Christmas Decorations and Inspiration Part One

I had a very enjoyable trip into town today.  I walked in it is a while since I have done so and it did me good.  Unfortunately if I walk into town these days, I cannot carry anything that I have bought back home,.  I grab a taxi and then get delivered straight to my door without any extra walking.  I will probably tootle in more to have a look before Christmas to see what bits and bobs I can find.

Every year I gather a few crafting items together.  Sometimes I get to them another time they get used the following year, but they are safe and ready to use when I need them.  The older I am getting though, I want to add more handmade items to the tree and my decorations generally.

I went into Flying Tiger today as they normally have some interesting pieces, but nothing that took my fancy today. It may still be a little early for their Christmas stock.

B & M

I then went on to B & M and had a walk through there.  Although I bought some items, I have gone for items today that will either finish something off that I have on the go, go with something I already have and additional everyday practical things. I will go back as there were a couple of other pieces that I would quite like; intend to go back another day to have a look in a bit more detail. I have bought some green velvet ribbons which are already tied, both in a dark Forest Green and a pale Willow Green.  Both colours will work with my Christmas theme for my dining room, which yet again I add to each year.  

Last Year

Last year in particular I was very taken by some rotating Lazy Susans which had been decorated with some Mistletoe.  Unfortunately by the time that I got to go back in as I could not afford them at the time, they were all gone.  It did however inspire adding Mistletoe decorated items into my Dining room theme and I am also going to look for some Acacia Lazy Susans and decorate them myself.  

I then bought some candleholders which were Mistletoe decorated - two different sorts a couple of tall branched ones and two smaller ones.  

I also bought in some Christmas Laura Ashley boxes for storing smaller dining ware pieces in which are also decorated in Mistletoe.  

Back to Today and B & M

I digress, back to today I also ended up buying two Storm Lantern Candle Holders, with a wicker base not in natural but in a dark brown which will be  useful for both Autumn and Christmas decorating.  They are the next size up from small but not quite medium.

There was also a need for some new chopping boards as my other ones have sustained some damage and not fit for use.  But that is by the by.  I also bought in two BPA see through Boxes/trays without lids. I already owned two of these, but needed another couple to be able to sort packet mixes and smaller boxed items like jellies and puddings in one spot rather than stuffing them somewhere in the Pantry and not be able to find them.  Am organising where I can as I go along.  I will probably get another couple next time I go into town as they do help a lot with organising things other than Pantry items.

I did buy today though some Wreath Boards for the table.

The Works

From there I went to the Works.

I ended up buying quite a few things in here for crafting.

For Autumn Crafting 

2 lots of White and Orange Berries

2 natural wooden bead heart wreaths

A needle felt kit for a Pumpkin and Toadstool and contents

2 packs of mini Toadstools approximately 20 per pack

2 packs of Burnt Orange Wreath Ribbon 4 metres in each pack

For Christmas Crafting

2 Tubes of Green Acrylic Paint These are the larger tubes

3 Packs of Air Drying Clay - White

2 Scallop Edged Trays thought that these might be used for a centre display on the table

3 packs of Small Wooden slices with the bark on

Sostrene Grene

Then I went on to Sostrene Grene.  This is a favourite shop of mine as they offer so many different bits and pieces although I particularly like their crafting materials.

I bought myself some kits today which are mostly Christmas related although things such as Mushrooms and Toadstools can cross over into Christmas decorating.

The first kit is a small beading kit which makes a sprig of Mistletoe out of tiny seed beads and also some larger pearl beads.  In my past I have been on various bead making courses and I still consider myself as a novice.  I am used to using a needle and thread and these kits use wire which I have only really done once before, so a whole new learning curve here as well.  I thought this might be a good way of getting back into beading and also make something pretty for the tree or decorating or other items. 

I also bought in extra beading wire and seed beads as I have determined that I am going to have a play generally once I get going again.  I do still need some finer gauge wire though.

I also bought in a couple of packs of Star shaped forms for beading to make hanging decorations for the Christmas tree as well.

There is then another small spray of what looks a little like frost which is quite pretty.  At first I had thought that pearls had been used.  However they are made up of small crystals.

Then there are three hearts which are decorated in beads which form heart shaped tree decorations.

The last kit is a set of three different sized felt mushrooms which are embroidered.

Most of the kits cost between £5 and £7.  There are a lot of beads in the kit some more than others and all the kits apart from the Mistletoe kit make three differing sized items.

There are also Styrofoam rings, tree shaped forms, beads in gold green and silver, beading wire, some crystals, beading wire, Christmas berries for wreaths and some clay tools bearing in mind I bought air drying clay to experiment with.  I also plan on doing some Salt Dough and Cinnamon Dough decorative items to add to the decorations too.

I also bought in two small Hurricane Candle Lamps which will go with the other ones I bought today and the absolutely massive two that I bought last year.  I shall add in collecting Hurricane Candle Lamps where I can, as they are so useful and illuminating.  A candle or two in the winter months always brings some cheer.

I must say that although it is still early, they do have some Christmas items out in the shop and have a tree up with some decorations out.  I have been on their website since coming home and there are lots more items to come.  The tree that is on display looks really pretty.  It is decorated simply with icicles and silver stars and looked really stunning and so simple almost ethereal with not many lights either.  Somewhere in my decoration stash I have a load of icicles that were bought many years ago.  Will have to try and dig them out as I think something like this would look really lovely in the dining room at some point.

There were lots of lovely things in Sostrene Grene. I always love their candles and little bits for decorating with.  Also have some very practical kitchen items and storage items as well.

There is therefore a lot to play with, plus I have ideas for other items as well which I have seen mostly on Instagram but also on Pinterest and You Tube.  More on that another day though.

Are any of you also making your own Christmas decorations this year.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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