Author: becky

Christmas is just around the corner

Just over a week left before we all gather with family and friends to share joy, gratitude, and love over a Christmas feast. That also means there is only a few days left to decorate our houses and make our home magical.

Here at KLD we decided to try our hand at some handmade paper decorations in an effort to make your decorating easier!

So try out these DIY Christmas decorations. Making your own decorations is a fabulous creative outlet through the harnessing of unique design. and simultaneously impress people with your efforts…

A. Christmas Origami

MATERIALS NEEDED:

– Scissors
– Glue
– String
– White A4 sheet
– Patterned A4 sheet of your choice
– Gold or silver shiny A4 sheet

Step 1: Print one of these template on either a white A4 sheet or a patterned A4 sheet.

Step 2: Cut around the outlines. It will define the shape of your Christmas ball.

Step 3: With a needle, pierce a hole where on one of the face. Put the string through and make a knot.

Step 4: Score along all the dotted lines.The dotted lines represents where you bend the template to give it a 3D shape. Score it with a cutter or a needle will make it easier to bend the paper.

Step 5: Turn over and lightly bend along scored lines.

Step 6: Using a glue-stick glue each flap into place.

Last step is to decorate your tree with these fabulous homemade shapes!

B. Paper Snowflakes

With the Christmas tree decorated, now embellish door knobs or windows. Try paper snowflakes to hang around the house. As noted in the previous tip, use the ever so simple yet elegant white paper. Or go a shinier rout, like a gold or silver A4 paper.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

– Scissors
– Paper of your choice
– String and a needle

Step 1: First step is very simple. From a A4 or A3 sheet (if you want a bigger snowflake), cut a square and fold it in two to make a triangle

Step 2: Fold the triangle in half again, then into thirds.

Step 3: Cut around the edges of your folded paper any way you like, then open up the folds to reveal your snowflake.

Step 4: With a needle, pierce a small hole at the edge of the snowflake and put through the string. Make a know and hang it wherever you feel like.

If you are feeling inspired take a look at some of our other Christmas posts, Christmas Cards & Festive Graphics & Wrapping Delights!

In the midst of wind an rain an enchanting evening of storytelling awaited us..

The Saturday before last we were lucky (very lucky, I will explain in a minute) to attend a Roald Dahl Christmas Dinner by the incredibly talented Hunt & Gather.

Myself and Roisin booked tickets to the sold out event in September and were very excited as it was part of a surprise present for our boys, you probably know Conor and Killian from previous posts, they sometimes get roped into helping us with projects on site!

So on Saturday we got dressed up, and headed into the stunning No. 12 Henrietta Street for an night of festive food and Roald Dahl. We were met at the door by candle lit lanterns and a fox holding the guest list which to our surprise we were not on… As with all best laid plans, they often go awry! It turns out I had accidentally booked our tickets for the Friday night not the Saturday as I had thought…

But that was not going to dampen our spirits and the very accommodating team from H&G invited us in to stay for the evening. Hot Whiskys were served while the first reading from Roald Dahl’s, ‘The Twits’ was performed in front of a warm and festive fire. The reading was a very apt passage for the current trend of men’s breads today!

”Mr Twit didn’t even bother to open his mouth wide when he ate. As a result (and because he never washed) there were always hundreds of bits of old breakfasts and lunches and suppers sticking to the hairs around his face. They weren’t big bits, mind you, because he used to wipe those off with the back of his hand or on his sleeve while he was eating. But if you looked closely (not that you’d ever want to) you would see tiny little specks of dried-up scrambled eggs stuck to the hairs, and spinach and tomato ketchup and fish fingers and minced chicken livers and all the other disgusting things Mr Twit liked to eat. If you looked closer still (hold your noses, ladies and gentlemen), if you peered deep into the moustachy bristles sticking out over his upper lip, you would probably see much larger objects that had escaped the wipe of his hand, things that had been there for months and months, like a piece of maggoty green cheese or a mouldy old cornflake or even the slimy tail of a tinned sardine. Because of all this, Mr Twit never went really hungry. By sticking out his tongue and curling it sideways to explore the hairy jungle around his mouth, he was always able to find a tasty morsel here and there to nibble on.”

The venue which dates back to 1729 is full of character in its own right. For the event however it was adorned with candelabras and intricate paper crafts.

As the evening continued, readings of Roald Dahl’s lesser know works penned for adults, were beautifully depicted through the delicate art of shadow puppetry, by the amazing Cosy Bitches. The imagery perfectly complemented the dark and sinister side of Dahl’s stories, many of which I had never heard before. ‘Kiss Kiss’ is now on the way and I am very much looking forward to reading it!

As the event was fully booked for dinner we got the privilege of hanging out behind the scenes as the team prepared for their performances, and to get in the spirit of things we also had our faces painted in glitter..  They could not have been more warm and welcoming and turned what was shaping up to be a disappointing evening into a magical night of literature and sparkle!

We are huge fans and for those of you who have not yet been to a Hunt & Gather event you simply must go!

What is more beautiful than a well decorated Christmas tree and a plethora of gifts underneath?

Although the main aspect is the present within, the exterior can be just as important as you can have a ton of fun and use your creativity to come up with unique gift wrappings.

For a rustic Scandinavian look, try brown kraft paper. To complete the look, wrap the Christmas card around the gift using brown twine. If you want to make it more dazzling, just add some glitter.

An alternative to plain wrapping paper is textured paper, a classic and elegant look. Wrap a colorful ribbon around it for further zest.

There are many ways to customize your gifts through wrapping, find more ideas on our pinterest board!

Black coated steel is a faultless way to add an industrial touch to your interiors.

Raw, sleek and yet refined, steel adds contrast and depth. It will juxtapose nicely with the softness of fabrics from a rug or a sofa, or with the warmth of a wooden floor.

You can use steel in a variety of ways. If you want to give an industrial artist workshop or a  compelling atmosphere, utilize a metal structure. It can be a sturdy spiral staircase, beams, or an impressive extension.

If lofty construction pieces scare you, you can also spice up your interior by accessorizing. Steel frames, lighting features, or furnishings are just as interesting.
Whatever method, steel will definitely command attention and make a bold statement.

We used steel by adding a metal spiral staircase in our Ranelagh Residence. Smithfield Residence is also another exemple of how we used steel in smaller touches.

Check out out latest pinterest board for more ideas.

First day of work at the Apres-Ski Pop-up bar @ the I BELIEVE Christmas Market

So much preparation work to be done with all hands on deck! The focus today has been on clearing the space, collecting deliveries, organising, unpacking, and having Christmas fun.

Here is a look at the Après-ski pop up bar space on Monday morning, soon to be transformed into a Scandinavian wonderland open to all on Friday.

Protective carpet is being pulled back to expose the fantastic concrete floor below, while a steady flow of deliverymen arrive with early Christmas gifts for us all.

Like any Christmas morning, there is a fair share of unwrapping and complicated assembly to be done. Our first big delivery was our stools, 184 to be precise, each one to be individually put together by our drafted in team. With motivation (and Christmas tune or two), the team chipped away at dozens of stools and without knowing it, we were almost done.

With Tuesday came more deliveries to our Christmas village site. Holly, sheepskins, mirrors, and these fabulous wooden animal heads we are infatuated with.

Killian, Becky and Dax posted up with some of the 184 stools.

Two more days until the Christmas season celebrations kick off at the Après-ski pop-up bar and its Scandinavian atmosphere.

Christmas is around the corner!

Some of you might have started Christmas shopping for friends and family or started thinking about decorating the house, garden, and most essentially, the Christmas tree. And what represents Christmas better than Scandinavia, snowy mountains, vast white landscapes, Santa and his Christmas elves?

So why not try something different this year and go for a Scandinavian inspired Christmas. Trade your traditional red and gold baubles for white ones and pine cones. Add some white candles to illuminate the room. Use cardboard or paper animal heads to have a chalet-like atmosphere.

We are currently working on the Après-Ski pop up bar at the I Believe Christmas Market in Dublin. It is an invitation to travel to Lapland with exposed wood, sheepskins throws, Christmas trees, and of course Scandinavian inspired designs.

Check out out latest pinterest board, it is time to go Christmas shopping!