Advent 2015

Pretty much every year I am at least a week late with celebrating Advent. It's not that I forget - this is simply not possible with three Little People nagging for weeks on end about their pressing need for chocolate filled Advent calendars. I am always bang on time for that particular Advent tradition, woe betide me if I forget to purchase the precious chocolate giving bits of cardboard. This year I went the extra mile and jumped on the train for a twelve minute ride to a nearby town which still has a Thorntons shop (sadly the Thorntons in our town closed down last year), and procured three beautiful Advent calendars with the LP's names iced beautifully on each chocolate name slab (see here for what I'm on about!) Thorntons chocolate really is rather yum and and the Littln's were suitably impressed that a) I bought them in time and b) they weren't being fobbed off with the last minute purchasing of inferior supermarket offerings.

I fetched the rest of Advent out of the depths of the Attic eaves on Monday, so only six days late this year. We have two whole boxes dedicated to decorating bits of the house in advance of the Christmas tree making an appearance, and once I get stuck in I really love doing all this in the quiet of the day whilst the Little Peeps are at school. First thing to be installed was my Christmas Wreath, it's always such a  joy to unwrap it each year and reunite myself with it's colourful pom-pom loveliness.

This was the first seasonal wreath I made (three years ago) and is delightfully over the top, a celebration of colour and exuberance. You can read all about it in my archive post {here}, which contains links to many of the small patterns I created for this wreath (holly, flowers, stars, balls etc)

Next up was another crochet favourite of mine, my star Advent garland. For some reason I don't think this made it out of the box last year as I was ridiculously late doing any sort of Christmas decorating, so it was extra lovely to unpack it again this year.

My star garland is very simple (no chocolate or hidden gifts with this one), just a visual marking of the days to help with the constant question of "How many more sleeps until Christmas?". The answer from me is "Count the Stars!", it works a treat. You can read more about this garland {here}

If you look closely at the above picture, you may spot a little bit of creative activity in progress at the coffee table. Glue, pegs, cardboard.....

....I was sat here yesterday, indulging in a little bit of easy creativity. I didn't even need scissors as all the delightful little cardboard decorations are pre-cut and just needed popping out of their sheets and folding/gluing/pegging.

I absolutely LOVE these angels, they were gifted to me a few years ago by my bloggy friend Nancy Nicholson. Nancy designs stitch kits and an appealing range of "interactive stationery", with some wonderful designs made especially for Christmas. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I actually "lost" these angels for a year or two in the piles of paper mountains here around my desk (yes, I am blushing). I re-discovered them earlier this year and put them somewhere a little more memorable ready for this Christmas.

Oh so cute! These angels are really nostalgic for me, they evoke a little snippet of hazy childhood memory and I'm certain we had some similar ones on our tree when I was little. You can find them on Nancy's website {here}

I decided to perch my angels amongst the sweet smelling hyacinths that are in full bloom on my mantel, they look very at home there I have to say. Sweet indeed.

I made up some of Nancy's robins yesterday too....

....and they flew over to the mantel to perch amongst the little bits of Christmas there.

I haven't added a huge amount of Christmas decor to this mantel, I decided to keep most of the things that usually reside here (hyacinths and little houses mainly) and add a few Christmassy bits to it.

I replaced my everyday candelabra with my wooden Christmas Nativity one, hung up my cloth angels (made by Tracy of Handmade Over Yonder), added in a few little silver Christmas trees and miniature pom pom snowmen. And then my Snowflake Garland also came out to play - a crochet make from five years ago. If you're looking for an easy-peasy crochet snowflake to whip up a hooky garland, I've got a simple pattern {here}.

Over at our other fireplace, I have much the same decorations as in previous years. It took me a good morning to clear and clean this mantel which was in complete disarray and dusty disgrace. Once it was free of clutter and dirt, I unpacked some favourite Christmassy things from years past and really enjoyed being reunited with the memories they hold.

Awwwww I just melt when I see these little pom pom critters and characters, honestly, they are hilariously handmade by the hands of my Little People in years gone by and I love them dearly. Those robins crack me up every year, they are just so wibbly looking!

I enjoyed decorating my twigs with the little mini baubles I bought from Paperchase a few years back, the colours of them make me so happy. I have these same twigs in a ceramic jug on this mantel all year round, decorated with crochet flowers and hearts, and festooned with mini eggs and chicks at Easter. I love their Festive transformation very much. The happy mouse couple are another Handmade Over Yonder make, it was lovely to unwrap them from their tissue paper nest and bring them out to sniff the air again, sweet things that they are.

I saved the wooden Christmas tree for Little Lady to decorate when she came home from school (she does this every year)...

....ditto the setting up of the wooden Nativity scene. And there is our Christmas House tin with it's wind-up musical box inside, stuffed full of little foil wrapped chocolates for an after-dinner treat. All these things are years old now and very much a part of what I hope the Little People will remember of their childhood Christmases.

And so the season of Fun and Joy is upon us once again, I truly can't believe we are so close to Christmas already. Where have the weeks gone? I hope you are feeling the fun and joy in your own household at this time of year, and that your days are happy. Lets just slow them down a bit though, I've still got soooo much to do!

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Comments

[Bernadette]

Lucy, your home looks lovely and it was especially nice to see the title, 'Advent 2015." We rarely see the word "Advent" used over here in the United States outside of our church services. And a note to HeidiJo - the ARE American companies that sell chocolate Advent calendars but you have to search for them. Try the Vermont Christmas Company next year and see what they have to offer! :)

[Susan Smith]

Oh Lucy, all looks so 'scrummy' that I wish we could have a "cold" Xmas too. So far I've made a big snowflake that I put on our front door instead of a wreath (I posted instructions on my blog) and am going to look out some of the decorations to put in place later today. I must try and make some crochet snowflake bunting from your pattern. Glad someone else loses things in amongst clutter. Ejoy your Xmas decorating and take care.

[Winwick Mum]

We've got some paper angels too, they came in a book of decorations which small daughter loves to make every year (I do wonder how big this book actually is, there seems to be no end to the paper!) - and every year we find a solitary angel left out after the decorations have gone away. I quite like it :-) xx

[Teresa Kasner]

It was fun to get a tour around your decorated home. I love the hominess of it all. I've done similar here at our farmhouse in Oregon.. bits of Christmas here and there and the tree all shiny bright.

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*M*E*R*R*Y* * *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
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((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Jen]

What delicious Christmas traditions you have. Your children must love Christmas ... they will remember those details and probably do similar with their little people. I live the circular repeating nature of Christmas. One day each year where you stop to take stock and remember what you did last year, and the year before ^_^

[heidijo]

I sent my daughter one of the Thornton advent calendars all the way to New Jersey were she is working as an au pair , she was so chuffed, American chocolate is not the same and they don't do calendars 😔

[Claire]

Love the 'count the stars till Christmas' garland!

[Linden]

I love your decorated mantelpieces. In our house the mantelpiece is the only thing I can decorate (except for a few bits of tinsel hanging over the pictures) because we have five cats, and five cats and a Christmas tree wouldn't mix.
Like you I always put out little festive bits and bats that I've had for years.

[Clare]

It's all looking very festive in atticland, I'm far behind, just starting putting a few bit up today, the crocheted advent calendar I'm running over on the blog has slowed things down some what, but I'll get there
Clare xx

[Julie]

A new recruit to your blog , I am constantly inspired by your creations. thank you for sharing your crafting and decorations as a Brownie Leader we are always on the look out for simple crafts - you would be an excellent addition to your local pack ! Also with 3 birthdays in the same week as Christmas our decorations change at the end of Christmas day so am inspired to adapt some of those for birthday ones . will keep watching

[Robin Summers]

I love all your decorations. I remember when alot of them were made. I think they make a house feel so homey. There are definately a lot of memories there for the little peeps to cherish. I look forward to the days leading up to the tree decorating.

[Lesley Kneale]

The comment from Tig was not necessary, I think at this time of year the saying, if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all comes to mind!!! You don't have to read Lucy's blog!! I don't for one minute think she is being snooty or unthinking, she is simply stating a TRUE fact, supermarket offerings are not good chocolate and lots of kids don't like them! I hope you have a blessed Christmas and New Year Lucy with your family and we all look forward to your blog in the new year! x

[Tig]

"Inferior supermarket offerings" are all some of us can afford to give our children. You can be so snooty and unthinking at times, Lucy.

[Sarah]

I wish I had a big pile of blankets like yours to wrap up in when I'm downstairs! It's actually quite mild here (and impossibly wet and windy) - must dig out some throws for when it gets REALLY cold...

[doublethecuddles.wordpress.com]

Beautiful and so colourful. Been working of some crochet snowflakes this year so will have to try yours out too :) little bit addicted to snowflake making. Happy Advent!

[Angela-Southern USA]

Very festive Lucy! Love it all. Since mine are older I tried to skip the advent this year, bOy was I in for a surprise from my two, they, (although much older than yours) would have none of that! lol Seems some traditions you are never too old for. I spent part of my day yesterday crafting at the table too, for said advent, making tree of life pendants with wire and beads. Now scrabbling around for other small treasures to add in the coming days. Memory makers job is never done!;) Only two boxes... was my first thought... I have w-a-y too many I guess. ;D Been posting some of mine on Flickr if you are over there any. Have a great one Lucy!

[Beth]

Love the tree branch!

[Pom Pom]

Everything looks beautiful, Lucy! Your first wreath is delightful!!

[gracie]

What a festive holiday home...

[mrs. smythe]

I love that so many of your decorations are homemade and/or have a story behind them.

[Christina]

I love that wreath! Your Christmas decor is beautiful. :)

[Emma]

Love your home. Look very cosy. Like the colors and decorations.

[Irene]

When I was teaching, I made these little angels from doilies - their wings were part of the cutting and already attached, so no gluing needed. I would sit and chat with the children, making just a few snips into the doily, never saying what I was making. With a flourish I would slip the cuts into each other and stand the Angel up in front of them. Their gasps of delight and amazement were such a joy and I basked in their admiration for a few minutes. They were easily able to make their own and, of course, glued on tinsel and stars and an abundance of glitter. I really miss Christmas in school. Xxx

[Sigi G]

I love your home and how cozy you make it. I too love 'memory' things and my Christmas tree is all about that. Last weekend my daughter and her two friends baked Christmas cookies - all day. They started that a few years ago, and I have really gotten spoiled. Enjoy your lovely home Lucy!!

[June]

Thank you for sharing your preparations towards Christmas. Your home looks so welcoming, and now I feel all cosy and festive :)