Just a few Christmas decorations Part Two

The older I get, the more I want to get back to the actual "making" of things for Christmas's like we used to do when I was a child, when I was younger, and when the children were at home.  Although I have not had much time to make much this year I have had a go at a couple of things.  It is not just about the crafting and the making of wreaths and garlands, or the food items throughout the year that eventually grace the Christmas table, it is about a much simpler way of life overall.  It has a pure honesty overall that can be trusted and you can rely on to feed you, celebrate and make choices that suit your family and its needs at the end of the day.

I like my Christmas decorations I always have done. I have a lot of beautiful decorations collected over many years and part of a wider cache of Christmas items.  Some are homemade, a lot are bought, but even simple paper or ribbon decorations have their place on the tree. This year's decorations have been bought with a little saved up pocket money and also some small lottery scratch card wins.

I am from a family that has always celebrated Christmas joyfully and in the moment.  It is also a family though that has provided for itself over the years making sure that each generation has a skill bank to be able to make or have a go at things themselves and be as independent as possible.  I think this is why I and many people like me find it difficult to ask for help because we just get on and do things and have a go at something new if necessary and we learn as we go along.  Nothing wrong in that at all and being self-resilient is not a bad thing at the end of the day.

There are a few more decorations or materials that I would like to be able to acquire this year if I can but we will wait and see.  On Sunday this week, I managed to get out for a little while into town and went to the following shops.  I think it is about 6 weeks or so since I last ventured into town.

B & M

I have also added a few more items to the decorations pile, pieces I have been wanting for a few years like some plain wooden bead garlands. I have bought two, but I may go back for another two as with them being neutral they will go with a lot of my existing decorations particularly some of my garlands.  

I have also bought two small heart wreaths for my dining room.  It has the same white berry decoration that I have been collecting and have for the smaller Hurricane Lamps and Mistletoe which were sourced from Home Bargains.  

Mistletoe is featuring a lot for my Christmas decorations for the dining room in particular.  

I have also bought a Gingerbread cushion to add to my Christmas Cushion collection.  Yes I have one of those too! I buy one new cushion or cover per year.  It is easier to buy the covers when it comes to storage, however if there is a particular one that I quite like I do dish out for the cushion pad as well. 

This year however, I have however not been buying in just ready made decorations I have been buying in the materials to make items and decorate them.  I intend to concentrate moving forward in the New Year to getting a few decorations out of the way with and made throughout the year for next Christmas.  I am determined to have a head start and to make use of some of the quieter time after the Christmas celebrations to create some homespun items.  I have been saving ideas from Instagram, Blogs, Pinterest and Facebook for future projects.

The Works

I also found a bargain from the Works in some free standing wooden Christmas trees.  These will be ideal for the middle of the Christmas table or on the fire place mantel. These little decorations already come coloured in a pale green version and a dark green version, two different style trees for decorating your home with.  You can also embellish them further if you so wish. Price £3 for the two trees. I therefore bought two packs. 

 

I then spent a frustrating hour trying to put the paler green tree together until we fathomed out that there was no way this tree was going together in a month of Sundays as we had two pieces of one particular pattern in the set where there should only be one of each, i.e. four different pieces with different cuts in them.  I had the second pack and yes you have guessed it, that had the wrong piece in too.  I am currently in the process of contacting the Works Customer Services Department. 

These are the two smaller dark green trees.

I have since spoken directly to them and I am to take the kits back to the shop where I purchased them in the next few days where they will have a look at them and arrange an exchange. I particularly like the tree which is affected which is the pale green version.  The smaller dark green trees have gone up a treat.  The idea is to have a low level forest along the centre of my Christmas table (one obviously that you can talk over).  I intend to use a long white narrow mirror that used to belong to my Mum in the centre of the table and then add in the trees and other suitable pieces of decoration including candles.

I also bought in a couple of wooden wreaths which I intend to paint, put some little feet on them to balance the piece on and then add some candle holders to the wreaths themselves.  I love wooden Christmas decorations and especially the German decorations.  Last year I purchased two Nativity Pyramids and candles (ones operated by the candles and not batteries).  After all Solstice is on 21 December and the darkest day before the return to the light.

Also purchased was some of the DAS white air drying clay to have a little play with some decorations and ornaments.  I think that will be a project for the beginning of 2026 though.

Sostrene Grene

In any event, before going into the Works today I had paid a visit to Sostrene Grene.

Last year, I collected quite a few of their decorative different sized Christmas trees for placing on the centre of the table, or a mantelpiece or wherever you wish to add them.  These were bought already assembled.  Those were a little dearer.  This year they have a range of trees, different ones with a different pattern on. These ones are just flat packed for you to assemble yourself.  They are available in a small and medium version available both in pale green and the dark green, (four trees in all).  I came away with just the pale green ones this time around but I intend going back for the dark Green ones as well.  

Here they are flat packed.

And here they are assembled.

There was also a a kit for cut out wooden trees with paint for decorating further wooden trees. This was about £3.84 and has three different shaped trees in it.  I have a real thing about these trees.  

I have some projects which will be ready for next Christmas in this vein just on a larger scale.

I also came away with some other crafting items for Christmas decorations as follows:

• 2 bunches of dark green crafting ribbon
• 1 bunch of pale mint green crafting ribbon;  I may get some more of this when I go back into town.
• A bag of whole Star Anise for some decorations;  I do need to get some more Cloves though.
• Four polystyrene mini wreaths to make some fabric and silk flower candle ring for some artificial Church style candles.
• 2 cardboard leaf wreaths; I intend to cut out leaves in different shades of green and then decoupage them on to the base card and make a three dimensional paper wreath for either hanging on the wall or being used as part of a centre-piece.  I also intend to use this card base as a template for embroidery, needlepoint and painted items.
• Three packs x 4 wood slices (12 in total) to have a go at some pyrography.
• Paper tag labels.

I also treated myself to a square Advent Candle holder which holds four candles. I also purchased some pale green ribbon and some dark green ribbon and candles to go on it. I have seen some picks which I would like to add by way of decoration also from the Works. Will probably get some of these when I go back to exchange the Christmas trees I have already purchased. I do like this candleholder though and I bought some Green Candles to go in it and will probably get another one of these holders and more candles when I go into town as well.

The Candle holders will be in the dining room either on the Dressers or on the table. I have been very much guided by green foliage and Mistletoe themes for this room in particular. I love Mistletoe. I will use the Candle holders throughout the year though.

I was planning on going back into town again on Tuesday (G is fishing) However, due to the Lurgey my plans have been somewhat curtailed.   It also features in the other rooms as well but more reds, burgundies and gold are the colourways here.

I also nipped into Flying Tiger (not much for me here this year) and also into the TK Maxx store in town as well but there were too many people lurking around and when I am looking I like a bit of space to have a good look around.  Will probably nip back in again when I go back into town when hopefully it will be a lot quieter.

Photos are not loading properly at the moment, and so will have to add them later on. Now dealt with.

The Lurgey

I had planned on going shopping again on Tuesday whilst G is fishing.  However that is not going to happen as I have developed a bad head cold and sore throat.  Its a while since have felt this grotty and so am dosing myself up and going to stay at home in the quiet and the warmth.  I do not think this up and down weather is doing anyone any favours at all.  

Here's hoping that everyone keeps warm and safe in this very windy, wet and unpredictable weather we keep having at the moment.

Catch up soon.

Pattypan

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