Festive tartan trends ...

 

We have tartan curtains in our dining-room at home that I won a few years ago after commenting on a magazine photo online. 

I had forgotten about it at the time until this package arrived unexpectedly & beautiful heather coloured tartan curtains were unpackaged. I was absolutely delighted with the pure wool curtains & they are hung in the dining-room each winter, I swap them out for lighter curtains in summer. 

Apparently, tartan is trending according to my students & Country Living magazine. 

Just as well because our large conservatory table has a tartan tablecloth (from IKEA about 15 years ago). It is the right length for the long table & the colours are very festive so it appears regularly.  

I have a 2 seater cane bench at the bottom of the table & that is a comfortable seating arrangement. That has a tartan fabric throw on it in reds - the fabric was bought ages ago & it is just perfect next to the table cloth. 

I have another one that is more reds & golds that goes on the shorter table in the dining-room too, along with other plaid / tartan bits. 

Our home has lots of traditional elements, some dark furniture, along with modern things so it is eclectic decor that reflects our style not to stick to a trend. I consider it timeless, comfortable spaces you want to relax in. 

I bought warm bedding from Dunelm for the guest beds in tartan that looks very welcoming & warm. I was told it is right on Ralph Lauren trend by my students. I indulged them & they went off to buy some too; the thought of being a trend setter for the students is a novel idea. 

However, warmth is comfort in winter so that was my motivation.  

Winter needs warmth & comfort & these brushed cotton tartan sets offers that. Are you inspired by tartan elements in the home & which colours are your favourite?

Thank you for stopping by, it is appreciated, 

Dee 🕯️🏰 🛌 😴

The JOYful third Sunday of Advent ...

I love how the four candles of Advent quietly mark the approach of Christmas. Each candle a reminder that preparations are needed to make the festive season run smoothly. It is also a reminder of the  reason for the season, something that is forgotten in the commercial rush. 

The JOY candle joins the first two of HOPE & LOVE, a reminder to spread positive messages in your wake because many people do not look forward to the festive season for various reasons. 

I often join friends or host friends for supper before Christmas when we are all spread out. Celebrating the JOY of friendships, fellowships & support. We treasure our time together before returning to our own family time.

The JOY candle is a reminder to find Joy this week. 

It is also a timely reminder for quiet time, for stillness when the pressures get loud for more & more. 

I like to take time away to enjoy the traditional elements. 

Yesterday I took a woodland walk, to breathe in the pine scented air, to pick up some fallen branches ahead of the winter solstice in a few days. It brings to mind to carol of The Holly & the Ivy - a reminder that our ancestors were connected to the seasons & their observances of bringing in greenery, of holly used in modest homes as decoration & symbolism of renewed life, of  yule logs kept burning or lit from a central one. These were important observances that gave hope in mid winter. 

JOY in stepping away & appreciating simpler times. 

Thank you for stopping by & visiting, it is appreciated

Dee 🌲 🌳🍂🪾

The glistening beaded ornaments are up ...

Hand beading is a traditional skill in Southern Africa, unique items that are not mass made in a factory across the world is always something to be admired. 

I have shared my hand beaded wire & bead proteas that I have at home. 

I first saw the beaded proteas in a magazine then later visited a market with my late Dad & we chose these together for my home in England. 

Almost 2 decades ago, a friend was selling some of the hand beaded ornaments from Natal in her shop in Shropshire & I bought some. 

My parents added to the collection,  & each time we have been back, we have bought some additional ones. They are a link to my heritage. 

This past week, the little tree that usually goes in the conservatory was repurposed on the dining room sideboard. 

It looks right with the small beaded ornaments & I pass it several times a day so enjoy looking at it. 

I  put the beaded ornaments on there, along side the random deer who come out over the festive season. 

The  deer are mainly supermarket ones - Sainsbury's - some years back & they are really sweet. 

The little tree with its beaded ornaments is unique; it is personal & it is very much enjoyed. 

I hope your festive planning is going well too. Thank you for stopping by & spending time here. 

Dee 🕯️🎄🎶🔔

The second Sunday of Advent brings LOVE

 It is a grounding time to light the Advent candles at home on a Sunday & to just have time to pause amidst the rush of December. Everyone you speak to has lists & things to do so a calm time is reflective. 

The second candle is for LOVE - love for life, for people, kindness to strangers, just a softer way of life.

LOVE can take many forms; the friends who text you a link to a post they know you will enjoy,  a cup of tea when you need it, a note to say 'thought of you', the shopkeeper asking how you are, the coffee shop knowing what you like, a morning text before you all go on your busy ways ... 

The second candle of LOVE joins the first candle of HOPE as they burn together for a while.

Spread ripples of love & kindness, 

Dee ⛪️🕯️🎶🔔

The Advent candles need a bobeche ...

 I love candles at home, especially with meals for friends etc when we chat late in to the night & the candles burn low & no one wants to move. 

However, so many candles seem to drip wax that runs down the candlestick & on to the tablecloth where it almost impossible to remove. 

Some of my candle holders have glass wax catchers / bobeche that gets around this problem but many do not. The Advent ring, although brass, is prone to having the candles drip so I had a thought to get around this issue. 

The idea comes from my teaching time when students would make Christingles & carry them to a local church for the service. They were lit when they got to church & to stop the hot wax dripping on them, a paper round was used to catch the wax. 

While out dropping off surplus Christmas things at local charity shops (yes, I am still on a mission to reduce my Christmas stash) I spied some sheet music & had an inspiring thought. It would be easy & pretty to make paper wax catchers from sheet music. 

I duly purchased 3 lots at 20p each; a perfect find. 

I used a glass to draw a circle for each one - 4 for the Advent wreath & one for the centre candle. 

After cutting out the circles, I made 6-8 small snips to the centre large enough for the candle to go through. 

I did a gold border on each circle with a sharpie pen before easing it over the candles so it rests on the candle holder. 

They look pretty as well as being functional & that is a great way to protect the table cloths from drips. 

I hope this inspires you to do something similar - it is a quick but satisfying make that only took a few minutes. You could use pretty Christmas cards to do this too. 

Thank you for stopping by at this busy time, it is always appreciated. 

Dee 🕯️📖🎵🎶