Things We Love: kitschavan

It's always a delight to see what people make with the craft supplies we sell.  In this case, kitschavan, in England, has taken simple bottle brush trees and turned them into individual works of art that are a feast for the eyes and sure to delight Christmas lovers everywhere.  She's been bold but discerning in her color choices and layered the trees with tinsel cording and glass balls and then anchored them in great figural ceramic bases that lend themselves perfectly to her trees.  Even Santa and Mrs.Claus would approve!

Do stop by her shop and take a look at her artful creations here: kitschavan

Do you Know Dawn of Kiki La Ru?

I am smitten with Dawn's cake bunting! If you don't know Dawn yet, you must visit her etsy shop where she offers cake bunting for just about every festive occasion under the sun.

This particular bunting is called Snow Queen and features dreamy pink and cream pennants on pink and white bakers' twine.

If you're more of a DIY'er, Dawn also offers kits for you to make your own.  And she graciously notes where she gets her lovely props, like these sweet little bottle brush trees.

Six Months Until Christmas!

Hard to believe that it's only six months until Christmas -- that means decorations come out even sooner! Above is one of my favorite shots of one of our trees all lit up with a roaring fire. The mantel has a snowy village scene with clusters of vintage decorations -- spun cotton animals,
pine cone carolers and snowmen, bottle brush trees -- mixed in with putz houses and tinsel trees. Ah, decorating... I can't wait!

Christmas is Coming!

This time of year, with our workshop in full swing and supplies all over the place, I start to get super excited about Christmas. How I'll decorate, when I'll do it, where the tree will go, and what gifts I'll make are all on my mind. I wanted to share a few of my favorite Christmas supplies with you, just in case you're also thinking Christmas.

Above, vintage mercury glass beaded garlands are a staple on my trees.


Above we have Dresden flowers, a vintage holiday pick from Japan with the most beautiful composite berries and a group of blown glass Czech beads.


Next are three of my very favorite sheets of Santa scraps.

Last but not least, we have a group of spun cotton mushrooms from Germany, a trio of multicolored bottle brush trees and lustrous embossed foil trim that looks so gorgeous lining shelves or on a mantel.