Sunday 11 December 2011

Festive Colours

Hello Lovelies,
 on Friday I had an enforced day at home as one of my boys was off school poorly, so I decided to get the decorations out of the loft and get on with decorating the house. Master BM was able to help and we spend a pleasant morning building and trimming the tree.I love opening the boxes of decorations . This one really made me smile ....with it's mix of sentimental decorations . There are knitted characters, thrifted vintage baubles and even holiday souvenirs. But the most precious ones to me are those made  by the boys when they were very young ........



Other sentimental characters I'm pleased to get reacquainted with include this pair.......


My Nanna made these sweet Eskimos which always sit at the bottom of our tree......Nanna was a complete yarn addict and I've written about her before HERE.
We have so many decorations I have to be strict with myself and only add one more each year ( of the bought variety anyway ....hand made is fine :0)) . This year I treated myself to this colourful little sign. I love it's stripes and spots and touch of glitter..........


Something else with a touch of glitter that I'm loving is this cute piece of artwork done by my youngest. This is proudly displayed in my front room........


Another talented member of my family , apart from my Nanna and sons ,is my own lovely Mum. I have shared some of her beautiful paintings with you lovelies before. I really need to do a post dedicated to them as I'm lucky enough to have loads. Here is her latest gift to me ..........


Ooooh I love it , my favourite hog weed covered in pretty snow and the cutest Robin ....it's gorgeous ...THANK YOU mum :0)

I've just realised you can peek another of Mum's paintings ( a  portrait of our late cats " Henry and George") in this next shot of my wonderful candle bridge ...we have had this a few years and I love this too........


Last night when it was dark I played around trying to get a good shot of our tree, not easy . This one is O.K. I think....


Next I took a photo in macro to achieve this effect . It's not the best I've seen in blogland but I was pretty pleased with the result. It reminds me of when you screw up your eyes to see if the lights are evenly spaced...or is it just me who does this..........


I also tried the "firework " setting on my simple camera . The best results came from purposely moving the camera a little ........interesting effect.......


The boys thought this looked like fun and wanted to try.........this is what their scarily enthusiastic camera moving made..........




I actually REALLY like these :0)


Finally , I'm sorry this has turned into a rather long post, I've just got to show you my archway decoration. It goes over the doorway between our lounge and dining room. I bought this artificial greenery many years ago . It's been decorated in lots of  different ways but the last couple of years  it's just been red and white with white lights . I love this look. I've made quite a few of the decorations on here , like the crochet snowflakes and gingham hearts. There's also quite a few felt bit and bobs I made in red and white . .....




Hope you are keeping warm if you are in the U.K.
I'm glad to be staying indoors with the pretty lights and decorations
Jacquie x

37 comments:

  1. Such beautiful Christmas decoration!
    Greetings and nice Sunday Crissi

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  2. Oh my! How beautiful your decorations are! And the camera effects are simply gorgeous ( I think I'll have to try the firework setting on my digicam as well, looks like fun!)

    Kind regards,

    Carina

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  3. Lovely decorations and the firework effect photos are very effective. The macro one looks like my tree looks if I take my glasses off!

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  4. Lovely post, it all looks so cosy!

    I Especially love your over the door garland, what a great idea.

    Helenxx

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  5. Love the photo effects - might be trying that later. Our tree going up today - can't wait :)

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  6. PS hope your son is better now, there is so much illness around at the moment isnt there? We are dropping like flies at work!!

    Hxx

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  7. I absolutely love the eskimos and the robin painting by your mum... I was thinking about you just before as I decided to go on a walk this morning and it is raining, so I said to my husband "lets go on a wet welly walk" and I remembered you called wet walks something similar in a summer post... hopefully our tree will go up this afternoon x

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  8. Your Mum's painting of the robin on the hog weed is gorgeous, and I love your garland.

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  9. A lovely post, your decorations are beautiful.

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  10. Ohhhh, the eskimos! Ohhhh, the works by your mum...your garland is precious...but...that sign you purchased this year! OMG, that is TOOOOOO cute! I saw a similar sign...a bit larger I think as it was to hang on a wall...I took a picture of it in hopes of someday painting a wooden sign in a similar fashion. But I like the idea of one that is sized to fit on the tree! Soooo cute! The tree pictures...I have a new lens for my camera this year that allows one to play with a technique that turns your tree lights into different shapes. With a handmade lens cover of black construction paper, you just cut out or stamp out a shape and when you shoot the photo with that cutout placed over your lens, the tree lights take on the shape you've cut out. Does that make sense? I haven't done it yet, but plan to try! Hugs to you! Annette

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  11. Love the painting of the robin, your mum is so talented. Like the camera effects, I'm hoping to get a camera from santa so will be practising hard with it, hopefully my blog pics will be better then. Sue

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  12. What beautiful lights. I love your pictures. It has turned very cold here in the north of England. Starting to feel like winter. What a talented creative family you have too.

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  13. What a clever family - brilliant pics.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  14. I really enjoyed this post, lots of lovely things. I put our tree up tiday and think I'll be having fun with the camera once it's dark too, thanks for the inspiration!

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  15. So pretty, your mum's painting. But I really really love the penguin! :)
    Must have another go at taking better pictures of the tree - great ideas!
    Jane x

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  16. Jacquie you have such an artist family. Your Christmas tree looks lovely and festive. Your Mum's painting is very nice. A post with her work would be very nice! I love your hanging archway decorations, I really need to do some of those, if not for this year I need to get working on some for next year.
    Hope you have a great week!
    xo Susan

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  17. Very pretty! :) I thought it was only me who squinted at the tree to check if the lights were evenly distributed! Lol! :) xx

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  18. Decorations are looking fab! Those photos are fun and clever.
    And me? I have yet again failed to find time to buy my tree.

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  19. Love your photos and all the effects. I love ornaments too, the home made ones are the best aren't they? Love your garland too, all that red makes it sparkle and the snow flakes are a great accent. Just love, love, love it!

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  20. Your mum has done some beautiful work, I especially like the robin. Fun with the camera, the firework setting got some good results. How on earth do you keep the archway decorations up there?!

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  21. Definitely not the only one to screw up your eyes to check on the placements of lights - it's the law isn't it?! Lovely festive post - really love your archway greenery and decorations. Just reminded me I haven't put up my crochet stars from last year yet!
    Jones x

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  22. I love your decorations and your colourful christmas tree! What a nice way of experimenting with your camera too!

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  23. Your house is full of Christmas, it's lovely. I love your photos too I love playing around with my camera settings too you get some great results don't you.

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  24. What an absolutely beautiful post! I adore your archway decorations. And as for those camera settings/pics - FANTASTIC! Must give it a go instead of my usual point and click!

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  25. Love the decorations and the crazy photos! More is definitely more at christmas :) xx

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  26. Hello again, just to let you know that you are one of my PIF "winners". Can you email me your address (andamento@hotmail.co.uk) and I'll post you your gifts. Congratulations!

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  27. It all looks so warm, pretty and festive. I love the garland around the door that looks gorgeous. Have a lovely week, dee x

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  28. The firework photos look like embroidery to me--I have needlework on the brain, I guess. I love all your lovely decorations--very cozy! :)

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  29. Hello. I just found your lovely blog.:) Can yu tell me if you have the pattern - or know where the pattern can be found- for the round pillow in the left of this pic: http://bunnymummy-jacquie.blogspot.com/2011/01/latest-crochet-cushion.html
    I have just started the spike grannie from your site, and would like to make the round pillow to go with it when I'm done. Thanks so much!

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  30. I also scrunch up my eyes to see if the lights are evenly spaced! I thought I was the only one! Beautiful decorations. Happy Christmas to you and yours.

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  31. Very beautiful Christmas tree and decorations. I especially like the knitted Eskimo dolls.

    Happy holidays Jacquie!!! :)

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  32. …....... /)
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    ……..|░░░|☆ Feliz _(♥)_
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    *♥*.

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  33. Love those pictures your boys took. x

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  34. Love the archway decorations. That helped me with a few ideas for my livingroom. I am now going to get my girls to help make some extra ornaments tonight :)

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  35. Your mother's paintings are lovely. Also really like those tree photos --makes me want to do some experimenting with my camera.

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  36. How love paintigs you have from your mother! I love also that candle bridge with the houses - so beautiful and the Christmas garland on your window!
    Merry Christmas! x Teje

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