I have to say I never thought, five years ago, in the midst of a cold run-up to the festive season in the Old Country that I'd be sitting in shorts and singlet revelling in making a Christmas wreath from a bunch of shells.  Furthermore I certainly didn't think that said wreath would be thrifted.  Or that I would be taking photos of it. 

That is not to say I have anything in the slightest against thrifting or decs beach style.   Far from that, I love Christmas here…it seems a mix of all the things I love, customs from home like the turkey on the day, but now with a layered salad, and new traditions like Carols in the Park, Santa turning up, fully suited, down the beach and Christmas Camping.

Every year at this time, weighed down by a truck load of my secret indulgence, I have to be careful not to get overwhelmed by my own expectations that all will be perfect – that the tree will look like it stepped out of Country Living, like my turkey was bronzed by Jamie and my gifts were wrapped by the goddess Martha herself. 

I have to protect myself from those beautifully accessorised magazine articles of lovingly prepared items and shelve all ideas of 'Christmas Crafting' and sewing gifts.

I don't though yet seem to be able to protect myself from breathtakingly decorated stores.  Yep I do know no-one lives in these stores (tho certainly I have thought of asking how much for a night in the beachy shop bed) and that it is quite impossible to have every single gift in a square shape so that your parcels match all nicely under the tree, thank-you-very-much.

Which leads me to a shopping trip last weekend with Miss BC and one $200-ish shell wreath.  I spied it right away, flipped the price tag and moved on to baubles…but that wreath was on my mind people…whether that is entirely a good thing or not is another matter…when forcing 7 yr olds to ONLY FIND WHITE SHELLS, while beachcombing some might think it not  

And so I give you, with nothing but a thrifted one dollar cane wreath, a handful of gathered shells and a can of spray paint, this now, hastily hung on the oars to see how it'll look…contribution to DIY Divaness, …embodiment of make-do-and-mend.  

There is something therapeutically mind-numbing about spraying things white and fiddling around with shells.  Throw in a hot glue gun and a wreath and it's almost too much to bear. 

And I again find myself a dangerous lady with a can of white spray paint, anticipating what next might look better devoid of colour…perhaps I could wipe out the underlying hysteria felt by most women around early December with one big woosh of white paint? 

I used to be very old-school about Christmas, sometimes not let anything but gold pass the threshold, before that very much green and red. 

I am more than pleased with how this turned out, and less so because of the budget factor, but actually more just kinda quietly enjoying how much more doing this means than buying one from a shop ever could do. 

I'd love to know what you think?  Just a tad too beachy I think it might be for some and if truth be told before I saw this in the flesh it would probably be for me..

Anyway I'm off to tie ribbon around spray-painted things. 

See you next time 

p.s. cushions (which incidentally we are fighting over every night they feel just so good) from the lovely Tricia at Coastal Cushions

don't forget it's Giveaway Time at A Beach Cottage this week 

I'll be posting a great giveaway – stay tuned!

blogged for Met Monday, thanks Susan, Thrifty Thursday and Mosaic Monday

G'day, hope you are all well.  It's hot here.   Hot and good. 

It's not too much of an exaggeration to say that I am becoming more and more attached to my camera and enjoy more and more taking photos.  

There is something so grounding to me about it and more than taking those snaps of the kids which surely I like to take, I'm finding that camera-love and blogging has really made me sit up and take a good old look around at the simple things in life.  You already know that. 

So next week to celebrate December and crafty gals with mucho talent I'm having a little giveaway from a sweet as pie gal with beautiful photos many could not resist…

Susannah sent me these little brown paper parcels tied up in string and inside some perfect little gifts just right for my cottage…don't you just love opening parcels like this?  

I do, amidst all the hideous consumerism smack bang all around us at this time of year, it's nice to open a gift that you know has been made with love from start to wrapping-it-in-brown-paper-finish.  Now you don't get that in Harvey Nic's…

See you soon, I am very busy the next week coming. I guess we all are. 

I'm off to a big kids' sporting event for a few days..we'll need you sending us luck..