A Merry Christmas

Just thought I'd pop in and share with you a Christmas tree created by mother nature, I darken the image as the tree was getting lost in the bright harsh sunlight, but the tree is very real and is growing in a garden near my daughters school, I asked the owner of the house would you mind if I take a photo of your Christmas tree in the garden, they said "we don't have a Christmas tree in the garden", until I showed them, they laughed and said "omg we walk pass that every day and didn't even realise it was in the shape of a Christmas tree...hmmm maybe we should put lights on it" I agree I replied...anyway I love the way the purple flowers are dotted around like Christmas bulbs...

don't you think it's the sweetest thing you've seen!

I would like to take this time to thank each and every one of you for visiting blog, I appreciate it and I'm very humble that you find my blog interesting to come back to read time after time, this also helps me find more interesting reading for you...and of course keeping my creative drive flowing...so I thank you.

Merry Christmas to you all, and wishing you all a Happy New Year.

Kirstie

and the

Adeline Country Cottage Family

xxxx

can't wait to see you all in the New Year 2011

Inspiring Christmas Table Setting part 2 and Giveaway Winners

As Christmas is getting closer and we are still searching for idea's on how to decorate our tables I share with you part 2 of Inspiring Christmas Table Settings, I will get to our winners of my giveaway alittle later, so in the mean time...

we begin with a more softer colour palette, white, water blue, pink and silver...

 for a center piece I have used a vintage clear water blue pedestal bowl and just added some silver glass ornaments for interest, a tall blue vase filled with pale pink roses...

 

the vintage clear water blue pedestal bowl can be found at antique stores from time to time, expect to pay up to $70 this one here was $65 glass Christmas ornaments $6 each and the beautiful roses $8...

once again lovely silver cutlery to add balance to the table and complement the Christmas ornaments and napkin rings which cost around $8 for a box of 12...

stunning vintage plates with just a hint of blue lovely little pink roses just sets the scene, a plate like these can set you back $20 to $40 a plate and the platter's on the dresser in the back ground around $60 to $70 but well worth it as they are just beautiful...

the sweet little pink vintage wine glasses with there little bows around the edges are just divine, $25 a set of 6

maybe change the Christmas ornaments for some extra colour perhaps...

 the very muted blue and green vintage water glasses are a set of six... 2 blue, 2 green, and 2 pink, these can be picked for a few dollars at a opp/thrifty store from time to time, but be awhere that you may need to build your set as I did, one or two at a time, I believe they are normally sets of 6 of the one colourway originally...

this time I went for lots of vintage linen layering, the top two are are heavily laced around the edges, would you believe the large one on the bottom is a dust ruffle that is doubled over to give the feeling of luxury...

I have enjoyed doing this setting, love the colorway and how quick and easy it came to mind...

I hope you have enjoyed Inspiring Christmas Table Setting Part 2.

Now to announce the 2 winners...who left comments on my last post to go in the running for my gift tag Christmas packs...

and the first winner is...

No 8 Carilyn from My Lil Rosebud

and the second winner is...

No 10 Lisa from Inn Country

congrats to you both, inbox me with your details so I can send them straight out to you and I hope you both enjoy my Christmas tags.

Inspiring Christmas Table Setting part 3 may come a little earlier as I have some exciting news I would like to share with you all as well.

Thank you and I hope you have enjoyed my inspiration for Christmas...

Kirstie.

Inspiring Christmas Table Setting and Giveaway

With Christmas spirit in the air, children making there Christmas wish lists, and while we all begin to think of decorating our homes, I thought I'd share a few Christmas table settings with you for the next few weeks, just some simple and beautiful idea's that have been running around in my head...

so we begin with a Traditional colour pallet, white, green, red and gold.

  

 white vintage linens layered, here I have used 2 white vintage table cloths $5 each the vintage napkins were 20c each, with the top being a vintage poinsettia Christmas cloth that was picked up at a opp/thrifty store for 50c ...  

the center piece I have used a vintage rose hankie basket from an antique booth $25, large enough to fit a small gold candelabra inside, some of you maybe lucky enough to have a holly tree growing in your garden as I do, I've taken a few branches and just popped them inside and around, just added a few vintage tins, that could hold some treats for the guests

nothing is more beautiful then vintage cutlery, ok it is alittle unorthodox having silver and gold on the same table setting, but finding gold cutlery is alittle hard...don't you think, and I'm sure your guests will think the table looks beautiful way...

I have used some of my own gift tags here for place cards adding alittle personal touch, left in the bags so no glitter falls on the plates, just a simple handmade gift for them to take away with them...



Vintage glass ware is so stunning, I think it adds warmth to the table, you can find them in opp/thrifty shops for a few dollars a set of six...

A simple faux apple cake made by a dear friend Natasha is aways handy to have, the cake and the friendship that is, but I think the cake sets the Christmas table off, a beautiful touch I think...

whats also nice to use is some simple white ceramic roses napkin rings and dotted a few Christmas baubles around the table too... 

now for the fun part I have decided to have alittle giveaway too...

the giveaway is for 4 of my gift tag packs, 2 will be given away here on my blog and the other 2 will be on my facebook
Adeline Country Cottage page, you must become a fan of the page to enter...

and leave a comment here as well for second chance, and the winner will be announced next Monday 6th December on my Inspiring Christmas Table Settings 2 post...
Good Luck!!!

Thank you and I hope you have enjoyed my inspiration for Christmas...

Kirstie. 

A Little Adeline Cottage...

For the past couple of years I have wondered should we have sold Adeline Cottage, it was the first family home we bought, and I always thought that my girls would grow up in this sweet little cottage,

 

alot of renovations went on in this home to bring it back to life and not to mention the emotional roller coaster ride we where on

in doing so. The front of the house was full of trees and you could bearly see the cottage, so we had them removed, painted the

house in duck egg blue and the trimming in airy cream...

the trees being removed also made way for the heritage fence, and  planted a forest of 7 silver birch trees, but as you can see only one now has survived, the thought behind having 7 silver birch tree's was in summer you had dappled light come through the flickering leaves to reveal a cute cottage behind them and of course shade, through Autumn the leave changed to yellow adding interest to the garden as the leaves fall and danced around in the wind, winter having no leaves allowed the winter sun into the front room adding natural light and warmth to the home...     

beneath the silver birch trees had been planted with a mass of different flowers that bloomed in spring giving a wild cottage garden, but as you can see only the poppies have survived...

even though most of the plants and tree haven't lived, my sweet Adeline is even more beautiful then I can imagine...

my trip down memory lane has brought a tear to my eye, and I wonder dear sweet Adeline will you still look the same for many years to come...

Kirstie

Christmas at Lilies On Brougham

So today I'd like to share a place that is dear to me, a place called Lilies On Brougham set on 4 acres in Eltham, 45 minutes from the Melbourne CBD, I have been visiting here for the past 6 to 7 years, I was introducted to Lilies by a teacher back when I was studying interior decorating and design, one of our projects was to turn (make believe) the little heritage listed mud brick cottage into a bed 'n' breakfast, this was the first visit, and I fell in love...   

form the moment you drive up the drive way you are greeted with french rustic urns, planters, outdoor settings and urban rustic architecture, through Autumn the leaves on the climber turns to the most brilliant deep rich red, it is a site to see...   

beautiful gardens that surrounds the acres, nursery to find that special plant you need or use the landscape service. The little mud brick on your left, that you can view inside, sometimes they set that up as a tea room too and other surrounding rustic buildings and sheds that has very large urns and planters to view and buy... 

you can just see the cottage on the left, I love walking out here with all that lavender, and the wisteria the smell is amazing, you really do feel like your in Europe, not that I've been to Europe, but I imagine that's what it would be like...  

so through the plastic strips, you are greeted with a rustic chippy green church pew that houses many rustic concrete urns and round silver grey baskets with lids, as you open the door the smell of French soaps in the air, as you walk into the gift shop towards the tea house cafe the aroma of coffee and amazing food from the kitchen lingers in the air, tantalizing your taste buds... 

most times I arrive here very early in the morning while its not busy, that way it give Wendy (owner) and I a little chance to chat, you can just see the back of her in image above, this is the tea room, if you plan on visiting you must ring to make a booking, as everyday is booked out, click on link at the top of the post for opening times, address and phone details...

All home ware is hand selected here and imported from France by Wendy and Melissa (sisters) as we move on you will find everything is French inspired and have a warm sense of home...  

oh and did I mention I supply Lilies with my gift tags, below are some of my Christmas line, generally I supply the French theme, which most of them come here and don't make my online boutique...

beautiful glass ware, white jugs, cups and teapot house inside the silver grey shelving... 

beautiful French soaps...

white French soaps and hand creams, with a children section...

The one thing I truly love is Wendy and Melissa's clothing line called Lily & Lulu very simply, relaxing and French inspired, from their many trips to France,

they also run ladies tours to France

one special time of the year, is time I love to visit, all the Christmas decorations...

oh and one Gail's paintings, I have to say Gail your painting works very well with their colorway of the shop...

beautiful glass domes, cake stands and candle urns...

black and silver Christmas ornaments...

now this is my corner, loving aqua, silver and white at the moment, so I have purchased some of these for my Christmas tree this year...

gorgeous!!! don't you think...

Eiffel Tower paper weights...

French grey scripted throw cushions above and below...

does anyone now what those sticks with handles are for...well let me tell you...you need two of them they have a split down the long stick you slide your news paper in, one for each side, and you hold the handles, not only dose it lend to elegance, but also to keep the black ink off your hands...

some rustic coat hangers...

a simple branch Christmas tree...

wooden stars boxes...

Now to these breath taking French doors, one day a set of these will be hanging in my house, I love them don't know how many times I walked back to them to dream... 

to some sweet knitted Christmas dolly's, aren't they sweet...

Thank you so much for visiting Christmas at Lilies on Brougham, all image where taken by me on the the owners approval, if you would like to see more of Lilies On Brougham, Lily & Lulu, ladies tours to France
 or the landscaping service please feel free to click on many link throughout this post.

Please visit this link Lilies Gallery to view some amazing images, on the top right hand corner of the image click on next, these are some images of the cottage, landscape and tea room. 

Have a wonderful week!

Kirstie