ULLABENULLA

Mother Winter's At the Castle...

Last week four wonderful women joined me in creating delightful Mother Winter figures at the Castle! Each and every one of them was a true centerpiece perfect for seasonal display!  The figures featured a glass dome under their skirts, a secret winter wonderland creating magic and joy!

The Many Faces Of Christmas!

Here it is the 25th already, and I have not made a Christmas Greeting post.  Being Scandinavian our festivities happened yesterday and today is a day of rest and reflection...  

How does one make 'grace' when times are lean?  The economy and my illness has made this years Christmas the leanest ever.  And yet...  My husband and I agreed that it has also been one of the best.  When money is scarce, creativity takes its place.  Added to that is a heavy dose of 'Gratefulness'.  Our resident teenager has shown more courage, strength and love than we ever expected, from times like these -- I absolutely love watching her grow into a young woman.  The smiles and laughter of my many nieces and nephews heals tender hearts!  Homemade food and delicious local wines keep hunger at bay.  Californian sunshine (its 65 degrees today!) is pushing up spring blooms, and wonderful green weeds, reminding me of a new season on its way!  

I am continually grateful and amazed at how wonderful my worldly readers and friends - YES you are all friends!  So many faces, so many smiles, so many lovely words...  I feel touched by grace - daily!

Todays photos are of the puppets in the Castles Christmas Windows, appropriate in their varied faces and whimsy.  They inspire me, with their lovingly carved freatures and remind me that no matter what we look like, we are all family!

Blessings to all of you!

Ulla 

Ultimate Christmas Room Inspiration!

Sometimes I could just kick myself for not finding Inspiration like these earlier! These 3 Vintage German scenes would have made truly wonderful Holiday Classes - I'm thinking of next year now!  Just look at the details!  And the use of cotton batting, paper scrap and doll house shapes is supreme!  Although they are all sold, we can gather hours of creative ideas from these images!!!

Many more details can be found Here, and Here, and Here

 

 





       

 

My Kind of Christmas Party!

VIA

 

Leaping Deer...

These seem Perfect for a papercut garland, or perhaps to Leap across your tables!  via Vintage Printable.

And a few more!

  

Christmas Robin...

 

Legend tells how a robin,

On the night of the first noel

Braved the frosty winter night

So the baby might sleep well.

Throughout the night, the small grey wings 

Did flutter for their worth

And fanned the fire that warmed the Christ

His first night here on Earth.

In the heat of stirring the lonely fire

The shepherds have said

The Robin wears with honor 

A breast of Christmas Red.

Poem Link

I have always loved the symbology of the Christmas Robin from England.  These sweet little birds can be found in so many parts of our world, and deserve extra care this time of year.

 

 

Image links, here and here and here   

Free Christmas PDF's to Create and Inspire!

 

I just LOVE this little Snow Baby on a Snowball Box designed and created by Karima, the owner and Queen of Castle In The Air!  Best of all, there is a FREE PDF HERE so you can make your own!  You can also buy a kit Here, which comes with everything you need to create your own delightful little Snow Baby Box!  I'd like to make a whole family of these, just to put around the house!

 

Here is another amazing FREE PDF from the wonderfully creative Ann Wood!  I have always loved her magnificent paper ships, and now she has generously shared her pattern and instructions for making a enchanting paper boat just in time for you to sail away on Christmas time dreams!  Complete Instructions can be found HERE!  Can't you just see a family of Snow-babies riding away on one of these? 

I think this little 3-D town calendar from Canon is delightful too!  I love how each month gives a new scene, and yet you can see all of them at a glance!  You can print your own calendar for free here!  

And just for fun, I found this wonderful old 'Cook Book' illustration!  Doesn't it make you want to cook a holiday feast?   Link 

 

Winter Whimsy...

I found this delightful little card while in Minnesota over Thanksgiving.  Wish I knew who the artist was... Off to the Castle today to partake in some Christmas Selling!

Christmas Decorating When There Are 2 Women In The House - Part 1

 

At this time of year, my Husband, Daughter and I have an on-going argument about WHEN to start Christmas decorating.  Being Danish, My preference has been to wait until the day before the 24th, (OK, a week before would be tolerable).  My Husband's family is Swedish, but as transplants to Minnesota, the Tree went up in early December.  My 14 year old Daughter wants Christmas to start the day after Thanksgiving! What to do?  Compromise...  Last week I had the idea of agreeing on getting a tree on December 13th, which also happens to be St Lucia Day, a fitting start to our holiday season.  Truth be told, I love having a tree and green garlands in the house - its the rest of 'Christmas decor' that sets my teeth on edge.  

With the big date set, discussions have already begun on HOW we will decorate, and with WHAT.  A few of you may remember THIS POST about Halloween Decorating with my daughter, well let me tell you, Christmas is no different!  She, bless her, has a very definite idea of what Christmas should look like. Lately her favorite line is having a 'Catalog Christmas'.  What is a 'Catalog Christmas' to a 14 year old?  When all of the ornaments and decorations are color coordinated, and look like they came out of pretty gift boxes from a favorite shop in the Mall.  At times like these I truly wonder "Is this MY daughter?"  Five huge boxes sit in the rafters of our garage - all labeled Christmas.  Each is filled with Nostalgic Scandinavian Jul Decor, Little Red Tomte's, Hand-woven wheat ornaments, Flying geese, crystal icicles and plenty of hand-made delights.  No Catalog Christmas in sight.  

Today, tired of being sick and a little bored, I decided to jump the gun on Christmas decorating.  Ok, the reality is I am also claiming a little bit of 'Christmas Territory' in our tiny house, before the big guns come in on the 13th.  I have fantasized about a WHITE CHRISTMAS for years, with lovely white furniture, simple crystal candleholders, and a breath of French elegance.  I'm afraid my tastes are too 'Worldly' and 'Eclectic' for this fantasy.  Digging out some splendid spangled trees gifted to me earlier this year by Nancy made me smile.  Who could sit under these eye-popping trees placed to either side of my mirrored Arts and Crafts sideboard?  A Lovely Antique Chinese Embroidery from the equally lovely Nicol sets the stage beautifully. Ten sweet little paper-mache dolls from China, two ducks and a big blue 'Star' crafted by the Castles own John McRae, have created a Ulla Inspired Creche Scene like no other...  I love how everything looks together here, the spangled trees framing the hand-sewn treasures. Like an exotic Asian Fairy-tale come to life...  I Wonder what my daughter will think???

Make Your Own 'Miniature Winter Wonderland' Scene - Tutorial!

As I alluded to in my LAST POST, making these tiny little miniature 'Winter Wonderland' scenes is truly addicting and wonderfully fun!  They are easy to create and make me want to do a whole table-scape full of little mountains!!!

Heres what you will need:

Foil, Cotton Batting, Scissors, Moss and natural bits, DAS paper clay (for little houses), Fabric Stiffener (I used Aleene's), Stiffen Quik (Aleene's), Spray on Snow, Glitter and Mica and Hot Glue Gun.

Step one is to decide how big you want your scene to be.  We were limited to the inner circumference of our glass domes, (about 3 inches) but you can use any size you'd like.  Take a length of heavy duty foil ( about 2 feet or so) and crumple up a preliminary shape to work with.  Pinch out peeks, and pay attention to height.

  

Step two:  Cut a piece of creamy white cotton batting big enough that it will cover you foil on all sides when it drapes over.  Lay your batting flat on the table and pour some 'Fabric Stiffener' onto the batting and work into the batting with your fingers. You want the batting to be moist and tacky on both sides, but not 'drippy'!  Drape batting over your foil, and begin forming it.  Use your fingers to create peaks, and let the batting drape dramatically to form mountain ridges along the sides. Press the batting flat to the table along the outside edges. Have fun with this part!  When happy with the mountains, set aside to dry. 

Step Three:  While your mountains are drying you can make some tiny houses out of paper clay or even cut pieces of foam core.  I made mine of DAS paper clay, and then painted them different shades of red and pink and glued cotton batting onto the roof tops to give a snow topped roof effect.  When your mountains are fairly dry you can cut the edges of the cotton batting to fit what ever size and shape you are aiming for.  

Step four:  Make trees and bushes from tiny pieces of moss.  I cut triangular shapes from pieces of thick moss to simulate conifer trees.  Trees often grow in clusters, and even up on the hillsides, but rarely on mountain peeks.  Use your imagination...  Hot glue trees, and houses in place as desired. 

Step five:  The Snow!  First I sprayed a light dusting of 'Spray Snow'.  Be sure to test this before you spray your piece, as a little goes a long way.  A heavy spray of snow gives a very different but equally lovely effect as a light spraying.  If you wish, you can add a sprinkle of glitter on top of the Spray Snow now.  Or you can wait for the snow to dry.  Once dry, use the 'Stiffen Quik' as a spray glue, and lightly spray again applying glitter or mica where desired.  I found that a small sprinkling of Mica on the peeks gave the impression of 'sunlight on the mountains, and a dusting of finer glitter over the countryside made the lower areas look as if a light snow had just happened.  If you can't find a 'Spray Snow', I suggest using the Stiffen Quik and sprinkling on 'fake snow' or glitter.  

A couple of my students in the Mother Winter Workshop added crystals and other miniatures with great effect!  The skies the limit here, just keep scale in mind when you add things. We also thought about how fun it would be to add mini lights onto our hills.  I hope someone will take this project and really go wild with it!!!  I know I will be making more of these little worlds soon and hope you will too. ENJOY!!!

Merry Christmas and God Jul!

Dreaming of Sugarplums...

Imagine knocking twice on an old wooden door, and quietly it opens...  Outside is grey and very very cold, but within - dreams stir and tiny lights twinkle!  Step inside, into a warm embrace and your eyes dance with visions of the sweetest of treats...  This is how my visit with Nicol began. (Yes!  a couple of you knew right away!)  Step quietly to the right and melt into wonderland... 

Is your heart beating quickly?   Nicol's dearest of husbands, who knows her so well, recently surprised her by setting up her daughters childhood bed ("because she loves things like this" he said) in the middle of her living room!  Swathed in antique lace, with dear little dollies sitting center front, and lit with 'Christmas stars', this is truly any romantics christmas dream come true! Everywhere you look Nicol has created delightful Magical vignettes filled with treasures and special finds set 'just so'.  Glass domes and boxes reveal fairytale splendors in a palette that one can only call NICOL!  

Sometimes 'sugarplums' take months to prepare, and Nicol's newest dreamland has been 'cooking' for quite a while!  New renovations has granted her a dearest wish - to have a studio that sparks creativity the moment you enter and makes one feel the need, urge and desire to make wonderful 'dollies' and treasures while letting time stand still...

A vintage chandelier hovers over an old oak table.  The light is perfect - pale sunshine and vintage shadows!  A slightly peaked roof highlights the victorian window that peeks into the garden beyond.  Along the walls old tables hold cabinets, baskets, and bins filled with antique bits and pieces ready for Nicol to create!

Over a delicious Black Forest inspired lunch a mysterious butcher-paper wrapped package arrived from 'the old country'.  Within were not 1 but 62 tiny little frozen charlottes, recently dug up from an old factory in Germany - a recent EBAY splurge.  

Such sweet little things, 'like angels with broken wings' - and there was the inspiration we needed!  An old photo hanging on a bulletin board, of a sweet cotton batting wrapped snow-baby set our creative juices whirling.  Nicol pulled out boxes filled with ribbons, tinsel, antique christmas glass beads and batting the color of old creamy butter.  With Chopin playing in the background, quietly we dreamed up our own versions of snow-babies with old paper wings dancing to sugarplum dreams...

Here you see our little angels, Nicol's on the right, wrapped in walnut colored bullion and topped with a golden star; mine to the left, wearing ribbons of vintage chenille the color of faded roses, and a tiny cream colored star from an old forgotten desk.. Surely we were helped by the many little eyes who kept watch over us as we created, and the sweet 4 legged benevolent souls who kept us company as the sun faded and dreams came true! 

THANK YOU NICOL FOR SHARING YOUR DANCE WITH ME!

   

Christmas At The Castle!

As they say "better late then never!"  Here are some photos of this years displays at the CASTLE.  The center tree has over 1000 ornaments on it and took 3 people 8 hours to decorate!  ENJOY!!!

Wheat in December

December 4th, is St. Barbara's Day and Wheat is her symbol.  In France, especially in Provence, wheat grains are soaked in water, placed in dishes and set to germinate in a warm corner.  The grain is carefully tended with the belief that if it grows fast - next years crops will do well! Personally, I love the way a bowl of green looks this time of year.  Easy instructions to grow your own field of wheat Here!   

Painting below by Craig Stephens.

Christmas Ideas From France

Charming Holiday Decor found on Zazie MUTE.  I love the use of old pastry tins...

Paper Angels at the Castle!

Yesterday I had 9 wonderful women creating a heavenly assortment of paper angels (and a little devil or two...) at the CASTLE!  They worked tirelessly all day (in wicked November heat!) leaving with truly beautiful results!!!

GLAEDELIG JUL and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Our very traditional Danish/Swedish tree, with straw ornaments, lights and flags!

Gingerbread Elves!

My friend Lucille does the best kids party's of anyone I know! A few days ago, she invited all the neighborhood elves, (girls) over for a gingerbread house decorating party! Moms were invited too, but truly it was the elves who did all the work! Just look at all the sweet goodies Lucille gathered! The elves spent a couple of hours in complete concentration, with a few giggles and nibbles in between! No building was the same, from A-frames, to enchanted cottages, all dripping in sugar-ice and topped with love!!!

Vintage Christmas Paper Theatres...

I wish I could remember where I found these images... Aren't they wonderful?

Taft Museum Trees

These wonderful Antique (decorated) Christmas Tree's are from the Taft Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio. I love the paper-doll decorated tree, (first image) so very inspiring!!!