Good bye November.

I've been really good this year so far and not bought any major new Christmas decorations, but I just couldn't resist this plate when I saw it the other day.

I've justified it by saying that it's Christmassy enough to count as a decoration, whilst being non-christmassy enough to then stay up all year round. You see?  How could I not buy it?

It's designed by Ibride, who also designed my favourite tray  of all time and it's available from Habitat  as part of a dinner set. 
I really love it, but I have to admit that Jim (who usually has the good sense and taste to agree with all of my choices) really dislikes like it and calls it my 'freaky plate'. He is of course wrong though.

My other Christmas purchase has been the most beautiful advent calender ever.

Jim would very happily have a chocolate advent calender every year (and usually does) but I really don't like them and they're out of the question now that we have a child that literally wakes in the middle of the night and says things like "I need chocolate. Now."
I, on the other hand, really love the old fashioned calenders that just have a picture behind the little doors and each year try to a lovely, old traditional one. Which is often harder than it sounds.
This one is absolutely perfect though and I can't wait to see what's behind those doors. Which of course I can start doing tomorrow!

Bella's advent calender is still not quite finished, but I'm staying right where I am until it is.
And thank you for all the tree love, I'm hoping to post the little tutorial for them tomorrow.

Comments

[hazeljoy]

is the calendar habitat too? might have to get me one of those! xx

[Rebecca]

Hi there

Long term lurker delurking to say that I really enjoy your blog. You give me so much inspiration (I have a treefall quilt- as it is known here) and your honesty about your life is really refreshing as sometimes things are just a little too sugar coated on some crafty blogs. The real reason I am delurking, though, is to say thank goodness there is another child out there that demands wildly inapprtopriate things in the middle of the night. My 19 month old son has been known to yell "chocolate" and "pole" (which is short for icy pole or I think its called an ice lolly in the UK) in the middle of the night.

Thanks for your blog - I enjoy it so.

Rebecca

[Emma]

That truly is the most beautiful advent calendar ever! I want one!

[KK]

Oh! Oh! Me, too! Where oh where did you find the advent calendar? Love it!

[Wendy]

Oh man, we put off getting the tree out this year and I totally forgot that I still need to find the kids' advent calendar in the crawlspace.

Thanks for the heads up. I'd have totally forgotten until the kids wondered about it.

[kathie holland]

I love that plate!
I would use it all year round too. the advent calendar is very pretty .

I enjoy reading your blog..
Kathie

[Kristy]

I agree with Jim just a little.I am strangely drawn to the old 'animal head on human' style but it does freak me out somewhat. I know for a fact Paddy would hate it but what does he know eh?!

[di]

I love the advent calendar! My mum got me a chocolate one in Thornton's this year - yumm! She was asked if she wanted her child's name on the last big piece of chocolate so she said ok! SO at the age of 38 I have my very own personalised advent calendar!

[Jennifer]

Um, I think Jim might be right about that plate. It is a little strange.
Beautiful advent calendar, though. I can't wait to see the one you've created for Bella.

[Jodi]

I just love that plate! It is hilarious and you need to keep it out year round.

[Ram in the Thicket]

Mmm, yeah the plate's a little freaky ;o) Nice advent calendar though!

[lazylol]

Love the calendar - we are having an Advent candle for a change this year but I agree that the non-choc advent calendars are the best!

[Dale Smith]

Sure wish that I knew where I could get Ibride's work in Canada!!!! Anybody know?

'Freaky plate' - oh, those guys!!!!!

[M&Co]

Those plates are abselutley gorgeouse!! So weird and beautiful!

[Grainne]

I'm on Jim's side! Very unusual plate :-)
I wish I could find a nice non-chocolate Advent calendar here, but no luck. I used to look forward to opening the little doors on my calendar every December. This year I got an Advent Snowman for the boys. It has numbered pockets on the body of the Snowman, and you move a small Christmas tree into a new pocket every day.

[Sam]

Hate to say it Manda, as your taste is usually impeccable, but that plate is crazy - and not in a good way! Enjoy the festive season!