Too late or too early!

I've had a nice day at work today. We had a trip out on the school minibus to a local garden centre which had 50% off all Christmas stock! I bought a few Christmassy bits which I'm very excited about! I have visions of my tree looking beautiful and classy even with all that glitter. I can't wait to put it back up!

New Year, new crafting

I didn't need to line my stomach after all! I had a drink to be sociable and then switched to soft drinks for the rest of the evening.  Just as well really as No 1 daughter drank enough for everyone! She thought it a really good idea to drink a large variety of whisky shots.  She is apparently never drinking whisky ever again and in true Nanny McPhee style, a wart disappeared as that lesson is learned ;) If only she knew that lesson before she vomited in my 'new to me' car! It was more a half and half vomit as her head was mainly out of the window...

Anyway enough of that.  My lovely sister bought me this fab calendar, we both have a love of campers and I am going to enjoy this throughout the year which will remind me of my dream of renovating the old T25 that we ran for 6 years.

I have also started a new craft project.  As always I couldn't help myself, I saw this Hayfield knitting booklet and was unable to resist...

I have already done the wreath part.  I haven't sewn it up because I think I'm going to get a metal wreath base instead of using the cardboard base that the pattern recommends.  If I'm going to the effort of making something, I would like it to have a little more permanency.

I have also made some of the holly leaves, with a couple more having been knit since I took the photo this evening.

Before Christmas I meant to post this  message that I received in a Christmas card from the family of one of my students.  This message is one of the nicest gifts that I have ever received.

Only 61 days until Christmas! This means that there is still time to nip over to Winnibriggs house to make some cute and Christmassy decorations! You can find both the gingerbread man and the snowman here.  I have bought the felt and hope to make some this weekend...
It's that time of year when I have an essay that is due in, I have already had an extension and to be quite honest I still can't get motivated enough to do it.  I have decided that once this is out of the way I'm not continuing with my Masters for the time being.  No 4 (the 12 year old) has given me a stern talking to, "For goodness sake Mother get a grip and just do it!" That's me told, I'm off!

A lovely start to the New Year - my Secret Santa swap gifts arrived. How exciting... A box full of beautifully wrapped surprises...A Christmas smelling candle and holder, a Christmas book, a lovely soap and some beautiful sari patchwork pieces. Now where did I put that chocolate ;0) And last but not least a beautiful paper wreath!Thank you for my lovely gifts - I am thrilled!
Now as one door closes another one opens - in the form of another swap! Click the heart below to transport to Jackie's

We were due to go to Wales on Sunday so I made some hampers as Christmas gifts using the jams, chutneys and sloe gin that I made. I'm pleased with the outcome and hope the recipients will be too. Sadly due to the weather they won't be given at Christmas as we had to cancel our trip across.I have used the extra time that I now have to complete (start!) a project! I thought that I would share - Charlotte's Mum - you still have time!

Fabric Chains Tutorial

Fabric Chains

You will need: fabric, iron on hem tape.

Cut the fabric into strips that are 8cm by 100cm (or any multiple of 20)With fabric face down, fold a 2.5cm hem and iron.

As you can see in the picture it is fine if the selvege edge is used, as it will not show.

Using the iron-on tape secure the hem all the way along. Repeat on the opposite edge so that both edges are turned in and hemmed (the hems do not meet in the centre -there is an overlap). I don't seem to have a photo of this stage but the final width of this long strip of fabric is about 2.8cm (I know this seems quite random but I measured after I had made one!).

Cut the strip into 20cm lengths.

Using a small piece of hem tape, iron the ends into a loop.

Join loops together as in a traditional paperchain. Continue until the fabric chain is to your required length.
There we are - a fabric chain that is washable and involves no sewing and in time for Christmas! And it was about time I became acquainted with our new iron!;0)

I have treated myself to the latest edition of Antiques and Homes. I was lucky to have a copy sent to me in the magazine swap with Lorraine and have become a fan. There was a lovely article by Mandy Shaw of Dandelion Designs - you know the the embroidery one that Kirstie visited last Christmas who has inspired me to make some more decorations (alas not this one!) There was a lovely picture of some vintage baubles hanging from a chandelier - I don't have a chandelier but I do have some vintage baubles! Here is my attempt at recreating it...it looks all shiny and kitsch in real life and although not normally my style (I love traditional!) I am really quite taken by it. It would look better tied with ribbons but I didn't have what I wanted so have gone with buttonhole thread! I am feeling even more Christmassy now that I have watched the second Kirstie and Phil Perfect Christmas! I liked the scarf that Phil made and it looked very easy hmmmmm....

Talking of Christmassy - the weather forecast is predicting more snow for us, as much as I love it, I'm hoping we don't have any until Thursday. The reason? It is my birthday tomorrow and I am hoping to meet a friend for lunch!

Also last week when the snowy weather arrived I had far too many of these...

and these......and I enjoyed them, but if I eat any more I will burst out of my clothes! And now, I shall leave you with that image!

I loved the Kirstie and Phil Perfect Christmas programme this evening. I am always inspired by her makes and ideas. I wish the programme was screened in November because it would give me chance to make all the things that I am inspired by. As I haven't got the time that I'd like I'd better get cracking! Last night I made this stocking...
...only three more to go!

It is Husband's birthday today but he wasn't alone in having presents - My Christmas decoration swap parcel arrived today - it was just brimming with festive treats!
And my absolute favourite...I have been totally spoiled! Thank you so much! I love all my gifts! Hopefully Maria will receive mine soon!

Thanks to Sew Scrumptious we found this site here. You can never be too old for Santa and I made little messages for all of my children.You can upload pictures which makes the message even more personal. It's all quite magical! No 4 got quite emotional when she heard her message. She is on the brink of not believing, which is all a bit sad being as she is the youngest. It is a blessing that she has got to 12 and still believes - I think that being deaf has meant that there is a naivety about her as parts of life just pass her by.
On the snow front. Between 8 and 10 last night we had heavy snow, which brought another 2inches. Sometime during the night it began to mizzle so some of our snow has started to melt. We still have lots though!
This evening we are off to Kinema in the Woods. It was No 4's birthday yesterday and she is having two friends for a sleepover. Goodness knows why it is called a sleepover, they will talk and giggle all night!

Each year I make some decorations and some gifts for Christmas. When I get the boxes from the attic with our decorations in, I love to reminisce. My hobby when we were first married was hobby ceramics (I still have my own kiln which hasn't been used for a long time), so the first three pictures are of things that I made over twenty years ago!
All this does of course mean that we have put our decorations up!

The snowy day that I woke up to meant that even my mug needs a hug! A quick and easy knit that I made from hereLast night I got my sewing machine out to complete my Christmas bunting. Obviously I had to hang it straight away!I also made a tartan cushion for Christmas...I have also had my eye on this project for a while. As it is a Christmas gift maybe I should have started a little sooner... But I have made a start...

I have spent 30mins this evening on a really quick make. The idea came from Martha Stewart, I was a little disappointed that the templates that she provides need to be enlarged. Why couldn't they just be the right size as they easily fit onto an A4 piece of paper? Anyway enough moaning! I drew out my own template onto an old cereal box (not exactly old, I now have some cereal loose in a bag ;0) - but needs must!) and I must say my little mice are looking very nice!

I started off with one...

... but the trouble with mice is that they breed very quickly!

Although I have spent what seems like most of the day watching no 4 play football (yay! she scored a hat trick!), I have still managed a little crafting time...

some festive decorationsand I needed to put the finishing touches to the fimo cupcakes that I made. The roof at church needs replacing so I have offered to make some crafty things to sell to help raise funds. The sale will be in a couple of weeks, so I'm thinking I need to get a wiggle on!

I have been asked where to buy the coloured chocolate coins, I bought them from BHS quite recently.

I am pleased to say that my gifts for the Secret Stocking swap have found their way across to the other side of the world...
the stocking was made with a felted woollen blanket, upon which I redworked and beaded a Christmas tree.

Inside the stocking I sent a handmade heart with hand painted gingerbread man, some chocolate coins and a gingerbread lip salve. Sarah is really talented and makes such lovely things that I really worried about this swap! Now having seen the photos on her blog she is also a brilliant photographer too(they are far better than mine!)! Although I must say even I am quite impressed with my stitchwork! I love blogland and it is so nice to meet such lovely people through swaps - however it feels slightly odd that Sarah is typing away on Saturday whilst we are still on Friday...