G'day.
I'm wrapping presents (brown paper and ribbon this year) and drinking coffee & generally getting annoyed by anything, anyone and any object that is male. Surely this is a normal thing for this time of year for a Grumpy Old Woman of my age? 
Hmm, I say we move swiftly onto driftwood, silver and sparkly things, though of course purlease feel free to leave me a message on what mind-boggling things your males have come up with at this time of year…all I can say is Car Service and 24th December…
I can assure you that although that decoration up there may look all handmade-crafty-coo, this, ladies, is one of the easiest and most effective things to do. And although it may sound exceedingly homespun, in actual fact, it's not much more than grabbing a branch and hanging some baubles on it.
Admittedly my branch is a lovely, weathered by the sea one, found on the beach by my boys one day and brought home to see if I might be interested in it? And I like that. That as it was hung, it was done with a bit of meaning behind it, not from the Dollar Shop, or Made in China.
It seems that making things like the tree ornaments from shoreline things and hooking baubles on driftwood means something in the midst of the commercialization of Christmas that seems to be rampantly enveloping me at almost every turn (one that I am incapable of involving myself in with $12 trees popping up in front of me).
And my love affair with IKEA continues…I am sure getting a lotta bang for my buck this Christmas.
As soon as I saw the love hearts I thought how well they would pair up with a bit of rustic and finding this driftwood, even better.
Quite ironic though where they were made, according to the sticker on the box…I guess handcrafted in Scandinavia was perhaps a bit unrealistic?
That's all for now folks, back to wrapping and annoying males…
have a mince pie for me
I LOVE this… I feel like you could even hang (light) stockings from this (great for those of us without a mantle). Lovely!
oh no now I ‘ve just gotta make another trip to Ikea!! I love what youve done with the decos!! have a lovely christmas!!
Yes it is lovely and yes the males are a bit grumpy …. mine is mad because I won’t use red on my most of my decorations !!! SO SO !!!
Sarah, this is just beautiful – so simple but stunning! You have the loveliest ideas!
dear sarah…
love those Ikea decorations..
I often find lots of bits & bobs that i like at ikea…especially some of their frames etc…
PLUS I just LOVE my EXPEDIT bookcase…
MMM!! male thingeys…my hubby has been wonderful..picking up furniture for me..taking me out to dinner..driving me to antique haunts!!
Probably as he is going surfing on XMAS DAY!!!! with his “VINTAGE” surfing buddies!!!!!!
(i do xmas eve dinner…nothing on xmas day)…
soo i dont mind…the OLD MAN works hard…(sshh he is only 3 yrs older than MOI)…
have a lovely xmas sarah…enjoy with your family…
(my eldest son wont be home…too busy with uni stuff & his part time job)…oh well..
xx andrea
I love the simplicity of this…and the meaning…a piece of driftwood found by your boys/young men on your dreamy beach in Australia can go far in the deep box of treasures hidden in a mama’s heart.
I am wrapping in brown paper and white ribbon too!(IKEA)
This looks really pretty.
love
Alison
x
What a fabulous look with the driftwood and silver baubles.
Cute hearts
Alison
Love every thing about your drift wood branch & IKEA baubles. So wish we lived reasonably close to an IKEA, I love their stuff.
~S~
What’s not to love here?! So simple, pure, pretty. I’m using the white roll of scribble paper IKEA sells in their kids department for the easels to wrap gifts, as well as the brown tone on tone they sell. I just need to collect boxes to put the gifts in….we’ve had too many Christmases with ‘gift bags’.
Love stopping over with each post Sarah. Sorry your males are misbehaving
…….and I can see it again for Valentine’s Day with a touch of red – perhaps just one red heart!
Lovely piece of driftwood – store it carefully.
I was recently at IKEA for storage containers, kitchen odds and ends (for a ‘chef’ gift), candle holders and those pretty round lights with flowering branches. Disappointed that so many of their items, though Swedish designed, are now made in China! Am really picky about what I buy there and, fortunately, it’s far enough away that I can’t get there often!!
Your cottage is looking really Christmassy – and those guys will come around if you feed them well and fill their stockings, lol!
Sooo beautiful!
Mia
I really like this! When we go to the river this summer I am going to be combing the beach for driftwood! Your boys made an awesome find.
i HAVE a lovely piece of driftwood. right at my front door to greet everyone. now i can decorate her!!! JOY! love this blog!jkj
well at least the males were thoughtful enough to bring home the driftwood, so maybe that will redeem them….afterall, look at the stunning end result and what would it be without both the driftwood, rough like the men and the shiny sparkly hearts like the mama??? BTW it looks so simply gorgeous. keep the awesome ideas coming.Thank you for your blog it is something to look forward to
Beautiful!! LOVE IT! So pure!
MALES!! I went on a rant at mine last night! You know one of those, I can’t do everything and I need some help around here? kind of rants.
My poor husband!
Have a great day!
Lou Cinda
This makes me smile. I have a limb from the front yard – downed in a big storm – propped against a wall, one branch in front of a mirror. Perfect for dangling things, but the best part is that birds fly in the house and rest on this limb. I have surprised more than one. Love your blog so much and so agree that the best things are found just laying about – life needn’t be so complicated.
Love it! Speaking of commercialization… $17 for two 3×5 photos with Santa at the mall… I would rather hire a private one!
Smiles!
Michelle
I am sure that he means well! I needed you on Sunday to scape my table – any chance of you stopping by for the next couple of events – or you could tell me how to make a Christmas tree out of the wonky top of a tree from the hedgerow? (Have a look at the latest blog on menopausalmusing.blogspot.com for comment on men and Christmas!)
Pomona x
These simple decoration ideas are totally me! I love it Sarah
I too love IKEA, but your driftwood is what I am envying!
Like the simplicity of your craftiness – love the meaningfulness of the gifted driftwood. Truly sums up the meaning of the season. Our beach in coastal Washington State is not so sunshine filled as yours right now! I may have to wait to gather some driftwood come next summer and save it for next Christmas crafting! Thanks for the lovely idea…
I absolutely LOVE driftwood–I couldn’t believe how expensive it was in all of the tourist beach shops–crazy! I love the grayish hue it has–so natural and sculptural.
Love it!!!
Hugs,
Kristin
Lovey, love, love, love it!
m ^..^
How I roared with laughter when I read your comment on my blog and then bounced over to yours………….. I swear my man hasnt moved since I posted that post the other day. Perhaps I should wrap some white fairy lights round him and dangle some tasteful baubles from his ears……???
You have a beautiful blog by the way…………
Love the clean simple look of this branch decoration! Your tree magical!!
darling! I have some old branches laying on the ground. Now I have to go grab one and try this.
I love that! What a great idea!
Luckily the only male I have to put up with around my home is my dog! A certain seventeen year old girl isn’t always a joy to live with though
Love the driftwood!
I picked up a long branch in the Grand Forest here on Bainbridge Island…going to spray paint it white…and hang it with ribbon to hang stockings on.
No mantel in our new home.
XXOOXX
PERFECTION!
Sarah, I would like to wish you a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS together with the ones you love and may next year bring many blessings to you.
Muchos cariños
Maria Cecilia
p.s.a very beautiful decor and crafting!!
Simply fab….great idea…well done!!!
I love that idea! Making a note – GO TO IKEA! LOL
I do something similar each year Sarah with a tall vase, dead branches from my elder tree and a cheapo box of silver ornaments. It always attracts many admiring glances in my entrance hall and is probably the quickest and easiest of my Christmas vignettes.
Simple is often the best and most pleasing look.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne
How pretty! Thanks for sharing.
Sarah, I love the simpleness of this sort of decor, and when I saw the hearts I thought of my mom, she loves hearts! thanks for the gorgeous photos this morning, and knowing that your males around your cottage can be annoying too!
Happy weekend!
Very pretty. With all the branches down in my yard after this last snow storm, I need to go outside!
Your boys have really become so well trained.
Wonder if I can find some driftwood beneath all the snow this weekend?!