Merry Christmas

Image from Unique Unique Design.

Have  a lovely day with the people that you love.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Happy Christmas

What’s so Pintereseting about …….. wreaths?

Book wreath. Extra fabulous because it can be used all year round! Image from Kyandra.

One of my lovely bloggy friends Meredith told me last ‘What’s so Pinteresrting…” that she was really enjoying her Christmas wreath this year…. and suggested that I make a collection.

That suited me fine because I quite like wreaths myself, although this year our door is bare…… as is the house…. as is our advent calendar etc etc. More on that later.

Click through here to get some other inspiring wreath images.

Enjoy.

P.S Sophie I haven’t forgotten your vikings…..

A breath of cold air…..

From Karen McRae’s blog. Click through for more coolness. Image hers.

Hot temperatures call for some equally ‘hot’ photography.

Karen McRae is an American photographer and blogger who captures breathtakingly beautiful  moments.

This week she has posted some gorgeous works that will cool you down. Click on the image to see more.

 

Artful table Ideas: For a beautifully thankful Christmas.

1. “Glad you’re here” by Making Lemonade. Image theirs.

As I have mentioned before on this blog, I am very sad that we don’t celebrate thanksgiving in Australia. This however gives me the opportunity to think thankfully at Christmas time.

Here are some simple ideas from around the blog world, that can be incorporated in your Christmas celebrations particularly in regards to the table.

Some are beautifully quirky, some ingenious, some worthy of a yearly repeat, some child friendly and some all of the above. Let me know if you get inspired and use some, it’s great to hear from you.

“The Giving Plate” by Adventures of an Orthodox Mom. Image from there.

“Conversation Plates” by Together Counts Blog. Idea and image sourced there.

DIY minimalistic cultery holder. Image and instructions from A Birds Leap.

A sock for your cutlery. Image from Pinterest.

Single place cards. Image from Pinterest.

Gold Spray painted animals (or possibly nativity characters) with paper luggage tags attached. Image from Style Me Pretty.

Another beautifully simple idea from Style Me Pretty. Image theirs.

Carnival Straws on Bottled drinks with tags. Source: Ruffled.

Would work just as well on green leaves. Image from Once wed.

Gratitude Rolls by Beauty and Bedlam. Image theirs.

SImple sensorial details. Image from Vintage House.

What I want for Christmas is thanksfulness! Source: The cottage at 341 south.

Kraft Paper table of thanks. Image from Art Bar Blog

Fruity Place markers. Image from Style Me Pretty.

THe Thankful Tree. Idea and image from Kids Activities Blog.

Or if you prefer pears….. This idea and image from The Knot.

Fairy Lights in jars. Image from Making Lemonade.

…. and if you just don’t know where to start because Finishing School wasn’t part of yours (or my) education…. Layouts. Source: daniellemj-workspace

Alternatively….. Image from Antiquaria Vintage.

…..and now for a bit more Christmas cheese….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_MGWio-vc

This version of The Little Drummer Boy keeps popping up on social media as this years goto Christmas song…… but the unofficial king of Christmas songs Bing Crosby, joined with David Bowie years ago to produce this gem.

Which is your favourite?

Book Club: Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Image from The Book Depository.

Wonderstruck, a review in less than 25 words.

What can I say! 

I loved this book, and so did my kids. It would make a great gift for bookish kids between 6 (would need to be read to) and 15 (especially the artistically inclined)

600 pages.

About 200 pages of text narrating one story and around 400 black and white illustrations telling another. 

It was magic, inspiring and insightful. 

I will read everything Brian Selznick writes…. and give them to others as I have opportunity.

Next month…. Nancy Wake by Peter Fitzsimmons

Image from Book Depository.

Summer is here…. watermelon cake.

How good does this look!!? Image from DIY Cozy Home.

I’m adding it to the go to menu this summer….. anyone want us to come for dinner and bring desert?

If you can’t be cheesy at Christmas time…. when can you.

Each year I am on the hunt for a new Christmas album.

This one is beautiful.

The itunes download includes a 45 minute burning log video to sit beside as you listen.

Cute.

Enjoy.

What’s so Pinteresting about…… Advent?

DIY Advent Calendar by Design Sponge. Image sourced from there.

Meredith’s got a fabulous idea for fantasticly simple bible content here. Love it especially this close to Dec 1.

Cathy gives insightful day by day content here. 

Nicole….shares some great ideas here.

If you know what you want each day to hold, but need a little visual inspiration, have a look at my pinterest board here. 

This year I have an unusual plan which focus’s on letters….. we will see how that goes.

To see what we have done in previous years look here and here and here.

I just realised that our advent events for 2012 are not collated….. so I will get onto that.

Enjoy, and let me know if you come across anything inspiring.

Fabulous!

Hello hello hello….. yes I am still alive and I am slowly coming up for air. Crazy busy last couple of months. I will share with you over the next few weeks some of the highlights and a few other things I have been slowly saving for you over those months.

But for now….. something fabulous. Poppytalk calls it ‘What happen’s when you give kids thousands of stickers. Take it as a pre-Christmas warning….. or Encouragement …. if you like.

Beginning with an all white room …..

…. in the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane …….

Yayoi Kusama…..

….. gave children stickers ……

…… and over two weeks……

….collaborated with the artist …….

….. by placing stickers anywhere they wanted.

Two weeks later…..

…..The Obliteration Room ….. was complete. 

Hat-tip  Poppytalk,  stuart addelsee, sccart, and heybubbles and colossal).  Via The New Domestic. …. so apologies if you have seen it before. 

I think it appeals to me because it’s how the last half of the year has felt like, but makes it look so much more joyful than it was some days.

Though out it all Tim was fabulous and the kids were great. I am hoping and praying that in the next month leading up to Christmas I can embrace the joy in the chaos….. and get to take the opportunity to serve them, and others, like they have been serving me.