I don’t know about you but when it comes to Christmas, I’m all enthusiasm and effort with little success. Nothing seems to go the way I has thought about it in my head (it’s a minefield in Emma’s world, I’m telling you).
My tree ends up with lights at one side and not the other. I have a mixture of tinsel and beads with bows, baubles and reindeer with little colour co-ordination or planning.
Not this year.
I have visited Bents Garden and Home in Glazebury near Warrington (http://www.bents.co.uk/).
As Christmas time it is a treasure trove of beautiful Christmas tree displays, both trees, tables and novelty lights.
Now if I were Mrs Bent, I would keep such ideas and activities a closely guarded secret and not share anything with anyone.
Thankfully for everyone else, I am a farmer’s wife and the Bents of this world share their ideas.
Every Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon in the run up to Christmas, you can visit the store be treated to demonstrations by some of their expert florists, crafters and designers who will let you in to the secret of a beautiful Bents Christmas.
The night I visited, I learnt how to wrap a bottle of wine which I found very useful. I have tried wrapping bottles in the past but they ended up like something a five-year-old had done. I then moved onto the Christmas wine bag but they’re not very imaginative are they?
The one word that springs to my mind is wow.
The lovely lady who was wrapping the wine made it look so easy. She described it in easy-to-follow steps and I will certainly be trying that this year.
Bents certainly think out of the (beautifully wrapped) box and every year seem to come up with new ideas.
From trees with old vinyl records tied to the branches to an orange and green retro inspired tree to a Hollywood glamour/Breakfast at Tiffany’s one, there are ideas for every one and every budget.
Just think, all of those dodgy CDs you’ve got cluttering up your cupboards could be attached to floristry wire and hung from your Christmas tree.
On the evening I visited, I was shown how to dress a tree. If only had I known such simple steps could leave me with a tree looking like something out of a home magazine, I may not have had so many leafy disasters.
The demonstrator suggested wrapping string around the Christmas tree as a guide for you to follow when decorating and then take it off at the end.
The best bit of the tree dressing was the addition of what I can only describe as long shiny streamer things placed on the top. Who knew stars and angels were so passé? I immediately purchased three sticks from the floristry department and plan to make them pride of place on my tree this year.
I’m under no illusion. My tree will probably still be lop-sided this year but the intent is there and everyone knows God loves a trier.
That evening, you could also see wreath making an bow making in the floristry department and table dressing but I was so in awed by the tree decorating that I seemed to spend much of the evening there.
If you want some Christmas inspiration this year, Bents is definitely the place to go. Make it your Christmas tradition to go every year.
Bents did provide me with a delicious meal in return for me writing this post but, to be honest, I love Bents that much that I would have written this post anyway. In fact, given half the chance, I would live there. To find out more visit: http://www.bents.co.uk/
I’m the worst wrapper in the works. I’d blame it on my 3 year old but it’s too obvious right now. In about a year I could maybe blame him 😉