my christmas 'decorating'...and hi from the slayer

Last week I told you that I'd show you my Christmas decorating...be warned, I use the term very loosely J I also said, if I remember correctly that you should be prepared to be underwhelmed. I'm not going to be at home for Christmas this year. Jess, Ben and I will be having a Christmas Eve dinner at Jess's home in Sydney and then we'll be making the road trip to and from Newcastle on Christmas Day to have lunch with my mum and dad and our rather odd, extended family! I say that lovingly J

Because of that, I haven't done much in the way of decoration in the townhouse, which is a pity. I've got an awesome black tree that looks fab with silver and pearls flung in, over and around it...but never mind. 

So this is it I'm afraid...a $4.98 string of plastic hearts (from Big W) draped over an embroidered velvet taj mahal cushion cover I bought in India...framed after I spilled something on it and it lost its appeal on the sofa...I do love it and its memories though...even if due to this wonderful gift it's no longer hanging there...things move quickly in the townhouse!

 

...last year's frou frou feather boa wreath with the addition of a $2 string of white lights (last of the big spenders I am!)...

and cherries...because nothing in my view says Christmas in Australia more than cherries. I do hope your hols are the proverbial bowl of them.

While it may not be Christmassy in the strictest sense of the word...this is probably good advice for this time of year. The 2011 birthday present from the first born...it makes me smile every time I come home.

And it's hardly Christmas without the slayer now is it?  With lots of love from me and mine to you and yours....see you sometime after the face stuffing and afternoon napping has ceased. Not that it ever does where that cat's concerned! And as I'm on leave at the end of today, I may just do a bit of that myself!

And most importantly...to those of you who are going through a hard time, who are unwell, who've lost people you love this year, who don't know what to do about something or someone, who are struggling...blessings to you xx

all photos by a tranquil townhouse

my early Christmas present...art

I am more than a little bit in love with this early Christmas present I received on Sunday...and just quietly, the man who painted it  J

It was created by the fella a while ago and it's called Teasels. Don't ask why, I don't know!  Actually...I do know now.  I googled teasel...it's a plant! Makes perfect sense. Richard tells me there are three separate shadows due to three different light sources while he was painting it.
I've been secretly coveting this painting for a long time, so to be given it was a completely lovely surprise...and I couldn't be more chuffed. And I'm super happy to have it in my home, where it looks so good against the red of the antique cabinet, don't you think? Yes, me too. If you look closely you can see that I've hung it a little lower between taking the first and second pictures.

It has of course meant a major rearrangement of the art in the town-house but I don't mind...I love it to pieces. I'm really lucky to have so many creative people in my life J

photos by a tranquil townhouse; artwork by Richard Baldwin

champagne wreath and a sneak peek...

Start saving those champagne wires for next year people J

Who would have imagined you could make a Christmas wreath out of champagne leftovers...my good friend Chris, that's who!

Goodness knows how many bottles of champagne had to be drunk sacrificed to make this little beauty. I'm pleased to say that I may have contributed once in a while throughout the past year. I like to be helpful J Here it is hanging on the mirror.

Chris said she went minimal with the decorating this year (like me!)...but she certainly knows how to fling a few baubles in a bowl!

Chris and Terry are going to let me photograph their beautiful townhouse over the holidays so that I can show you on the blog...here's a sneak peek...

...you won't be disappointed!

all images: a tranquil townhouse

a frou-frou christmas wreath...and wishes for Jane!

I'm not decorating this year for two reasons: I just had the living room painted and I'm enjoying its pristineness (yes of course that's a word!) and we're all heading off to various places for Christmas and goodness knows what the vampire slayer would do with a tree while we weren't here :)
So a wreath on the front door will have to do...

made from these...

a wreath loaned by my friend Chris (I have one the same...we bought them at Ikea years ago...but I only have a vague idea where I've stashed mine), three feather boas from Homebase and a hot pink peacock decoration from Big W.

It did look like the great chicken massacre of 2010 had taken place on the dining table while I was in the process of putting this together though! There's something a bit perverse about a feather wreath at Christmas don't you think...probably why I like it!

But in a more traditional vein, the peace clay tags I made a week or so ago found a home on this mirror.
Sorry about the less than brilliant photos, but today, all I've been thinking about is Jane's operation...wishing, hoping, praying that it all goes brilliantly well. 

And yes indeed, there will be moon wishing going on tonight in Canberra.