Sunday 11 December 2016

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Sarah asserted this week that bloggers fall into two camps at Christmas: those who have a theme, and those who have an ethos. But I reckon I have both. From the piles of foraged greenery to the homemade tree decorations, my Christmas decorating theme is simple, natural beauty with just a dash of glitz.

And my ethos? Probably much the same. For me, Christmas - and the far more exciting run-up to the big day - is about small, simple pleasures but with an added dose of luxury. Whether it's lighting scented candles, spending time with loved ones, settling down with a good book next to a roaring fire, or drinking my own body weight in Prosecco, December gives me the chance to do all my favourite things in the name of festivity.

And one of my favourite things to do is decorate the house. No hall is left un-decked; stand still long enough in my house come December and you'll probably find yourself draped in fairy lights and sporting an ivy crown.
As I wrote about last week in my wreath how-to, evergreens are one of my favourite things with which to decorate. Every year I raid the local hedgerows and gather armfuls of greenery to pile high on the mantlepieces, intertwined with LED fairy lights and baubles for added sparkle.
This gorgeous Dashwood Studio Christmas Village fabric (from Crafty Sew & So, a great workshop and haberdashery space in Leicester) is a close match to the George at ASDA festive bedlinen I missed out on last year and have sulked about ever since. I used it to make some festive cushion covers, as well as whipping up a new stocking to hang by my fireplace, so that even our bedroom has a dash of Christmas charm.
Before last Christmas, I'd never thought of fresh flowers as a decorating essential. Then Blossoming Gifts kindly sent me a festive bunch to review and now I don't think I'll ever go without. My budget this year didn't stretch to a fancy mail order bouquet, but Aldi came up trumps with bargain Fairtrade roses and berry sprigs, which I combined with eucalyptus from my mum's garden.
And while I still think my house could do with MOAR DECORATIONS, it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas here...

26 comments:

  1. Love those cushion covers, I'm someone who has far more festive bedding than anyone *really* needs. I've decorated pretty much every room but I still want more. You don't see many houses with fairy lights in the windows anymore but I might put them around the windows at the front of the house. If I could have a tree in every room I would. Lidl have some amazing Christmas bouquets at the moment and some cute mini trees that would look great in a porch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was seeing your festive bedding that spurred me on to make some! The mountain set from ASDA is the one I wanted :( I have fairy lights in the bay tree that stands outside our front door and it makes me happy whenever I come home and see them all lit up - around the window would be good too.

      Delete
  2. Your house looks so festive! We've not really started decorating yet but hopefully will soon. Also love that fabric. By the way my thrifty gift swap item is now in the post! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I already wish I'd bought more of the fabric, as when I went back on Saturday they'd sold out.

      Delete
  3. It looks so lovely! I'm impressed with your sewing skills. I'm not very good at decorating (I got rid of the tree after the cat pulled it down a couple of Christmases ago...) and I've not yet worked out how to make the flat look festive - I may have to pinch some of your ideas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah sewing cushion covers is easy, it's literally just straight lines and even a moron (i.e. ME) can do that.

      Delete
  4. So pretty! I love the personal touches, the pillow fabric is gorgeous. I also like a festive bouquet :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am a complete convert to the festive bouquet, can't believe it took me 38 years!

      Delete
  5. Even though I am a bah humbug misog, I still love seeing other peoples decorations for some reason! Yours are lovely, especially the home made ones, I really like the cushions and stocking x

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm still trying to find somewhere in Plymouth that does cheap evergreen foliage, but with only 4 sleeps left here I might wait until I get back to the countryside and just raid the hedgerows! Your decorations are lovely and I like the idea of simple, luxurious pleasures at Christmastime.
    Have a wonderful Christmas xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, you too. There's something much nicer about having foraged greenery, as opposed to bought, I think. I live on the edge of a big city but between the local nature reserve and friends gardens (oh, and some ivy that I made Thomas cut off the side of a building at the end of our road!) I've done ok.

      Delete
  7. I think I have those festive bedsheets and if I do, they never made it onto the bed last year! I have no decoration up yet, and I'm not sure if I will even get around to it. There just seems to be an overwhelming amount of "stuff" to do. Gah.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This year I am just SO excited to not be working 70 hours a week and dying of child germs from school that I have gone all out on Christmas!

      Delete
  8. Can I be in the third camp of bloggers who don't do Christmas haha!

    I do like those cushions though, they are really nice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, yes you can! There should definitely be that third category.

      Delete
  9. Your house is beautiful and all your wonderful decorations are so pretty! PLus, I always love your Silent Night music!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You either have excellent eyesight or an excellent memory, to be able to tell what the sheet music is in that photo!

      Delete
  10. This is lovely - I love how much you use nature in your decorations!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Over the past few years I've got so into using natural materials - pinecones, orange slices, tons of greenery - in my decorations and I love how beautiful they are.

      Delete
  11. Your house looks so lovely and welcoming! There are few things better at this time of year than decorating the house for Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I took most of it down last week and the house looks so empty and sad without it all :(

      Delete
  12. Beautiful! My decor is very modest but I like yours!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your tree looked stunning! But yeah, 'modest' is not a word for my Christmas decorations, haha!

      Delete
  13. It just looks festive and warm. Your house always looks wonderful. I'm a bit of a Grinch when it comes to Christmas, I want to get swept up with the loveliness of it all but I often struggle, burdened by the amount of things I 'have to' do, rather than what I want to do. Sigh...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah thank you :) It can be hard, especially coming at the end of the term from hell, to balance things and make Christmas a truly relaxing time.

      Delete