Monday, 9 December 2024

Advent 2024 - and the Christmas Pop-Up Shops

 This is a local gift shop/hairdressers/café but at Christmas they put everything else away and fill the rooms (it was once a bungalow but has been hugely extended over the years) with all the Christmas decorations you could possibly imagine.

 I called in after meeting the nearest bit of the family at a Christmas Fair in the village hall where they were visiting Father Christmas. The shop and café were packed with people so I had to hang around to get photos - so many pretty things. There are a lot of these Christmas Decoration pop up shops around now and all sell beautiful and expensive things that were unimaginable 40 years ago.







I'm no help to the local economy as I didn't buy anything again. 

I was thinking I've never had blue, lilac or purple on the Christmas tree - perhaps that's a plan for another year after I've searched the charity shops again. After all, variety is the spice of life!


Thank you everyone for comments on yesterdays post about the Christmas Trees in church. They were extra good this year.
The weather in Suffolk wasn't as windy as further west but plenty of rain and flooding across the roads and smaller trees brought down wires, blocking roads so I didn't get far trying to get across to youngest daughter near the coast. Instead I got the last of the Christmas cards and letters  done and decided not to bother going to Ipswich this week just  to put four cards in the Scout Post - there isn't really much to go into town for now so it seemed silly.


Back Tomorrow
Sue







32 comments:

  1. As you say, a far cry from our traditions, it looks more like the shops did in America when I moved there in 1978. They did Christmas on a whole different scale to us and very different to the boxes of baubles and tinsel I was used to. I do, however, particularly like Gisela Graham designs. I am afraid I would not have come out without spending a fair amount. Some lovely things there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Everything from the States ends up here too eventually!

      Delete
  2. I've heard that the Woodgreen Animal Shelter shop in Ipswich is worth a visit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That must have opened since the last time I was in town!

      Delete
    2. It's in the Buttermarket.

      Delete
  3. So they suspend hairdressing and cafe activities for the whole of December, do they? It must be worthwhile, or they wouldn't do it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The cafe and hairdressers are still there but the gift shop changes from pretty kitcheny things to Christmas things

      Delete
  4. A gorgeous shop! Love your header :)
    Angie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of my 3 mini stained glass bits collected over the last few years

      Delete
  5. What a fabulous pop-up Christmas shop. I would surely have been so tempted! It's like the Christmas display in the Old Railway Line garden centre.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are two others that I know off in Suffolk are literally pop up - not there the rest of the year, but this one changes their stock from gift things to Christmas things

      Delete
  6. Like you I admire and don't buy! Neither of us is supporting our local economy. I tend to admire, then think how I can make the thing. There's quite a range you show here.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's beautiful, whoever dresses it has a good eye for merchandising. I'm afraid I might have bought one little ornament, but like you I don't spend that much on new decorations any more. One thing a year for the tree is my limit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The rest of the year they have gorgeous kitcheny things and country clothes etc - its a very popular place for coffee and cake and nice to have something like this in a smll village

      Delete
  8. Wow! That store looks great! So much to see! I hope they get lots of sales.
    I meant to mention that I like your pretty header photo, Sue.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Stunning x
    Alison in Wales x

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, everything you could possibly want for Christmas decorations - and probably some things you didn't know you wanted!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So many lovely things - I think I got a couple of acorn shaped tree decs a few years ago but nothing this year

      Delete
  11. I love a good pop-up shop and this one is especially beautiful. They do a magnificent job. I can see a zillion things I'd choose -- if I had the room and the resources!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love looking at all those beautiful things, but I rarely buy. I have plenty of lovely ones I've collected over many years. Arilx

    ReplyDelete
  13. The Christmas shop is lovely but I’m rarely tempted nowadays. I just think of all the beautiful Christmas stuff I have rehired over the last few years and that makes me stop.Catriona

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With just doing the tree and top of the bookshelf I don't need much now and what I get out I have to put away again!

      Delete
  14. I have trouble with that kind of shop because none of it is locally handcrafted but is imported from China.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thats another reason I like to buy second hand especially as our bit of Suffolk has the main road that takes all the trucks collecting the containers off the ships from China. TOO MANY TRUCKS!

      Delete
  15. The shop has a bit of everything, and it is nice to have a look around. Was it pricey?
    I've only bought one small handmade copper house this year as it was the only unique thing I've seen.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Everything in that pop up is beautiful. I am sure you enjoyed your trip seeing all the lovely ornaments.

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  17. The shop looks really lovely. I think just visiting a shop like that makes you feel a bit more in the Christmas spirit.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sue, the Woodgreen shop is in the Buttermarket, Ipswich.

    ReplyDelete