Tuesday 29 December 2015

Cosy winter days at home

"It´s the most wonderful time of the year" as they sing in the Christmas song. I really enjoy these winter days when there is snow and frost outside like in a fairy tale. Sun rises just for few hours allowing to light candles and spend time at home. I´m keeping a small pause from the handicrafts during the holidays. It is difficult for a creative person but I feel it is good to do something different and slow down for a while. I have gotten lots of new ideas that I have written down so that I have lots to do the year to come :)

One thing I am very sad about. After Boxing day people begun to talk that Christmas is over! It was on news and social media. Everyone is allowed to celebrate as they feel is best but it influences to my spirits a bit depressing way. Everyone has such a big rush to go to the sales and clean away the Christmas decorations. It might be idealistic but in this case I oppose the commercialism that encourages this kind of behavior. After we have ´bought the Christmas` they start selling something new and we allow it without any hesitation. Constant buying without any moment of satisfaction and completeness. After the hectic December it would be healthy to enjoy the whole holiday season in peace before the new challenges. When I was a little girl Christmas lasted from Christmas Eve to Epiphany when the Christmas tree and decorations were put away. Middle days went with winter sports and there were lots of old Christmas movies for children on the TV. Maybe I am living in a wrong time :)

I went so long with my nostalgia that I got some old movies and Christmas CD:s from the library to keep me in the mood. Instead of shops I have been taking a daily walk in the nature. I have also cooked festive food and baked buns and cookies. I have a pile of good historical novels from the flea market so good reads won´t run out. I have prepared for Christmas season so that I have no need to go out of my own magic circle :)

For those who are still in the mood for Christmas I have some photos. Maybe you will get some ideas for middle days and new year celebration. Best wishes

Sannu, Santas little helper ;)





This picture is from my balcony.









ps. Happy New Year! Hope it will be better than the last one :)

Wednesday 2 December 2015

Ready with the renovating! Time for Christmas.











Finally I got it all done. The project that had continued for the whole autumn is finished. At first it was just painting some furniture and redecorating. Then it spread to wall papering, new carpet, curtains etc. Of course it was all inspiring and it is difficult to stop :) Still I started to feel a bit tired after lots of weekends in the middle of chaos. I also missed all those "little" projects like crocheting and sewing that don´t take the whole house! After the Handicrafts Fair I have been thinking about felting as I bought lots of supplies for that. It is time since I have been felting (done it lot in the past) and now it feels new and inspiring. I have also lots of colorful fabrics waiting for sewing projects. I think December will go with sewing, felting and crocheting. It feels good to place all Christmas decorations and slow down to enjoy these beautiful December days. Many times you just wait for Christmas and then when December comes you don´t have enough time to realize that the season is here and now.

In these pictures you can see the corridor before and after wall paper. It is a pity that I didn´t remember to take pictures from the corridor with the former furniture. It was a real mess with all those beanies, mittens and scarfs hanging around. Not to mention about shoes. Now the chest of drawers takes the accessories and I put some of my clothes to goodwill to get storage for my shoes in the closets. I was thinking about the style I got in my corridor and I would say it is nostalgic scandi style with vintage elements. The strong colored wall paper connects the style with the other rooms, that have a little more bohemian atmosphere with India inspired colors.

Wishing inspiring December days for you all

Sannu


Tuesday 24 November 2015

My new wallpaper and finished picture wall










At last I got my walls renovated and cross-stitched pictures to an neat order. It became real frustrating to vacuum between the picture piles and living in an unfinished environment. I do love to have new ideas and decorate my home but I don´t like long gaps between before and after. Of course after the period in progress it feels extra good to look at the result that pleases the eye.

After I had painted the living room wall I went to the local hardware store and found some very good wallpaper from the sale. It cost only 1 euro per roll of about ten meters! (note: The reason for sale is that they don´t keep it in their collection anymore, before it cost 39 euros) The beautiful tulip pattern is nostalgic, romantic and modern at the same time. It fits all the styles I am combining in my home and makes the pale white wall a bit softer.

As you can see there are also other good ways to use wallpaper. I used some green wallpaper to renovate my bookshelves to fit my taste. A wallpaper makes boring 90´s bookshelves look more fun and pretty. The door knobs were wooden and I used golden spray paint to them.

This Christmas I am combining Indian style with luxurious materials, colors and bling bling to nostalgic Scandi style. I got inspired by new Maria Lång films that take place in the beautiful 1950´s and Pinterest´s bohemian decoration ideas. Also the wintry weather makes me want more warm materials and colors. Next weekend it is the first Advent and most of the people take their Christmas ornaments from the storage. Even though I have taken a bit lead, most of my decorations and plastic Christmas tree are waiting to get on their place. Can´t wait till weekend!

Best wishes
Sannu

Tuesday 10 November 2015

Christmas inspiration and crocheting projects


So little time so many inspiring projects to make! It is so dark outside that I feel like living in a cave. Weekend went with wallpapering. Now I have new wallpapers in my kitchen and living room walls. I will post pictures when I get some good photos. Still I have some unfinished home decoration projects like hanging up all my cross stitch pictures and finding a new chest of drawers for storing all those lose things in my corridor. 

In the meanwhile waiting for brighter days I have gone to basics and crocheted some granny squares. To squares I have been using yarn that I bought from a flea market. I think that it is easier to find nice color shades from the flea market than from the new shop collections. Think about eighties and all those bold texture yarns! Of course the problem is that the yarns are a collection of this and that from different manufacturers and time eras. Making granny squares is then a good classic way to use leftovers. 

Now I have planned to make blanket of these squares. To spare some time I am crocheting first four rounds to all squares. Then I fit squares together thinking what kind of bigger patterns they form. Then when every square is on their right place I start crocheting the fifth round simultaneously combining the squares together. I make the combining between the double crochet shells. 

Granny squares are nice and easy so that you can make these while watching telly. In the picture below I am using some Christmas ornament to a mobile. Now it is the best time to find Christmas decorations from flea market and combine them to something new. How about a wreath by using Christmas ornaments and scrap yarn (look above)? 



As if I didn´t have enough projects going on I am heading to southern Finland on next weekend. In Tampere there is the biggest Handicrafts Fair in Europe! Check out more information about the event here. It is time since I have last time been in the Finnish Handicrafts fair so I am extra excited. Couple of years ago when I attended every time this event started my Christmas season. Because of this I have decided to bring up my (fake)Christmas tree when I come back home :)

Very merry inspirational week to you all

-Sannu