Favourite festive china on the sideboard ....

 I have postponed changing the conservatory sideboard for a bit because I know that the festive favourites need to make an appearance. 

We use things off that all the time & having them out, means they are in easy reach & are enjoyed year after year. There is nothing new there, much of it was gifted to me & so it is something I enjoy using. 

This was some previous ones - 2018,  2019, 2021,  2022,  2023 with the house decorated. 

The classic Christmas Tree by Spode sets the tone because it is very well loved & used.  I added the nutcrackers a few years ago when we stopped at their factory & I couldn't resist them because of my Teutonic heritage. 

The Emma Bridgwater mince pie & robin plates, bowl & jug compliment the other items very well with the same colours. 

The little red Holly & Ivy side plates are by Portmeirion & are much used for cake or mince pies & they were a gift from Ms M, my sister in law when she visited the potteries with me. 

The red flower plates & little bowls are often used for (pancake) breakfasts - they are a pattern called Christmas Rose by Emma Bridgwater too. Their festive colours are perfect over this time & they happily go with everything else. 

A small similar Christmas tree mug with whiter glaze is a vintage one I found by Kaiser (W Germany) and it hold the red spoons & forks so they are handy on the side. Kaiser porcelain

I love that there are similar patterns across cultures & how this German pattern is so similar to our Spode one, we share so much …

I know I will suddenly find things that should be on there - I am already thinking of where the nutcrackers (ones for shelled nuts) are as I always buy nuts in their shells, a tradition from my childhood. 

It is relaxing to know you have favourites at hand & that they are nice to look at too, which is a bonus. I feel slightly more festive but it is always that season of bittersweet for those who will not be around my  table, particularly my Mother who was a Christmas baby .... 

Do tell how you are preparing for the festive season, I am always inspired by the stories others share. 

Dee 🎄🌲🥮

Myths & Legends amidst the Christmas trees ...

It is that time of the year when the National Trust decks their mansions out in the most delectable Christmas trees, a new theme every year. This is a major draw to the large  estates; legions of volunteers  make this happen after months of work & planning & it is rather special.  Our closest is Attingham Park. 

Last year the them at Attingham Park was 'All that glitters'  & glitter it did. 

In 2018 it was a 1940's house  theme which was very interesting. 

The theme for 2024 is Myths & Legends. I was not sure what to expect but they have once again surpassed themselves with so many beautiful trees across 20 rooms in the mansion & appropriate ones downstairs where the many servants, butlers, maids, gardeners, cooks etc would keep the great house running smoothly. 

The stables off the walled courtyard is always beautifully enticing, setting the scene for the visit. 

Explore the beautifully decorated Georgian Mansion, where over twenty rooms are home to dazzling Christmas trees inspired by ancient myths—from the gods of Greek and Roman legend to the timeless tales of Attingham’s own past.

Step inside the mansion & you are greeted with the upstairs glistening & opulent trees in the various rooms. The lights are dimmed to allow the full awe of the glowing trees & they certainly are impressive. 

The covered gallery with impressive art & the glass roof is a favourite space - this was set with music themed trees, several papier mache music symbols & scores used in several ways. The high space always makes it feel impressive & the jewel like colours draw you in ... 

The generous dining room was set for perhaps 24 guests with a table laden with greenery & it harks to a time when a dinner party would have been held regularly in this space with lively conversation & company. 

I think most of us would gladly don our glad rags to feast at this table. Don't you love the bottle tree? 

The leather book lined library / study is another space I envy - I could easily pass a lot of time in this room with a handy decanter of sherry ... 

The one set of trees was an opulent display of (artificial) blooms & the mantelpiece echoed this theme.

Time to head downstairs, where most of our relatives would have passed their time. 

These imaginative trees are a stark contrast to the lights & glistening ones above stairs - these speak of an honesty & simplicity that marked the time of the many servants who kept these mansions going for the Lords & their endless stream of well heeled visitors. 

Fish was often on the menu & it came from the river that runs through the estate of from the nearby River Severn. Poachers often snuck on to estates to fish for themselves. This table was set with what servants would eat - oranges, nuts, hearty cakes, wholesome fare ... 

Gardeners were essential to growing food for all year round consumption by the house & they were well regarded & had to dress up neatly because they would be visible to visitors arriving on the estate or when they 'took a turn' around the gardens ... 

Servants & below stairs people often lived on the estate, the cold attic rooms were the most obvious spaces. They shared rooms & the information boards tells us that they were well treated on the estate with decent mattrasses etc. Their uniforms provided so they could be smart. The kitchen was the heart of the home - it had to provide set meals throughout the day for the upstairs & when parties were held, multiple complicated courses were the norm. I am always in awe of the  skills of the cook & her small army of helpers. The tree there contained cookie cutters on ribbon, wooden zesters, little chefs hats etc. 

Back out in to the back courtyard which does not have as many glass houses as it once had. This space would have been a hive of activity with supplies arriving for the kitchens etc from the generous space. Visiting footmen, maids etc would have entered the house at this point .... 

The floors here are rougher stone or brick, none of the fine tiles & floors of upstairs. Much of the decoration is foliage cut from around the estate which gives it a homely feel. 

This tree in the shop off the entrance was beautiful with bright fabric garlands that I really liked & thought ... mmmm should I ? What do you think - is there time for a project? 

I hope you have enjoyed the visit with me, thank you for taking time to join me, it is much appreciated, 

Dee 🌲🎄

Starting some Christmas sewing ...

Is it just me or has December come up rather suddenly? It seems like summer was just yesterday ... 

I have been catching up with a week long online sewing retreat with something like 20 workshops so have been completely distracted & the end of November is here. 

Two years ago I made some soft & colourful fabric decorations for the little ones tree - soft with longer hanging loops to make it easier for little hands to handle them. They did not have a many embellishments sewn on which could be put in the mouth so safe for small people. 

I was asked by a friend to gift one to her & so I did another selection of Christmas decorations with interesting beads, little bells & more that I gifted to friends with their Christmas cards.  I handstitched gold or red edges to them all & they were well received. 

I am meeting friends / colleagues soon & wanted to add a handmade decoration to their cards too so having some time, I cut out some trees & a few tiny boots again. I still had some patchwork sections in my Xmas fabric stash (everyone has such a box do they not? ) so I cut an additional 2 trees too. 

All of these are backed by soft red or green felt / flannel.

My process was the same as before - machine stitch around the edge (in red or green thread) then keeping it on the machine, with the needle in the fabric, lift the presser foot & stuff it lightly with soft toy stuffing. I used a wooden quilting creaser & pointer to poke some stuffing in. The rounded edge was useful to ease it in, then the pointed tip could push it to the corners etc. 

Then I simply dropped the presser foot & sewed up the last bit - an easy way to do it as long as you leave enough space to pop the filling in. 

Because these few are for adults, I will add some tiny bells, beads & then blanket stitch the edge in embroidery thread. 

They are well received as gifts & it is a relaxing activity to get one in the spirit of the festive season as it is fast approaching. I know - I should have started sooner, however, they are lovely to make. 

EDITED - some completed ones that are ready to go with cards. 

Please tell me how your preparations are going. Thank you for stopping by, it is much appreciated. 

Dee 🧵🎄🪡📍

Whose snowy woods these are I think I know ....

I regularly do this Robert Frost poem with my students - like all his poems, there are so many meanings within it & it flows so easily. 

This week we woke to about 6 inches of snow in Shropshire & I love how quiet everything becomes. The familiar looks different, and the words 'stopping by woods", came to mind 

The little woods opposite us was a life saver in Covid restriction times & I love walking through them & down to our local lake. This is what we did in the freshly fallen snow.

The weight of the snow bent several trees, giving a tunnel effect with flakes drifting gently down. 

Our garden looked beautiful with the hedges white from the snow & our large topiary balls looking like Xmas  puddings with their white snow. 

The clear skies gave us some beautiful morning & night skies too with slithers of colour across the sky. The woods were a magical Narnia like place & it is always best to enjoy them. 

It is likely that we will have more snow over the coming winter & I hope I never tire of the child like wonder of it.

Thank you for stopping by, leaving a comment, subscribing or sharing. 

It is much appreciated. 

Dee ❄️⛄️

A warming winter soup

 Winter has suddenly arrived, we woke to falling snow. I love to take a snow walk around my local space  to enjoy the change the snow brings as the familiar looks different & it becomes very quiet too. 

It is soup weather - fortunately last night I did a large tray of roast vegetables - I cut a whole butternut in to slices, removed the pips from the section that had it & cut them slices in to blocks. I did not peel it because the skin is good fibre & it softens as it cooks. 

I cut up a whole white onion in to smallish bits, added it to the tray. I peeled 3 large carrots & cut these in half then in to chunks too. Drizzled it all with olive oil, sprinkled over sweet paprika (my favourite spice with oven veg), garlic & pepper. 

I covered it with foil & roasted it for about 40 min then uncovered it to caramelise the onion & veg. It was served hot alongside local sausages, mash & aubergine too. 

I knew I would have vegetables for soup  & another meal too (we love roast vegetables) so it is a good way to do it. 

This is how I turn it in to a quick & nutritious soup. 

I added 1 stock cube to boiling water in a pan, added a few heaped serving spoons of the roast veg. 

I brought it all to the boil, covered it while I made an open toasty to go with it. 

The small baguette was sliced in half, spread with tomato sauce that was seasoned with garlic & pepper, the sliced sausage arranged on top, then grated cheese to top it off & under the grill to bubble away. 

The soup was blitzed with a stick blender to a  smooth-ish consistency, a spoon of mascarpone cheese stirred through it then put in to bowls to enjoy. These soup bowls with lids keep the soup warm & they are a perfect size too. 

It was absolutely delicious & nutritious after our brisk walk in the snow. Winter is soup season, so enjoy. What is your favourite soup recipe? Please share, 

Dee