busy, busy, busy!

This is an idea I saw in a garden centre recently. They'd taken large branches, covered them in glitter and used to display baubles and Christmas decorations. I thought it looked really nice, and decided it do it next year. Then I wondered 'what's wrong with this year?'. I didn't want to make a large version like the one I'd seen, so went outside into the back garden and cut a couple of branches from a tree. I wrapped stem wrap around the bottom to hold them together, and make a more sturdy looking tiny tree.

These photos are pretty self explanatory. You have to do it in stages, it's too tricky to try and coat each twig with glue and glitter in one go. It would be ideal for children to do for their rooms, so they had their own christmas tree - one that wouldn't drop needles on the floor. Stick it firmly inside a pot using air drying clay, it holds it securely and adds a bit of weight.

After making my stocking last week, I was inspired to make two more. Different sizes, different fabrics, and as the stocking shape is drawn freehand, all different shapes too! After a busy weekend out and about, today has been spent catching up on chores, spending time with Gorgeous Girl, and having a quick run through of the Christmas table. I like to do this a week or so before Christmas to see what I still need to get, and make sure the overall look is what I'm after. I still need to get candles, flowers will be white,cream or pale pink, and in the mercury vases rather than in one large vase. For safety's sake with Gorgeous Girl, I'll tie the tablecloths to the legs of the table and 'shoosh' the corners out a bit. I bought a very inexpensive white flat sheet to use as a table cloth (cost was just over £5), then I've added a layer of cream tulle, and two layers of organza. In Real Life, it looks very pretty. It's just us on the day itself, but we have family coming for afternoon tea on Boxing Day, so I'll dress the table like this two days running.
It's a completely different look to last year, which had a dark but warm feel... I don't really bother with dressing the table during the year (unless there is a special occasion), so at Christmastime it's something I enjoy planning and setting up.

I made these today too.. I would love to say that this idea came out of my own imagination, but it didn't. I saw it in the January edition of British '[Country Living]' magazine. What you do is wash out tins once you've used the food inside (obviously!), then fill with water and freeze until solid. Then, use a nail and a hammer, and gently tap holes in the design of your choice. This is much easier than it sounds. I had visions of the tins rolling about and being tricky, but it was very simple to do as I put a folded tea towel on the worktop, then placed the tin on that. Get rid of the ice and dry, and there you have it, some pretty candle holders. I think they'd be a welcome sight for the husband, on a winter's night, when snow is on the ground. Seeing a few of these alongside the front garden path would be so nice.