Yesterday I went to Oxford. Nothing unusual about that in itself, but it was a very odd trip indeed. For starters, the car park had oodles of spaces. On the ground floor where you can almost never find one. Odd. When I stopped for a quick caffeine pit stop, there was no queue. There were plenty of seats - whole sofas, vacant. I've been in one woman credit-crunch denial, but it's hard to argue with the absence of spenders.
Similarly, the usual deluge of Christmas Catalogues seems this year to be lacking something. Perhaps it's soul. But with a little folding of pages (and a dollop of inspiration from Anthropologie), the catalogues do seem to contain some festive sentiment after all - just in a different way to that which was intended.
I'm practicing making catalogue baubles. Giant ones. Fold fold, fan fan, ta-dah! Zero cost Christmas decoration.
Oooooh! Are you going to show us how to make them too?????
Lucy x
Posted by: Lucy Locket-Pocket | 21 October 2008 at 14:42
Cool! I've been trying to figure out what you were doing from your flickr picture for days! :o)
Things are similar here too. And locally the village shops have noticed a downturn too.
Posted by: Gemma | 21 October 2008 at 15:48
Yes can you give us a tutorial I am all for anything that is free and that uses all those catalogues up especially all those endless catalogues that Boden keep sending out (how many do I need?)
Posted by: Thimbleina | 21 October 2008 at 16:48
Can't wait to see your finished baubles :) K x
Posted by: kristina | 21 October 2008 at 16:52
Fab idea, though I have no clue how you achieved it!
Posted by: dottycookie | 21 October 2008 at 18:18
Great minds think alike apparently, I've been doing something similar the last few nights and just posted about it. The Anthropologie thingies look very cool.
Posted by: lina | 21 October 2008 at 18:25
The shops aren't as busy - unless you go on a Saturday at around 11am. Then they're heaving.
Can we see more of the paper baubles? x
Posted by: Kitty | 21 October 2008 at 19:10
Pretty photo! Can't wait to see how you made them :)
Posted by: sunny | 21 October 2008 at 19:32
Wow, so creative! I don't get catalogues...except for JCrew but it is way too small! I want to see more pictures of your decoration!
Posted by: Claudia | 21 October 2008 at 19:52
Wow! That looks fun. I'm going to have to work that out now.
Posted by: Gina | 21 October 2008 at 20:00
yes please show us, show us! :o) I want to make some too! x
Posted by: Bev | 21 October 2008 at 20:32
I don't think I'll be hitting the shops any time soon - just got my property tax bill and the bill from the plumber...
Might have to sign up for some free catalogues, though.
Posted by: Lil' d | 21 October 2008 at 23:10
They look pretty for mischris as our Daphne calls it!
Posted by: Louise | 22 October 2008 at 08:52
I'm joining the queue... how? do? you? make? them?
Posted by: monica | 22 October 2008 at 08:53
How do you do that? Please show us all.....
Posted by: Lucy | 22 October 2008 at 09:36
Oh I like the sound of your baubles madam!!! I have to say that I haven't even bothered to open the catalogues this year, not sure if it;s the lack of money or the sheer disbelief that Christmas is looming somewhere on the horizon!
Kimx
We really do need a bauble show and tell
Posted by: kim | 22 October 2008 at 11:59
Nice idea for using Christmas catalogues - could you do a tutorial please. I've noticed the lack of shoppers lately as well - today I was the only customer in our local 'New Look', which is an enormous shop!
Posted by: Elizabeth | 22 October 2008 at 20:49
When I was a kid we made Santas that way - out of Reader's Digests. Funny, but I had completely forgotten about how much I enjoyed making him in 4th grade until I read your post. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
Posted by: Liz | 24 October 2008 at 00:39
I'm noticing a definite shift in consumer sentiment. I think perhaps, people are just saying, "Enough".
I'd love to see a tutorial too!
Posted by: Fairlie | 24 October 2008 at 08:56