wreath making

With weather like this, it's very difficult to feel festive. No matter how many parties you go to or mince pies you eat it's tricky to feel like it's mid winter and that Christmas is literally around the corner. So in a last ditch attempt, Nat and I went to a wreath making workshop at The Royal Exchange in the City and it was wonderful! Filled with seasonal colds and wrapped up in cashmere (a terrible decision as it's been so mild lately) I met Nat under the beautiful ceiling of a very festive Royal Exchange. 

We sipped mulled wine and nibbled on crumbling mince pies whilst enjoying the crafty festivities unravelling before us. From calligraphy master classes from Smythsons and table dressing demonstrations by Sophie Robinson we couldn't help but feel a flicker of festive cheer. 

As you all know, I love flowers and want to own a florist shop when I'm older so tonight's activities were practically made for me! Jamie Aston is a fabulous florist based in London (the City and Marylebone) and he led our floral extravaganza. 

We were set with the task of creating a wreath using wax-dipped roses, apples, orange slices, cinnamon sticks and pine cones. I could barely contain my excitement, especially when we were given a can of snow to spray over our creations! 

Using wire and a bit of elbow grease we transformed our blank wreaths into beautiful creations. Everyone's were different and made with a lot of love. Nat and I enjoyed chatting to Jamie about maybe attending another masterclass at his school in the new year. So watch this space- I might well end up with a florist shop one day! 

After some final tweaks here and there these were our final results: 

A wonderful evening with one of my greatest friends; a giggle a minute and the perfect way to get that last minute festive tingle. I am now home for Christmas as my office is being refurbished (a lovely Christmas present in itself!) so have been set to work to transform the farm into a festive retreat- I don't need any more tempting! 

Fingers crossed for a last minute cold snap! 

L.

a merry little home

This year has crept up on us and alarmingly it's already December, how that has happened I do not know, but one thing is for sure, it's Christmas! This weekend The American and I went on a hunt for our Christmas tree. It's our first Christmas in the new house together, and though we won't actually be there (or together) for the 25th, we thought we'd make the most of it and get our tree nice and early. 

Neither of us have a car in London as it seems totally pointless when all we do is work during the week and stay in and around SW18 at the weekends, so we needed our tree to be nice and near as carrying would be the only way to get it home! Having tracked one down  we tried to get it home in one piece, and with us still being together by the end of it... I got arm-ache, he got a bit flustered so it ended up him marching on ahead with a seven foot tree on his shoulders and me trailing behind carrying the wreath. Ooops. 

We were very lucky to have been given a stack of decks for the tree the previous weekend on our trip home (thanks D&D!) so we were well supplied for an evening of decorating. The tree went up remarkably quickly and I was left in charge of dressing the tree.

We played Christmas songs and lit candles, all whilst cooking a belated Thanksgiving dinner - a multitasking power duo! It was a busy Saturday indeed. But look! Our tree is glowing and we are totally in love with it. 

I love real trees and can't imagine having any other kind. Just make sure you top it up with water so it doesn't drop needles within a few days. This one is a non-drop variety and, though we know it's very early for a tree, we are going to take very good care of it so it can see us through until the new year when we will be reunited after time away with our families.

I'm totally smitten with our little home, the sofa and armchair are the most beautiful things ever, I literally can't get enough of them and we're slowly getting there with all our pictures and soft furnishings. 

I hope you're enjoying the festive season, work parties and all! Keep your eyes peeled for a recipe post up soon!



L.