Deck the Halls

Hello, good morning! Aw it's great to see you, thanks for stopping by. Yes do come in and make yourself at home, we can have a mince pie and a brew and chat a while....

Did you see the wreath on my front door as you came in? I'm ever so chuffed with my wreath this year, I wasn't intending on getting one so big, as to be honest I normally can't afford them, but this one was only £6 from the supermarket. Yes, I know, quite a bargain. It's been beautifully made and looks fresh and evergreeny just like my tree. The ribbon that was on it wasn't very nice and actually it fell off, so I used some wired gingham ribbon instead.

 

I made the little felt and cotton  decorations about three years ago now I think, when the Little People were small (age 1 and 3) and when looking after them was very much a full time, exhausting job. Time for stitching and crafting was pretty much non existent back then, and once they were in bed for the night I was always so tired I never had the energy to get creative. But I can remember sitting  in my old kitchen after the Little People were in bed, stitching these bit by bit, night after night and really enjoying it too.

We did old fashioned paper chain making on Saturday :: very early before breakfast and still in our pyjamas (we tend to do a lot of things still in our pj's around here), and it was a lot of fun.

I was forced to watch the Little People get licky and sticky with these, was told in the strictest terms that they were not for Mummy to do, even though I desperately love making paper chains and even resorted to begging. Note to self :: buy my own personal private for-mummy-only stash next year ;o)

I am thinking that I may well leave these chains up after Christmas, I love the colours and the frivolous nature of them, makes me smile.

 

Apart from the tree, and the door wreath, and the paper chains, my other Christmassy bits are reserved for the two fireplaces. You can look at this post to see what my fireplaces usually look like. One of my favourite bits of christmas is the whole stocking thing. I just love it.

 

At each end of the mantel above our open fire, we have these cheery snowmen-hooks to do the business of holding the stockings. Did I make the stockings? Well....the stockings themselves were bought very inexpensively from a supermarket, so technically speaking, nope, I did not do any stocking construction. But I did do the embellishing. A closer look? Yes, by all means, do take a closer peek at my handiwork....

 

....appliqued cottons with little buttons and sequins. So much fun to do, every bit stitched with love. This is the fourth year these stockings have been brought out now, and I sincerely hope they have many many more years to come. Don't think you can ever be too old for a stocking.

As well as the fairy lights, I do like to have candles along the mantel. I use jam jars with little tealights and some homespun stitchy prettiness.

Shall we look at the other end of the room now, check out my other fireplace??

My table is looking quite festive, my fireplace too...

...I have these coloured fairy lights on the mantel all year round, but the other bits and pieces have been changed. Crochet hearts, Summer photos, shells, feathers, jugs and flowers all packed up to make way for Christmassy bits.

I do love wreaths, love the whole idea of them. I like the way they make a room/home feel so cosy and welcoming. I've got some ideas in my mind for making some wreaths next year :: it's one of those things that I've been meaning to try out and haven't yet got round to. If you like wreaths as much as I do, you have to check out this Flickr group, and this too, for a huge amount of wreathy loveliness :: it's fabulous :: wreath-tastic!

Aww look at those cute wooden stockings! This is my solution to the how-to-display-christmas-cards dilemma. Our cards get pegged onto these ribbon hangers (cute little wooden christmassy pegs do the job) and there they hang without getting in the way of anything else. I find Christmas cards a mixed blessing to be honest. Both sending and receiving has it's issues. In fact I've still got mine to write, they usually only just make it out in time for Christmas.

It's been lovely having you visit, do you think my home is looking Christmassy enough? I know it's taken me long enough to get with it, but I admit I am finally beginning to feel the excitement now. May even have another mince pie with my lunch, put some Christmas music on. Yeah, think I will, think I'll go and sit by the tree, eat mince pies  and crochet a little this afternoon. Hmmm yes, I'm veeeeeeeeery excited because I've just started on something new. Just a little in-between-blankets crochet project to tide me over the holidays. Can't wait to show you

xxx

Comments

[Estelle]

Oh dear, I am obsessed with you blog it seems :S I just wanted to say how your post has made me long for Christmas, and just how much your little fabric and felt creations from your wreath have inspired me. If only I was as creative as you!
Estelle x

[cathleen]

Lovely....haven't made paper chains since my children were very little...must start this tradition with my little girlies. Lucy, your mince pies look yummy...I never had a mince pie before...do you have a recipe? What is it, exactly??? Your wreath is B E A U T I F U L! And your little crafty creations on your stockings and tree..so cute.

[Lisa]

We left our Christmas chains up all year once, they were quite faded (and dusty) by the end, but they were so jolly.
Lisa x

[Brenda]

Lovely Lucy, absolutely lovely.

[G]

Love the decorations, they're very inspiring. Saw some awesome crocheted stockings in the libertys Xmas shop, they made me think of you :)

[Leisa]

I so enjoyed your lovely Christmas at Attic 24!! A wonderful Christmas week to you and your family.

[Tracy]

Your house looks wonderful! Love the wreath with its little birds... Love the stockings... Love the candle holders (I didn't know Bonne Maman jars could look so lovely)... Love it all - it's so very festive :)

Tracy

[Kathryn]

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.... the house looks so inviting. The mantles look fantastic, would love to visit and have a mince pie and cup of tea in front of the fireplace. Maybe another time...
With Smiles
Kathryn
Australia

[miriam regina boccardo]

I love your blog, but i don't understand english.
Congratulations
Miriam Regina

[kathy]

Hi Lucy, What a difference a day makes...I bought the tree today...the children went to a Christmas disco (PTA one at school) and I now feel festive. Still no presents and cards - forget them, but hope to do some shopping tomorrow. All your decorations look lovely. A couple of weeks ago I made a wreath using willow (I had been on a course), I think I may blog a picture (sometime soon??!!). It looks kind of OK (well wonky etc but heyho) So, what are you crocheting now? Really want to know!! I am determined to learn to crochet over Christmas and have decided to take some time off in the New Year to catch up and just chill, really looking forward to that! I hope to arrange the textile day too for Easter I will let you know some dates. Kathyx

[miss sew n sew]

Oooh really enjoyed noseying at your Christmas decorations Lucy they are lovely. Love the stocking ribbon card idea and the paper chains are great I think you should keep them up!
Sarahx

[Rosa]

So many ideas at your wonderful home...We'll make the paper garland this weekend :-)

[Jo]

It is all beautifully done. I noticed the plant pot with little bits of green waiting to mature, that will be a burst of colour! I love the paper chains! Oh, I love it all! Two fireplaces, of all things! Wow!

Jo
x

[Anne]

Absolutely stunning - I love your Christmas home!

[Mariana]

We've got tiny Christmas decoration at home. My little Rita, as a good cat, love all the handled things. So, we only have a few things (all lovely, of course)in our C. decoration. Yours is beautiful, with all this treasures at the tree!

[Lucy Locket-Pocket]

It all looks beautiful! Especially your wreath on the door!

Lucy x

[noelle]

all looks lovely hope you have a great christmas.x

[marmaladerose]

Looking good. So good infact... would you like to adopt another daughter? A slightly older, more mature one? I could help with the mince pie eating.

I have red tapes at either side of my fireplace for family cards and then the rest are stuck top to bottom with tape and hung down the spindles of the banister in the hallway.

[A Thrifty Mrs]

Christmas looks wonderful at Attic 24. So bright and cheerful. I bet you'll have a wonderful festive season.

[grace]

looks so lovely, which supermarket did you get the wreath from it's delicious xx

[susan hall]

Hello Lucy ! love the arrival of christmas of Christmas at Attic 24, it all looks lovely. I like the way you let the children decorate the tree to their own design, Iused to do the exact same thing when my 5 were small, it's the way it should be, I have no truck with themed trees even now.
I was not feeling too cheerful about Christmas myself until my mum gave me the little tree (though it didn't seem so then of course) that we had when I was a child. I wish you could see it, it is now 70 years old this year having been given to her as a hard up newly wed by her aunty. She also gave me quite afew of the much loved ornaments which are also very pretty. It gave me such pleasure to set it up yesterday in my dining room where it catches my eye and gives me a little frisson of christmas pleasure all day. Two of my grown sons went for our "real" tree on sunday and the youngest helped me trim it so we'll soon be as christmas cosy as you!

[frances]

Hello to you on a sleety day in New York.
Your house looks so beautiful, full of fun, and Christmas cheer, and all throughout signs of your wonderful creativity.

Well done! And the mince pies and eggnog were scrumptious, too!

Cheers!