Christmas in Melbourne - crafty decorating ideas and a bit of window shopping

Japanese homewares store Zakkaya in Fitzroy showcases a very 'kawaii' Christmas

Somehow it has apparently become December! Where does the time go?

I spent the last week or so researching and photographing some of the best Christmassy decorating and wrapping ideas around town... I hope it might help condense some of your holiday season 'to do' lists, or at the very least inspire a few creative ideas for your tree / table / presents this year :) I'm sure I'll spot many more fun bits and pieces between now and the big day... I'll keep ya posted!

Zakkaya
52 Johnston st, Fitzroy
9419 1882

Zakkaya has a beautiful selection of timber toys, ceramic homewares and kooky Japanese accessories, as well as some gorgeous and distinctly Japanese Christmas decorations and stocking-fillers... It's so worth a browse - you won't find these pieces anywhere else in Melbourne.

top - Zakkaya's tiny wooden 'balance game' toys make perfect stocking-fillers. bottom - super-cute printed sticky tape for gift-wrapping.

Gorgeous decorating garlands from Zakkaya

More Christmas gorgeousness from Zakkaya

Specklefarm
111 Bridport Street, Albert Park
ph. 9696 2477

Specklefarm specialises in grosgrain ribbon of all different styles, and also sells a small but gorgeous range of stationary and paper wrapping etc. You can buy the ribbon by the metre, and they also wholesale if you have a business.

How about wrapping your presents in cheap brown paper or recycled magazine/newspaper pages, then dressing up the parcels with any one of these fancy ribbons? The ribbon is sure to be stashed away for re-use - which makes this a very eco-friendly wrapping option.

A stunning selection of grosgrain ribbons starting at around $3.00 a metre .

More ribbons and gift tags from Specklefarm

Cote Provence
290 Rathdowne st, Carlton North

9347 6656

For more classic Christmas styling, check out Cote Provence in North Carlton... beautiful French linens with cream / red detailing make for traditional festive decoration with a European feel. They also have some gorgeous rustic Christmas wreathes that you can either hang as is or embellish... I couldn't resist and bought the largest one they had last week! Beautiful stuff and may I say extremely friendly, helpful staff! (unlike similar stores you might encounter on the other side of the river!).

You can't go wrong with french linen in beige / red / white.

I loved this table display and centrepiece at Cote Provence! It's an antique spindle holder I think? Here it's holding reels of silk thread... but of course could be used to display any kind of decorations and/or cards - a unique alternative to the traditional Christmas tree.

slightly shorter spinder-holder st Cote Provence

Ikea
Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre
Cnr. Victoria St and Burnley St
Richmond

8416 5000

I know many people (my boyfriend, mainly) who won't go near Ikea on a weekend, let alone in the lead-up to Christmas. Trouble is, you won't find better value Christmas decorations or wrapping anywhere else in Melbourne. Seriously. The range and the prices are quite unbelievable. The trick for a semi-enjoyable visit to Ikea during the festive season is to follow my fail-safe tips -

1) Ikea is open until 9.00pm on Thursday and Friday night. Avoid the crowds and go after work.

2) Almost all the Christmas gear is right at the end near the registers. (Except the candles, candlesticks and plants, which are still very close by, just before the 'marketplace' area). With this in mind, DON'T walk through the entire store - take a sharp right at the lifts in the entrance area, and walk in to the store through the checkouts. Don't worry everyone does it. The friendly Ikea information lady even recommends it.

3) - bring CASH - the queues are always shorter for the 'cash only' registers

4) Buy a blue bag at the checkout - come on, they're only $1.00. Don't be trying one of those crazy juggling acts so many people seem to attempt as they're leaving the store... you'll break something :)

Good luck!

See how much Christmas stuff they've got at Ikea!? Aggh. Love the oversized heart-shaped baubles in either silver or gold - $9.95 for a 2-pack. (they're as big as a grapefruit!)

Baubles in every possible colour, every possible style. Top - 48-pack of blue baubles for only $7.95! bottom 59-pack of gold baubles - $12.95. Yes this is CHEAPER THAN GIFT TAGS! Why not tie a bauble on each present instead of a tag, and write the recipients name with permanent marker, gold or silver pen or white-out pen?

Wrapping wrapping wrapping... I bought the gorgeous hearts / stripes pack in blues / reds including all ribbon and rosettes for I think $12.95? They also have a great selection of gift-wrap ribbons.

Christmas wreath - $25.00. Tiny mini succulents for only $1.75 each! Too cute! Imagine clusters of these in tiny pots strewn up and down your Christmas table as a centrepiece? Or one with each guests' name tied on, to mark their place at the table? (They can take it home after!).

Top - gorgeous metallic candlesticks in various heights / designs - sorry I seem to have misplaced my notes on these but from memory they were all around the $10.00 mark. Ikea also has the absolute best selection of candles at the best prices. Bottom - packs of column candles in varying heights, only $9.95.

Industria
202 Gertrude st
Fitzroy

9417 1117

Spotted these absolutely tiny little glass bottles in Industria for only $1.00 each (actually they also have even smaller ones at 75c). Of course my mind started racing with ideas... filling them with water and popping in a single flower stem in each one - or for a longer-lasting display how about tiny succulent stems instead? (either from Ikea, your garden or your neglected nature strip - shhhhh!) Wrap some fine wire around the neck of each tiny bottle and hang each one on your Christmas tree, on a clothes line across the room, or wired securely to your wreath on the front door. Otherwise cluster them on your dining table for unique floral display... endless possibilities...!

I bought 20 of these... have a few crafty plans in mind... will let you know how I go!

Tiny glass bottles from Industria

Valentine's Day Kitsch

(image from inside cover of 'This is For You' by Rob Ryan - details below)

I first started compiling a bit of a Valentine's Day gift guide late last week... and I didn't mean for it to end up this way, but I just somehow ended up with a collection containing every heart-shaped, bright red, kooky, kitsch gift item on the web....

Hmmm. Sorry I have no explanation for this. It must say something very worrying about my subconscious mind... But it does make a pretty picture :)

ps) I know everyone except me hates Valentine's Day... even my most happily loved-up friends seem to believe it's all a sneaky Hallmark conspiracy. BUT in defence of Valentine's day can I just say that any excuse is a good excuse for letting someone know you love them. SO if you don't have someone to buy for... I think you should at least consider sending your Mum a bunch of flowers, making your flatmate some 'I Love You' toast for breakfast, or popping a heart-shaped paperclip on your long-overdue tax return... just to give your accountant something to smile about :)

Please double-click on the image for more detail... still learning the ropes... sorry it's not so clear...

1) Mimobot 'One Love' 1 gb USB drive (front and back shown), US$39.95 from Mimobot
2) Retro 50's Valentines cards, US$8 for set of 10 from Fred Flare
3) Alessi heart-shaped spoon, $15 each from RG Madden (pictured with the best ice cream in the world - Homer Hudson Chocolate Rock)
4) 'I Love You' toast - toast stamps available here on ebay for cheap cheap.
5) Lomo 8 lens camera - takes 8 photos in succession using standard 35mm film. US$40 from Fred Flare.
6) Super-cute heart-shaped 'measure your love' measuring cups for the kitchen! I love these! Fred Flare again, US$14.
7) 'You're Okay' cute letterpressed card with tick boxes by Paper + Cup, $4.50 or $14 for a set of 6.
8) heart-shaped paperclips from Kikki K, $9.95.
9) Le Creuset heart-shaped casserole pot, available from Amazon - US$139.99 (probably plus another $100000 for shipping but it was too gorgeous not to include...)
10) 'This is For You' by Rob Ryan. If you haven't seen this book yet you must have been living under a rock. Rob Ryan does the most intricate papercut artwork, and this book is full of the most beautiful work... I will make a post with some scans from inside this book soon. I've seen it at Metropolis Bookshop in the city and Coventry Bookstore in South Melbourne, or at Amazon. (about US$15 online - plus shipping - or AUS$30.00 in Melbourne bookshops)
11) Expensive-ish purse from Mimco, which is now irritatingly not available on their website anymore (even though it was only 2 days ago when I compiled this list. blah). I think it was around $170.
12) Kikki K 'Love Conversation Starter' $14.95. Cute little game to play over champagne with your Valentine... take it in turns to choose cards from the box, and answer questions like 'the first thing I noticed about you was'... or 'One thing you've taught me is...'. My fella would kill me if I brought this home... but try your luck I guess!