Everything is ready! The house is dotted with decorations and all the presents are wrapped. I’m going to do a round-up of what’s been my first blogging year just after Christmas – it’s been amazing! Thank you to all those who have read the blog, commented and shared. I hope you all have the most wonderful Christmas full of happiness, family, friends and laughter xxx
Berries in vintage bottles on the kitchen window sill.
Katy x
I’ve been collecting some ideas on my Pinterest Christmas board for the Christmas table and I am well and truly inspired. For me, the enjoyment of Christmas comes from the time, effort and creativity that goes into the preparation; I don’t like doing the chopping but I will happily sit down for a few hours and make pretty place name cards or napkin rings, which is more enjoyable than the lunch itself. A great looking table makes Christmas lunch more special than any other meal of the year.
A few little ideas from me if you are running low on time and/or cash to help make your Christmas table stand out:
1) Use a length of Christmas wrapping paper as a table runner.
2) Whack some sticky back plastic on some wrapping paper to make festive table mats.
3) Keep some ribbon left over from your wrapping and use it to tie cutlery sets together – something so simple can make all the difference.
4) Stock up on battery powered tea lights and pop them into jam jars or kilner jars. Absolutely no hassle, pretty, safe and you don’t have to constantly change them, like you do with real tea light.
I love all of the ideas below and none of them will take too long…
Photograph and styling by Marie Delice Karlsson.
Image from Vita Drommar & Busiga Barn blog
Photograph by Jose Villa.
Image from Sister’s Guild shop.
Image from the beautiful Dreamy Whites blog.
Image from Spoon Fork Bacon blog.
Image from flickr.
Image from Dreamy Whites blog.
Image from Hus and Hem blog.
Image from Dreamy Whites blog.
Which one is your favourite? To see more ideas pop over to my Pinterest Christmas board.
Katy x
My amazing dad has always organised the most ginormous stockings that you have ever seen! He disappears on Christmas eve for a few hours and returns laden with stocking fillers for me and my two sisters, even now that we are all in our thirties. Our family tradition is to wake very early on Christmas morning and all open our stockings together. It’s probably the best part of the day.
This year, I will be with Jules’s family for Christmas so I’ve created a virtual stocking for the crafter in me: crafting supplies, lovely socks to keep my feet warm whilst sewing, cream to keep my hands looking good for blog posts, a lovely mug for that all important cup of tea, and we always get a magazine in our stocking.
If you need a few extra stocking fillers before the big day, this list may give you a couple of ideas that you can pick up this weekend…
Ianthe print bias binding from the Liberty haberdashery.
Pink Betsy print pencils from Liberty.
Floral button jar from the Liberty haberdashery.
Folk clothing People Socks.
Vintage Hemingway Mini Tin available at John Lewis.
Gutermann cotton thread available at John Lewis.
Handsomely hydrating hand cream from Betty and Walter.
Bone china Pink Pepper mug from Betty and Walter.
Washi tape from Peach Blossom.
Grosgrain ribbon from Peach Blossom.
Mollie Makes magazine.
Happy stocking filler shopping. Look forward to my stocking next year, dad!
Katy x
For those of us with no time to make elaborate Christmas decorations, this is a really quick and easy way to make something special and personal for your home. Also, if you aren’t a particularly good crafter, you can not go wrong with this rag wreath.
A couple of years ago I pinned this image of a scrappy ribbon garland by Whitney Caroline Designs. I started to put one together this year with all my scraps of Liberty fabric and then a rattan wreath arrived in the post that I had been waiting for to make a dried hydrangea wreath. I decided to combine the wreath and my ribbon garland to make a rag wreath. It looks so pretty hanging on the window and it took me less than ten minutes to make…
Tie strips of fabric scraps onto a strip of Christmas lights. Wind it round a rattan wreath (mine is a 12 inch one from Hobbycraft). That is literally all there is to it.
Make sure you hang it near a plug, or use a strip of lights with a small battery pack.
I’ve seen another version of a rag wreath over on the gorgeous Found, now home blog. If I’d had more time, I would definitely use twigs, instead of the ready made rattan wreath, and I also love the felt balls. Pop over and take a look.
Have you got any quick and easy decoration ideas?
Katy x
I’ve got to admit I’m not one for tinsel and lots of colourful lights at Christmas time. Instead, I love the subtlety of Scandinavian homes at Christmas: hints of red, lots of green foliage and white candles. Not only is it stylish but so simple to add to your own home to give it that Scandi festive feel. Take some inspiration and ideas from these beautiful homes…
These images are on a wedding blog, which I wasn’t expecting; I thought they were from a Christmas shoot. What a glorious wedding table! Pop over to 100 Layer Cake to see more images of the wedding by Anne Marie Photography, Loft Photographie and Fit To Be Tied Events:
A Swedish Christmas wedding table – how amazing are those furs?
Love the idea of stuffing dresser drawers with goodies when all the family come over (would obviously need to clear out all my drawers first though – not so easy!).
This next home belongs to creative couple Mille and Christian Gyldenfeldt who both work in fashion and design. They live in a country house in Rågeleje, Copenhagen. Images by photographer Frederikke Heiberg for the Swedish magazine, Lantliv:
This is a front door I want to step through. I adore the light that flows through a lot of Scandinavian homes and bounces off the white walls and floors.
The tree and Christmas foliage look so beautiful against the white backdrop: simple and inviting.
I love the Scandi styling of these shoots by the talented Swedish duo Sanna and Sania. Drop by their blog for more inspiration:
A stylish, festive child’s bedroom.
What about a Scandi table cloth for your Christmas table and lots of white candles are a must.
Adding subtle touches of red, white and green will give your home a festive feel without it being over the top. These images of this Swedish country house are by stylist and photographer Marie Delice Karlsson, which I spotted over on one of my favourite blogs My Scandinavian Home:
This pared down tree in this minimal hallway looks perfect.
Adding just a red and white linen tea towel adds a Christmas feel to this kitchen.
If you have guests staying why not add beautiful red and white linen pillowcases? Such an easy thing to do to dress up a guest room ready for Christmas.
I love the addition of the Christmas candlestick to this bathroom – this is a detail that makes a difference to how festive your home will feel.
What do you think of Scandinavian style and which is your favourite room?
I know lots of people prefer dark colours and lots of cosy textiles at Christmas time but I just adore the freshness and light of these homes and would love to cosy in on Christmas night with heaps of candles burning. Just lovely.
Katy x