Wednesday 24 December 2014

Merry Christmas to all

Not sure what has happened to December, it has gone in a flash but all the presents are bought or made and the baking is done.  Only thing that I haven't done is put up the tree and decorate the house.  It was something Keith and I did together and this year I find myself reluctant to do it.  But this afternoon Sy is coming by and maybe I'll be less reluctant then.

I've been busy making shark pencil cases from a tutorial by Patchworkposse I've made three, one for Flynn and the other two for my brother's grandsons.  Naturally I haven't take a photo but if you use the link above you will see them.

Flynn has had his first school photo taken and he looks cute.

He's looking forward to Christmas although I don't think he really understands what Christmas is yet, to him its probably lots of parties and singing.  I've had fun buying him books and have gone for several the boys enjoyed.  Meg and Mog, Mog's Christmas, Gruffalo, The Owl who was afraid of the Dark plus one or two other bits and pieces.  I'm looking forward to the time I can buy him the Church Mice books, at the moment he's too small to appreciate the graphics in the book.


Flynn also has been busy, he made me this Christmas card, which I would like to share with you all.

And is helping his Mum make cakes for tea.

When times get tough for me this little chap put the smile back on my face.  Merry Christmas to you all and hope 2015 is a happy, healthy one for you all.

Tuesday 9 December 2014

Wild Women


Yesterday was our annual +4 Christmas lunch where we enjoy a bit of crafting, some good food and lots of laughs.  We make each other small presents, nothing flash or expensive just something we think we'll get pleasure from.  I made some wild women brooches, actually they are a cross between two patterns, one from the Sue Lawrence book Wild Women and one from a charity brooch pattern called Button Babes given away (with I think WOW) many years ago.  I made five and wrapped them without names and put them in a bag for each to pick one.  And here are the ladies.  I had fun making them and if anyone wants to try their hand the basic body pattern is an atc sized card.  Measure in half an inch at one on both sides of one end cut a diagonal line from that mark to the bottom corner.  You end up with a wedge shape. This is your body pattern, cut out two, sew together leaving a small opening to turn (I left the top opened).  Turn, stuff and sew up hole - you will need something to help you turn the body and to stuff it.  I used a haemostat.  Sew a button onto the small end and decorate as you wish.  I've used a variety of fancy yarns and some silk throwster's waste.


We each got felted soap from Jenny, small items for our handbags from Pat (who has problem wrists and couldn't make something this year, she is forgiven), home made mincemeat from Elspeth, very special recipe, A box of hand made cards from Linda plus nail varnish in the cracker and my presents the wild women brooches and a small post-it book complete with jacket (not shown as I forgot to take a photo.

We had a lovely day and far too much to eat but next year we are going to get down and do something a bit special, Watch this space.

Each year St Teresa's Hospice invite those families who have lost someone dear to them during that year to place an ornament on their Memory Tree.  This year we were invited as a family and after discussing it decided we would like to go.  There would be tea, coffee and mince pies etc and other families to talk to.  We were quite looking forward to putting the ornament on the tree for Keith.

What I hadn't been prepared for was the wash of emotion as I walked once more into the hospice.  I was overwhelmed with grief and memories of our last day together.  What made it worse was there was a memorial book that just happened to be opened at May and the first name I saw was Keith's.  I'm afraid it was very very difficult for me and for  the boys too.  We wrote out our messages on the paper ornaments and placed them on the tree.  Then we just couldn't stay any longer and left with heavy hearts. 

Once home we talked about how we had felt, how unprepared we'd all been for the emotional challenge.  But after we'd chatted, remembered some of the good times and had a cuppa  we felt better. The strange thing was that that morning the app on my printer had printed out an origami angel.  I was quite an advanced and I got stuck.  Marc finished it off for me and I felt better knowing the paper folding had eased his mind enough for me to feel better about him driving all the way home on his own.  He was picking Alix up from the airport, she had been spending time with friends in Lille.  Sy and Julie went off to buy plates for Christmas dinner which left Buster and I to have another biscuit and a sleep.

Monday 1 December 2014

Christmas sewing

Actually got down to do some sewing.  I was asked to make a Christmas Stocking for my friend's grandson and thought it a good reason to use up some of my Christmas fabric stash.

The sharp eyed of you will see that I've cut the main stocking fabric upside down!!!  These stockings take up much more fabric than I anticipated and naturally I didn't have enough to re-cut it.  I thought I'd make one for Flynn.  I do have quite a large stash of Christmas fabrics but most of them were fat quarters so Flynn's had to be a strippy one.

Flynn's is also slightly smaller,  I found some fun Laurel Burch fabric for the cuff, pity there wasn't enough to make the whole sock in.  I think I'm going to enjoy filling it with Santa presents.

I am also making several small snap-top bags to hold stocking fillers for the offspring.  I have one finished and another six to make.  They are all cut out and the metal ruler pieces (from a retractable metal tape measure) are all cut out too.  Actually I've made several of these before and my lovely Keith cut up two of his tapes so I could have a supply of pieces whenever I needed them.  Thank you my love.

Don't know why Blogger has decided to post this picture upside down, its was the right way up when I imported it, hmm.  Still you get the picture.

Took Buster for a walk alongside the River Tees, he knows the way his friend Mark takes him out sometimes.  The path ended at the style and Buster is waiting for me to cross it.  No hope Buster, it was raining and that path is wet and slippy at the best of times.  There were some swans on the river, just about discernible on the right hand side.

And finally my virtual friend Pauline sent me this lovely postcard because she has enjoyed swapping with me.  I was very touched and shall treasurer her card. Thank you again Pauline.