my home grown christmas decorating - part 1

Having decided that I can most certainly start talking about christmas here at MFCH, I thought I'd kick the season off with a little home-grown decorating and gift wrapping.

After all, everybody's doing it;....

 it really can't be that tricky to throw a few things together, click the camera and write in a casual-off-the-cuff manner, "I just threw this little vignette together between walking the dogs and  breakfast  this morning".

But that would be a lie ....

My friends, you have no idea how long all this took....

 So today I raise my hat to all those talented designers, stylists, and bloggers who single handedly put together decor to turn Martha Stewart green with envy. 

 Believe me, it is not that easy.

Here are my very humble offerings: I aimed for a natural look and created a 'Happy Christmas' for the chalkboard in the kitchen, plus a few silver birch bark gift tags.

So after these superhuman efforts, I would really love it if you wrote and told me how wonderful you think they look,  I don't mind if you lie, I just want to hear the words!....

and if you want to mention what a good idea the bark and the berries were, then I'd like that too because I can assure you that half way through this little project I was losing the will to live .....

And  in the coming weeks, although I intend to bring you other christmas mood boards, I think I'll keep it simple and copy paste from Martha then cross my fingers that you don't notice ....

And while you are writing the compliments about my handwork,  seeing as how my morale has already sunk beneath the plimsoll line, you can also tell me  if you have already completely decorated your home and done all your christmas shopping ... hmmm, ..... on the other hand I'm not so sure

let the festive season begin!