A Christmas Story Unfolds at A Fanciful Twist…

I have so many snippets of Christmas to share. The sparkle of December is really so magical, especially when that childhood feeling of Christmas sneaks up on you and you feel it in your heart.

I had about 500 photos to choose from and I was able to get it down to around 50.

I know it’s a lot, but hopefully they help you feel like you can step right in through the looking glass and join me.

The feeling of Christmas came slowly to me this year. I really wanted to just be still for a moment and enjoy all the seasons. I love autumn so much, I had this deep pull in my soul to just stop the madness and go at my own speed.

I was a little late in decorating for the holidays, but I did end up putting up a smaller tree. However, the most important thing to me was to incorporate flowers and greens from the garden throughout the house.

We have had such beautiful weather, there are roses in bloom and there are buckets of citrus of every kind in my garden. I make pomanders every year, and they make the house smell incredible.

I think that sitting down to put cloves in oranges to make the pomanders was where the spirit of Christmas truly found me this December, right before my birthday on the 11th.

It looks like I put a lot of effort into my tabelscape and such, but really I didn’t even take out many of my Christmas bins this year. I used items that were more readily available, and to be honest it created a different feeling which I needed. A sort of change to how I do this, which was very inspiring to me. Doing things a little differently was such fun.

My Little tree is mostly adorned with citrus ornaments and a few baubles in pops of bright colors.

A few pomanders and greens for the mantel as well.

Tossed ribbons here and there, especially for the bunnies, and everything quickly morphed into that festive holiday feeling.

This photo above is literally through the looking glass, as I took it from the reflection in a hallway mirror looking into the great room.

The photo below was taken straight on, and what I decided for the urn was that I wasn’t ready to part with all the roses from my summer garden. So, I simply decided to add ribbons and dried citrus. It really keeps that floral garden feeling that I love to surround myself with, but with a touch of Christmas ribboned festivity.

I suppose the greatest reality is accepting that my house always feels a little decorated for the holidays or a party. So, it wasn’t too difficult to add just a few more bits and bobs to really bring in Christmas.

I know I seem like a “more is more” type of girl, but I don’t know how that always happens. I really do love little charming touches the most. Perhaps it is the number of little touches I add, as opposed to simply just adding one. Alas, it is what it is, but the “muchness” does happen in its own organic way.

The Pearly Gates roses have been offering so many stunning blooms this month. I truly have gasped over them. On my birthday I discovered these and they are still going strong today.

I purchased the wreath and tree candles, plus the Christmas Tree blow molds, this year from the John Derian collection at Target. The blow molds light up and flicker, which I found to be the perfect fun little touch to my tablescape. My mom loved them, so that made me happy. I had a little birthday party here with my family and we got to enjoy all these little tid-bits, which makes everything more fun for certain. Enjoying with others adds the icing to the cake.

My bunnies are holding court in front of the fireplace this year, reading us all kinds of beloved tales.

I added some extra Christmas books to the table and just strung my ribbons around with no rhyme or reason. Just however they fell really. There are branches I painted white from about 8 years ago in the urn, which I just hang flowers from to dry. They are really doing all the work, and I hope they don’t snap unexpectedly, haha. You really cannot even see them at this point.

It’s really a kind of a beautiful mess in person, if you fancy this sort of thing. You know, a cacophony of dried flowers, citrus and ribbons. Oh, and a few antique baubles got tucked in there for good measure.

As you can see, my big yellow dollhouse is away, taking a vacation in the conservatory whilst the giant 1:6 scale Blythe dollhouse is getting its turn at celebrating the holidays in its place. The next time I meet you here I will share photos and stories about the dollhouse (inside and out). My parents renovated it for me about 10 years ago. My mom is truly a master dollhouse renovator. She is currently working on another one for me and I will share it when she is done. I need to share the giant pink one she renovated a couple of years ago that I gifted to her. I will take some photos when I am there.

The ribbons, candles and twinkle lights make the house feel so festive and sparkly. I keep my twinkle trees out year-round because they just add a certain kind of magic that needs to always be around for maximum daily joy.

I reupholstered all the dining chairs in 2020 myself.

It was a huge job, but I am really happy that I did it.

I had a very colorful striped tablecloth I was going to use, but decided to leave my summer tablecloth on, and I think it works well with the greens.

Just walking by the table, you get a huge swirled scent of the cloves and the oranges, plus the rosemary and pine greens. I just can’t believe how good it smells, it’s wonderful.

Here’s another view (below) from the looking glass in the hallway outside of the kitchen.

It’s one of my favorite views every day, through the mirror, especially when the sun shines through all the crystals on the chandelier and creates disco light designs all over the house.

Swan is wearing a plaid ribbon, with all manner of whimsical characters floating about.

With the green and white, the little pops of color really stand out. Pink and orange always make me happy.

Below is a photo not through the looking glass. However, I really do like the looking glass versions above.

Twinkly lights and flowers make me happyyyyy…

I am such a huge fan of dried garden delights. I’ve just always gravitated towards them. I remember when I was a child there was this shop in a big old barn that had dried herbs and flowers hanging from the rafters and grape vines intertwined throughout all the wood beams with twinkle lights. The scent in the shop was unreal to me. I’m pretty certain that is where my love of dried flowers and herbs began.

I can’t tell you how many dried oranges I ate whilst hanging them. Just slowly nibbling on them, so yummy.

Lovely little things to make us happy. Isn’t that what it is all about? Surrounding yourself with the things that you love, that bring you joy?

Of course, we cannot have Christmas without a few miniature loves and little toys.

This is my new favorite spot in the house. I just want to spend all day here with all my little things, right by the fireplace, reading books and sipping tea. Nothing more, nothing less…

I painted the buffet a few years ago, and I striped the top in the two tones of pink I mixed up.

Alice in two tones of pink was not planned. Funny how that just worked out. In fact, Alice is a vintage wooden santo doll that is wearing a pink wig.

I took some photos of Christmas corner for you too. This little tree is always here, year-round, with the paper dress mannequin I made a lifetime ago.

The garden roses again, and the garden greens, making me so happy this Christmas.

The Pearly gates roses are so reliable and bountiful, it’s amazing.

That cabinet used to be filled with Christmas things, but I decided to turn it into a proper porcelain cabinet and have my larger tea sets in there, with my colorful glass collection at the top.

I pretty much always have stars on the mantel, so I just added a green garland, pomanders and ribbons.

The candles always add just the right amount of warmth.

I left my striped black and white ribbons up, which I use for Halloween and everyday use as well.

Cozy little desk to sit at by the fireplace, with books and…

An actual antique wood carved nutcracker.

And then back to my favorite little nook…

With a smattering of happy little faces.

By the way, you will not believe the story I have to tell you about what Mister Lovee got me. I’ll save it for next time, but it was a total surprise of very wonderful old things that I love.

They will fit right in with my other whimsical little people.

There’s no rhyme or reason here, just a menagerie of things I love.

These tiny little porcelain dolls make my heart skip a beat, and the antique cotton spun swan is just a little treasure to me.

Little 1935 Santa had to show up…

With spools, antique tiny angels, a very small China doll and of course my tattered old pink dollhouse that I love just as it is.

This little vignette could not make my childhood heart any happier.

So, there we have it, a million and one photos, I hope you have made it this far.

I took me a couple of days to put this all together for you, but I really enjoyed doing it. The process is long, but it’s such fun when one is done. Then you are happy to have taken the time to do it. Well, at least I am.

It is so hard to believe that next week at this time it is officially Christmas Day.

Life seems to be flying by at faster speeds all the time.

Do you feel that way as well?

It’s funny because as much as I was like, I’m not ready for Christmas, I am now totally in the holiday spirit.

It’s so warm here though, as we are in a little warm wave in the 70’s.

It’s just absolutely glorious.

Although at night it drops and I was chilly last night.

I had to get up and put on socks at 1 a.m., and I am not really a sock person.

Meaning that I love and like socks, I just don’t wear them unless it’s cold.

But I sure love kitschy funny socks with characters and things on them.

Today Poppy had to get x-rays because we thought she was having a hip problem, but she actually tore her knee. I’ll spare you the details, but she’s on bed rest for 4 weeks now, even though she wants to run despite the pain. So, I will be taking her on holiday with me, which I am looking forward to.

I think she was a bit over medicated though because we are now home and she is still comatose hours later. We had to carry her in, and she will not budge. Poor little sweetie, but at least she does not need immediate surgery, as long as we can heal her in these 4 weeks. If she reinjures herself, which is entirely possible, then she might need surgery in the future.

The vet said that very muscular strong dogs often have this sort of injury, and boy is she strong and fast.

Luckily it is sun shiny and beautiful outside, with all the trees officially turning yellow and red and losing their leaves.

A little late in autumn, but still autumn nonetheless.

Well, I am off to make pies and then chili for dinner.

I still have to wrap everyone’s gifts and make the most fun kitschy hats I have planned.

It will be a very busy next 5 days, down to the wire.

But I will be back with Blythe dollhouse photos if all works out as planned.

Which means that could be a pie-crust promise, but I will try.

I hope you are doing wonderfully well in your neck of the woods.

I am off for a little walk and then to start baking and cooking.

I do actually feel at peace in my soul and not stressed at all.

I decided to replace any holiday stress with holiday fun.

Change my outlook to enjoying the madness rather than feeling like my head might pop off with everything I have to do.

Fun and slowing things down, that is my motto.

Cheers with shroomnog in teacups to you!

I will see you very very soon.

Looove, Vanessa