Gathering treasures and more macrames

Even with the most positive intentions there are times when January and winter can feel really bleak. My rememedy is to get outside as much as possible but when thats not an option gathering my favourite things - books, fabric and flowers and immersing myself in pages of colour, remembering the smell and feeling of markets in faraway lands or simply planning this years garden is enough for a grey afternoon. 

I gathered this selection of treasures inspired by a recent macrame commission my mum did before Christmas, each one is my favourite and always reflects the personal style of the person that has ordered it. I've never made one but and desperate to learn, which is lucky as my mum has agreed to teach me. But not just me you can come too...I'm going to hold a macrame workshop in my craftroom Sunday 3rd February, 1.30 - 4pm, £35 pp. There are four spaces available so I'd you'd like to come along drop me a message to secure your place, I'd love to see you. xx

You can see more macrame posts below

Mum's macrame

Cord and Jewel Macrame bracelet (this is one of my most popular posts) 

Mollie Makes Macrame T-shirt

Star Wall Hanging

This star wall hanging is still up (I love too much to take down!) so its not too late to share here. Keeping to my festive theme of using up what materials I had in my stash, this gentle star garland used up air dry clay decorations I made years ago along with metallic coloured sequins and crystal beads. I had originally planned it to be more detailed but when it came to hanging, its delicate simplicity won me over. 

I made the strands using tiger tail and crimps - first looping the tiger tail around a clay decoration and securing with a crimp then adding a mix of beads and sequins randomly along the length. To finish I looped and fastened the tiger tail over and old branch I'd painted and glued gold stars in the gaps. I also added a string of wire lights to the branch because you can never have too many fairy lights.

It's sat happily behind my Christmas table and after Christmas table and I plan on keeping it up for a little while longer. Being almost invisible it was really hard to capture so I made the most of the dramatic winter sun to show you how it contrast and glimmers in the winter light. 

A simple New Year Table

Happy New Year! There's something about the gentle simplicity of January that I always look forward to. Fresh air, fresh notebook pages, fresh intentions - I love the change of pace from December. Soon after I packed the Christmas table away I replaced everything with clean bright pieces that reflect the light but keep the room feeling festive and cosy. I don't believe that decorations are just for Christmas so like to keep a few around the house before replacing them with spring flowers as the months move on. I decided to keep the Christmas cake for the New Year, despite being copped up with various bugs over the holidays we made it out for plenty of winter walks which is something I intend to keep doing as much as possible throughout winter. I can't wait to return home from a stomp around the beach to a piece of cake (no diet resolutions here!).

I used this as-you-like-it Christmas cake recipe which tasted pretty good when I took it out the oven. I decorated with flowers - hellebores from the garden and some eucalyptus and miscanthus grass I borrowed from my sister (I'm going to try growing the seeds this year) and some flower dyed silk. Despite the mass of toys out of shot, having a table with a tablecloth and cake on a stand always makes me feel much more together than I really am, until those resolutions kick in I'm keeping it that way!

 I've had all these pieces in my collection for ages but have found some great alternatives
White Tablecloth - H&M
Glass cake stand  - Wayfair
Pink Candles - Amazon
Miscanthus - Bally Riberts

Winter sparkle layered gift wrapping

I've kept my Christmas prep so simple this year, by focusing on just a few elements I've really been able to enjoying doing Christmas things as much as I've enjoyed creating them. For this years wrapping my aim was to use up all my supplies but still keep things beautiful. Like this fairy themed wrapping I painted my own paper which meant I could keep the colours similar and for the rest I layered fabrics, paper and a few paper decorations to keep it consistent. I'm pleased to report I haven't bought a single piece of wrapping which is such an amazing feeling and I've used up my stash which makes my head feel so much lighter and ready to create some new ideas for next year. 

If wrapping is top of your list this weekend and the thought of the shops doesn't appeal then look to your existing materials, fabric can be cut to make ribbon, small scraps and be used to create bows and decorations can be used to create gift tags don't be afraid to try something new, the results are often better than you could imagine. I've still got a few posts to share but going to save them for the lull between Christmas and new year, until then I've got a teething bubba to look after and  fizzy amaretto sours to prep ;-)  Happy Making! x

 

Sparkle Child

Something unplanned today - my sister was shooting some gorgeous products for Molly Meg this week and I fell in love with these beautiful mobiles from Sparkle Child. Whilst she was busy I took these photo's of them hanging against this fab dark grey canopy and then helped her style them looking lush in all their boxes. I think they're magic and I hope you do too. x

Mini tree Christmas gift wrapping

A very quick post tonight as I've got SO many posts I want to share before Christmas arrives. This quick and easy gift wrap made a dent in my paper stash and was so fun to put together. If like me you're being more conscious this year, a simple way to use up those collected pieces of wrapping is to find one or two consistent elements - here I used blue ribbon and little christmas tree and get wrapping. I only managed a few snaps but there is another blog in the works I promise. 

Candle light and fresh flowers, a Christmas table

I'm so happy to share my Christmas table today, for me it's my favourite part of festive decorating and I get to do it twice - hooray. I set this for a "Friends Christmas" we have every year at the beginning of December, not only does it give me a chance to get ahead for the big day but it also means I can share it before Christmas. 

Continuing my challenge of using up what I've got I re-dyed an old tablecloth from lilac to dark using Dylon Denim Blue machine dye - which is SO easy. Made a wall hanging using sequins from my stash and air dry clay stars that I'd never used. Topped the plates with cardboard stars painted white and sprigs of heather. I had intended these stars to be for the wall hanging but I when I put it together I loved its simplicity so left them out. If you want to see more of my festive creations I've been putting everything on my Instagram stories which I've been enjoying so much plus I'm loving interacting with you all. 

A few years ago I wrote a post on How to Lay a Christmas Table and all the points still apply. The only aspect I change is the colour, this year I went for dark blue with mini trees, ivy and loads of candles. I've been really inspired by all the tables I see set for fashion dinners - abundant tables full of the most beautiful flowers and candles and wanted to create something similar but more accessible for our Christmas table. Whilst dying the tablecloth I also dyed some floral print fabric (similar here) to create napkins which I layered onto vintage print dinner plates. Making napkins is really simple, after dying the fabric I cut into squares (I didn't bother edging but you could) pressed and placed onto the plates.  I repotted mini trees from Morrisons into terracotta pots placed them into large storm lanterns that I had from our wedding and then swirled wire fairylights and more ivy . I used all my vintage candle sticks and small glass bottles (these are empty reed diffusers from Lidl) in between the lanterns plus another repotted hellebore (also from Morrisons). The pink candles gave everything some warmth and tied the whole table together.  

I think this might be my favourite table yet and I really hope it inspires you to get creative next week. I've linked last years table, 2015's table if you'd like some more ideas.