Christmas display inspiration

How could I resist posting more beautiful images from Taverne Agency? Photography by Jim Hensley (top) and Nathalie Krag (all others).

First batch of knitted Christmas balls

I am having so much fun knitting up these balls. I discovered I can crank out one per night. Three down so far and have quite a few more to go since I want enough to fill a bowl. More shades of white and perhaps a few more shades of soft lavender? I think it will look pretty...

Snowflakes and doilies

Gorgeous white paper snowflake and lacy doily inspiration! White is soooo beautiful.

Top to bottom: Taverne Agency, Martha Stewart, Lobster and Swan, Ravenhill, Burda, VT Wonen.

Knitted hats

My two girlies wearing their newly knitted slouchy hats. These were the 'trial' hats and yes, now I know what to do and what not to do for the following 'new and improved' models (such as tightening up the ribbed band so the hat doesn't drop down over their faces). Lucky for me they love these just the way they are and have even been wearing them to school (!!). As an aside, they had so much fun at our impromptu 'photoshoot', aren't they sweet? :)

"Vintage" VT Wonen Christmas inspiration

I apologize to all VT Wonen readers who have seen these images before... They are several years old but I still find them so very inspiring and just had to post.The worn, rough cement, distressed reclaimed wood, and then the stark clean white contrasts... gorgeous. And what about the embroidered napkins? The branch used to display stockings and special decorations? Love it! Old news or not. :)

My new Japanese crochet book!

Package in the mail!! Is there anything more exciting? My new Japanese crochet book is as gorgeous as I hoped it would be. I don't often buy one since they are pricey, but when that 'special need' hits I order them from Traplett's shop on Etsy. I am still too intimated to order from Amazon Japan...

Vintage fabric Christmas 'trees'

Christmas trees sewn with my vintage fabrics! I think they still convey the wintery Christmas season message without screaming "Christmas decoration!". Especially once the decorating really gets underway. I created one cone pattern, then adjusted each one in order for every tree to be slightly different in size. The girls and I will be making a few more in white with embroidery. Fun!

Sally Scott

These cozy, wintery images from the Japanese Sally Scott Autumn/Winter catalog. Sally Scott is the fashion brand directed by Akira Minagawa (of mina perhonen) Almost makes me want to take up skating. This is where my girls start laughing hysterically. And do not stop.

Frieda Maria

Have been waiting to post images from Frieda Maria (Dutch stylist duo Margo Maria Weijer and Frieda Mellema) for some time... Sooooo beautiful. And yes, I am fully aware I am probably the last blogger in the universe to post about them, :)

Knitted Christmas Balls

Loving these knitted Christmas ornaments by Twinkle. As much as I love Twinkle I can't justify the rather large price tag so I searched and searched for a similar knitted ball pattern and found just the one on the I like lemons blog. Trying my first ball tonight. I am imagining a pile of snow white or colorful knitted balls in a bowl or basket, smaller knitted balls hanging from the ceiling or garland... Off I go, am a woman on a ball knitting mission. :) Will most certainly post images of finished product if I succeed. If however they turn out lopsided or square I will pretend I never mentioned these.

Ysolda scarf finished!

A knitting and sewing marathon weekend! No time for surfing or even blogging. (well, except this tiny post) I completed my lacy Ysolda scarf, knitted not one, not two, but THREE slouchy hats for daughters who are so in love with them they are still wearing them right now, at 8:32 pm. How's that for the biggest compliment they could ever give? I also sewed up a storm but that is a surprise for now. Enough to say it is Christmas decor related. And they are sewn with vintage fabrics. And they turned out sooo sweet.

My biggest challenge this weekend?? Trying to take pictures with absolutely no sunlight coming through the windows. The sun has disappeared. Dark clouds and rain is all we'll get for the next while I am sure. As cozy as that is while sewing and knitting, come picture time it truly bites. So excuse the not so great images above. We have a video studio at work, must borrow some studio lights. :)

J.Crew Christmas 09

Gorgeous images from the J.Crew Christmas 09 catalog. Drool... makes me wish for a white Christmas. Although come to think of it I somehow never seem to look this glamorous in the snow. In fact, I remember slipping and sliding in last year's snow, the chapped skin and lips, the multiple layers of clothes trying to keep warm and appearing at least twice my size... Okay, but I can pretend and imagine it being romantic and idyllic.

Nygårdsanna knits

Loving the styling/images at Swedish Nygårdsanna. Beautiful knits and that gorgeous crochet shawl! Would love to own the long, long oversize cardigan and big old boots. Just working on the knitted slouchy hat for daughter number one... hope it ends up looking like the one above. So is she I am sure...

Advent Calendars

Every year since the girls were born I planned to create a handmade, one-of-a-kind advent calendar for the girls. Something special. Instead every year they've had to make do with the usual box of chocolates with little windows. A mothers guilt... I am sure the windows with little chocolates behind them was enough and I know for a fact that it brought a lot of excitement year after year, but perhaps this year I can finally pull off something creative? Something very, very special, something they will remember always? Yes, I hear you. It is almost the middle of November and there's not a lot of creative time left... I will try. I have made a start by searching Flickr for ideas. Tons of inspiration as usual. Little origami envelopes, why didn't I think of that? And how about those little slippers hanging from clothespins?

From top to bottom, ziggiau, apfelbaum, sperobene, apfelbaum, and carla alexandra. And then there's always those adorable knitted little sock and mitten advent calendars...

70's treasures from Holland

Great busy weekend. Got some knitting done, as well as some very overdue chores around the house. Best of all, my highly anticipated (by me only) Dutch package came in Friday night! Joy! Christmas in November! Lots of oohs and aahs! (also by me only) No, the girls loved the contents of the box almost as much as me. :)

Treasures shown above consisting of German Emsa eggcups, an Emsa sugar and cream set (gorgeous, right??), three more Brabantia tins, 2 Arcopal bowls, and the cutest little 70's print. I love... Ordered them online from Birgit's incredible 70's vintage shop Retro Stuff in Holland. Great service and fast delivery! Now don't go crazy and please leave something for us desperate Dutch Canadians!!! :)

More Crochet Japanese Style

More Japanese craft book images from my previous scouring session of the Amazon Japan site. Soooo inspirational. Soooo many potential projects...

Steigerhout (reclaimed wood)

Crazy about reclaimed wooden furniture or anything else made from rough, used wood now. See previous Booom post. :) The images above are from VT Wonen (of course they are and yes, I seem to live on that site). Project instructions for the incredible cupboard (pronkkast) are available for those of you handy with a saw and hammer!

No post about reclaimed wood would be complete without also including my favorite stools from wood & wool stool. I have been loving them from afar forever and they are so perfect for this post. Now quite obviously they incorporate my other huge love also, grannies!!! All of Ingrid's work is so very beautiful, check out her Flickr stream as well as her brand new blog.

BOOOM Christmas tree

So exciting, my very first Christmas post! It is November after all. Must, must, must have a 'steigerhouten' or reclaimed wood Christmas tree this year. Wish I could have the original Dutch BOOOM brand... but may have to hammer one together myself more than likely. I can imagine it draped with white and cream knitted and crocheted ornaments to add softness... I sooooo love.

Vintage Arcopal and Brabantia

Have to share my love for vintage Arcopal and Brabantia and show off a few of my favorite finds. The orange and flower patterns take me right back to Holland in the seventies. Practically impossible to find in North America (and no, I am not exaggerating) so I pour over Dutch vintage sites and try to control my needs and wants. I might have made an eenie beenie tiny little order from one of those sites last week... (I honestly couldn't take it anymore!) Will share as soon as the package gets in!

Kinchi Style

Here I go again with my overload of images. Just when I think I have exhausted my search for inspirational vintage/retro sixties/seventies scandinavian/dutch homes (I only have so much surfing time) I go and discover yet another woman with a home to die for, adorable children and piles of talent!! I found Kinchi (Dutch Mirjam Bos) purely by accident. Ok, maybe not 'by accident' since I was digging deep in the inspirational pool that is Flickr. But kind of by accident since her Brabantia breadbox first make me sit up straight in my chair. (see gorgeous orange breadbox with flowers above) Brabantia is only my very favorite 70's Dutch brand to collect. Okay, enough about me. So I discovered the Kinchimama Flickr stream. Major love at first sight.

Kinchi's slogan is "The stuff to buy when you're a mum from the seventies". Me! Me! (I think '65 counts??) Mirjam's children's clothes are so very gorgeous and once again make me wish my girls were little all over again. (Chiana and Annie, no offense cause Mama loves you just the way you are even if you are too big for cute little skirts and dresses) Check out the Kinchi Etsy shop as well!

Her home is orange and seventies and full of personal handmade accents and perfect. Sigh, I truly love. Thanks so much Mirjam for sharing your inspirational world.