Christmas table centrepiece, and the berry dilemma...

You know how sometimes you throw together some decor pieces...

and it just works!

It looks perfect,

and it is exactly what you had in your mind's vision...

THEN

a disaster strikes...

Well that is exactly what happened with the Christmas table centrepiece!
So let's start the story from the beginning...

Take one gorgeous chippy French look handmade bowl.

Some beach-found wee pine cone like seedpods.

(Perfect for the bowl.)

A candle up in the cupboard,
 some red berries in the Christmas 'bits' box.
Put it all together,

and the vignette was lovely.

Simple, a little Frenchy, 
a whole lot wonky 

(a little like my tin can wreath on the front porch),

and rustic.

I loved it!

So it was placed on the table in readiness for the new table runner I had yet to sew.

But over the next few days,

berries were discovered in various places throughout the house.

And then one got chewed...

sigh.
And then another one...

The fur babies (alias the Christmas Grinches) 
had taken a particular liking to the red Christmas berries.

So I began to rethink my centerpiece design.
But the berry novelty quickly waned,
perhaps it was the polystyrene taste as only two got chewed, 
then
the new game became 'roll the little pinecones'!
I LOVE the wee bowl dressed in all it's merry glory.
And so it has remained the same...
Though I am not sure how many pine cones will actually survive to see Christmas Day.

The reindeer table runner was sewn
and with the bowl it looks
Christmas fabulous!

Stop by Tuesday for the step by step photo tutorial 
on how to make the  DIY Quick Sew Christmas Table Runner...

A Christmas tree in a red tin bucket, AND Yes - it's another Cushion...

Cushion passion... 

Cushion addiction...

Cushion love... 

Cushion craziness...

leads to self questioning moments of:  

Do I really need another cushion? 

And the answer my friends is ALWAYS  

- YES!

And here is the latest addition 

to the ever growing cushion collection:

Can you see why it was so irresistible?

Thank you Spotlight,

It's Christmas words are perfect 

for the Christmas season...

That cushion is almost as cute as the wee Christmas tree,

that sits proudly on the hearth,

 in the bright red tin bucket,

with the big burlap bow.

You'll find the bow tutorial here:

http://miabellapassion.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/simple-burlap-tree-bows.html

This tree is PICEA glauca 'Conica'.
It is a dwarf evergreen dense, cone shaped conifer with bright green foliage.
It's very slow growing and perfectly shaped.
It will grow to one metre  over 10 years!
So that means it would be fab in a large pot, 
or even as a bonsai.

Loving Christmas decor...

The White & Silver Christmas Tree...

What Colour is your Christmas?

 Do you have one tree or more?

 The little tree at Mia Bella Passions is always white and silver...

 This year there are silver baubles and a glitter reindeer...

 The tree's adorned with beautiful filigree hearts...

 Glitter balls, birds and glass hearts...

In the corner stands the believe sign made from pallet wood.

Pop over here for the DIY tutorial:

http://miabellapassion.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/diy-christmas-signs.html

  Of course there's a little bit of hanging bling...

 And more hanging hearts...

did you know that I love hearts!!

 Actually there is a lot of hanging bling!
These balls reflect a rainbow of colours...

 And the beaded bird is simply a cutie!

 My next favourite thing is the reindeer...

 But most of all I ADORE the angel...

 She is beautiful...

 And serene...

 This is the feathery ribboned tree topper...

 And to finish the whole vignette there is a star...

Sparkling brightly...

Atop a metal filagree glitter tree.
In this moment, 
I am LOVING Christmas Decorating...

Gathered Burlap Mantel with Candy Canes and Ornaments...

To decorate the mantel the burlap theme is continuing...

by using the overlocked burlap ribbon.

 In New Zealand this is called 'Jute Tree Tie',

 and It's available in the gardening section at Bunnings.

 Thread some thin ribbon on a needle

 Hand stitch a gather line...

 Pull to gather...
I have done mine loosely,
just pull it tighter for more compact gathers, 
but be aware that you will require much more burlap ribbon.

 Attach ornaments spacing evenly.

 I used a cute wooden ornaments I found 

in the new seasons Christmas range at Spotlight...

 Then add some ribbon hung candycanes.

Trim the loose bits of ribbon off.

Add a Simple Burlap bow to the centre for a finishing touch.
Learn how to make the bows here:
http://miabellapassion.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/simple-burlap-tree-bows.html

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Fairy Light Birdcage...and a pretty Christmas table vignette.

I LOVE fairylights!

And I LOVE birdcages!

Let's put them together for a stunning Christmas table vignette.

 Clea offered to help.

Ohhh, they are so pretty...

let's put them inside the birdcage.

Butterfly fairy lights are mesmerizing...

 And this is what they look like...

 What a pretty vignette.

It's still daylight,
so I can't wait to see them tonight!

On the table is the peekaboo heart candle... 

This is how you make one:

 http://miabellapassion.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/peek-boo-heart-jar-candle-holder.html

 The white birdcage is full of butterfly fairy lights...

and there is a large vintage jar 

full of berries and baubles in RED... 

And a gorgeous aroma of lavender from the candle jar.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!