Christmas gifts

This Christmas I hand-made some of my presents as my step-mum had asked for some of her very own decorations. 

Remembering the theme for our dining room this year was red and white I stuck to the colour palette whilst adding a little green for that festive feel. I made two small trees with gold button detail and also two polka dot hearts decorated with green felt and red buttons to make my very own holly. 

Like!

I know it is the wrong season for picnic wear... but I am liking this John Lewis 'Summer Folk' range a lot! 

New things!

Owl money box by Pride Creations NY, 1968 

(How cute!)

Lisa print by Bijan aka 'Sara Moon' for Red Baron Art Publishing LA, 1976

Thank you

I would just like to say a big thank you to the ladies of Moray Lodge for first having my decorations on their sales table, and then for all their custom orders! I thoroughly enjoyed making each of the christmas decorations and adding all your loved one's initials. 

Also a big thank you to A Most Marvellous Place To Shop in Northampton for taking in my decorations to sell for the run up to Christmas. 

So for all of you in the area pop in and take a look!

Nikki McWilliams

I finally put work to name when I spotted Nikki McWilliam's brilliant biscuit cushions at the Ideal Home Show.

Her creative take on the nations classic tea-time favourites bring a playful twist to any room and with prices starting from £28, are very reasonable for a fun original print. 

Visit Nikki McWilliams website, shop and blog here. 

Halinka's Fairies

I came across Halinka's enchanted little characters at the Ideal Home Show and absolutely admired the amount of detail in each smiling faced figurine. From fairies to ice skating mice, her range of decorations are perfect to decorate the tree this christmas. 

My firm favourites are the leaping rabbits pictured below. 

 Alpine Rabbits £18 each or £52 for trio

 Strawberry Rabbits £15 each or £44 for trio

To look at the rest of Halinka's Fairies decorations or to find out more, please click here.  

Ideal Home Show at Christmas

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Ideal Home Show at Christmas at Earls Court, London with my mum and sister. I was able to get free tickets and so used the day as a girly get together along with the opportunity to do some research, get inspired and get snap happy :)

 It was a great day out and it was absolutely jam packed with some fantastic stalls. Below are some of my photographs from the show and information on the wonderful designers I found are soon to come!

Opening day!

My sister enjoying a cosy garden hut

A christmas lodge room design 

Beautiful printed vases 

 Rustic hand-crafted chopping boards 

Lazercut Christmas decorations 

red grape

Love the colours in this leaf from my mums red grape vine

New

red & green themed mini tree with midnight blue buttons

P.S. I am now selling on ebay!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HandMade-Christmas-Tree-Decorations-/260900358041?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Decorative_Accents_LE&var=&hash=item826690bfb9#ht_512wt_1188

I love anniversaries

Bradgate Country Park

Handmade Tree Decorations

After a recent post entitled Have a Handmade Christmas I explored the kind of things you can make for the upcoming christmas season, which are brilliant as decorations for your own home and can also be given as lovely hand-made gifts. 

After exploring some of the suggestions already available, I became inspired and tried my hand at making a few myself! 

Here are my tree and stocking decorations, made using a selection of cotton fabrics, buttons, trimmings and of course a Merry Christmas tag. 

If you are interested in buying any of the items above (just £4 each) or you would like a piece specially made, just let me know. I can work to a chosen colour scheme or base something around a loved-one's initial. You can contact me by email at beckigarrod@hotmail.co.uk  

John Murphy

The New York based artists work 'Animal Collages' are now available from Achica at £20 framed.

(The elephant is my favourite!) 

Take a look at his other work here. 

Have a Handmade Christmas

With money being tight for many this year a little homemade 'do-it-yourself' is a fantastic way to forget about the purse strings and get your creative juices flowing. These handmade decorations can either take pride of place on your own tree or be given as gifts to family and friends. 

Here a few ideas taken from Folksy which are easy to re-create using your own scrap fabrics, buttons and ribbon.

And why not get the whole family involved with many children's felt craft kits on the market