a little Christmas shimmer

I'm not for a moment suggesting that shimmer can overcome times of crisis. Because things so oft feel crisis-like of late, non, particularly this year? But for me, shimmer does help. It does. It reminds me to look to the light and to seek ways to give comfort to others.

In light of giving comfort, scoot to the bottom of this post for a way you can give back to women in need this Christmas. And see some pics from our SCBWI ACT Jolabokaflod.

Before I get to the big deck-the-halls-christmas-decor-reveal ...

Chrissy Decs 2018

I've decked the halls! About a month later than I normally do, but that's what being out of town for a month and diving headfirst into deadlines does to a gal.

I also baked gingerbread and made our Christmas cake, though this year I made it in a bundt tin (AND it came out clean, I might add ... phew).

And now I am complete.

Decs are super slim this year--I just didn't have the energy to go full bore, and I have to say I like the sparseness. It's calming. We all need calm.

Our girl may be working this Christmas morning, so our family life is certainly changing. We might have to do the Euro thing and open pressies on Christmas Eve. Of course, we'd then need to have fortified wine and stöllen, ja? Actually does stollen have an umlaut? I don't think it does, but I want to give it one, so there you go. Happy Christmas, stöllen.

Wishing you all a sugarplum Christmas that's calm and bright. I hope you find merry, peace and quiet under the Christmas tree this year (along with a book or twenty). Whatever you do, and wherever you are ... whether you spend it out on a deck overlooking the ocean or in a hammock in the garden or snuggled up on the couch with a book 'neath a snow-dredged mountain, I send you love--from my house to yours.

Tx

studio revamp

It's spring! 

And we all know what happens.

Revamp.

Refresh.

Renew.

It's a primal thing, methinks, because on the weekend, I was seized by the desire to do over my studio. I really liked my 'old' studio (below) but was hankering for something a little more streamlined... and all the beautiful illustrations from friends and colleagues were starting to fade in the dazzling light that fills my sacred, north-facing space.

a quiet Christmas and a shiny new year

Well, hello everybody. How was your Christmas? Was it warm or cold where you were? Did you eat seafood? Fruit mince pies? Antipasto in the sunshine? Flaming puddings by the snow-banked window? Did you open presents under the palm tree on Christmas morning or did you wait till the afternoon, with fat bellies popping by the fire?

Our day started not-too-early--07:30, gasp. Yes, for our family, the 04:30 days are long gone (though I fully empathise with those who are still entrenched!). We waited 40 mins for my girl Ella to zhuzh herself up (which gave me time to drink my Daily Tea in bed) and then it was under the tree for our traditional personalised Christmas cookies, with Riley as Christmas elf. This year, it was gingerbread with lemon icing in random filigree patterns. Mmmm. They were delish.

By the time the pressies were done, it was time to start cooking. It's been a looooong time since I've made Christmas lunch, and my goodness, even for four people, it takes a while, non??? Why is that?

Christmas Gift Guide featuring Australia Illustrated

I have a bit of an obsession with talented people, especially those with a strong visual aesthetic and a knack for grouping beautiful things together in a beautiful way. I also have a bit of an obsession with gorgeous kids' products and Christmas, and so it is with swelled heart that this blog post is about all three--talented people, gorgeous kids' products and Christmas!

Kelly of The Styling Mama is the talented people part of this post. Kelly shares my obsession with gorgeous kids' stuff and Christmas (as you can well see in these photos). These pics are from her Australiana Christmas photo shoot, which can be seen in her recent blog post entitled Christmas Down Under...neath all that wrapping paper.

In this post, Kelly lists the product creators (with links to their websites). Wait till you see these websites and what these talents are creating--seriously. It's enough to make your toes curl in delight (and apologies in advance for the temptation ... but it's almost Christmas!).

I was so fortunate to have Australia Illustrated in the shoot (thanks to Lisa-Marie of Bear and Sparrow!). I really need to hire Lisa and Kelly as my advertising director and stylist. Authors need book shots like these!!

You can see more of Kelly's gorgeous work on her Instagram feed right here, where you'll find more pics from this shoot, along with creator tags.

In the meantime, get set to drool! I hope you find some Christmas inspiration here. That koala cushion and Uluru cushion ...

Remember, head to Kelly's Australiana Christmas post if you want to locate any of these items--and stay tuned, as she has more Christmas posts on the way.

 

And too cute not to include ...

And then there's the above cuteness which appears in his own video ... click the still below, and wait till you hear him say 'nummy cake smile'.

Sorry, totally off track, but Smile Cry would make a lovely Christmas gift, too, of course!

happy merry everything!

Every year, my Christmas decorating becomes more and more simple . . . in fact, I relish adding the merest lick of shimmer and Scandi-inspired pop of red and + white into the year-long mix of greenery in our house. Not only is it stress-free, it just looks fresh and pretty and light.

I've used a small handful of gold metal ornaments this year. After dragging in a large, bare branch from the garden and upending it in a large pot, I wondered how it might look snaked in fairy lights. I then added white paper ornaments from Kikki-K and these little gold ornament treasures which include a fire engine and a rocking horse.

I'm slowly adding to my collecting of mercury glass ornaments, and have added these to our little table-top feather tree. We have a monster faux pine in our garage, hidden away. It's become a fine home for spiders these past three or four years but that's not why we're neglecting it ... it just seems so HEAVY and 'too much'. So, we're sticking with the feather tree which provides a light little signpost atop its perch in our living room.

I've also taken to using gift bags rather than wrapping paper, as much as possible, and this type of recycling is not only kind to our wallets and the environment, it makes cleaning up, post-present-ripping, a breeze. I'm already smiling at how easy it's going to be!

So, herewith a peek at our house this Festive Season. A little earlier than usual this year, but I'm glad of it. I so love flicking on the fairy lights and seeing everything glow.

Closer to Christmas, I'll be lighting the candles on our spinning balsa wood creations. They are an absolute joy to behold--and count among my favourite Christmas treasures, especially the multi-tiered house (from Dusk, but wait till I've finished in there before going and snaffling them all, please!).

Enjoy this peek . . .

(PS: many of the orchids are faux . . . I made them from a downloadable and printable orchid flower template, and attached them the bare orchid stems while I await new blooms!)

Make Your Own Wallpaper

Who doesn't love wallpaper? It's sooo back in Vogue and I'm wishing I could unfurl 182 rolls of Orla Kiely and Florence Broadhurst and smear them over every available surface in my house, yes I am.

happy merry everything! Christmas decorating 2014

I must admit, I love a wee spot of Christmas decorating, most especially because each and every year becomes less complicated and more whimsical. And I really, really like less complicated and more whimsical.

I haven't bought anything new this year, and some of last year's lights didn't even leave the walls, so today was super easy peasy--just setting up the feather tree and adding some walls decorations and garlands.

I even put a holly wreath in the window of our bedroom this year (below)--why not?

And of course--the ubiquitous picture book always has to make it in somewhere--below is one of my favourites of 2014.

You'll also see some vintage postcards and a raffia angel and the most divine tea light village made of balsa wood. I love how the candles spin the little propeller at the top.

The starry decorations below are made from ice cream sticks, and I've had these hand-painted wooden letters for over 10 years now. The beautiful string of white lights were from a $2 shop, believe it or not.

Below, another tea light house sits on the piano below original ricepaper watercolours from Beijing, snow globes, glittered wreaths from target (which again stayed on the wall all year) and tea light bags. I'm ever nervous about putting candles in these bags, so I'll be hunting for battery-operated lights soon.

I simply adore this glittered metal ornament--BELIEVE IN THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS. It's dangling from my treasured feather tree which I bought, handmade, from the States.

On top of the feather tree is a glass wren with feather tail and a glass bonbon from the Christmas factory outside Beijing (a little slice of heaven). Above the tree is a paper wreath I made some time ago.

The rest of the tree is dripping with glass, mercury glass, tin and plastic crystal ornaments--I wanted light and sparkly this year, with a hint of red.

The two silver pine cones at the base of the tree weigh a tonne--they're real pine cones dipped in liquid metal and are just extraordinary. I found these at the Bredbo Christmas Barn last year.

The clear glass ornaments are from the Beijing factory, and are filled with a teaspoon of fine-grade glitter.

In the family room, masses of lights from Bunnings jostle with ribbon ornaments I made a few Christmasses ago, paper lanterns and miniature cards from Typo, secured with mini pegs.

I have quite the obsession with nesting dolls, and have quite a few festive ones.

Above the dining table is another treasured possession--a red wreath from Provincial Home Living, and cardboard deer ornaments from IKEA.

The wall tree near the front entrance is made of Robert Sabuda pop-up cards. They come in a tin and pop out with papery enchantment when you open them. The kids are always stopping to flip them open. The wreath is DIY from Kikki-K.

The felted mushrooms reflected in the mirror below, were a $1 buy from Typo after Christmas last year. I made the little white feather wreath myself.

Looking down (below) at the tea light village and snow globes near the front entrance.

The little ceramic houses, below, are from a flower market in Beijing. They were $3 each and are covered in glitter. I absolutely adore them. The little dark green trees are from a $2 shop and the fluffier ones are from Beijing. The white feather cone tree is from Spotlight.

The feather wreath, below, is from Bredbo Christmas Barn.

I made this little paper wreath, below, a few years ago. It sits in the kitchen.

I made the wreath, below, using a large metal ring, wound tightly with a string of lights and long strands of plush tinsel from Spotlight.

A recent purchase, below, is a new favourite--a light box from Typo.

It's so nice to have a tiny tree. We have it on a table where we stack gifts--both on top and underneath. We have a big monster of a tree--a 7-footer, with a 10-foot girth, but we've retired it for now. I want light at Christmas, not heavy.

My latest advent calendar sits in on the dining room table--whimsy personified. You can see the full advent calendar and tutorial here.

Have you started your Christmas decorating?

Tickle the Imagination Magazine - Home Issue is out!

Tickle the Imagination Home Issue, is out now! Another stunning, warming, gorgeous creation from Tanya Collier and the Tickle Team. It's free to read online, or you can support Tanya and her incredible efforts by ordering a print copy.

Make sure you check out my Bookshelf ...

...and in September, watch out for the Kids' Issue, which will feature one of my feature-length articles on creating wonderful things from kids' books, along with my paper mobile, below.