Turning panic into creativeness.

What do you do when you get half way through the morning and realise it is the 1st December tomorrow? You panic!

Actually you forget the mess in the house and the fact that you won't allow any visitors past the front door, instead you make more mess in the guise of being creative!

Take one old sheet, a cutter (it has a special name that eludes me at the moment) and a cutting board...

Cut lots of squares....

Find your 20 odd year old hobbytex...yes they still work!

Plus a mixture of fabrics and bondaweb...

Become rather creative freehand style with no planning whatsoever... Who said I can't draw?!

Spend the rest of the day frantically drawing, colouring, cutting and sewing....

Dash off for three hours teaching...

Come home and finish once DS2 goes to bed, dash out to the garden and find a length of bamboo and cut to size...realise it is too fat...dash out again and find another piece, again cut to size and bind with masking tape as it is rather dirty... thread through tie on some ribbon and a couple of bells each end (no whistles I'm afraid) and what do you get?


An Advent Calendar!

Now I wonder if I can risk putting in something for everyday, or whether I will have to put something in each evening ready for the following day?

A Pause in Advent 1

I am joining in Floss and others in A Pause for Advent. The Pause is for us to have a chance to share our thoughts, family traditions, preparations, ideas, crafts and experiences during Advent. To quote Floss we can "Post about ANYTHING on your mind this Advent – traditions, family, craft, questions, hopes, experiences, faith …"

After reading Floss's post post today I feel rather inadequate. Today has been a day of brain fog, tiredness, and feeling rather tetchy. I'd hoped to write something very inspirational, but it just isn't there for me today.

In the past Advent has very much meant the lead up to Christmas to me and my family. As a child it was a time of anticipation, and many happy memories of Christmas in NZ with my Mum, Dad and sister. Going to cut a tree with my Dad is one of my very fond memories.

Since being in the UK traditions have changed and in many ways it has felt more appropriate to celebrate with the dark and cold winter nights and the Christmas lights and decorations that start to adorn the houses, shops and streets. For a number of years we enjoyed being involved with our local church and all the traditions this entails - certainly makes it all more meaningful and special. Sadly this came to an end a number of years ago, and although we have tried to find another where we feel comfortable, it just hasn't happened.

Some 'traditions' have remained, which I will share over the course of the next three Sundays. Others have changed and of late I had come to dread Christmas and the stress it involved due to one thing and another. This year I am determined things will be different. We will take time to relax and not stress, to enjoy our family and what it means to us.

This first week of advent usually involves planning for the Christmas concert I hold for my students to perform for their parents. Other planning and lists will also entail in the hope that things will be prepared with less stress. I'm also very tempted to find some stones and sand tomorrow to make a jar like Floss made today to remind myself of what is important.

Using an advent candle that my husband found at his fathers house during one of the sorting episodes, we lit it during dinner this evening. This candle will be lit each Sunday of Advent.

While having dinner I asked each of the family what Advent meant to them.

DS2 gave his usual extensive explanation of what Advent meant and he was spot on. Then he gave his version of Advent which was:

1. To aim to be nice to everyone in his class and not to get cross with them if they did something to annoy him.

2. To pester about pressies (his words)

3. His favourite Christmas memory was when he and his brother got up very very early one Christmas to take a sneak preview at what was in their Christmas stockings!

DS1, being the strong silent and moody type was not so keen to participate and said 'chocolate'. That's right, just the one word.

Hubby said it was a time of anticipation, hope, love and family.

We've now got a cosy fire to bring some cheer to us during Advent and over winter.

My lovely husband bought me two bunches of roses today, this bunch and a yellow bunch - Hmmm I wonder if this could be a new tradition for each Sunday in Advent?

Advent also means something else very special to me and that is the celebration of my marriage to my husband. I will share more of that on our anniversary - 21st December.

Friday fancies.

Yesterday I mentioned I would show a few of the treasures I got yesterday at the 'Flea Market'.



One of the stalls at the fair is vintage jewellery, and whilst I don't think this is especially vintage, it was so pretty (and cheap) that although I walked away from it several times, it came home with me wearing it!

My friend who has the vintage stall gave me this lovely tapestry house. The roof opens up so I can store some goodies in it.

The next is a real treasure and there is no way I could pass this up. Apparently the lady who made the above house made this picture as well.

Isn't the work in this lovely picture simply amazing?

On the back of the picture she has written 'With much love, Evelyn'. I would like to think Evelyn knows her picture will be treasured.

As it was quiet I had time to make rather a few crocheted Christmas trees from the fantastic directions on Michelle's blog.

Still need their ends sewn in, but I forgot to take my wool needle with me.

Over the last couple of weeks my friend has also given me this lovely little lavender box.

Now what is this?

Well despite being unfocused, it is still readable.

Full of needles!

Isn't it delightful and so useful. It also has Embroidery needles and Rug Chenille needles. I don't think any of them have been used.

This week I also received a small parcel from the delightful blog shop of my friend Floss,

They are lovely mother of pearl buttons, but I just love the way she packaged them. Too lovely to undo!

Today we went to Homebase as they had a sale on, plus a 10% discount. Yes, I'm on the 'Utmost Challenge' and aren't allowed to buy anything new, but technically speaking I haven't - hubby bought it. Now what is it you ask? Well for the last 10 years we have had a gap in our fireplace as the previous owner, raised the fireplace, and consequently we had to have the gas fire removed as the chimney was no longer long enough to draw the fumes out. So I have filled it with various things such as a 'wine cellar' or vase of flowers, pottery watermill, etc...

Forgot to take the before photo, so here is a 'in progress' photo.

Ta daa! A lovely fireplace. Okay a woodburner would be perfect, but this is as close as we can get without having a lot of work done. Not bad, actually I think it is quite cosy and am thrilled with this very quick and easy 'fix'.

Some crochet star and tree bunting.

Now for what you have all been patiently waiting for 'Name the Bear' results....

I decided to give my husband the choice as he didn't know who submitted each name - he decided on Arthur - so well done Floss on coming up with the winning name. Just 'bear' with me for a few days while I sort out a gift for you as we have a busy weekend rearranging DS2's room.

Now for the other, the winner of my 200th post Giveaway!

Names were written out and put in a hat and then drawn out by DS2's friend and voila! Pomona is the lucky winner. Let me know your address, (I will email you) and I will pop a gift into the post this week.

Craft stall number two!

Today was the my second craft stall held at the St Albans Eclectic Flea Market in the Town Hall. It is a nice mix of handmade, vintage, bric a brac and brocante - something for everyone. I had a nice position this week just in front of the radiator, which made a huge difference to my back. Because I was warm, I was more relaxed which helped a lot. I really enjoyed chatting to the ladies on either side of me and look forward to the next one, although it was rather quiet today and I didn't sell a lot.

Vintage

Union Jacks

A nice mixture of handmade, vintage & bric a brac.

This lady makes gorgeous knitted items - I bought a lovely woollen hat from her last time and I wear it all the time when going for walks.

Poppyart is the name of this lady's stall.

I did treat myself to a copy of goodies - a gorgeous embroidered felt picture made in 1949, a necklace and I even found a pair of pinking shears for Sarah of Red Gingham. I will take photos of these to show tomorrow. I also managed to make rather a few crochet Christmas trees!

Wednesday's doings.

Almost two years ago I gave my younger son's school a couple of guinea pigs. Each year I go in to give a talk to the new year six class about the care of them. Sadly last week I got a call to say that one of the guinea pigs had died suddenly. So not wanting to leave the remaining piggy alone I brought him home and paired him up with a new buddy. Today I took them back to school and had a quick chat to the children about the new piggy. I will be going in to do my usual talk in two weeks time. I was delighted to be given this lovely bunch of flowers and a box of maltesers! Aren't they pretty?

Tomorrow I have another craft stall at a fair, and have added various things to my stock, including these Christmas tree stockings and the large stocking below.

I must make sure I pack my lunch this time though!

Twinkling lights and Bunnies!

The afternoons seem to be so dark now that I thought I'd light up the dresser a bit with some twinkling lights.

Two special little bunnies arrived in the post today. I have a couple of friends that just love rabbits. One is my physiotherapist friend who has been helping me so much since my operation at the beginning of the year, seeing me when the hospital physio isn't available. She has house rabbits so I thought a little crochet bunny would be the perfect gift for her. The other is for a friend who does guinea pig and rabbit rescue and who I got William & Oliver from, she having rescued them from neglect.

Now I did attempt to make some bunnies myself, but they just weren't working out, so I ordered them from bunny maker extraordinaire Fiona of MarmaladeRose

Sure enough they are just perfect...goodness knows how I am going to part with them. I just love the look of 'snootiness' that the little rabbit in pink has - priceless!

So much attention to detail with their cute little tails and pinafores. Thank you Fiona - they are so lovely!

200 Posts and a Giveaway!

I started this blog in March this year and would like to think I'd written some profound enlightening things, but no I've just gabbled on in my way and have already reached 200 posts! Still my opening sentences said "Welcome to my new blog! I do have another private blog but wanted one where I could share my eclectic hobbies, crafts and collections." Certainly I think I have achieved that.

So in order to celebrate my 200th post I am having a giveaway. Not sure what the giveaway is going to be yet, but it will be a surprise and will be handmade in line with the Utmost Challenge.

I'm also having a small giveaway for Name the Bear - which I haven't had many suggestions yet. Again the giveaway will be a surprise!

So far I've had...

Laki or Barrett from Janean

Teddy Edward from Lala

Victor from hubby

Goldilocks from Sarah

Now come on people, considering I have 35 followers, I'm sure there must be more than three people out there who can come up with some suggestions as well!

Keeping Warm. I do think my scarf and brooch go quite nicely with my blue coat. Still forgot to take photo of the wrist/hand warmers though!

So what have I been up to the last few days. Well with my next craft fair on Thursday I've had to make a few more goodies and taking things slowly so I don't overdo it I've made....

Some more pinwheel brooches

A Christmas Doorstop - waiting for its filling.

Some Christmas Coasters

A few little hanging birds

I do love this little bird. In the background you can see some candles I've been making with teacups supplied by my friend.

A couple more felted Daisy brooches.

A couple more hot water bottle covers.

A corsage/posy brooch.

Some Christmas stars from this fabulous blog The Royal Sisters she also has a tutorial for a Christmas tree that I'm going to try today.

A few stars made so far - I'm going to make a garland/bunting with them for my stand.

My giveaway will end on Friday to allow me time to post out to the winners.

Have a lovely week!

Name the Bear

Oh, I have been 'norty'. Yes, I just had to go and rescue that teddy bear I saw on Wednesday, especially when I saw that poor teddy bear was tossed casually to one side - he just HAD to come home with me.

I'm not sure how old he is, or what make, but he is fully jointed and has wood wool stuffing.

He also came with his own chair!

Now how could I resist that face?

Although he looks slightly stern in this photo.

So in readiness for my next post which will be my 200th - goodness, have I really gone on that much? I'm running a name the teddy bear competition and a giveaway.

Not sure what the prizes will be like yet, but get your thinking caps on and see if you can come up with the perfect name for the new addition to my teddy bear family.

On another note, I came back from physio in London yesterday with my shoulders all taped up. Naturally I can't keep it on long term, but I'm sure it is making a difference. Shame my next appointment isn't until January! I will have to see if my local physio friend can do the same.