All wrapped up

I wore hat, scarf, gloves, woolly coat and ventured outdoors to post the last few lovely gifts to send to my lovely friends and family, this Christmastime.
Brr.


colourful ribbons, colourful paper, brown paper... the choices are endless.
I chose burgundy red paper and rich purple ribbon,gold ribbon, tartan ribbon, brown dotty ribbon and turquoise ribbons.
For gold wrappings I chose red and white ribbons and tied them all in bows.
I also chose brown paper and some lovely red and silver dotty wide ribbon for some boxes that needed wrapping. Gorgeous.
Are you all wrapped up yet?

Christmas Bunting

I have been making some Christmas Bunting.
So colourful.
So easy!
I cut out 2 or as many as you wish triangles in 5 or as many as you like of different fabrics as you like. Cottons work well, but I also threw in some velvet in a rich brown and some satin lime green 2 tone fabric for some extra sparkly.
I used red and green gingham, red tartan, burgundy cotton, lime green satin, rich brown velvety velore.
I cut my fabric with pinking sheers so that it doesn't fray at all, which makes the bunting making even easier!
My triangles measured about 12 inches across and I did several metres in length.
I pinned each triangle piece along a couple of metres of ribbon.I left about 10 inches at the beginning and ending of my bunting, so there will be enough to hang it from once it is done.I used 2 inch wide ribbon so that once i had sewn all the way along, I could then fold it over and then re-sew the triangles again to finish the bunting off.
You can make any kind of bunting :-)
Have fun.

Secret Santa Creative Gifts

So for months we have been thinking, planning, making our secret Santa creations for our Christmas gifts to us 5 girly friends.
It has been so exciting and such fun to give as well as receive.

The Rules were:
1.It had to be secret.
2.The gift had to be handmade

So, months later, the moment of truth revealed:
The gifts all wrapped up...


I got these amazing napkins in funky green and green dots fabric.
They came with these beautiful napkin rings, made with metal wire, beads, buttons and sequins in funky white,silver, pink and orange. Perfect for my Christmas table!

Emily got this amazing knitted handbag! Isn't it gorgeous!

I gave Abbie a picture frame that I painted green and added dotty ribbon in red and then stuck on some buttons from my lifelong collection of buttons from my Gran and Mum and now my stash. The bag for life i made came with a pouch to keep it in folded in the bottom of your handbag and I made it with lightweight plastic coated showerproof fabric,in funky retro fabric that I found. I used one of my bags as a template.

Jen got the most amazingly huge basket of handmade chocolate truffles.yum.

and this beautifully threaded button necklace.

Rachel was really delighted with her line drawing of her children.

Well done, everyone. Thank you for my gifts and enjoy.
If you want to make some gifts and are stuck for ideas, these are great and all handmade.
Have fun.
Happy Creative Christmas!

Advent Journeys and Gifts

I promised to update you of my journey this advent time of the idea and challenge of silence.
It is tough.
silence is golden....hard to find....
priceless though when it is discovered....and treasured.
My Advent journey had me reflecting on Mary's song.
The Eager Expectation, the waiting, the pregnant pause.
I have so often felt during these last few months empty handed and struggled with that feeling.
empty handed and yet,the almost silent whisper of hope...the realisation that if I am empty handed, then I am then ready to receive.
I love this verse from Mary's Song:
the promise in Luke 1 verse 53:
He has filled the hungry with good things.
I have hope, empty hands open,ready to receive the gift from Him.
Whatever it is.
My gift.
Uniquely wrapped for me.
The joy of waiting is here.
I am finally delighted I am temporarily empty handed.
Are you?

Reindeer Food for Christmas Eve

Have you ever made reindeer food for those busy reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh?
We made some at the Christmas Fayre this week.

Glitter and sparkle everywhere, porridge, sugar and seeds.


Make a wish and tie it with ribbon and the lovely reindeer food poem I found for a truly Magical Christmas time.
Here is the link I found to help me with our Reindeer food that we have been busy making at our Christmas Fayre.
We had lots of fun.
Please note:
It is recommended that glitter used is only the edible type (or just use seeds and multicoloured sugar sprinkles)if you are going to put the Reindeer foodon your garden outside.
Try it!
Magical for children and adults alike.

Santa Cake

I made this really cute Santa Christmas Cake.
This weekend.
Very proud.
Chocolate cake.
Yum!
But....
I
Am
Heartbroken.
Life is hard.
I have to give my really cute and very proud of my Santa Chocolate Cake away.
Yes, give the cake away.
Noooo!
Yes, true.
It had to be done.
That was the deal.
Ouch.


I took him to work today, ready for the guess the weight of the cake competition this week.
I left him on the table in the staff room with a LARGE note which read:

Santa Christmas Cake:
Please Look
do NOT touch.
do NOT eat.
(he is for the guess the weight of the cake competition for our Christmas Fayre)

So far, he is still intact.
A miracle in itself.
I now need to make one more for me and one for my work colleagues...
TO EAT!
(which is my cure for my heartbreak of having to give away my really cute Santa Christmas Chocolate cake)
What would your cure be?

Maybe.... I could enter the guess the weight of my really cute Santa Christmas Chocolate cake and win him back???

Advent Sunday and beyond

So it is here, Advent,to my surprise and maybe to you to? Advent Sunday before December 1st. I always think of it as being the 1st December with the mad dash for the window and the chocolates.
A time of waiting and expectation, I heard at church.
Recently on TV there was a documentary programme on 5 people embarking on a faith journey called the big silence. 5 people went on a 8 day silent retreat.
It was fascinating to watch as I saw a little of it. One guy said he heard God speak to Him and say:I've always been here,it is just that you haven't been listening. Powerful stuff.Powerful answers for the powerful questions.
The question is: will we wait?
Will we have the wait of silence, the pregnant pause before delivery at this time of advent?

The wait.
The silence.
The breakthrough moment.

The challenge given yesterday was to have a time of silence (for a period of time) waiting each day during advent.In the big Silence programme it was 20 minutes a day after they got home from retreat.

The rules?
TV off.
Phone off.
Radio off.
No talking.
No giggling.
Sit or be somewhere comfy.
Silence.
The waiting.
Waiting in expectation.
Eager expectation.
I wonder what will happen?
If we dare to be empty handed, and hold on a wait,what gift we will receive?

A bit like waiting for Christmas, really.
At least, I think this is how it is meant to be.

Anyone else in for a bit of eager expectation at this time of advent?
I am.

I will keep you posted.

Half Term week of 365

Sunday 297/365Trying to get a photo of the new baby was almost impossible with the rest of them clambering all over me!

Monday 298/365 THEY all came round to see me and SHE found MY shoes.

Tuesday 299/365Christmas shopping! (All hidden of course!)

Wednesday 300/365 Christmas creative sewing day... but sshhh it is a secret, of course!

Thursday 301/365 Surprise!

Friday 302/365 A visit to the Hummingbird Bakery!

Saturday 303/365 The Michelin Tyres Car Garage, now an Oyster bar.

It's nearly Half Term 365

Yippee. The end is in sight.
Sunday 290/365 Such a fun weekend, even Natalie's chickens seemed to love having us all to stay.

Monday 291/365

Tuesday 292/365

Wednesday 293/365 Art Club

Thursday 294/365 We can't believe you said no to staying Kat!

Friday 295/365 Let half term begin!

Saturday 296/365 I really giggled at this card!

mid October 365

A busy week and then a fun weekend away with friends
Sunday 283/365 The Learn Something New page done with a shopping list!

Monday 284/365 Let's see if my ever changing timetable works this coming week.

Tuesday 285/365

Wednesday 286/365 Art Club!

Thursday 287/365 Kat we love you and wish that you would comeback here forever!

Friday 288/365 Zoe's amazing cake designed as a game of Settlers of Cattan!

Saturday 289/365 pumpkin grown by Natalie and Jono and soup made by Jono.YUM!

Birthday week 365

Very excited that it will be my birthday this week in October!
Sunday 276/365 A day to relax and be creative with more tales from Learn Something New.

Monday 277/365

Tuesday 278/365 another page on Learn Something New done!

Wednesday 279/365 Yippee Jacob has arrived!

Thursday 280/365 Curry Night!

Friday 281/365 there is even some cake left!

Saturday 282/365 lovely cards amd celebrating!

End of September for 365

Sunday 269/365 Admiring yesterday's purchases

Monday 270/365 not impressed with 7pm

Tuesday 271/365 some more scrapbooking my learn something new

Wednesday 272/365moreof learn something new

Thursday 273/365 housegroup

Friday 274/365 The beginning of October! Time to start our housegroup book.

Saturday 275/365 rocky roadto share next week!