The Friday Phwoar: Festive Frippery

It’s time. The first few bars of “All I Want For Christmas” by Mariah Carey are playing on a loop in my head, the John Lewis advert has had me shedding a discreet tear into my mulled wine, and I have already invested in more stollen than is perhaps necessary, given that I’m the only person in our house who eats it.

If you celebrate Christmas then, this year, we need to go all in. A sparsely decorated tree, put up in mid-December, isn’t going to cut the mustard this year. It’s 2020, a year in which the word “unprecedented” has been used an unprecedented amount of times. A year when every notification on our phones from BBC News had to be read whilst peeking through our fingers. In short, it’s been a nightmare. I think we need to go all in for the festive season this year, and the first stop is, quite literally, getting our houses in order. And lo, I present the inaugural Friday Phwoar. All of these items will add some festive cheer to the homes we have spent all year cooped up inside. Let our seasonal joy be unfettered…..

1. Festive Mat

I very deeply approve of the idea of a festive welcome mat for all those who come a-wassailing (not 100% sure what this involves but it sounds fun). Admittedly, this year it’s more likely to be the Hermes delivery guy than any actual friends or family (thanks, Covid), but the thought is there.

2. Tree Decorations

I gravitate to hand-printed items like a moth to a flame. This set of tree decorations would look gorgeous on the tree, or hung jauntily from a light fitting, perhaps?

3. Bauble Garland

A Christmas rainbow bauble garland, you say? Yes please. Use on the tree, on your festive banister, or as part of a table centrepiece.

4. Cake Knife

If my plum duff isn’t served with this cake knife, I’m not having any.

5. Glass Decorations

I love everything about Rowen & Wren. Just looking at their website makes me feel 50% calmer in an instant. A few of these handblown glass decorations would look beyond beautiful hung from branches used as a table centrepiece, and accompanied by Carols From Kings on the wireless.

6. Glassware

I strongly believe all beverages from December onwards should be served in seasonal glassware. This would also make an excellent receptacle for Santa’s tot of whiskey on Christmas Eve.

7. Ornament

Kitschy gorgeousness from The Cornrow with this red berry angel ornament. This new website has THE best Christmas Noir range and I’m here for all of it.

8. Decoration

You can’t beat a honeycomb decoration. They remind me of being little and it’s very exciting when the flat paper magically becomes a beautiful ornament. There’s a range of these in gorgeous, muted colours and different shapes and sizes at Arket.

9. Eleanor Bowmer

Maximalist heaven. Eleanor Bowmer products quite simply make me smile. And we all need more of that this year.