A very thrifty Winter Solstice
Hello m' Chateau escapees,
What's wrong with a glitter-ball-skeletal-lampshade topped with a Giant Flying Tuna, as a Christmas decoration, I ask you ??? When the kids mocked me and asked for a 'proper Christmas Tree', I started to worry. I mean, what is up with these kids today? Next they'll be asking to go to Disneyland, not content mud sliding on tea trays down one of the local spoil tips.
Then I thought, 'right, you little blighters, you want 'Christmassy', I'll give you 'Christmassy'... with a dark Winter Solstice twist'.
Inspired by Beate, and channeling my own inner 'Escape to the Chateau', I donned my red beret, grabbed my secateurs, pulled on my wellies, and went out into the garden to forage for foliage.
Returning indoors, I kept on my red beret, just for effect really (our 1970s house is centrally heated).
The gathered foliage: Phontinia, Bay, Camellia and Rhododendron (the later two with flower buds).
Our year long Druid Tree was stripped of its Giant Tuna and other paraphernalia.
Then I used the woollen webbing strung across the willow whip construct, pushing the tallest of the braches in first. Very soon I imagined I was a florist to the stars and went into a foliage frenzy, forgetting to take a picture until all the foliage was used up.
Voila!
I expect there to be some natural droopage between now and Christmas, but not bad 'eh for a zero miles, sustainable 'tree' made from garden trimmings!
Here is the tree decorated and the dining space covered with two-minute ivy wreaths -
The charity shop table cloth is clearly a bit summery, but this is a nod to the Summer Solstice and light that will come following the Winter Solstice on the 21st December (from which the days will only get longer) ...nothing at all to do with me not wanting to iron a more seasonal table cloth!
Christmas needn't cost the earth.
I am more akin to celebrating the Winter Solstice and the turning of the seasons, than Christmas - the commercial side has always seemed so glutinous and wasteful to me.
Here are a couple of Peg Making Kits that I made for presents, without all the horrible plastic packaging that commercial kits bombard us with -
Everything a little person needs to make magic - little circle skirts (traced from a pudding bowl, cut from fabric scraps with pinking shears), wings (feathers and leaves), hair (wool), arms (pipe cleaners), extra adornments (ribbons & sparkles)...
ALL of the packing here is recycled - stuff we had lying around the house - the flattened cardboard boxes lined and covered with pretty paper, the plastic pots re-purposed, washed out and refilled with glitter and glue.
Sometimes though, it is all about managing expectations.
I have told the kids the size of their stocking will determine how many presents they get -
they think I'm joking! -
Hello, Lulu! Is that a Twister?
ReplyDeleteNow those are my kind of decorations, free, natural and not a jot of plastic in sight!
I usually make a winter wreath from what I've foraged from the garden but I've been banned this year 'cos of our new front door. Boo!
I used to love making peg dolls (and teazel hedgehogs) with my grandma. Can I come and play?
The beret looks fab! xxx
Hello Vix, weird isn't it! We think it may be some type of 'Waterspout' cloud.
DeleteBoo to the new door ban!
Of course you can come and play :) Teazel hedgehogs... great idea!
Lulu xXx
Hello little snowflake, I love the Escape to the Chateau theme - the beret is a great look for you. I love the way Mrs S on the program has reinvented herself - her old man annoyingly pops up regularly shouting Angela, whilst the narrator calls her by her new chateau persona 'Angel' (snigger). Anyhow, got distracted there - I love your eco friendly tree and your mini xmas stockings - the pagan wall of wreaths and multi solstice tablecloth are perfect and I would love to come round to yours and do some peg doll crafting. I think Christmas (apart from the religious aspect for those who desire) is all about being together, getting back to basics, not getting stressed about expensive 'stuff' and having fun - you have cracked it!
ReplyDeleteMerci beaucoup Betty!
DeleteHaha, yes, Dick obviously didn't get the memo about using stage names ;
Wouldn't we have a grand peg fairy making party :)
Lulu xXx
Oh Lulu, it looks fab-u-lous! It must have been the day for it, as I made my wreath this afternoon but instead I channelled my inner Kirstie Allsopp to forage from my 'land'. :) Perhaps I should have worn a dress for the occasion. X
ReplyDeleteHello Jules,
DeleteOoh good, glad you had a good forage around (said in a David Bellamny kind of way)
Please don't go telling me you wore sensible clothes, and not some sparkly ballgown!
Lulu xXx
thats wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteyou SHOULD be the florist to the stars! your decorations - i´m all for winter solstice - are awesome. you´r very talented..... and you look very cute under a red beret :-D
love the peg fairy kits - genius idea for pressies, anyway the season.
thanx for the mention!
xxxxx
ps: that storm cloud looks impressive, was it over the ocean?
Thank you Beate, yes I should be a florist to the stars...then I could sneak in the odd Giant Tuna! The weird cloud was right out over the water. Looked like it was either sucking it up, or dumping more water. I should have sent it to the local TV weather man! Lulu xXx
DeleteDear Lulu
ReplyDeleteI love your tree - what a fabulous idea! In fact it all looks wonderful - including the red beret! I 'do' Christmas but like you and many other people, am not a fan of all the commercialism that accompanies it. The peg fairy making kits are wonderful - I am sure they will be appreciated.
Have a good week
Best wishes
Ellie
Thank you Ellie, very kind of you :)
DeleteThe peggie kits didn't make it to Christmas - they went to two little girls who turned six.
Hope you have a lovely week too.
Lulu xXx
Hello mi' red bereted escapist - I'm all for frugal and make it yourself and that tree is BRILLIANT - I also love the wreaths of ivy - just might be 'borrowing' that idea!
ReplyDeleteHello Kate, thank you :)
DeleteThe two minute ivy wreaths are great fun... even got one down to 30 seconds!!!
Lulu xXx
Hi Lulu, I think that's possibly one of the loveliest Christmas trees I have seen! I love the wall hanging wreaths too and your peg fairy kits are inspired. I can't imagine any young child being disappointed to receive one of those! That cloud looks a little foreboding...? Loving the red beret and exciting wallpaper discovery. I agree about Christmas. It seems to get worse every year; all the matching pjs, electrical gadgets, multiple Christmas trees and feeding frenzy - ugh! I'm not feeling it yet this year as you can probably tell. We have an artificial tree - purchased years ago and due to the cat trying to climb our real trees, upending them and scattering soil and needles everywhere. I regret buying it, but it's probably carbon neutral by now and I'm not about to give it up for landfill, so we're stuck with it. I love to introduce garden foliage too. In fact, pass me the secateurs. I might go for a garden forage now. Glad you're feeling better! xxx
ReplyDeleteAh thanks Claire :) It was tres exciting to 'find' the wallpaper.
DeleteEugh, matching PJs, please don't talk dirty at me!!!
What is it with cats and Christmas trees?!?
Our old one used to do the same thing. Though she was a fluffy fairy.
Lulu xXx
That's a super sustainable Christmas tree if ever there was one, although I must add that I'm surprised the tuna topped glitter ball skeletal lampshade didn't meet your kids' approval. Loving the two-minute wreaths too! I might even have a go at some myself, although I'll never ever, red beret notwithstanding, be a florist to the stars like you! Aren't those peg fairies the cutest!
ReplyDeleteThat storm clouds looks very impressive, wonderful photo! xxx
Thank you Ann :)
DeleteOh yes, grab one of your fab berets and give an ivy wreath a go!
(the beret is, of course, mandatory!)
I think that is one of the weirdest, anvil shaped clouds I have ever seen.
Lulu xXx
Who's a clever girl then? Love those little peg dolls. I think you should make dozens of them and hang them all around your garden.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cheire, can I have a 'clever girl' badge please?
DeleteGreat idea, the peggies are about to take over the house and garden...
Lulu xXx
Hi Lulu,
ReplyDeleteRecently came across your blog, via Cherie's m'thinks, and find it quite enchanting. Looking forward to more posts m'dear.
Kind Regards,
John
Hello John, so good to see a nice new beardy face on here.
DeleteThank you for stopping by and saying hello.
Your Ned Stark banner is hilarious!!! :)
Lulu , House of Long Mizzle xXx
That's wonderful, with a real touch of the Christmas spirit. Magical tree and other decorations. All good wishes.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mike, oh yes, I am shaking my inner Scrooge this year! xXx
ReplyDeleteWell done Lulu - it all looks stunning that's fantastic! I have a touch of Scrooge at Christmas as I bring out a small fake tree every year - my husband hated the idea of killing trees, so we got one from Trago. This year it will only be for me as I'm spending Christmas Day with my fella (yippee!) and it's not really the right time to invite lots of people round, is it? Hope you have a fabulous time with more foraging! X
ReplyDeleteHello Sue, we used to have a small fake tree, but our old cat Deidre Rachid ate it, over the course of a year. We kept on finding mysterious plastic shreddings all over the house. Couldn't work out what it was. She had made a cat sized hole in the cardboard box that contained it! I am sure Lainy is better behaved. Hope you have a lovely day with your fella. Lulu xXx
DeleteRather taken with the lampshade and the tuna but not necessarily something I'd immediately associate with the season. Excellent work with the peg kits. Judith was most impressed. If only more people took the trouble to do this sort of thing rather than buy the latest piece of plastic tat we'd all benefit. The beret suits you. I admire your restraint with the Christmas lights; most engineers' Christmas trees are verging on electrical overload! Have a great time
ReplyDeleteThank you Martin :) Good to hear you and Judith enjoyed the peggies. Please pass on to Judith that I too have become a haberdashery appreciator in recent years (I remember you saying she spent an absorbent amount of time in them!). Now, where's that RS Components catalogue, let's see if we can create an electrical overload, serious enough to take the street lamps out ;).... xXx
DeleteI am just catching up with some blog reading after a small break. I love your 'tree' that is how it should be and would have been in days long ago. The foliage would have lasted longer in an unheated house but that should not put us off. I hope it last long enough for you to enjoy it.
ReplyDelete