Petersham Nurseries for Christmas 2012, so many pretty things!

Posted on December 17, 2012 by smudgetikka

I always make time for a visit to Petersham Nurseries before Christmas each year. It is one of the most inspiring places to visit both in the summer season and this time of the year.

Possibly the most tasteful Xmas decorations ever but also with a quirky vintage charm.

I noticed a post a couple of weeks ago from Bodie and Fou who paid a visit then and couldn’t help but be amazed by the display skills at the nurseries when I saw a wall that in their post had three vintage mirrors but on my visit, one having being sold had led to a display of mistletoe and a balancing Top Hat that looked as if it should have been there all along.

This year I added to my huge silver ball collection that I hang on my tree outside with a red and a green one since this years trend is all about colour!

Looks like the Mistletoe has had a good season this year, at Petersham Nurseries Xmas 2012

The giant silver ball tree decorations have grown even bigger this year at Petersham Nurseries Xmas 2012

The giant silver ball decorations have grown even bigger this year at Petersham Nurseries, Xmas 2012

Interesting to see Lucky Boy Sunday are being sold here now, Petersham Nurseries christmas 2012

Tasteful and beautiful Christmas tree decorations at Petersham Nurseries

Just love the random Xmas baubles bedded into the moss and crocus table

Sweet Angel wings decoration at Petersham Nurseries for Christmas 2012

These are the Christmas baubles I buy for my tree from India at Petersham Nurseries Xmas 2012

These are the baubles I buy for my tree from India at Petersham Nurseries Xmas 2012

Three mirrors, now two and Mistletoe and a Top Hat where the gap is, at Petersham Nurseries Christmas 2012

Rustic and religious at Petersham Nurseries Xmas 2012

I love these crystal Victorian hangings at Petersham Nurseries for Christmas 2012

All posts copyright Smudgetikka – permission must be asked for reproduction 2009 – 2012

10 Christmas wreaths from the streets of London for Xmas 2012

Posted on December 14, 2012 by smudgetikka

A beautiful sunny morning a couple of days ago led me to search out this year’s Christmas wreaths and see what the popular trends were for this year in South West London.

Silver seems to have replaced gold for the glittery ones and while the red and green classic berries and pine styles are still predominant I love the few more individual customised styles I found this year with the Gingerbread cookie wreath a particular favourite and winner of my Martha Stewart award this season!

On the whole there seems to be a little more budget cutting this season with wreaths a bit smaller than last year and a little less decorative too, check out last years selection here.

My favourite Christmas wreath with Gingerbread cookie decoration for Xmas 2012

I love the simplicity and chic of this style of Christmas wreath.

A real beauty here, a deep red Xmas wreath with substance

Pearls and glass beads substitute for red berries on this classy Christmas wreath

Silver sparkle for a 2012 Christmas wreath, last year gold was the favourite choice.

Simple sprayed twine and a classic red ribbon wreath for Xmas 2012

The classic but beautiful red berry wreath for a budget Christmas 2012

A fun decorated wreath with what appear to be the contents of christmas crackers strewn upon it.

Retro styling, this Christmas wreath looks like it comes from the 1970′s

My own wreath this year was a press day gift at Wilkinsons and looks far more classy than it costs.

My own wreath this year was a press day gift at Wilkinson and looks far more classy than it costs. It can be decorated with the rather Ralph Lauren looking tartan bows and a fine copper wire thread of lights, or cinnamon and pine cones.

My Petersham Nurseries baubles are back up in my magnolia tree again this year but I also loved these cheery red ones from a local garden!

Wilkinson make your own wreath is available here.

All posts copyright Smudgetikka – permission must be asked for reproduction 2009 – 2012

Su Blackwell, a new kids storytale book and exhibition at Anthropologie Gallery.

Posted on November 10, 2012 by smudgetikka

I adore these paper cut out sculptures by artist Su Blackwell fashioned from vintage books with enormous delicacy and care.

She has sculpted a new selection of images for a children’s book by Thames and Hudson called The Fairytale Princess just in time for Christmas. The book which contains seven classic stories from the Enchanted Forest may be for children but these intricate paper sculptures are for sale from £900 if anyone should feel like treating themselves to a rather expensive gift this Xmas season!

The sculptures are on display at Anthropologie in the Kings Rd and at Long & Ryle in John Islip St in London. I couldn’t resist a quick peek at the Xmas decorations at Anthropologie while I was there so I’ve popped a few of those onto the blog too!

Su Blackwell at Anthropologie in the Kings Rd London for Holiday 2012

The Fairytale Princess for Xmas 2012 a new kids bedtime book by Su Blackwell

Details from the book sculptures displayed at Anthropologie by Su Blackwell

Adorable fairytale castle and forest sculpture by Su Blackwell in stories from the Enchanted Forest at Anthropologie, for sale at £5,500

Fun sculpture of the princess in the bath and the frog! By Su Blackwell from The Fairytale Forest

Holiday Christmas tree decorations at Anthropologie

Gorgeous marbled effect blown glass Xmas tree decoration at Anthropologie for Holiday 2012

Great idea using old pasta jars and sugar sprinklers to make Victorian style decorations at Anthropologie for Holiday 2012

All posts copyright Smudgetikka – permission must be asked for reproduction 2009 – 2012

Beautiful recycled tweeds by Sarah Moore Vintage for dolls, faux taxidermy, pet beds and Xmas decorations

Posted on October 23, 2012 by smudgetikka

In fact if it can be worked with tweed Sarah Moore probably makes it. This lady has a beautiful collection of all sorts of gift items made with old Welsh blankets and assorted patchwork tweeds, her web site at Sarah Moore Vintage shows the wide breadth of her work,

I particularly like the little vintage dolls bedding sets, the tweedy pet beds ( which I have my eye on for my kitten) and the tweed stag’s heads and rabbits which she terms Vintage Fauxidermy!

She will also customise hacking jackets from a selection with special sleeve details, hems and button changes too. Her site is also full of glorious Instagram pictures with lovely vivid tones of jewel coloured tweeds perfect for Xmas gifts.

Sarah Moore Vintage Fauxidermy animals for winter 2012 Xmas gifts

Sarah Moore Vintage dolls bedding and tweed patchwork birds

Novel Christmas tree with handmade decorations from Sarah Moore Vintage

Beautiful pet beds for pampered cats and dogs made from Welsh vintage blankets at Sarah Moore Vintage

Sarah Moore Vintage heirloom dolls and bedding collection

Sarah Moore Vintage tweed patchwork cushions

Sarah Moore vintage, bespoke sleeve detail from a traditional tweed country hacking jacket

All posts copyright Smudgetikka – permission must be asked for reproduction 2009 – 2012

Christmas 2012 – It’s a Stag thing

Posted on September 21, 2012 by smudgetikka

If there is one theme I saw again and again for Xmas 2012 it was the unmistakable shape of a Stags head. Nothing quite sums up Christmas like it, a Nordic and Scottish symbol for winter white landscapes.

Here is a selection from the stores for the coming season in all varieties.

Greetings to the John Lewis press show for Xmas 2012

John Lewis wooden sculpture stag head for Christmas 2012 decorations

John Lewis Scandi chic stag’s head for Xmas 2012 decorations

Next metallic decorations for Xmas 2012 displayed on woollen stags head for Christmas 2012

Display stag and ornamental stags for Christmas 2012 at Next

Stag shadow light at Next for Xmas 2012 homes inspiration

Cut out stag decorations from Next, stags for every price point!

Stag decorated bags and china from Anorak for Xmas presents winter 2012

Realistic looking young stags head from Heals for Xmas 2012

Heals simple white stags head Xmas tree decoration for Christmas 2012

We three stags from Paperchase are for Xmas 2012 Christmas trees

Large stags head from the collectors editions at Steiff for Xmas 2012 ( this one might be a Moose I guess?)

Sweet little stag from the collector’s editions at Steiff toys for Christmas 2012

Contacts -John Lewis, Next, Heals, Anorak, Paperchase, Steiff

Since this post first went out I have been contacted with more great Stags heads so I am adding a few more in here, thank you to everyone who told me about them.