A touch of splendour

Besides the dinner table, the Christmas tree is the centrepiece to the Christmas holiday, and for me the act of decorating it marks the point when the festive celebrations truly begin. This old tradition is an activity to be enjoyed and most importantly a chance to go all out on splendiferous décor.  There are many gorgeous treats and trinkets on the high street to decorate your tree with, but sorting through the good from the bad can be a bit of a trial. So, for anyone on the look out for some new tree accessories, here are a few cherry-picked examples to offer some inspiration.

Christmas Berry Bauble Decoration and Gold Geometric Christmas Bauble

Large Drop Christmas Bauble – Silver and Feather Christmas Decoration – Natural.

Crackled Heavy Glass Bauble – Smoke Lustre and Set of 2 Pink Card Decorations.

Rockett St George’s bauble collection is gorgeous, and they have anything you could wish from beautiful paper honeycomb balls to elegant glass pinecone drops.

I am a huge fan of Klaus Haapaniemi’s superbly illustrated textiles and prints, so was delighted to see they have released some designs especially for the Christmas season. When opened these quirky creatures have paper honeycomb bodies.

Bat Card Decoration and Spider Card Decoration from Klaus Haapaniemi.

Heal’s have an extensive range of Christmas decorations, including these bright pink and gold leaf apple and pear baubles. They might not be to everyone’s taste, but they are certainly fun and original.

Berry Apple with Gold Leaf from Heal’s.

Cute and amusing, these fantastic laser cut greetings cards from Hus and Hem, can be popped out and bent into shape, forming adorable Christmas decorations that would look great on a tree.

Folding Star Cedar Wood Motif and Reindeer Cedar Wood Motif Postcards from Hus and Hem.

 

Coral and Tusk have transformed some of their lovable designs into Christmas decorations.

Badger with Mistletoe Ornament and Reindeer with Bells Ornament form Coral and Tusk.

If you are going for the simple, elegant look, Toast does a great range of tasteful glass and ceramic coloured baubles.

Large & Small Damascene Baubles and Teardrop Damascene Baubles from Toast.

Etoile velvet Ribbon from Anthropologie.

Icicles vintage tinsel from Heal’s.

Some lovely red ribbon, sparkly tinsel and an Angel are all that’s needed to finish it off. Happy tree decorating everyone!

This blog first appeared on the Cambridge Evening News website. 

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Christmas is a comin’

I know you don’t want to hear it but there are just six weeks to go until Christmas. I too have been in denial but the arrival of the Rockett St George Christmas catalogue has finally stirred my festive spirit. It is a lovely collection of things we don’t need but really want and I have picked some of my favourites for you below – three of which I have already placed an order for. So that’s my Christmas shopping underway then.

Of course we want these for the Angel and Blume tree!Two snow doll candles – Stargazer and Wish Maker

Glass Christmas Trees – sold separately but they look great as a trio

Moroccan inspired fairy light

Christmas Stickers which look great on plain brown paper

Fabulous gold wall sconce – this is not going to be taken down after Christmas!

Lovely tea light holder

I bought these fab cards but what I really want is the gorgeous box they come in!

Lovely metallic Christmas wreath

A must have Christmas item

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Colourful Christmas

In complete contrast to my restrained and tasteful White Christmas blog (see November 6th) I now bring you a colourful, festive and frankly unashamedly gaudy festive ideas – really, what is not to love?

Hang these deliciously colourful Christmas stars from The Contemporary Home on your tree, in the window or anywhere else you can find – the more the merrier!

Some of you are going to love these angelic little feather birds from Petra Boase, and others of you are going to hate them! Personally I love them. And they would be perfect clipped to the branches of your Christmas tree.   

From the same company, these paper ball garlands are an updated version of the paper chain classic. Pick your colours from 17 available and use as many as you can!

  

For a burst of festive colour, hang these woollen baubles from The Contemporary Home on your tree, or better still, in a cluster on their own for maximum impact.

Two wonderfully colourful and ever so slightly disco bauble options from Graham and Green – if you can’t pick between them, put both on the tree, in as greater quantity as you can manage!

And finally, there is no reason that your front door shouldn’t be as splendidly colourful as the rest of your house and this Christmas wreath from Habitat fits the bill perfectly.

Happy Christmas decorating!

 

 

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Dreaming of a White Christmas

I know it is a tad on the early side to be thinking of Christmas but when I saw these gorgeous, understated decorations on the Cox and Cox website, I just couldn’t resist a little bit of festive musing. These delightful earthy ornaments will give you a natural minimal look for a very stylish Christmas.

Pine Cone Candles £8.50

6 Wooden Stars £10.50

Birch Heart £10.50

Midwinter Street Gift Tags £5.50

Fluted Paper Light Garland £45

Deer Window Stickers £5.50

Magical Paper Tree £40

12 Felt Snowflake Decorations £7.50

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