Christmas Wreath Workshops

It's been a whopping week. I have done three workshops with 24 ladies. Thats A LOT of burlap squares, over 3000 in fact, and the perfectionist in me thought it would be best that I cut them all up (stupid idiot). My knuckles are raw to say the least, but it was fun!
Here are some piccies of their beautiful wreaths:

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Today on my way home from my last workshop I thought i'd take advantage of hubby doing daddy-daycare, so I stopped in at a local market and picked up a beautiful pot of hydrangeas, but not before hitting the curb and slashing the tyre. TWO HOURS AND FIVES MINUTES LATER two men in fluro came into my life: one via the hydrangea pot and the other via the not so popular NRMA.

(just grateful I found the smaller of the two before he climbed up my legs on the freeway.)

.....and just when I thought I never wanted to see another square of burlap ever EVER again, my kids asked to make their own (breath),  so I put on my best smile and cut up a few hundred more squares (teachers, I hope you like your Christmas presents!)

And right now, I'm sipping on some grape juice and I will sign off and sip on some more.

With Love

Liv xo

Burlap Wreath Tutorial

Yesterday in my christmas craft  post I said I'd give you a little tutorial on how to make one of these pretty burlap Advent wreaths:
So firstly, pop Mr Buble's christmas album on and pour yourself some festive bubbles!

Cut 3 x 1m length strips of burlap and wrap the entire foam ring, fastening with small nails. (nails hold better than pins)

Cut approximately 80 squares (12 x 12cm)

Fold them in half

and half again

place nail through all folds and into foam ring

The nails should be spaced about 1 inch apart.

Fill the wreath up, leaving a gap for the bow.

Nail/pin bow in place.

Then using two natural coloured burlap squares, as above, plump up the bow loops.

Plump up the bow loops.

Fill in the gaps with more red squares.

Nail in a small ribbon/loop at the back for hanging.

and

Voila!

Merry Christmas

With Love

Liv xo

Christmas Craft

Sorry I've been MIA for sooo long. I have had a busy couple of weeks and unfortunately my little blog has suffered.
So it's time to catch up (FYI: if you don't like rambling blondes then get the hell out of here, I won't judge you!).

ok. To say I loveeeee Christmas is a pathetic understatement. 'Less is more' is my decorating mantra, except when it comes to Christmas. In fact, I get butterflies when I see Christmas trees in stores in late September, I get giddy at the sight of twinkling lights and don't get me started when I hear christmas carols.
Christmas is such a special time, a time to celebrate with family, a time for giving and most especially, a time to give thanks to God and reflect on Jesus' birth and life.

I've begun my Christmas preparations early this year again. I have given two 'christmas decorating' talks, hosted a wreath workshop and have another 3 workshops lined up for this coming week.
I had the first workshop last friday and it was so much fun, here is a pic of two of my girls with their  Advent wreaths.

Pop back later this week and I will post a whole tutorial on how to make them!

Two more wreaths I made as demonstrations for the talks I gave:

(my fav!)

Last weekend the kids begged to put the tree up but I held off for fear of my hubby thinking I'd gone completely mad, so we made a recycled timber tree for our garden instead. Two actually.

Buz and I made this one out of off cuts we had from our reno. We didn't even use paint, all the timber was this colour, Cool huh! 

Can't wait to put it into the ground and drape twinkling white lights on it!

and Jimmy made this one, inspired bya tree in the latest House & Garden mag.

But this weekend the kids won the battle. I tried desperately to convince them otherwise (wink wink).

Michael Buble sang to us as we hung the decorations, set up the nativity and tangled (and untangled) the lights.

I love whilst the three biggies fought for the top branch and their favourite decoration, Bear was content with a 12 month old candy cane he found in the box! puke. 

By the time Dec 25th comes around we usually find Joseph up in the rafters doing some carpentry and a sheep or two on the roof. Mary has been known to wear the crib as a sun hat....but hey, he is only two, he'll get the message eventually. 

Buzzy also made this tiny paper tree:

...and Jimmy this very welcoming sign! (any tips on tactful removal?)  

I keep chanting my mantra "less is more" but it never sticks at Christmas.

(remember to come back for the wreath tutorial tomorrow)

With love

Liv xo