Christmas Has Hit The World of Kitsch House

Long-term World of Kitsch readers will probably already recognise these decorations from every other year, but if you've only joined me in the past 12 months, then let me show you my Christmas goodies.

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This is is the second year with our fake Lidl tree, and I've seen the same one in stores again this Christmas. It's decent for a fake, and necessary as now it's just Smix & me, I can't carry or saw & prepare a real tree like previous years. 

If you are after a real tree then IKEA is your best place to get one. They sell them fairly cheap and you get a voucher to spend in store in January with no minimum spend, to almost the price of the tree too. You'd be mad going anywhere else.

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My decorations are a collection of vintage birds bought on eBay, giant candy canes, pudding baubles and oversized retro style lights. 

Pheasant with real feather tail, vintage from eBay. 

Pheasant with real feather tail, vintage from eBay. 

No tree is complete without a Christmas craft by your little one. We don't have a star so every year I top the tree with this angel Smix must have made in nursery or P1. I like themed trees and to a point mine is, but you always need a few personal, dare I say it, messy & mismatching ornaments to set it apart from a tree you'd see in the window of a shop.

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My white birds are from Tesco a few years ago, but they had them last year again so if you like them it might be worth checking your local store to see if they've migrated back for this winter too. 

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The foot long, glitter candy canes were a really lucky discount buy when Dickson's Garden Centre in Bangor was closing down. I've three of them and they are definitely my absolute favourite ornaments. 

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Named Christmas baubles for the family seem to be the new big thing and you can support a local business by ordering a  personalised bauble from Baked in Belfast. They also hand paint beautiful Christmas plates and platters with family names.

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Christmas in my house without a touch of tack would be no Christmas at all. I have this ugly deer bauble from the 70s who hides amongs the branches of the Christmas tree. 

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My top tacky item however is this singing Santa & reindeer that jumps along and for some reason features a light up face. My Mum brought it back from Tenerife & it's horrified us ever since. 

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My stag head barometer is a bit 'Bates Motel at Christmas time' in the hall. 

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I loved the print on this advent calendar, £1 from Tiger Stores.  I also got the matching wrapping paper at just £1 a roll.

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Smix's Christmas tree is a village of little cardboard houses I got from Lidl, and filled with sweets & tiny toys. Dec 1st was this cute gnome snowglobe from Tiger too. 

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Okay, so don't laugh at Smix's room tree! His old one got binned in our house move last February, so we needed to go buy a replacement at tea time tonight. Tesco only had green 6ft ones, so we tried B&M Bargains. Weirdly they didn't have their trees with each pre-built so you could judge what you were buying, and you can see why. 

This 3.5ft black tree was £6.99 & it is..well...lacking in Christmas spirit to put it mildly.  

Smix seems pleased with it though, and along with singing lights decorating his window, he's all set.

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Merry Christmas from The World of Kitsch, Claire & Smix!

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Hillmount Garden Centre, Bangor: Christmas Gift Guide 2015

Visit Santa

Visit Santa

We popped along to  Hillmount Garden Centre, Bangor's Ladies' Night 2015 this evening to take advantage of 10% off across the whole store, as well as many other discounts.

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There is a free to view lovely little winter trail of moving figures downstairs

There is a free to view lovely little winter trail of moving figures downstairs

So is it worth making a visit for your own Christmas shopping? 

Well Hillmount is one of those garden centres that sells everything for the whole home too. I don't know if these places are just a middle class, Northern Irish phenomenon, but you'll get candles, Cath Kidston everything, cookware, jams, all sorts stocked there too.  

Also available Yankee & Woodwick

Also available Yankee & Woodwick

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My prime  'oh my word they've got those!' moment was discovering they stock Powder Socks and Accessories. Menary's in Bangor have the socks, but Hillmount have the muffs, gloves, headbands and even the gift bags.

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Ladies' night off to a bustling start

Ladies' night off to a bustling start

If you challenged yourself to do ALL your gift shopping under their one roof, you might just do it. They've a great toy selection for all age ranges, and Smix added to his Christmas wish list rightly! 

Pixar's Good Dinosaur merch in stock

Pixar's Good Dinosaur merch in stock

Seatbelt covers for comfier journeys

Seatbelt covers for comfier journeys

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Crafters and bakers are also well catered for with two healthily sized sections catering to each hobby. 

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You are spoilt for choice Christmas decoration wise. They've fake trees, real trees, fibre optic trees and absolutely reams of stuff to put on any of them. I was tickled by these Stormont & Harland and Wolfe baubles, hand painted £8.99 each.

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Anyone for a tea pot tree? 

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Your sweet tooth is all set with these stocking sized classic sweet packs. 

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And finally, something a bit gardeny 

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Exclusive Early Look at Ikea's Christmas Ranges for 2014. There are Owls & Foxes!

A little peek at what Ikea is currently bring stocked with for Christmas 2014. Some items will already be in stock from 1st October, so get stocked up early. Being a red & white stripe junkie I'm thinking of making my present wrapping all brown parcel paper with red & white stripe cable string decorations this year. Classic.

What catches your eye? Check out the ranges here

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Loving the classic gold.

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Plain green wrap with gold ribbon would look swell.

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Adore these prints on parcel paper.

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These doodles remind me of the Moomins.

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Wine bottle boxes

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IKEA also sell real Christmas trees at very reasonable prices in December, more on that when I know the date it starts. As for now, you can get a head start with buying your decorations.

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I am useless at making gingerbread houses, but every year I give it a go!

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Foxes and owls.

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The bird houses are so cute. I think I'll buy a couple of packs and hang them outdoors all year round.

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A young ambassador with his Ferrero Roche?

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Hairy faced babies, what's to be frightened of??

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Christmas 2013 at Ikea

A peak at what Ikea has in store. 

Don't forget Ikea as a destination for well designed, nicely priced toy presents too.  Click to enlarge thumbnails below for detail.