christmas house tour 2011

I know some of you may have seen all of this before, but the projects I've

been working on today aren't ready, so I'm doing a little house tour !

I had fun trying out THREE mantles here but opted to go back to the original one because it ties in with the decor on the Christmas tree, and because I'm a sentimentalist. These little decs have been with me for ages and maybe they are too tacky or twee, but I love them !

I really liked my mantle with 'a little bit of bling', so I moved it onto the sideboard in the dining room.

 

I added this large cloche, that wouldn't have fitted on my mantle.

And also this storm lantern with shells, which is from our bedroom.

The hall.

My old wreath with a quick makeover ( Yes I know - the front door really needs painting !)

I did put up a little 'garland' in my kitchen yesterday.

One packet of ikea biscuits (I couldn't believe there was actually ten inside, for £1.00 !!!).

Some little ribbons and a bit of string !

The kitchen smells great ( my old geezer has already eaten the other packet I bought, as they smelled so good).

And finally - my favourite Santa, candles, a tea light holder and my grandmother's mini Christmas tree.

The garlands !?! Well I still have a few days yet, and also there is the dining table to do.

(I'm still hoping I'll have time to paint it first !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Here's wishing everyone who sees this a very Merry Christmas x

linking up with

theinspiredroom.net

and

www.thenester.com

'the beatles' and a bargain

My partner has a Beatles poster, that he loves, because it was given to him by his 12 year old daughter, and also because he loves the Beatles.

The only place it fits, is over our new sideboard in the dining room - which will DEFINATELY get a makeover (in the form of paint) sometime soon.

I just put these things on temporarily, and although my old geezer loved the (slightly wonky) lamp here, it really belongs in our room and I need to make this space more funky.

On Saturday I found the perfect frame in a charity shop - the exact size and £20 ! You couldn't get a piece this size framed for less than £100.

The frame is nice and dark, so it just needed a couple of layers of white (not very exciting I know, but it picks out the zebra crossing on Abbey Road, the beetle and John Lennon's suit !!!!!!!!) and a little bit of distressing with sandpaper and voila !

I'm loving the lamp but in actual fact the shade isn't purple atall, it's brown, like the wood and not very nice when the light is on. I really wish it WAS purple as it goes with the poster more.

The old geezer loves it and the room is taking shape.

You might have noticed that this is my 'little bit of bling' mantle, as I knew it would work here and wanted to use the new glass cloche. I put a linen runner on the sideboard to lighten it up and I'm really pleased with the eclectic mix !

Sorry about the picture quality - I must stop using my phone, but it is so easy.

But 'what about the bargain' I hear you ask.

Ah - the bargain.

The old picture was leaning against the wall under some bookcases and something pretty special was lurking ( well to me anyway) behind it. I had seen the frame in the charity shop loads of times before, so I guess no-one had bothered looking behind it, or they would have found this !

A beautiful etching of 'Mont St. Michel', which is somewhere I have always fancied visiting, and situated off the coast of Normandy in France.

And at the BARGAIN price of £6 - how could I resist. It's about 12x18", so now I am on the lookout for the right frame (not sure where I will hang it though).

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Also this week, I sorted out my wreath, from this -

a tired old thing, sat in the loft for years, to this -

stripped of everything, to this -

sprayed white and with white twigs added.

It looks a bit of a mess here - but I am really happy with it, and there was no cost, as it was all stuff I had.

I also did ALL my christmas cards - although I do have to write them still.

I pretty much did them all the same as it was easier !

I have also been carrying on with my kitchen, but there is nothing to show yet, and tomorrow I have to go away for another couple of days. I would rather stay at home but c'est la vie !