DIY Christmas

I never had a big interest in “crafts” shall we say, or been particularly good at coming up with ideas for making things. But I think that moving to Denmark, and being surrounded by people who have literally grown up making everything from decorations to confectionery and costumes, I must be somehow absorbing some of the “crafting” spirit. This week I decided that our witch hazel bush was in need of a trim (if we want anything to grow in the garden next year!). I ventured out into the snow, disturbed our feathered visitors and clipped back the overgrown shrub. I have seen people use the curly branches for various things before and I figured I could make some sort of an alternative Christmas tree from them. Cheap (free), no waste, and home made, perfect!

Button decorated mini Christmas tree

I started small and set about sorting the smaller branches and tying them together in a “tree like” fashion. There were some balance issues (and still are!) but I managed to get my creation to remain standing unsupported. After that I made a larger version which can provide shelter for the presents awaiting delivery! While I was looking for a suitable piece of string to secure the “tree” i stumbled across a rather large button collection I have been carrying around the world for some time.

A well traveled button collection finds an alternative use!

This is when the creative juices really started to flow! I decided I could try and make some miniature decorations out of buttons and some stray beads I had collected from broken  bracelets. Why not give them a second lease of life, if somewhat alternative! Here are some of the ideas I came up with. I am quite pleased that without buying anything and simply recycling some garden waste and things found at home, I came up with some decorations, which I’m pretty sure, no one else has at home!

Our First Snow

Finally the first real snow has arrived in Denmark. Unfortunately I was back in Ireland and missed the excitement. Thankfully Rasmus was home, with camera at the ready, to capture the magical event. Here a very fluffy robin tries to keep warm and fed as he visits our home made bird table. Snow is wonderful, for two reasons, in my opinion. Firstly the light it brings, and casts on the ground, and secondly the tracks left behind by everything that moves. It gives us an insight into a wild world that we rarely encounter close up, especially in cites and towns.

Grey days and flowers

Today was one of those grey days. Last winter, my first in Denmark was full of days where the clouds never really parted. Days where it was hard to tell what time it was, as the light levels never really changed. Those grey days drained the colour out me. I spent a lot of time hunting colour, to escape the greyness. Today I will add a splash of colour to the greyness by posting some of my favourite flower photos from the last year. The autumn will grants us a final splash of colour before the winter arrives. After that I will be visiting the flower shop I fear!

Daisy – always make me smile

Delicate pinks in our garden, a gift from previous residents

Under the trees lives in a carpet of yellow

Taking the colour inside – so important

Delicate blues

Green and yellow, simple

And finally – the flower of the sun – instant happiness