place for me to go. JK LOL Just bought 5 more from there. I've bought quite a few from Dillard's and Pier One in the past. Not his year. They didn't have anything worth the drive.

[Nephew Fred]

I had a tree that always fell over from too much decor.I split the decorations by theme to start another tree,then another tree,then another tree......you get the picture.But hey,None of them have fallen over since.

[putrid]

OK Tree is wired to the wall. Went from a 6 inch lean to a 2. I can live with that. When I remake the trunk I'm going to leave the bottom square. ( or just cement it into the tree stand LOL) Think this will help hold it better in a tree stand. The trunk I made last year was screwed and glued to a 3x3 sheet of plywood. Warped. The tree rocked. After all that I STILL had to put stuff under it. Can't win for loosing LOL.

Nephew Fred, Totally cool dude. Bet that looks great. I think I have 50 lbs of shinny balls I could put on a tree this size. Bet I could make that one lean too. LOL That's the only thing this tree doesn't have. Not a single one color ball.

[CandyCane]

I too, have had a tree fall over and it was quite a mess. And I always say "You cannot have too many ornaments" just in case you hadn't noticed my tree.....but I can still see a couple of bare spots, in the back of course :)

[Blinky]

I don't know if you thought of this but instead of a lot of small ornaments try large ones. I bought Large 8" white Poinsettia's Flowers and put glitter on them. and I have the crystal clear ornaments and a silver tree shirt so It has a frosted look.With a Large white and silver angel at the top and small matching porcelain angels.That sit in the tree branches.
With White Lights and White strands of bead work. Its Beautiful But I haven't put it up in years The cats crawl in the tree and tear things up,They even knocked it down once or twice. so I just don't put it up anymore.

[Sickie Ickie]

Haven't put mine up yet. We're planning on it tomorrow. Don't know if I'll have a chance to finish any props I started this year. Rats!!!

[CandyCane]

Your tree sounds beautiful, Blinky. I think it's a damn shame that you can't put it up because of the cats. I know that there's a product available that you can spray on to keep the critters away. It's non toxic and available at pet stores. My sis has two cats and has never had a problem with them messing with the tree.

[Blinky]

Thanks CC I dont mind so much, besides I would not know what to do with all my sculpting stuff it has taken over the Living room.
At one point in my Life I used To work for Garden Ridge pottery making the Theme Christmas trees..
You up To a challnge decorate a tree in 10 minute flat ,lol that was all the time they allotted me for each tree and do that 20 times.

[Sickie Ickie]

10 minutes? Heck, I'd be fired before I ever began!

[Blinky]

yep The only help i had was the stock room team would put the trees together and place them on their spots . i had to do the rest. lights and all

[Sickie Ickie]

You must have set some speed record!

[Blinky]

and i was a lot younger and dumber then too
I would work my a double s off.

[Sickie Ickie]

I've always been too laid back to do that...except when directing. :)

[Mummy deer-est]

But other than the time demand, it sounds like an awesome job! I want to get paid to decorate -- maybe then I would get it done in a timely fashion!

[putrid]

I don't know if you thought of this but instead of a lot of small ornaments try large ones......

I have large ones. Got everything from 9 inch shapes to 2 inch shapes. LOL Most are of the 3 to 6 inch size. I've seen some really great themed trees using a few decorations. Nice but not chaotic and guady enough for me. LOL I think you just gave me permision to get more ornametns!!!! NEED MORE LARGE ONES!

10 minuets to do a tree? And to do all them different? You got talent my friend.

[Blinky]

10 minuets to do a tree? And to do all them different? You got talent my friend.[quote]

Thank you Putrid, I love to do trees.. but It takes me longer now..
and I enjoyed decorating them for Garden Ridge too. Maybe I might put it up outside with just the lights on it. So Santa isn't lonely

[bethene]

wow, 10 minute tree- I am so impressed. Mine is more like 10 hours! LOL! I have had cats m,y whole married life, and have never had a problem.. About 25 years ago a cat I had did climb the tree and knocked it down, itied it up after that, but that's been the only problem.. I also got a new stand about 3 years ago, best thing ever did, it is one of the what I belive is called the ultimate, not sure of the name, but when you get the tree in it, if it is crooked, the center of the stand swivels so you can straighten it, the tag on the stand said something to the effect of always having a straight tree no matter how crooked.( it is a quite large stand) My hubby used to cuss up a storm trying to get it straight, now it is easy. He actually said this year that the tree stand was one of our better investments. We got it on clearance, so maybe after Christmas they will be on sale, they are about 30 regular. But worth it, if the calmness of hubby is any indication!

[Blinky]

I was a lot younger then I was in my 20's I could move pretty fast now I only move half fast..

[bethene]

Boy Blinky- I sure can relate to that! My 20's are just a long ago faded memory!

[putrid]

20's? Is this a Jeritall moment or what? JK LOL I remember my twenties. That was more than 20 years ago. We're not just a bunch of old folks. We're experienced. LOL

[Sickie Ickie]

Like fine wine, we age. Problem is, I'm turning to vinegar!

[putrid]

Well I'm proud to say the tree is still upright. Took a pic of the wire holding the whole thing up. Was thinking about making a copy of the shot and putting in the box with the tree so I'll remember to do that BEFORE I put 100 lbs of glass on it.

Your not winy, you got some kick to ya Sickie Ickie. JKLOL

[Mistress Muffy]

Laughed reading what you guys all wrote here! I did have 2 trees go down in my life & one fell ontop of me. As hubby scurried down the staircase I was screaming....."now don't get excited when you see where I am...I'm alright!!" All he saw when he got downstairs was my arm & hand!lol Covered me pretty good!

When I take my decorations down this year I get a pic of my tree stand. Its a store bought stand nailed to some wood. It is the stand we had in the diner. Had to be completely sure that tree would not come down on a customer. My trees have always been heavy with lots on them. When I was a kid we always wired our big real trees to the wall!

the Merry Muffster