Thursday 9 November 2006

Habitat Christmas things



Now that Halloween has passed I think it's acceptable for me to start getting into the Christmas vibe so I can be ready for the friends that are coming to stay. Technically, they'll be staying with Mr.P. but as I have the stove I reckon they want top come to mine for cosy flickering flames. Shown above is a bit of wrapping paper on one of my fabrics last Christmas. I've been trying to create some sort of small area of order and access so I can make cards and presents, not quite there yet but I can see the light at the end of hte mobile home tunnel.

While in town yesterday* I very briefly pop into Habitat to check out their Christmas decorations. This is a real Chritsmas treat for me and really reminds of my childhood. My Mum was a Habitat devotee (as I am now) and I still remember going in there as a wee girl with my brother in a buggy, or maybe the buggies belonged to other mothers? I just remember stacks of them parked up at the cafe. Yes, I am old enough to remember when the 2nd floor of Habitat had a cafe! Ah, those were the days.

I LOVED trips to Habitat. I think that's when I began to realise that there was such a thing as different tastes. It amazed me that other kids didn't go to Habitat, and wouldn't want to go there, and I found this inconceivable since to me it was like going to heaven. And at Christmas time, triple the heavenly pleasure.

But yesterday, no heavenly pleasure for me... they were gutting the place! It appears to be getting a complete revamp, lighting upstairs, candles where the lights were and nothing at all from the door to the stairs. They had a few christmassy food things upstairs, and a few candles, but no baubles. I could never (still can't) afford lots of nice baubles so I pledged years ago that I would buy one bauble that I really liked each year so that when I was the age I am now I'd have a good collection. Well, too many years have been too poor for even one bauble, including the last 2 years, so I am determined to buy one this year, if they bloomin' get them in that is.

I had a look on their website (which is never as good as the catalogue) but I do really need to hold a thing in my hands to see if I like it. Here are the deco's that I'll be giving a second look in person, the crochet stars are £1 (I know, I know, I could make my own, but I simply don't have that kind of time free) and the others are about £3 each. You'll notice my love of the white red and aqua/blues extends to everything. Not sure if the beaded ones (top row) will be nice or not. The sequined ones look better and the etched bluey glass one could be gorgeous, hard to tell from the photo...



*Went to the Green Party pub quiz night last night, and I have to say, it was tough going. Not the quiz itself, but the fact that the pub had just had a fresh lick of gloss paint all over and the fumes were horrendous. And to top it all, there was an appalling smell coming from the gents toilets all night! It was so bad that our team name was 'The smell is not us, it's the toilets'.

8 comments:

createacraft said...

I loved the decoration shops from when I was a small girl.. this thing is in your blood or not...
and I love Xmas decorations too..
you know.. maybe the beaded one is classier.. I have seen some sequined.. not very special.. but the glass ones hit always the top..
Isn't it wonderful to have Xmas near.. =))

Anonymous said...

I know what you mean about Habitat at Christmas - it just has such a nice atmosphere and they do sell lovely decorations. I used to love going to the Habitat and Heal's stores that are next to each other on Tottenham Court Road in London, but the best Habitat in town now is definitely the new one on Regent Street.

Ruth Singer said...

oh yes, we were a Habitat family too, especially at Christmas. I'm tempted to buy baubles now, see what you have done!!

Anonymous said...

Another Habitat family here! When we lived in Orkney we had to use the mail order catalogue (the arrival of a new one was a big event) but when we moved to Yorkshire no shopping trip to Leeds was complete without a look round Habitat (we were hard up and couldn't really afford anything but loved to look). Actually I must be third generation Habitat as my grandparents bought lots of things from there, as well as Heals.

I've been wondering when all the Christmas stuff was going to come in and as I've got a few things I need to get from Shandwick Place this lunch hour, gues where I'll be having a quick browse?!

Anonymous said...

I'm so jealous of you all!! I used to beg my mum and dad to go to Habitat but they insisted on shopping in John Lewis instead. I remember going to other people's houses and being transfixed by the huge paper lantern light shades and simple furniture and then going home and telling my mum all about it. I even once *pretended* to someone that we went to Habitat!

Susan Schwake said...

habitat was always my favorite stop whilst visiting scotland... now i am pining for it again!

Anonymous said...

My best friends mum and dad were big Habitat fans.My sister and I used to tag along whenever we could.Such a great trip out!I remember really wanting our house to look like theirs now my sisters does!

Cally said...

It's like Kristy says, Habitat was a great trip out.

It's how many people feel about Ikea these days but I recokon Habitat was better cause it was more intimate, more special feeling, more homely.

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