my scandinavian home: Christmas decorations

My home: Christmas tree

I hope you had a lovely weekend! Here in Sweden we were in for a treat - SNOW! According to tradition my little family and I went out to a sustainable forest and chopped down our own tree which we celebrated with glögg and hot chocolate (it was minus 5 after all BRRRRR!). Here are a few pictures of our shiny new Christmas tree!

Photographs: My Scandinavian Home

Altogether now 'Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches....!´:) Notice how much our tree is leaning in the photo with my little girls in their PJ's! TIMBER!

What did you get up to this weekend? Did you celebrate the first day of advent or are you not quite there yet with the festive season?!

PPS Don't foget to enter the Christmas GIVE-AWAY! :)

FILED UNDER: Christmas Christmas decorations my home

Christmas; Norwegian style

Hello! I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the first day of advent this weekend! On Saturday my family and I will head out to a special sustainable wood here in Skåne where we'll chop down our own Christmas tree (celebrated with a steaming glass of glögg!). To get into the spirit I thought I'd share some Norwegian Christmas decorating ideas from the home of the extremely talented Nina at Stylizimo blog.

Photographs: Stylizimo

I really love the simplicity of Nina's decorating ideas and am a big fan of white at Christmas. What about you - do you prefer white or cosy red? Or perhaps something bold like neon even?!

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming a new sponsor - The Reclaimed Flooring Company. This fantastic company offers unique flooring that is 'crafted by man, designed by nature'. Honestly, they sell my dream surface; unique wood flooring that tells a story and the passing of time written in each and every grain and knot. And the good news? They ship worldwide - yay!

PS Thanks to all of you who have entered the big give-away so far!

FILED UNDER: Christmas Christmas decorations

My home: advent calendar

December is just days away - soooo excited as it's my favourite month! This year I've actually made my own advent calendar. Now, I'm not really the queen of DIY but it was so much fun being creative. Each envelope will hold a clue to help the girls find the present hidden somewhere in our home (they love hide and seek!) which explains why they're looking so flat! I hope they enjoy it.

My Scandinavian Home

It was so easy to make as you can probably see from the pics! All I did was take 12 envelopes which I cut in half (we only had big ones at home), a black glitter pen, the black and white washi tape I bought in japan and my good old black board painted wall. The only thing I need to do next is re-arrange the numbers to make it a little tricker for my girls to find the day.

Are you making an advent calendar this year?

PS Back a little later today with a lovely home tour!

PPS Tomorrow I'm holding a BIG give-away on my blog, so exciting! I only wich I could win the Danish design prize myself!

FILED UNDER: Christmas Christmas decorations DIY DIY ideas DIY projects my home

Christmas inspiration Danish style

Oops. My Christmas dam just burst. I couldn't stop myself. These pretty Christmas images from Danish brand OiSoioi were to lovely to keep to myself. Besides, they sell the most beautiful Christmas decorations in their webshop and you need to allow time for delivery! All we need now is a little snow!

Oisoioi

When will you start decorating this year? Will you go all out or a few light touches here and there?

PS Thank you all for your lovely comments on my dining area yesterday you put a big smile on my face! Many of you commented on the sheepskin rugs and the good news is the two white ones are the LUDDE sheepskin from IKEA! :)

FILED UNDER: Christmas Christmas decorations Scandinavian shopping

Ylva Skarp's Christmassy home

I seem to be in country mode at the moment as I simply can't stop showing beautiful homes from the Swedish countryside! This converted school house over looking a lake near Leksand in Dalarna was also photographed by Magdalena Björnsdotter for Lantliv. It's the home of Swedish designer and calligrapher Ylva Skarp and her family. Ylva's personal stamp can be seen throughout the house, which is all decked out for a truly cosy Christmas!

Photography: Magdalena Björnsdotter for Lantliv

Such a beautiful home! What do you think?

I know it's only November and the last time I mentioned Christmas everyone panicked (haha!), but this home gets me feeling so Christmassy! I can't wait until the first weekend in December when we'll drive out to a farm in the Skåne countryside and chop down our Christmas tree (a family tradition always accompanied with a steaming mug of glögg (mulled wine). Do you have a Christmas tree tradition in your family?

PS Happy Bonfire Night to all my friends in the UK :)

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have a wonderful, toasty, Christmas!

Picture: Via Castles, Crowns and Cottages

I'll be back with a post on 28th December so pop by and say hi!

PS Don't forget, to enter the competition to win a Pick pic picture. You can enter until 31st December here!

Christmas hugs!

FILED UNDER: Christmas Christmas decorations

Tuesday DIY: Neon Christmas decorations

With the winter stolsis only two days away, it's soooo dark here in Sweden. And there's nothing like neon themed Christmas decorations to brighten things up. If you click through to Sania Pell and Purl Bee you'll find some great instructions on how to make some of these fab neon decoations yourself (if you still have the time!). Happy DIY!

Picture: Apartment Therapy

Picture and buy: Etsy

Picture: Miluccia

Picture and DIY project: The Purl Bee

Picture and DIY project: Sania Pell

Illuminate me here - are you a 'neon forever' type? Or is it more something you'd love to see....in someone elses home?!

FILED UNDER: Christmas Christmas decorations DIY DIY projects neons

Pretty Christmas decorating with winter branches

It really is cold here this afternoon. BRRR! I think that's why I was drawn to these lovely white Christmas images. I love the branches with presents, 'pepparkaka' (ginger biscuits), fairy lights. stars and baubles. So pretty! My little three year old made a ginger biscuit house this year. I really love it, it's all hickeldy pickeldy!

Via Bohemian Sense

The beautiful sitting room of blogger at Anna Leenas Hem

Via Bohemian Sense

Jon Horvarth

Psssst! If you would like to make a ginger biscuit house but don't have the time to make it from scratch you can pick up a kit from IKEA! You can also pick up pretty heart ginger biscuits to decorate with white icing. Perfect cheat!

FILED UNDER: Christmas Christmas decorations

Hanging around at Christmas

Hej hej! Slowly but surely I've been unpacking my Christmas boxes and dangling decorations around the house. These lovely pics show that you don't need much to create a lovely Christmas feel. Especially the heart lights - so romantic despite the cold, Brrrrrrr!