On the twelth day of Christmas . . .

we dressed our front door

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and here's hoping you have a wonderful 2012

On the eleventh day of Christmas . . .

it rained quite heavily . . .

Luckily I had followed up a link from Angry Chicken recently for this lovely doll and her doggie.  It has been gorgeously painted, I love the water colour and character of it all.  A little background story to get you going and some lovely outfits to try on so lots of opportunities to make up stories.  Flopsy Bunny played with it a bit - we rather liked the little jacket for the dog and the fact that after cold wintery walks dot comes back for a cup of hot chocolate - something we like to do too!  What a treat Emily has given us.

On the tenth day of Christmas . . .

. . . three little doves

Not a finished project yet, but I thought I would give you a sneaky preview of what I'm working on at the moment.  Imagine 7 more with embroidered eyes too!  I'm really enjoying this one - a little Christmas present to myself . . . !



On the ninth day of Christmas . . .

. . . I filled two tea cups with pretty bulbs

It is always tricky to know what to give my two grandmothers.  Yes I am blessed, both are going strong at 96 and 102 and its good to know there are longevity genes on both sides!  But then what to give . . .  This year, having seen this idea in a number of florists I decided to give it a go myself.  So off I popped to our local antiques and brick a brack shop - Oh how I love that shop - a real aladin's cave and I always find what I'm looking for!  Do you remember these? - well as I said this shop rarely fails to deliver, and this time I am really happy with my kingfisher cups - rather lovely don't you think?  Then it was just a case of putting some compost in, popping in a bulb and topping with moss and hey presto, gorgeous granny presents. 

On the eighth day of Christmas . . .

. . . we added some sparkle and shine

A friend has noted that I had been on the 'seventh' day for longer than a day - I think she noticed the flaw in my little plan . . . !  Luckily while it has been quiet on the blog it has been super busy behind the scenes.  Presents bought and wrapped, cards written and plans made.  I think I have managed to get all my Christmassy things done this week and I'm hoping to devote next week as Christmas craft week with the kids - watch this space!

I just love Christmas, it has to be my most favourite time of the year.  Decorating the house and tree gives me a real thrill - even if Little Roo has taken to pulling the christmas tree over for the second year in a row!  For me the best part is rediscovering my decorations and adding to them.  I'm also enjoying Flopsy Bunny's little contributions.   She rearranged my deer, which are a new addition this year, but she made it into a game, I could hear her softly speaking to the deer as she put them in their new places and has obviously decided that the candle holder is their food trough!  It did bring a smile to my face.

On the seventh day of Christmas . . .

There was some sillyness!

Yes, knitted paper chains, or should they be called knitted wool chains.  Rather silly I know and I'm not sure what came over me, except I saw some really lovely felt ones recently and thought felt, wool, knitting!!  I'll have a go.  I've never been one to see the point of knitted cupcakes and vegtables but I'm beginning to see the appeal  now- it's more in the fact that you are able to do it rather than for the finished object but then that's my take on it!  DH is slightly concerned that our house is going to resemble this!

The beauty of this chain is that it is mighty quick and easy to make and you can keep adding whenever the urge takes you.  One picture frame this Christmas maybe a whole room next year!!! (Sshhh - better keep that quiet!)

On the sixth day of Christmas . . .

. . . a sparkly forest grew

Inspired by my holly leaves, Flopsy Bunny decided she wanted to do something with green felt and after her attempts at drawing holly - which didn't go as well as she hoped she settled on Xmas trees.  Using her template I cut out the felt trees and she set about with the decorating.  As you can see she definately believes more is, well, more!!  A girl after my own heart - you can hardly see the outline of the tree for all the sparkle and sequins.  These little trees have had ribbons added to hang them and are going out to family and friends this Christmas!!

On the fifth day of Christmas . . .

I made a holly decoration!

There must be something in the air at the moment with lots of thoughts of holly.  Over at Attic 24 there has been some lovely holly making.  I'm wondering if my holly looks a bit bat like?! Ho Hum!

As you can see I've got a little behind on my days - well there have been some very special birthday celebrations to prepare.  Now Little Roo is well and truely 3 and has been sung to everyday, I can turn my attention to Christmas!!

On the fourth day of Christmas . . .

. . . I baked my boy a cake

Yes, you might have guessed from yesterday's post, it's that time of year again, Little Roo's birthday.  I can't quite believe he will be three on Tuesday - I look at him trying to see the baby he once was and just see this grown up boy - still quite little though!  Anyway, despite trying to convince him otherwise he requested a dinosaur cake again this year.  I was gutted as I had big plans for a space rocket cake made with Swiss Rolls! 

On the third day of Christmas . . .

I created an Etsy Treasury List . . .

'Dinosaur Love' by SpotsandStripes

 

Dinosaur Love Tote Bag
Metal Stamped Personalised B...
Dino Love Wallet
Tall Love - Illustration PRI...
Spike 2.0 the Dinosaur Plush...
Dinosaur Print - Apple iPhon...
Custom Handpainted Wooden Dr...
Dinosaur Pattern. Soft Toy. ...
Dinosaur Stick Hobby Horse -...
Crochet Pattern- Luke in the...
Custom Dinosaur Hat
Felt Dinosaur Play Mat Tote ...
Dinosaur Building Blocks (Se...
Wall Decal Children Monogram...
Dinosaur Plush Stuffed Baby ...
ROAR Navy Triceratops Dinosa...

OK, a bit of a cheat here, but ever so much fun. Inspired by Cupcakes for Clara - she has created some lovely ones. So my theme has been definately influenced by a dinosaur/dragon loving soon to be three, but wishing he was four, Little Roo. xx

On the second day of Christmas . . .

. . . we made some paper stars

Flopsy Bunny was off sick this week with a little bug, so it gave us an opportunity to do some Christmas crafting together.  After much deliberation she choose these beauties.  Lots of fun to make and even more fun to decorate with the glitter glue!  We will be sticking them on to ribbon to hang in Flopsy Bunny's bedroom.

On the first day of Christmas . . .

. . . I finished my Cloche Hat

It is certainly getting Christmassy around here and not just here but in Blogland too.  I was reading SarahWoodonline today and loved her idea of an advent posting each day, giving us a lovely online tip - what a treat AND what a good idea!  So much so I've decided to pinch it, well sort of, it's a sort of challenge to myself and a Christmas deadline for all those things I want to make.  Instead of an advent posting I'm going for, wait for it, have you guessed yet?  Yes the 12 days of Christmas - might just be able to make 12 things before Christmas! 

Although hopping over to Soulemama today made me think now here's a woman who will be able to create more than 12 things before Christmas and they will be gorgeous and she has 5 children and one of them is a baby - how she manages to do it all is beyond me.  Anyway she has some absolutely gorgeous fabric in her stash and I'm looking forward to seeing her finished results.  Attic 24 is getting all Christmassy too and I've been inspired to buy the book she has recommended by Clare Youngs.

So enough of my Christmas ramblings and back to the hat.  This was meant to be my New York hat.  DH and I went for a sneaky weekend last weekend without the little ones and it was truely wonderful.  My first time in that amazing city.  Anyway, I had been gearing myself up, getting ready.  All my friends who had been said it would be cold, even if the temperature's not that cold, the wind really is, so I packed my snowboots, winter coat, gloves, scarf and was desperately trying to finish THIS hat.  Alas I ran out of time so the hat didn't get finished in time, which was just as well as it was scorching - in the 20's - I was sweltering!  Luckily the hat is now ready for the cold snap we are having at the moment.

The pattern for the pattern can be downloaded free from Ravelry if you are a member, it's called the Kim Cloche.  Great pattern, although I did modify it slightly as did other Ravelry members and excluded rows 2-5 which seem to give the top a better look.  I also had to use slightly smaller DPN's as I couldn't seem to buy 5mm ones anywhere!  Anyway, it seemed to work!  The hat was finished off by a lovely crocheted broach that a friend made, how I wish I could crochet - maybe one day . . . !

Matlida Jane - I love you!

I can't tell you how much I love this cardigan and pattern.  I just love, love, love it!  Ysolda Teague is a designer genius.  I have so loved knitting this cardigan, it's been a pleasure, and so very clever.  You knit it from the top down.  There are raglan sleeves which mean that there are no seams to sew and I'm sure it has made knitting that much quicker.  Ysolda also has a total eye for the shaping - wonderful.  I was a little worried that I had knitted a size too small, but it fits like a dream.  There were a few fiddly bits, like lifted increases and casting on in the middle of a row which I haven't done before, but a quick response from Ysolda and everything made sense!  B and A lifted increases, before and after - of course!  There were little  things in the pattern that I loved like the knitted buttonhole facings and the shaping to give you a mitred corner at the bottom corner.  So here it is, my Matlida Jane and enough wool left over to make some fingerless gloves - for those chilly days when forearms might get a bit nippy!

Three generations craft project

It started off as a Granny and Granddaughter craft project.  My mum had given Flopsy Bunny this gorgeous book on how to make princessy type things.  Flopsy Bunny had chosen the castle and we got everything together except we didn't have any paint.  Not to worry says my mum we will cover the boxes with fabric - ahh can you see where I get it from?!  Anyway, during this whole process Flopsy Bunny lost interest and decided to take on a more supervisory/overseeing role and somehow it turned into a mother and daughter project instead.  Which was lovely, I must say we both really enjoyed ourselves a lot - Flopsy Bunny came along to put on the finishing touches and here it is!  A princess castle!

Corners of the house

We've been having a bit of a move around at home.  The dining room has been moved round and we've created this little corner which shows off my grandfather's desk beautifully.  Which, as you can see, is slightly battered but very beloved!  The picture on top of the desk is by the very talented Flopsy Bunny.  I think there is definately some synchronisity going on in our house.  I've been looking for ages for a picture like this, an abstract, sort of stripey with those kind of colours and lo and behold my little gorgeous Flopsy Bunny created this last year.  Doesn't it just look fab - or are my rose-tinted glasses a bit too rose-tinted in this matter?!  (I do have thoughts along the lines of  - when she is a world famous artist I can say - "well this was her first piece, aged 5!" hee hee!!)  Anyway, I love it!  It will be making it's way up the wall just as soon as I get out to the garage to find a hammer!

Of course looking at this photo you can clearly see a need for those cushions to be changed and my mind is already whirring, a bit of linen, some applique - watch this space . . .

On an entirely different note, we had a lovely sunny autumnal walk on Sunday, through some beech woods above our house and DH captured this beauty.

MIA

I'm not quite sure what has happened this last week, but it seemed that I was VERY BUSY!  Looking back I'm not sure what I was actually doing, but never mind, the long and short of it is that I haven't posted for ages.  So here's a quick update.  Grape Jelly!  You might remember last year I tried making Mosto Cotto with the grape harvest from own little vine.  It was lovely, but alas did not last as long as I was assurred it would do and started getting a nasty film on it - I did wonder whether I had sterilised the bottle well enough.  Anyway, I thought this year I would try something different.  The lovely Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook has a great receipe for Grape Jelly and with our bumper crop of grapes this year I managed to make three jars.  I'm not sure how well it has set as I was a little impatient . . . !  Here's hoping it tastes yummy.

My underwater girl

Flopsy Bunny could have gone to school as a mermaid for her underwater topic day - we'd borrowed a lovely costume - but no it wasn't quite the look she was after!  Instead on Friday I was faced with conjuring up a new outfit.  After a quick think, a hanging basket, some pink fabric and ribbon and a few hours later we had the ta da moment - a jelly fish outfit!  Flopsy Bunny is VERY pleased with this outfit (thank goodness) and she will be chasing after her friends all day today trying to sting them . . .!

Spookiness, 200th post and a giveaway!!

We are all geared up for a night of spooky spookiness.  The pumpkin has been carved . . .

there's also a window display . . .

and of course the old favourites - the pumpkin head banner.   The costumes are also ready, Little Roo will be going as a wicked wizard and Flopsy Bunny has chosen a skeleton costume for this year.  Pop back tomorrow to check out Flopsy Bunny's underwater creature costume that she will wearing tomorrow for her water topic day at school.  I must admit I am rather proud of it!

Also on an entirely different note - this is my 200th post!!  I'm not quite sure how I've managed that but there you go.  Anyway, in honour of this landmark I will give away a free copy of my sweetheart cushion pattern for any knitters out there.  Just leave a comment before 8pm on Friday 4th November!

A week of fun (and craftiness!)

It's been lovely.