christmas 2013:

So my next post was supposed to be the trip wrap-up, however I just realised today, that Christmas is only two weeks away! I swear it comes around faster each year. So I'll do a bit of a post swap and show you a little something I've created for Christmas this year. 

We will be in Sydney on Christmas day, flying out boxing day to New Zealand to spend time with Andy's family and recharging after a hectic end to the year.
I really wanted to have a big Christmas tree, however we're a little cramped at the moment and will not really be home enough to enjoy it. So early last Friday I headed to the Sydney Flower Markets and bought bunches of spruce, fern, holly and native Christmas bush, and created what I like to call a 'Christmas cluster' - my little take on a Christmas tree! 

 

 

christmas 2012:

christmas pom-poms

Can you believe it'll be Christmas in two weeks?! Crazy! Feels just like a few months ago I was sharing my Christmas craftiness from last year. 
So Christmas will be pretty low-key at our place this year. Andy and I are heading to New Zealand to spend time with his family and celebrate Christmas, which is super exciting! I'm counting down the days 'til we're on that jet plane.
But I had to decorate a little and have taken a few photos of our Christmas branch (you may recall it from last year?) and a little garland I made from pine cones. Not super traditional, but way fun. 

the branch, leaning up against the wall

a pine cone garland, above the sideboard

o christmas tree:

Well, here it is! Our Christmas tree!
I made  most of the decorations myself (see here + here), using found objects and a few mementos from our travels this year. I'll probably add a few more decorations to the tree in the lead up to Christmas, as it needs a bit more sparkle. So much fun!

 

'Merry Christmas' garland from Upon a Fold 

gettin' crafty, part two:

So with the weather in Sydney been disgusting all of this week and this morning (rain, rain and more rain), thought I'd continue with the Christmas craftiness as December is fast approaching and it'll be time to put the tree up by the end of the week (how crazy is that!?). So here a few more photos of what you will see on our tree. Will put photos up of the end result next weekend. Exciting!!

gettin' crafty, part one:

So this is what I got up to for part of the weekend - hanging out with my lovely mum and sister, making ourselves some Christmas decorations. 

This will be my first Christmas home in Australia in about four years, as Andrew and I usually fly to New Zealand to spend the holidays with his family on their farm in Dunedin. 

As we have moved into a new place, Christmas seems to be even more exciting and I can't wait to decorate accordingly.
Growing up, my mum used to make all sorts of wonderful decorations, using lots of found objects like twigs, feathers and shells. She's a pretty talented woman when it comes to craft, and that is something that has definitely rubbed off on Sarah and I, as we both really enjoy getting crafty too.

We cleared off the dining table, got the glue gun out and off we went! We only made a few things this time as a bit of a tester, and will be getting back together to do it again soon.
I gave myself a little brief in that I want to use items that relate to the year, especially my travels with Andrew, and keep it to a red and white colour palette. Once we're all done, I'll be sure to put photos up of our Christmas trees and the like.

Below are a few snaps that capture our time together - I'll post some more as we get closer to Christmas and as we make more decorations.
Enjoy.

bits + pieces

I'm a bit in love with my bunch of Kangaroo Paw

one of mum's creations

mum

cannot help himself!

Sarah

some of Sarah's creations

 

one of my creations - covering foam balls in red and white stamps from our travels

me again, making some origami balloons