To the side of our garden in front of the conservatory we have allocated an area for growing fruit. We have a few gooseberries already planted against the fence together with a pear tree trained across the fence and a few autumn raspberries but sadly up until now the area has been neglected.

I was inspired by an episode of  The Edible Garden where Alys planted a mini forest garden. I thought it would work in our small space. Last year the area was very weedy and the gooseberries and raspberries were left to fend for themselves but even with the weeds they thrived, I was even encouraged by the fact a strawberry plant self seeded and grew happily among the weeds.

I cleared the space of weeds, cut back the raspberries and started to design the area.

I wanted the fruit beds to be clearly defined, I like a sense of order! I wanted easily accessible gravel paths softened with forget me nots, violas, thyme and ferns.

With the help of my dad I built the fruit beds with timber edging.

Timber Edged Fruit Beds

I painted them to match my veggie beds and added compost to feed the soil. I then planted the beds with the Joan J Autumn Raspberries down the centre of two of the beds. The third bed contains my gooseberries. I have underplanted all three beds with Marshmello strawberries, keeping the strawberries to the edge of each bed so they will hang over the wooden edging and leave sufficient space for the other fruit bushes.

Painted and Planted Fruit Beds

I still have several jobs to do before the fruit garden is finished but I have made a good start.

Jobs still to do:

• Plant raspberries currently on order.
• Plant one more gooseberry this time a red one.
• Plant four blackberry plants along the fence.
• Gravel the paths with pea shingle on membrane.
• Plant flowers along the path to soften it.
• Add stakes to each end of the raspberry beds and stretch wire across.
• Paint the fence.
• Mulch the beds with bark.
• Plant a Buddleia at each side of the garden bench to soften the view of the fruit garden.

I had not realised it before but I seem to have alot of decorations featuring birds.

Tweed Robin

Little tweed birds handmade by myself three years ago while nursing my terminally ill cat. These little birds are so bitter sweet as I really love the way they turned out but they bring back very sad memories of my little cat Willow.

Gold Bird

This bird once featured pride of place on my old fireplace garland I had lots of them but only a few now as my cats seemed to like to sit on the mantlepiece and torment them.

Tilda Bird

Pretty wooden Tilda bird.

Goose

Lovely fat wooden Tilda goose.

Bird Bauble

Pretty sparkly bird bauble.

Dove

My bargain find of this year. I bought these from a garden centre 3 for a £1, they were a little grubby but I added some glitter glue and they look fantastic!

Owl

Stunning glass owl.

Gold Bird

Super sparkly gold bird. He clips to the branches so he sits perfectly on my little tree.

I’ve been busy making another wreath, this time for my living room mirror.

Moss Wreath Over The Fireplace

It started just like my other wreath with a polystyrene base and as before I covered it in fabric, this time green.

Covering With Fabric

I then covered it with florists moss using a glue gun and for extra sparkle I also wrapped it with fine silver thread.

Covered In Moss and Wrapped With Silver Thread

Star Studded

I then studded the wreath with lots of silver sequin stars in three sizes. They were held in place with dressmakers pins. I then hung it over the mirror with a length of purple velvet ribbon.

I’m really pleased with how it turned out  and I feel it complements my mantlepiece perfectly!

Mantle

The mantle was a little bit of a quandry for me this year. I have used a large green garland for years but this fireplace just did not suit such a traditional garland and also I felt it looked out of place with the silver tree. I pondered and searched the internet but nothing really jumped out at me until……I visited my local garden centre and found this glittery silver garland. It was perfect and it sits so well with our new tree and doesn’t over power the fireplace.

I finished it off with a silver star to match the tree topper and added my handmade stockings.

Mistletoe Stocking

Holly Stocking

Mistletoe Detail

Holly Detail

White Winter Wonderland Christmas Tree

And Finally…….the white winter wonderland Christmas tree. I created the concept for this tree when we had the snow last year. Our as yet undecorated and unheated conservatory last year turned into a frosted wonderland with frost on the inside. When we moved into our house the previous owners hadn’t done very much with the conservatory it had a cold tile floor, no heating and no electric so when the harsh winter arrived last year it was as cold in there as outside! So …….I decided to have a winter wonderland theme for Christmas in there.

This year it is quite a different room we have redecorated put in lighting and heating, added a carpet, curtains and completely furnished the room to create a second sitting room….. it is now a perfect setting for our white Christmas tree.

White Tree

Snowflakes

More Snowflakes

Frosty Baubles

Crochet Snowflake

Dove

Snowflake Baubles

The lights on the tree are snowflake shaped aswell I found them in Ikea this year together with the little clear baubles and the spiky white stars. The little silver snowflakes were also purchased in Ikea several years ago! I also have a few vintage finds on the tree…… a few white silk baubles and some pretty small white bells which I remember from my childhood back in the 70’s. When I finshed the tree I felt it needed a lift somehow so…… I added lengths of coiled star wire and lametta…..that’s a blast from the past I remember trees draped in it in the 70’s.

The final flourish in the room was my handmade snowball wreath. It was simply made using a cardboard base wrapped with white tinsel and lots of white pompoms glued all over the wreath. Sparkle was added with glitter glue and a few tiny paper snowflakes.

Snowball Wreath

I have big plans for this room next year…….I intend to create a little Winter Wonderland Putz village around the conservatory window sills…….. but that’s a job for next year!

Champagne Gold Tree

Our dining room is small but I really wanted a tree in there so opted for a small gold tree. It’s a very subtle gold it actually made from pale gold and silver tinsel. I have had to be very reserved with the baubles I can use on it as it is so small.   I have kept the colour pallette simple with pale gold and mocha and a hint of colour with wooden Tilda decorations.

Gold Tree

Tilda Angel

Tilda Pig

Baubles

Acorns

The Eclectic Tree

We have always had a natural looking tree in our living room but we decided this year to buy a taller tree for the living room. We went for a slim but tall silver tree to set off our collection of glass and vintage baubles.

We have collected over the years an eclectic mix of baubles mainly large glass baubles but we also have a small collection of vintage baubles. I’m not a fan of plastic baubles although we have a few near the bottom of the tree as one of our cats enjoys flicking his tail against the tree so we decided to play safe and have plastic baubles at the base of the tree incase he knocks off baubles.

The baubles have been bought on our travels and each year I enjoy buying new unusual baubles to add to our collection. There are a few firm favourites which I would be gutted if they were broken as they are irreplaceable! The tree is bold, brash and totally over the top but I love it!

Silver Tree

Beautiful Red Vintage Bauble

My Favourite - Little House Bauble

Vintage Silk Onion bauble

Gold Vintage Bauble

Three Modern Baubles

Vintage Baubles

Handmade Mistletoe Heart

I seem to have an excess of Christmas trees. It has to be said that I have a slight obsession with Christmas trees at the last count I have four trees and next year it is due to rise to six possibly seven.

All the trees are artificial, I can’t get my head around chopping down a tree simply for one month, I hate to see dessicated Christmas trees just thrown out in January it seemes cruel some how!

We have a tall but slim woodland themed tree in the hallway, a glitzy over the top eclectic tree in the living room, in the dining room we have a small champagne gold coloured tree and finally in the conservatory we have an all white winter wonderland tree.

Woodland Tree

Snowdrop Fairy

Woodland Tree

The tree is decorated with woodland creatures, toadstools, birds, lanterns, fairies, berries, pinecones and white, silver, grey and pale green baubles.

Ivy Bauble

Mouse and Toadstool

Narnia Lantern

Iceskating Fairy

Toadstool Fairy

Toadstool

Woodland Tree

Each year I add to this tree usually with a new Gisella Grahame fairy, this year it was the ice skating fairy and my husband added the mouse. I was very relieved when his contrtibution was the mouse as last year when I created the tree I asked if he would like to add anything to this tree bearing in mind its is a Woodland Tree and he bought……. wait for it ……. a polar bear!……. how many polar bears do you find in a woodland I asked?!

A couple of years ago I came across these fantastic little Christmas stockings and thought they would make a lovely advent garland. As I am hopeless at knitting I asked my mother to make them for me. She knitted each stocking and I stitched them up added the ribbon hanger and a little tag for each advent day. They were all strung on a length of ribbon and bells added for extra embellishment.

Each stocking is a perfect size for a single chocolate so we tend to fill them up with our favourite choccies.

Advent Stockings

Advent Stockings

Close Up Of The Advent Stockings

This morning we woke up to find we had been transported to Narnia.

Winter Wonderland

It certainly a fantastic start to December.

It has been snowing lovely large fluffy flakes and it shows no sign of slowing down as yet.

The garden is blanketed in a thick covering of snow. You can no longer see any garden features just large mounds of marshmallow.

Snow Around The Pond

The snow is obsecuring the edges of the pond and it looks more like a mountain stream high up in the Alps.

Our bench gives a really good indication of the amount of snow that has fallen.

Snow Covered Bench

Snow Covered Cloche

Icicles On Holly

Our Holly bushes seem to be suffering the most as not only are they covered in snow but they have sprung icicles. I’m sure they will be ok as they survived the snow and ice of last year without any problems.

We woke up this morning to the first flakes of winter. It is only a light covering but as it’s so cold outside it doesn’t look like its going away any time soon so I’m hoping we get more snow today!

It reminded me of a yule log dusted with icing sugar and as the sun caught the snow you just caught a slight sparkle.

The Back Garden

Snow Covered Veg Beds

I have lots of Geraniums tucked up for winter in my cloches, I’m hoping the protection of the cloches and bubble wrap will get them through the winter and I can plant them out again in spring. I have taken a belt and braces approach as I have some in the garage in case my experiment with the cloches doesn’t work. I have been opening up the cloches during the day to allow the air to circulate and so far they seem happy!

Snowy Front Garden

The bird table and feeders are a hive of activity this morning, I keep it well stocked up with fat balls, mixed seed, peanuts, nyjer seeds and sunflower seeds. The birds seem to love it and there is usually a queue of birds waiting patiently (or not so patiently in the case of  the Goldfinches) in the Lilac tree.

The birds also love the firey orange berries on our Pyracantha. They hop onto the living room window sill and help themselves much to the annoyance of our cats who hate the boldness of the birds daring to perch on their window sill!