Seasonal display
Bring a sense of occasion to a set of shelves, a dresser or a bookcase. A beautiful arrangement of curly willow sticks, conifer cuttings and berry-laden branches has been adorned with vintage glass baubles that Genevieve has collected over the years. Ribbons in bright colours, tied into bows, add extra colour.
Built-in cupboard painted in Invisible Green by Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Ribbons from Hobbycraft.
Creative spot
The run-up to Christmas is a perfect time to enjoy some creative projects. Genevieve makes wreaths that she sells in Rye at various craft markets and events. She has set up a making table and uses a clothes maid to hang her finished wreaths overhead.
Bowl of treasure
Genevieve’s collection of vintage glass baubles is ever growing. She finds them at car boot fairs, junk shops and charity shops. A few special baubles are family heirlooms, handed down from both her own and her husband’s family. If you don’t have enough baubles to make your own display, add tiny, beautifully wrapped presents, or combine with satsumas or clementines for added zest.
Gather round
Create a colourful Christmas with a showstopping tree adorned with heritage baubles, colourful ribbon bows and a mass of twinkling fairy lights. A cosy rug brings warmth to the aged stone flooring and complements the antique tables.
All wrapped up
Choose pretty printed papers to wrap gifts. Forgo the need for plastic tape by securing the paper folds with ribbons. Thread little baubles through the ribbon to add a touch of extra sparkle. You could also use sprigs of foliage, tucked underneath the ribbon, for a more natural look.
Papers from a selection at Paper Tree Nook, from £1.75 per sheet
Eat, drink and be merry
The kitchen table is a riot of festive treats. An embroidered antique tablecloth is layered with vintage appliqué placemats and napkins – both lucky finds from a local charity shop. The cosy feel is created with candlelight from tapered dinner candles placed in decorative ceramic stands. Show off your bakes on cake stands, which, along with pots of forced hyacinths, will add height and interest to your table. For a finishing touch, add a sprinkle of foliage and leafy satsumas.
Holly dinner plates, £12.99 each; Holly side plates, £10.99 each, Royal Stafford
Handmade crackers
Make your own crackers to match your decorating scheme. Use decorative gift wrap or recycle leftover wallpaper to keep them eco-friendly. To make, wrap the paper (30cm x 15cm cuttings work well) around a toilet-roll tube, leaving an equal amount of excess at either end. Thread a cracker snap through each tube, pop in some personalised treats (try wrapped chocolates, vintage jewellery charms, mini liquor bottles, make-up, hand cream, lottery tickets or handwritten personalised poems) and secure by gently twisting each end and tying with pretty ribbon.
Decorative printed paper sourced via The Gathered Year. Gingham ribbons, from 40p per m; cracker snaps, £2 per pack, Hobbycraft
Winter garden
Create a garden table display: an old metal tub or bucket planted with hellebores and cyclamen is a great start. Add extra cut foliage, branches studded with berries, or dried bracken. More foliage can be placed around the table, along with gardenalia, such as stacks of pots and watering cans. Add a final festive touch with a couple of wrapped gifts.
For similar vintage gardenalia, try The Country Brocante. Plants all from a selection at Dobbies Garden Centres. Candle, £12.50, Shearer Candles. To find out more about Genevieve’s home, visit @mrs_trufflepig.
