A Year of Wreaths

Over advent, our tea wreath became one of my new favourite Christmas traditions. It also encouraged me to see wreaths in a new way -- they can go beyond run-on-the-mill winter greenery, and be fun, useful and unique. So, this year, I've set myself a challenge: to create a new wreath every month in 2011.

 1. Edible Wreath, 2. Marshmallow Wreath, 

3. Cinnamon Wreath, 4. Garlic Wreath

There are lots of inspired people around the world creating wreaths, like those above. I love the idea of a ring of herbs, ready to be used by the cook, a marshmallow wreath for the snowy months, cinnamon sticks to add a little fragrance to your entryway, and a garlic wreath to keep away any vampires!

5. Road Sign Wreath, 6. Thread Spool Wreath,

7. Wool Wreath, 8. Crayon Wreath

Others have made use of their extra wool, thread spools, and crayons, and have even recycled an old road sign!

Perhaps you like this idea and would like to join in? Each month, I'll have a spot for you to share a link to your own wreaths, so that we can inspire each other. For me, January's wreath will be started once we return from England, and shared with you as soon as possible... stay tuned!

Christmastime, Mistletoe and Twine

Over the past week, I've been knitting up a Christmas cardigan for Tilly with this gorgeous red-and-white striped wool, using this free pattern. I love how the two-toned wool comes together -- not too pepperminty, not much too like a candy cane -- and looks like it would be right at home on a little Danish baby!

And all that striped wool inspired me to pull out the roll of baker's twine. Our house at Christmas is almost all red and white (with the exception, of course, of the Russian Doll cones!) and so baker's twine is a perfect compliment.

(source)

Use it to string up decorations:

(source)

To tie a gift bag closed:

(tutorial)

To keep your Christmas cookies neatly in a pile:

(source)

Or, for a bit of simple charm, it would look lovely just wound around an old wooden spool:

(source)

So, don't let ribbon have the monopoly on Christmas trim again this year -- give baker's twine a try! And, as always, please post a link if you do, as I'd love to see!

(linking to My Creative Space today!)

Hearts, Hearts, Everywhere

As you might imagine, our home is rather red. I will, sooner or later, make red curtains for the windows, but until then, little garlands of red hearts hang down in front of the blinds to add a bit of colour, and a bit of Danish warmth for the winter. 

The garlands were a product of one night in, watching a film. With nothing else to sew, I sat and simply cut heart after heart out of red felt. By the end of the movie, I had a pile of fifty hearts, and the sheer quantity of them inspired me to string them together and hang them from our exceptionally high, curtainless curtain rods.

Making your own garland couldn't be easier, whether you choose to cut out hearts from felt yourself, or buy ready made ornaments, such as the ceramic ones below (from potglasshande), and string them together.

Danish designer, Maileg, also has some lovely stuffed fabric hearts, ready-made, in fun stripes and spots. 

I love the idea of warmth and love shining out from our house through each window. I think it'll be quite hard to get myself to take the hearts down from the windows when winter comes to an end!