Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts

Tuesday, 21 December 2010

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?

Monday, 20 December 2010

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.

Sunday, 19 December 2010

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!

Monday, 6 December 2010

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?

Saturday, 4 December 2010

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.

Monday, 29 November 2010

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.

Friday, 15 January 2010

The Gift Revealed - Yummy!


I promised that I would reveal the surprise Christmas gift that arrived from my friend Bethany who lives in the Cayman Islands. She sent the gift to me for the girly chicks and I have kept it HIDDEN....until last night.... so, now I can reveal to you what was in the box!

How fabulous is that!
Thursday night is our groovy girly chicks night and it was our first meeting after Christmas... yummy!
We used some of these things to help eat the chocolate fondue.

Thank you Bethany - we loved the excuse to eat lots of chocolate too!!!

We all find it very funny that Bethany sent us this - she really knows us well - and it is also bvery funny because when she lived over here in the UK she was studying in dit and nutritian!!!
It was all yummy, Bethany! Thank You.... such a generous and lovely surprise!
and to be honest....I can hardly wait to do it all over again....the sooner the better, really!

Tuesday, 29 December 2009

Happy Christmas Time.

I hope you have been having a good Christmas time?
I have.

Walks in the park on Christmas Day complete with a smattering of snow,

busy shoppers at work wanting bargains in the sales, cards, emails and letters from friends, gifts in the post, time to relax with friends, time to watch TV and to cook and taste yummy food.
Tudur has enjoyed hiding in his home made den of drying laundry hung over the stairs!

Yesterday it was time to spend with family.
We had our family Christmas Day yesterday - with those of us here in the UK gathering form various locations from England and Wales for the day. There were 14 of us as some of my family are in Boston, USA.
It was a really lovely day and as we all get on well, it was a very relaxing day.
I am very thankful for that.
Food, chats, laughter and gift exchange, in between children playing with toys and chatting and wanting you to play with them.
my family all liked the look of their jams and chutneys and my brother liked his mini Christmas cake. I used edible glitter on this one!

I still have to finish decorating the cake for my sister, but she lives nearby, has a big Christmas cake to eat and so is in no rush for her mini cake. I am looking forward to having some time to enjoy decorating it.
I will be finishing my job in the bling shop tomorrow, so will have the last few days over new year to relax and get ready for my new job.
Exciting Time!

Wednesday, 23 December 2009

A Special Carol Service


On Sunday I went to my local church for their carol service.
I loved it!
I love carols and would have loved to have been in the choir, but it has not been that kind of a year for me, with having had post viral fatigue and with my job in the bling shop, I have often missed sunday services. So it was good to have a day off to be able to relax and go to church.
My bloggy friend Rachel, sang in the choir. They all looked angelic dressed as angels and there was a grwoing and moving nativity happenning as the story unfolded. One annointed moment was when one very talented girl danced a balet solo with a ribbon. Fabulous!
It was very special for me because I was once again reminded of the real reason for celebrating Christmas time: Immanuel God with Us!
How amazing is that!
Thank you God fpr choosing to be Immanuel God with me and reminding me of this truth at this Christmastime.

Friday, 18 December 2009

Oh dear! Endings and New Beginnings.

Today I left my job!
2 weeks ago I had just got the email about the job I will start in 2 weeks time, when school starts in the New Year.
It has been a mad few days since being offered the job 3 days ago.
I was offered my new job, hoping to start my new one in January on the basis that we could find someone to replace me.
Someone "just happened" to come in to work, asking if there were any opportunities to gain some experience, whilst they do some training. Often, courses won't accept you on their training programmes without the experience.
So I have spent the last 3 morning sessions in school, with this lady working alongside me as part of a brilliant and timely hand over.
Perfect, these "just happened" moments, aren't they?

On Wednesday afternoon, I was asked to teach 3 classes as a supply teacher, which was great for me. The 3 classes of 9, 10 and 11 year olds seemed to like it too. I taught each class for 45 minutes. I made, or they made, or we made these:cute aren't they?
They are cute, made with baby sized up to adult sized hands and feet!

I got the idea from my niece, a few years ago.
If you haven't made them before, simply draw round one foot and left and right hands.
The foot becomes the reindeer head, the hands, the antleers!
We did this on brown paper and stuck it all onto card, for strength.
Use a black marker pen to draw round the outline to make it bold.
Write a message and the date, so it can become a keepsake memory.
We drew round a small coin in red card for the noses and stuck on googly eyes.
Some children chose one big and one small eye size, to make their reindeer have more character!
They then went round the edge of the hands/antlers to make them a bit sparkly and ooh ahh with colourful glitter glue.
Some used glitter very creatively!
Some children were able to build their reindeer at the sticking brown paper onto card stage, others stuck each of the 3 brown paper parts onto the card as separate pieces, to cut out and re-assemble later.
This was because they struggled with the cutting out skills with the fingers for the antlers, so we did it in stages.
All 3 classes loved it and many thought they might make a family of reindeer at home with their families!
Hole punch 2 holes for some thread to hang your "dear" festive creations!
My niece does it each year with her children and hangs them in a garland so you can see them get bigger each year!
I think she also sticks a photo of the children in the middle of the foot too.

Today was my last day in this job. Not every day was easy. One of the children I worked with could be quite aggressive and volatile towards me and other children. Some days at 8.50am would seem like very long days. Other days, would hold some rewards and breakthroughs, where we would make great progress, in attitudes, choices and learning. I also had the chance to invest and hopefully impact several other young lives throughout the school, helping them in their social and emotional development too.
It is the end of the last 2 years and my colleagues have been a really kind and supportive staff to work alongside. I will miss them but am pleased to have made some friends too. They very generously gave me this beautiful bouquet of flowers and a lovely necklace to wish me well in my new job.

A new beginning.

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Thank You, Faithful God for My New Job!

I got offered a new job, yesterday - and said yes!
Last week I heard about this new job opportunity. A school was looking for a Learning Mentor and I am one. Tada!

I went along to the school on Thursday last week to meet the head and was asked to go back again on Tuesday, which was yesterday. I was offered the job and I said yes!

I have been looking for a new job these last few months, as I currently have 2 temporary part time jobs and wanted a full time post with a new challenge and opportunity. I am a trained and experienced teacher and also have had years experience with YWAM working as a child, youth and family worker. When I moved back to England, leaving YWAM, I have been working more with children with social, emotional and behavioural needs and their families, which I love. I have had a few lovely jobs but my current job had drastically reduced hours due to funding since September: hence 2 part time jobs and my quest to find a new job with increased hours.

I have found it to be quite a relentless, nearly all time consuming and almost soul destroying search at times. I had a few interviews, been very close, but not successful, had some positive and some unusual and surprising feedback, applied for several jobs hearing nothing and spent days and days and days searching websites and papers for adverts and getting details and pushing a few doors.

A few weeks ago, I found myself saying to God:
"You know, I can't do this days and days searching and days and days filling in each form and letter of application for another 1/2 term. What I would really like is for a job to just drop into my lap."

And it has.

Thank You, God for once again proving Your Faithfulness to me.

Psalm 100 says this:
On your feet now - applaud God:
Bring a gift of laughter
sing yourselves into His presence.

Know this: God is God, and God, God.
He made us, we didn't make Him,
We're his people, His well-tended sheep.

Enter with the password: "Thank You!"
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank Him. Worship Him.

For God is sheer beauty,
all generous in love,
loyal always and ever.


I feel like a well tended sheep. How about you?
When have you or are you aware of God's care for you in the detail?
Immanuel, God with us?

May we become more aware of His tending in our lives, especially at this Christmastime: for Him to be Our Immanuel.

Saturday, 12 December 2009

My Christmas Chutney

I made this yummy Christmas Chutney using 2 of my favourite ingredients: cranberries and apples!

I found a really simple recipe:
1kg cooking apples
500g eating apples
450g onions
50g fresh root ginger
1 tsp peppercorns
500g granulated sugar
250ml cider vinegar
500g cranberries

How to make it:
1. Put all the ingredients except the cranberries in a pan. Heat to dissolve the sugar, stirring, bring to the boil and simmer uncovered until apples and onions are tender. The mixture will be thicker and no watery liquid remaining.
2. Add cranberries and cook for 10 minutes until they are soft but not bursting.
3. Put into sterilised jars and seal. Store in a dark place for up to 6 months.
Delicious with cheeses and cold meats.
I used these really really cute hexagonal jars from the jam jar shop.

And here is my chutney:-)

I love the rich red colour, don't you?
I am giving some away as Christmas gifts... but hope to keep a jar to try myself... and maybe one to share!
I can't wait to open a jar!

Friday, 11 December 2009

My "Mini" Christmas Cake #1

May I proudly present to you my first "Mini" Christmas Cake!
I hope you like it.

I am very pleased with it and I gave it to my best friend Christine when she came to stay for her Chrissie present from me.
I wonder if she ate it all the way home?

I made 4 of these 4"x4" fruit cakes in October and they have been maturing - with a little sherry!
For this first one, I decided to do a Winter Wonderland Theme, using pale blue and white icing. I then cut out various sized flower shapes and added silver balls to their centres.
Pretty and delicate I think.
what do you think?
I put it in this christmassy cake box I found at sugarcraft.

Only 3 more cakes to decorate....

Wednesday, 9 December 2009

O Christmas Tree!


O Christmas Tree,
O Christmas Tree,
Oh how I love my Christmas Tree
Is that wrong?
I hung lots of decorations.
White lights, gold and silver bells in a garland, the cheapest plastic shatterproof gold baubles I could find, some hand decorated pine cones with oodles of colourful glitter glue and my collection of very loved decorations. This one is one of my favourites, a gift last year from friends in Scotland!

Tudur seems to like it too...

He thinks it is a great place for hide...

and seek!

Tuesday, 8 December 2009

To tree or not to tree?

I love Christmas trees and the opportunity they bring to have fun decorations to hang and lights and sparkle and bling. My kitten, Tudur, is 7 months old and loves leaping around, especially whilst he is hidden in a big yellow bag. This causes him to fly across the room at great speed.

The other day, I discovered the big yellow bag upstairs!
So my dilemma has been this: to tree or not to tree this year....?
I have visions (nightmares) of the tree, lights, decorations and kitten flying around the room and landing with a crash in a heap of broken mess.
As an alternative, I have some precious old vintage baubles that I really don't want broken, so I have put them in a big glass cylinder and they look lovely.

I am very pleased with them and everyone thinks they are great too.
I then hung some of my non-breakable decorations on my lighted twigs...
and thought that would be it.

But it's not the same.
I miss my tree...
and half the lighted twigs are now considerably more light less as most of the lights are broken and irreplaceable as I have had it for several years now.
I have now lived with my alternative half lighted twigs for over a week I realised that I really miss having a tree...
So, to add to the festive spirit of joy and fun and merriment, last night I went out with my friend Abbie...
and brought this...

My Christmas tree!
A 4ft high Norway spruce.
Isn't it lovely?
Sitting beautifully in it's stand with water and just waiting to be decorated - or leapt on - whichever happens first!
Today, I aim to add my lights, some extremely cheap plastic non breakable baubles I found in a local store and move my decorations from the half lit twigs. I will hopefully make some more and get some photos before the tree and afore mentioned contents go flying!
Ah. My Christmas tree.
I love my Christmas tree.
I am very happy.
I wonder what Tudur thinks?

Monday, 7 December 2009

I Made Yummy Christmas Spiced Bread!

I am soooo loving this yummy bread that I made that I might just have to make some more!

I adapted a basic fruit loaf recipe to make my own christmassy spiced bread!

So instead of using raisins or just mixed fruit I used a combination of dried cranberries, some mixed fruit and dried chopped citrus peel. For spice I used mixed spice that already has cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg in it. Such wonderful aromas and flavour!

Delicious toasted and with a cuppa anytime on these cold wintry days and nights.

Thursday, 3 December 2009

How To make my advent bucket garland.




Here, as promised are a few tips for you to make your own bucket advent garland. There is still time to make yours, as of course, there is always time for chocolate.
You need:


24 buckets. mine are from IKEA, measuring 6cms diameter and didn't have handles.
string/ribbons/twine: to make handles, decorate the top of each bucket and to hang.
florists silver wire to strengthen the twine (my personal choice)
24 pegs - clothes wooden pegs are great. leave plain or decorate.
24 numbers either written or cutout or printed off onto card. I used white card.
24 coloured stars or jewels to add to the number cards
24 small goody/treat sized chocolates!
Garlands available in various colours and lengths. I used 3 down my hallway.

How I made my advent bucket garland.

1. Paint 24 pegs and leave to dry. I used silver, gold, green and red and painted 6 in each colour.



2. Tie string/ribbon/twine around the top edge of your buckets to help begin to make your handles. I then threaded silver wire through and twisted it to hold in place on one side. Thread through a small piece of twine/string/ribbon and tie in a knot on the same side, 15 cms should suffice. This is the first part of your handle. Twist the wire around the string and take the handle over the bucket and thread, twist and tie the wire and string. The bucket handle is now secure and will stay in position.
You might be lucky enough to have found buckets with handles, or to have one of those super crocodile crafting gadgets to simple punch a hole on each side of your bucket.

3. Thread and tie some ribbon through each bucket handle. I looped ribbon and tied it before looping through the handles. You will need these loops to thread your buckets into your garland swag, so the buckets hang facing the front.
I used white ribbon for a wintry look.

4. Thread and tie ribbon in bows around the top edge of the buckets to finish them off nicely. I used a mixture of white, green, red and silver ribbon and raffia.

5. If you painted your pegs, you might like to add glitter for some extra sparkle. I used red, green, silver, gold and used glitter glue in easy squeezable tubes from the early learning centre, a children's store. Crafting stores would sell similar too.



6. make your 24 numbers on card. You could cut out numbers from magazines, draw your own, paint, print off. I used a mixture of various fonts and used various green and red shades. I also did some digits and some numbers as words for fun.
Add jewels or stars or snowflakes to one corner of each number.

7. Hang your buckets onto string or ribbon. I hung 3 swags with 8 buckets on each, so that it wasn't too heavy on my tiny nails in the wall! Add your garland to decorate your swag. I used 3 swags that have pearl and glass effect beads on. Greenery or red berry swags would look great too. Just twist the swag in a few places so that the garland hangs over the string.


8. Peg the numbers either in place onto each bucket, or onto the swag garland directly above each bucket. I put the numbers in a random order, but you can do it in numerical order if you wish to help younger ones with some ordering numbers!

9. Add chocolate and or other gifts to each bucket. You could add an encouragement, a verse, a challenge to do each day or some coins or a small gift, or a small ornament to add to your tree each day...


Enjoy!