By now I have made a fair few mentions of Advent and the traditions that go with it here. Since last week I have been busy as a beaver with all sorts of crafts projects as well general making and baking, with the result that the house looks great and smells delicious.
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| My Husarenkrapfen – jam-filledhazelnut biscuits |
I’m quite content in myself knowing that, come what may before Christmas, the house has a basic level of festive appearance and there is always something tasty to be eaten with a cuppa. The nearer we get to Christmas, the more the scent of a cinnamon and clove candle will fill the house and the flicker of my real-log-fire dvd in the will be noticable in the background. (Oh, how I miss a real fire in Winter!). The Christmas decorations and the tree will be put up, visitors will begin to arrive and those cups of coffee will be replaced with mulled wine.
But back to the here and now – last week I wrote about my salvaged shutters and how I hoped to turn them into some form of decoration for the house throughout Advent. I was sure, as I am with every project I begin, that I would find the time to decorate in leisure. By Saturday one of the shutters had been dusted, scrubbed and freed from as much dead ivy as possible. Then came the hard part – how to decorate it.
My head was buzzing with ideas of my own as well as with inspiration from my Pinterest boards. And so Sunday morning saw me sat on the living room floor surrounded by ribbons, wreaths, stars and snowmen, candles, jars and pine cones. I spent a happy hour or so fiddlling about and trying to bring my ideas to life. My original plan to go with a green and silver theme just didn’t look right in our red and white living room. The end result is more cosy chalet than sleek elegance, but I like it. It works here.
The following day, Monday, Operaton Advent Calendar kicked off. Since moving into our house five years ago, we have built up a lovely Advent calendar tradition. I decorate the stairs in ribbons, fairy lights and a garland and, once the children are in bed, on the eve of December 1st I hang the homemade Advent calendar.
This year the calendar is filled with a mixum-gatherum of toffees, chocolates, Christmas tree shaped pasta, mini bath salts and a few tiny little toys. Other years it has been filled with Playmobil figures and their tiny accessories or with collectable stickers.
Seeing the boys go to bed excited and wake the next morning even more excited about something so simple is wonderful. It gives me a lovely warm, motherly feeling to know that they love this tradition of ours as much as I do. It is a little like a rehersal for Christmas Eve.
I love the shutters – I was eagerly awaiting the conclusion of last week's post. They look brilliant. So clever. #HomeEtc
Ah, thanks. I am quite pleased with the look I went for in the end. But there are so many ways to use shutters. I think I'll be using them or at least one of them in the garden in Spring.
The shutters look brilliant, so festive! It's a great idea to make your own advent calendar. I know what you mean about missing a real fire, especially at this time of year, I'm the same. A lovely festive post xx
Thanks Lisa. I love how they have turned out. As for the Advent calendar, here in Germany they are an absolute must and people put a lot of effort into them, so I thought making a perpetual one would save me a bit of time each year 😉
The shutters are amazing but it's the stairs I love the most. I've never thought to do anything with ours but they're the first thing you see as you walk through the front door so I should really try to be a bit more creative with them.
Good to see the shutters scrubbed up well. Love how you've decorated them too #homeetc
The shutters look amazing! What a lovely way to embrace December and the run up to Xmas 🙂 Love it. So excited for Xmas now! Thanks for linking up! Much appreciated 🙂 Jess xx
#HomeEtc
Aww I LOVE all these festive posts!!! Your house looks so magical.
It's SO exciting isn't it? This whole month — in the lead-up to Christmas is so lovely!! I think I prefer it to the day itself!! I LOVE decorating the house especially. Wish you lived round the cornet from me — I'd be definitely popping in for a mulled wine 😉 Thanks so much linking up with us xx 🙂 #HomeEtc
Thanks Rachel. My dad always decorates his staircase with fresh holly and ivy on Christmas Eve and it looks beautiful. My garland is not real, it it is a reasonably good imitation and the perfect length for our bannister.
Have a go at yours. It really does make the place instantly festive.
Thanks Stephanie. Scrub is the right word alright. They were filthy and the dead ivy was really in-grown.
Thanks Jess. I adore all the pre-Christmas preparation, so Germany really is the right spot for me!
Funny enough I was just thinking to myseld yesterday that I enjoy December so much but Christmas Day itself can be an anti-climax, and with children you never know when the next tantrum is going to start. So my idea is to make the most of the getting ready part and if the big day turns out well too, then that's a bonus.
I love the run up to Christmas, especially now we have children. They bring back the magic. Your festive touches look lovely #homeetc
Thanks Kerry. You are so right – the magic really comes back at Christmas with kids around.