So anyway, in the immortal words of the lovely Mary Fitzgerald…here’s one I made earlier (I’ll bet Mary didn’t actually make hers either)! I bought this one in my local florist at the Dublin 4 price of €12.00. Then all you need are:

2 large oranges

6 cinnamon sticks

6 small baubles

1 large bauble

Needle & thread

Twine & scissors

To decorate it I sliced up some large oranges and baked the slices in the oven at 180 degrees C for approx. 30 – 40 minutes turning them over halfway through. When the oranges were cool I added a whole clove to every second segment. Then I attached/sewed them to the wreath using a needle and thread. Using twine, I then attached the cinnamon sticks to the wreath and wrapped small Christmas baubles around them. I used these Silvered Glass Baubles. Lastly, I added the co-ordinating large bauble to the bottom of the wreath…at voila!

These wreaths are also a great way to add a festive touch to an autumn/winter wedding, perfect for hanging around the reception venue, decorating the church windows or even used as table centrepieces. Just pop a large pillar candle in the centre and hey presto!

Handmade Christmas Bunting - HoHoHo €24.00

We have the most fabulous range of Christmas bunting that has been handmade with love by Nola Gifts especially for Mabel & Violet. There are four different styles and not only will it jazz up your own home this Christmas but it would make the most adorable gift. In fact it would make the most thoughtful and perfect gift for the person who is playing host to you for Christmas this year….much better than another ponsietta anyway!

Handmade Christmas Bunting - Santa Baby €28.00

Hurry though, last orders in time for Christmas are looming….

Dublin: 22nd December 2009

Rest of Ireland & Northern Ireland: 20th December 2009

Great Britain: 17th December 2009

Handmade Christmas Bunting - Happy Christmas €36.00

Handmade Christmas Bunting - Rudolph €24.00

Maya Tea Lovers Gift Set €59.95 from Mabel & Violet

We all know at least one. They can usually be found lurking furtively by the kettle, anxiously waiting for the comforting click, signalling that they can proceed to the next step of their daily, no, hourly ritual. This is an addiction like no other, one that can only be satiated by an ancient herbal remedy of the gods. It relieves all tension and anxiety, rendering the addict more useful, less irritable and increasingly capable of normal human behaviour. The rest of us mere mortals have a lot to thank tea for.

Show your nearest and dearest tea addicts a little empathy this Christmas and give them the gift that keeps on giving them their daily fix – the Maya Tea Lovers Gift Set €59.95 from Mabel & Violet.

Maya Tea Caddy - also comes with the Maya Tea Lovers Gift Set (above)

Christmas at Mabel & Violet

Oh where to start! Now that I’m back in the blogging seat once more, I have so much to tell you lovely folks that I don’t know where to start, eeek. I should probably start at the beginning but that would be boring and I’m way too excited about Christmas to even think about anything else at this very minute, so Christmas it will be.

Silvered Glass Vases/Votives €19.95 Set of 2

I’ve been soooo busy over the last few weeks getting organised for our first proper Christmas here at Mabel & Violet towers. We had a soft launch just before Christmas last year to see how sales would go but we didn’t go all out like this year. This year we have created a Christmas section with Christmas Decor, a Christmas Gift List For Her and a Christmas Gift List For Him. Have you seen it yet? It includes loads of new products that I’m very excited about…

Mirror & Glitter Christmas Wreaths €19.95 Set of 2

These are just some of our Christmas range, if you want to see more of what we have available just click here. Silver, teal and turquoise appear to be a common theme in our decorations this year, can you tell?

Set of 3 Large Harlequin Baubles €9.95