Talk to me about Christmas... Emma of 'The Marion House Books'

Hello y'all! 
Today I am thrilled to launch a little 'Christmas blog series' that will bring you inspiration from some of my dear and close blog friends from around the world. These talented people will generously let us take a peak at their individual Christmas celebrations & inspirations, and I know you'll love to read what they have to say.

First up is the very talented (and sweet) Emma of 'The Marion House Books'. Emma lives in Ontario (Canada) and holds down an impressive and multifaceted career as an interior designer, an 'Exhibition Designer' at the Art Gallery of Ontario. And as if that is not enough she is also part owner of the design studio 'Marion Melbourne'. I have nothing but admiration for this amazing girl.
Her blog is vastly published and adored by many - one for the blog roll people..!

 

What does Christmas mean to you?

Christmas is a time to gather with friends and family to slow down, and appreciate being with each other and to ponder the year that has passed, and the one that is to come.

via Frolic

It is simply not Christmas without..

First and foremost....Snow! I really love a 'White Christmas'. It also wouldn’t be complete without a real tree, holiday baking including mince meat tarts, stockings hung by the chimney with care and family.

The Marion House Book

Your ideal Christmas?

As much as I love spending the holidays at home, I think my ideal Christmas would involve a snowy lodge on a mountain with superb skiing nearby, and a village full of magical charm.

 Flavim

Fave Christmas movie?

It’s actually a fairly recent one - 'Love Actually'. I admit that when I see it come on during the holiday season that I take great pleasure in watching it.

 

No 1 Christmas song or music?
'The Holly and The Ivy' and 'Handel’s Messiah'.

Pinterest

What's on your Christmas table?
Christmas crackers, candles, Amaryllis or Paper Whites, and lots of branches.

Ticking and Toile

What would you love Santa to bring this year?
Oh that’s a hard question - Santa can’t afford what I really want! One of these Claire Vivier clutches would be nice though.

 Machine Wash Warm

Your Christmas message to the world..
Peace and Happiness

 

House and Home
  

Thank you Emma for this warm and beautiful post. I can only imagine how stunning Ontario is at this time of the year!
Have a wonderful holiday, enjoy time with your family, and may all your Christmas wishes come true! xx 

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Next up is a woman who never stops inspiring me with her amazing food - Maria of 'Scandie Foodie'. I hope you all check in on the 8th of December to welcome her to Space for Inspiration and to read her Christmas post.

Until then.. big hugs and happy weekend!

xx Charlotta

P.S. 
Today I spent the entire day wrapping a total of 48 (!!) tiny gifts for the kids' 'advent calendar'.. 
Red ones with white strings for Isabella and white ones with red strings for Oscar.. Then I tied them onto a long beautiful branch that I picked in the forest (well 'dragged home' is closer to the truth..) and suspended the whole thing from the ceiling.

My own very poor quality snap shot from my kitchen dining area.

It may not be a style statement but it's fun, and the kids love it. That's all that counts to me really! :)

Preparing for Christmas..

Hello friends! Am sitting here with a large cup of tea - the kids are asleep, I have lit candles everywhere, and am playing soft Christmas music.. *peace prevails* 

..I LOVE this time of the year - 'pre-Christmas'. Though of course the actual even itself is wonderful, there is something so special about the lead-up.. The planning, preparing, waiting, and of course also seeing the kids grow more and more excited.. So much love, warmth and anticipation in the air, don't you think!?

1. unknown. 2. Per Magnus Persson 3. Pinterest  4. Anna Kern

I just flicked through 'Sweet Paul's Holiday Issue'.. Always so much inspiration and joy there. And of course the fact that the 'main man' is from Norway makes it extra.. sweet (.ahem.). You know how I LOVE Norway..!

And of course it was lovely to see our very own Will Taylor's (Mr Bazaar to most) feature on how to create a stress-free but stylish Christmas table..!

I also loved this idea featured by Will!

Kate LeSueur's 'Rosemary Honey Pecan Nut' recipe looked too good to leave off my Christmas buffet list.. (would be great with a cheese tray!). 

You see, I go nuts over nuts (!). Not only at Christmas, though particularly then, and I love to serve them in all sorts of ways - in bowls around the house, on biscuits, in bread, in the traditional (Swedish) rice porridge on Christmas morning, in sweets and deserts... If there is a way, I'll be sure to sneak a hand-full of something nutty in there (thank God I was blessed with a family that aren't nut allergic!). Yum!

Styling: Paul Lowe. Photography: Alexandra Grablewski

I also serve my 'Glögg' (a traditional Swedish style mulled wine.. YUM!) with a generous helping of skinned almonds (as well as a cinnamon stick for decor). 
Despite there being a range of wonderful pre-made 'glögg' to buy I prefer to brew my own. I use my great grandmother's recipe (with a little twist now and then.. for fun). It takes three days to prepare and it fills the house with the most amazing scent which sends me straight into Christmas wonderland!

Back to the nuts.. I recently learned from my good friend Maria over at 'Scandie Foodie' that nuts should be ACTIVATED before you eat them. Who knew??! But reading her post (HERE) made me very inspired and I am definitely serving my nuts 'activated' this Christmas..!

Activated Spiced Nuts - via Scandie Foodie

More nuts.. I adore Oak trees - their solid structures, their leaves and of course their acorns. They have been a long time favourite of mine, so imagine my delight when I found these cute 'acorn baubles' over at Cox & Cox UK. I adore this store!

Also from Cox & Cox are these 'glass pumpkin baubles', which of course would look lovely with the acorn ones on the tree (not too many though - less is more!).. Or as place card holders, like in the picture below. Tempting, very tempting indeed..! 

All bauble images via Cox & Cox UK

As part of preparing for my very first Christmas as a Native Resident of Sweden in 23 years (see me do cartwheels!), I turned to some trusted and gorgeous blog pals for inspiration. I asked them a few simple questions around the topic of Christmas and of course they have shared generously and splendidly! I can't wait to publish the first post in just a few days..

Photo Stefan Örtenblad

Until then...and whilst we await the first snow
(it's taking its time this year..)
I send you lots of love and warm Wintery hugs from Sweden!

xx Charlotta

Wellness in the 'Ironing Basket'..and my baby turning 6!

Darlings, yesterday I had the honour of posting over at 'The Bottom of the Ironing Basket'.

The lovely and gorgeous Simone asked me to contribute to her current series on 'Wellness' and I decided to share a piece of my past.. Do hop across and read it HERE. You will love Simone's beautiful blog - it's addictive!

 Marveling over the smallest carrot found ever.. :)

Tomorrow is my darling Isabella's 6th birthday. I well up as I type those words.. because how can my 'baby' suddenly be so big. She is a ray of light in my life - in the world really. I know nobody more positive, charming and life embracing than her. It is such a pleasure and privilege to be her mother and I wish her the best of birthdays and many healthy, happy and wonderful ones to come!

xx Charlotta

Today I am going nuts..

Hello lovelies! Doesn't Autumn have just the most wonderful effect on people and life!?! The buzzing energy of Summer fades and we settle into a calm, cozy and tranquil mood. With only a couple of weeks left of Autumn I am feeling relaxed, harmonious and ready to tackle Winter!

Every year around this time my mind goes into 'dream mode' (read: 'I allow myself to go a little nuts over a few tings'..). And it's not only because Christmas is just a few weeks (how!?!) - which of course calls for mental wishing & giving lists to be drafted. It's got more to do with the need to nurture myself as the temperature drops and the days grow shorter (a stark contrast to Sydney..!). I find myself daydreaming and drifting into 'wishing land' where frankly there are so many yummy things I want. Of course I don't need them, but they would be much welcomed 'nice-to-haves'.. Here are some of the things that make me go a little nuts at the moment..

Wonderful table runners (by South African online shop 'Yum Yum') that really look better vertically than horizontally - don't you think!? 
I am ordering a fork and a knife (without the stitching around the edges - I like a 'raw edge'). A nice little 'gift-to-self'..! :)

It is no secret that I go more than a little silly over good quality Swedish sheepskins (curly ones!), but recently I am finding myself dreaming about reindeer skins from Lapland..! They feel 'new' and different in this day of sheepskin craze.

Also from the rugged Swedish North are these beautiful hand crafted bracelets (braided leather, silver and/or tin thread). They are hand made by local crafts people and come in a variety of widths, designs and colours. I just adore them and would like to highlight this very modest online store.

Mulberry has been a favourite brand of mine since my teens, and I adore their handbags. At the moment I am drooling over their 'Bayswater' bags.. I am wishing one would simply fall from the sky and into my arms..! *sigh*

Even though the frosty mornings and imminent snow prevent me from actually wearing anything but thick leather footwear, I still drool over orange neon (!) All Stars by Converse. I just love the way they 'pop', and am definitely getting some in time for Spring! These babies will look better once worn, and I am going to team them with tanned legs and a spring in my step! :)

Last but certainly not least, I have also fallen hard for several garments by 'Jarbo'. This, new to me, label was recently snapped up by 'Splendid Avenue' - a web boutique that is as stylish as the woman who owns/runs it (meet Monika).

Monika also authors a much loved blog called Splendid Willow, and tomorrow you will find me (and a bunch of very stylish blogettes) sharing our '2 cents' on current design trends that make us go 'va va voom'!

Do hop across and say 'hi' and make sure you also click Monika's subscribe button when you are there. Thank me later!

Warm hugs to all!

xx Charlotta

Guest post 07: Autumn by Kellie of 'Ada & Darcy'

Hi I am Kellie from Ada & Darcy, I live in a gorgeous suburb of Sydney, full of beautiful places to eat, lots of character and fabulous old trees. I live with my darling husband and two dogs - Lily and Molly; Cavalier King Charles who listen and agree to all my big ideas! 

We are moving in to Autumn in Sydney. The leaves on trees start to thin, and the air is starting to get that very soft nip early. When Autumn comes around I eat less gelato and enjoy more coffees and always wear opaque tights with skirts, I don't own a pair of pants and rarely wear my jeans!

I do tend to love this time of the year. You can still enjoy beautiful sunshine but you can also feel that cooler wind, yet it's still warm enough to sit outside and relish in the sun. I'm hoping for a mild Winter as I mostly can't stand getting into a cold car!

At the start of Autumn, I always love to buy some interesting new red wine glasses for the season ahead - the perfect excuse! And, to sleep in later of a morning - to stay warm and snug for just that bit little bit longer than normal. Also, our espresso machine comes out, my Samantha Robinson teacups will be ready to be loved, and there will be an endless supply of chocolate biscuits..!

 

Summer time I love pretty florals and soft elegant styling, when Autumn comes around, I tend to love harsher bold stripes, strong colours and much edgier pieces. Still feminine but that little bit punchier, maybe I feel a little more adventurous in the cold.

I always pull out my favourite opaque tights and love to layer dresses and skirts with ballet flats, boots or pumps. I love soft silk scarfs tied in a bow on my neck and have my trench coats that are always such a wonderful accessory year on year.
My birthday also falls in Autumn, I'm dreaming of a gorgeous gold Mulberry bag... Perhaps a treat to myself...

Autumn tends to bring change in our home too. Last year it was white timber shutters, this year  it's glossy and glamorous chocolate timber floors. I'm also looking for a French settee, perhaps this is the season I will finally find what i am looking for... I've decided  I will also be changing our wallpaper in our bedroom to fuchsia pink and I'm having made a fabulous striped headboard made for us too.

Over the coming season, I hope to find more gorgeous and wonderful pieces for Ada & Darcy including more darling custom furniture, find the perfect retail spot to open the store at, and work towards my new home-wares and textiles line. Lots to do, but all very exciting.! And the weather being that little bit cooler I love to stay indoors, which will help me concentrate and focus on where I need to be. 

Thank you for the opportunity to guest post here Charlotta... 

Live, love, decorate! 

Kellie xx

Guestpost 06: Spring by Manvi of 'Mochatini'

Hello friends of Charlotta and Space for Inspiration; I am Manvi and my blog is Mochatini. I live in Washington, DC. The winters here can get pretty cold and we are looking forward to the arrival of Spring soon.

Spring in DC is marked by cherry blossoms, and I just love these delicate flowers all over the city. To celebrate, there is an annual cherry blossom festival and this is one of the best times to visit DC.

I love so much about Spring. Longer daylight hours, sunshine, and the azaleas that our neighborhood is blooming with.

Cant say I have any set rituals or things I do to prepare for Spring but I do try to force a thorough cleaning of our house, weeding out my closet and changing the decor around the house to brighter hues. I'm thinking of a palette of sea glass and peach accented by saturated reds.

I also really look forward to hosting outdoor soirees, picnics in the park, strappy sandals and shorter hemlines.

I have a bit of travel coming up, and other than that we are planning day trips out of the city to vineyards, Harper's Ferry, and other national parks. On the home front I plan to tackle much procrastinated projects like painting furniture pieces and walls.

Dear Charlotta, thank you so much for having me here. This was so fun. Thank you all for reading and I hope to see you over at Mochatini soon.