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
It’s so pretty and simple. The shell theme looks so perfect in your home and it’s such a wonderful way to use shells collected on vacations. A great way to preserve and display memories.
WOWSERS!! perfection. i save your blog for my last read each day. it is a treat i savor. but each time i visit you i am aware that i’m asking this question over and over: did you have no stuff when you moved “into” beachcottage? i ask, because i have all this stuff, and to have a monochromatic treatment in my house seems impossible to start. was your a gradual transition? (i latched on to the gold, and red/green refs thinking it meant you used to do other colors) my bedroom is done in your style, even before i found your blog, but the rest of the house is years of accumulation from family or purchases that WEIGH ME DOWN. how did you get to your starting point?? any tips would be greatly appreciated. jkj
Sarah,
I love your wreath creation! It’s relaxed elegance, and looks perfect in your Beach Cottage. Happy Met Monday.
Cathy
I love the simplicity of the wreath. Thanks for sharing your great idea!
I love your wreath, it looks perfect right where you have it, too. Hugs, Cindy S.
I very much love your shell wreath…especially that you hung it from the wooden oar…how very beachy;) Need me some oars!!! I also agree that while I have tried, it is definitely impossible to have matching square boxes perfectly decorated under the tree. I gave up and try to at least have colors that flow pretty together under my tree=)
Happy Monday~Aubrey
Perfectly Christmas! Some people think the only Christmas is the kind on a Currier & Ives card, but the majority of the world doesn’t live in New England – lol! I believe in having an authentic Christmas, wherever you live. It would be silly to have a snowman wreath at the beach, wouldn’t it? I live at the beach, too, and love using seashells among the shiny ornaments. Would love to do a starfish-and-shells wreath!
Love the simplicity of this Sarah….and it fits perfectly in your cottage. Beautiful, as usual :)
Thanks for linking up!
I always love stopping by your blog, it has such an ethereal feel to it…so peaceful. :)
That is amazing…looks perfectly wonderful!
sandy toe
Very cute wreath!I love easy decorations like that!! Jen
I love it! I think it looks great hanging there!
Lovely! And you can use it all year round.
You are the thrifty one! The wreath looks great hanging above your sofa. I love the clean white look of your space. This is so very refreshing!
I enjoy reading your blog. You make me smile! ~ sarah
Sarah hello! What a lovely blog you have. I love to meet other Sarah’s! Thanks so much for your comment over at my place.
I hear it has been hot in your faraway land, my brother, SIL and babies are in Melbourne and my Dad has a place in Queensland so I love to read Australian blogs. Thanks for getting me over here.
Brilliant shell wreath by the way!
Sarah x
Sarah,
This seashell wreath is perfect for your sweet cottage! The oar is the cherry on top!
Cathy
Awww… I wish I had a life by the sea… so serene. Love the blog! I’m a follower now! Best, Vanessa
This is way too gorgeous—I will have to do this some day!! We live about 20 minutes from the ocean!!
lovely sarah, comfy too.
“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.”
I just love this comment! It is so awesome to log on and read the thoughts of someone, and just understand that there are other people who think just like me. Thanks for taking the precious time in your day to blog and share your beautiful house and ideas.
LOve it! Perfect for thrifty thursday!
Hi Sarah, I love your beach cottage all in white, just lovely!!!
Cariños
María Cecilia
p.s. come say hi sometime
Looks fantabulous and not a bad price, either!
Living it up at Lakewood,
Cindy
Pretty and simple – perfect!
Look at you…even your holiday decorations are thrifted and found! :-) I love it, and I have to say my favorite part is how you’ve hung it from the oar. Brilliant!
Beautiful. Just beautiful. I love the whitewashed look. You make beachy look so refreshing.
I am totally new to your blog and blogs in general. I am loving reading about your beach cottage. My husband and I have lived in a small town in the middle of the Mojave Desert in CA and after 30 years (!!) we have bought a house near a beach in CA. I am over the moon excited! The house needs help and we are in the process of having crown mouldings and trim put in..I am thinking of having our “family room” be paneled and painted white to allow our brown furniture to look nicer…we had “ship lap” (a type of paneling) installed on the LR ceiling and painted it glossy white..love it…just not sure about the rest of the house!!
Thanks for the inspiration…
Patti