A few days ago I was in my local TK Maxx looking for a socks. And a mug. And maybe a present for my friend’s birthday… TK Maxx is very much like that, I find. I pop in for one thing (or nothing) and leave an hour later with all kinds of goodies at a fraction of the price you’d normally pay. (I do love a bargain).
I was about to move from socks to frying pans when I was distracted, rather heavily, by the twinkling sparkly Christmas aisle, which seemed to have a magical power over my feet… they just turned and WALKED towards it. Nothing to do with me, your honour.
Cakes: Elderflower Cakes
You may already know that I’m a bit of a fan of Crimbo, and quite frankly would be ecstatic if all the Christmassy adverts started in July. So to be faced with an aisle of tinsel and baubles and cookie cutters is my idea of heaven.
I’ve always found snow globes extremely magical. They conjure up all kinds of feelings for me from being small and building snowmen, snow-women (I was a young feminist) and drinking hot chocolate with mittens on. I spied this particular snow globe, which shows London looking gorgeous, and it made me feel so lucky to live here in this wonderful city.
Watch the video to see my wreath come to life!
I started thinking about my new home and how, for the first time, I have my very own house where I can invite people round for mulled wine, Christmas sing songs and all round festive silliness… and that, for the first time, I have my own front door. Not a door to a block of flats, but a door from the street, straight into my cosy wonderful nest.
Christmas Cookies by Elderflower Cakes
And then the idea came to me. Ding! I wanted to make a Christmas wreath to put on my door. A wreath to make people smile, that would smell of spice and orange and would make my heart sing every time I came home.
I rushed that snow globe (and my socks and mug and frying pan and pants – you can never have enough pants) over to the checkout and as soon as I got home I called Blomst London – a local florist in Walthamstow, E17, who runs Christmas Wreath workshops.
The very clever Alys – creator of Blomst London
Me and Alys getting covered in moss…
The snow globe stayed with me for inspiration…
She booked me in, I whooped and shook my snow globe and may have spun around a bit on the spot. I have wanted to make a Christmas Wreath for as long as I can remember, so this was actually a bit of a dream come true!
Blomst London is run by the lovely Alys, who holds the workshops in her beautiful home. We drank bubbly, listened to gentle Christmas tunes, delicious festive cakes and cookies were provided by Elderflower Cakes – another local E17 producer… and I decided to wear a fairy skirt.
Because Christmas.
The workshop was just wonderful. I learnt how to build a wreath from scratch and decorate it with heavenly scented cinnamon sticks, fruit, berries, moss and pine….
We laughed, we chatted, we drank, ate and attempted dodgy harmonies to Christmas songs… and the whole room smelled utterly heavenly.
I was so proud of my wreath when it was done and it now sits proudly on my front door.
I should mention that the pink door belongs to Alys, not me.
So jealous.
I loved every minute of this workshop and if you are looking for some inspiration, or a slice of confidence to attempt something you’ve never done before but have always wanted to, or perhaps you think it’s a ridiculous possibility, you should pop down to your local TK Maxx and have a bit of a rummage.
You never know what you might find…
What I wore
Glamorous Tulle Maxi Skirt | asos
Black Body | asos
Photos & film: Life of Yablon
This post is sponsored by TK Maxx and all thoughts and opinions are my own.