Christmas wishes ... x

 

May I wish you all a very merry Christmas ... may it be full of much laughter and love!

 

Enjoy!!

 

xxx

Yuletime Blessings ... ! x

Image courtesy of Google

Aspects of Yule

(poem by: Zephyr Lioness )

Time of deepest darkness
The God is born anew
Seedling in the frozen earth
Awaiting springtime dew.

The ground, an icy wasteland,
Though neighbors hearts are warm
We share our goods with everyone
So no one comes to harm.

Snow lies on her shoulders
Frosted mantle for her hair
Winter's Queen is giving birth
The Goddess, always there

The sun is growing brighter.

It happens every year
Promising return of light
For sod and oak and deer

Stag King, his mighty antlers
Rising from a drift
Leaps for the hunter's arrow
Just as strong and swift

He knows his time has ended
He is heading to the plain
Where joy caresses memory
Like softly summer rain

New fawn takes his first step,
The buck he will become.
After the time of knowing
A new year has begun

My little owl ... x

Hello again ... I hope your Monday has been delightful, mine has been delicious as it was our Christmas Lunch at work ... I am so full now!!

 

I wanted to show you my little owl that I created last night ... my own little design ... this is a little ta dahhhhh ...!1

 

 

Little owl and her friends arre going to be popped into crackers I am making for my family, each one will be unique and I love her!!

 

Prilly has also taken a liking to her ... so I have to keep her safe and sound up high!!

 

I hope you love her too ... I need to create others now so its time to see if the pattern works again!

 

Wish me luck!!

 

xxx



Ideas ... ! x

Hello again,

 

To today has been truly lovely, I began with a mooch around the Christmas Craft Fair at the Museum and also the monthly Local Produce Fair in the town.

 

As ever, I walked into town down one of my favourite footpaths, there is a view over the town at one point that always takes my breath away.

 

 

The view unveils itself as you wonder down the foorpath ...

 

 

Until you see all the town stretched out before you, the museum is by the church and thats was where I was headed ... the mist is following the river.

 

The Local Produce Fair is wonderful, theres the butcher and the bakers ... and even the candlestick makers! Yes, really can I introduce you to Rebecca Harris she is a self taught woodturner and did what many of us dream about in our craft. She gave up a job to concentrate on woodturning which involved learning the craft to developing her own products which are beautiful!

 

From Rebecca today I brought a lovely little woodturned snowman for my tree ... you'll find him on the above link!

 

Then after speaking to Rebecca I wondered into the Museum and into the Copperpot which specialises in 18th Century food and a delightful shop. I had to try soem gingerbread which was made following an 18th Century recipe and was delicious ... Mmmmm! So I had to by the mix to make some myself!!

And after all that a coffee and a slice of yummy cake was needed.

May I now talk about the ideas I have ...

A friend and I would love our little town to have an identity we have Ludlow locally which is known for its food, Hay on Wye for its books and we think our little town could become a destination for its craft.

I would love to develop further what I do with my crochet I would love to share the craft with others and let its popularity grow and grow as has already begun.

I would love to teach crochet.

I would love to design my own crocheted creations.

I need to be more creative.

Initially there was a possibility of having a workshop in the Museum, but couldn't commit to the time needed to be at the Museum as I couldn't give up the day job ... !

Then the idea of a craft co-operative with other like minded woolly people was mused ... an idea I have found so very exciting.

Its now where do we go from here ... we are thinking of doing crochet workshops to see what enthusiasm is out there ... and who is out there already crafting in all things wool.

And there is then the craft stalls to promote a 'Made in Bewdley' brand ... which is why I recently brought the Lucy Pack from Masons.

It is all very much in its infancy, but feels so exciting ... and even though some people haven't seemed to enthuse about the idea as much as us ... we love the plan! And surely there must be others out there who would like to be involved in such an idea.

I don't want to make my millions from crochet, I am more than realistic about that ... I just want to share the love I have for woolly craft!

Or are we just a little crazy ...???

xxx

Rainy days ... x

Hello,

 after all the frost we have had this week we had rain this weekend ...

and I had a day off on Friday.

You can see the raindrops on the window ...

I see this as good luck if it had of been frosty I would have wanted to wrap up warm and venture out and take photos ... but with it raining I am focused on the task in hand and that is finishing off some Christmas pressies I am making!!

Unfortunately I can't share with you the finished product as the friend they are for reads my little blog, but I can show the photos of the work in progress ...

I love crochet ribbing so as soon as I saw this pattern included it I knew I had to do this one

And the shell pattern is amazing ... I so love this pattern ... Oh I wish I could show you the finished product ...!!

This morning I am off to have a mooch around the Christmas Craft Fair ... which I will share with you later today.

As well as pleasure there is another reason fot the trip to the Museum which I will share with you later too. Its all very exciting ... !! x

See you all later ... xxx



 

 



A Christmas Carol ... x

I have just finished 'A Christmas Carol' ... what a marvelous book ... and how Christmassy I am feeling now!!

Picture taken from Google images

Of all the book my favourite quote was ... by the Ghost of Marley ...

"I wear the chain I forged in life", replied the Ghost.

"I made it link by link, and yard by yard: I girdled it on my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?"

Marley's chain was made up of "cash boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds and heavy purses wrought in iron"

I am hoping mine will be made of all things crochet ... which hopefully will be much lighter than Marley's!

The other quote I liked from the book intrigued me more ...

"compounded some hot mixture in a jug with gin and lemons, and stirred it round and round and put it on the hob to simmer;"

And so I have had to look it up ... and this is how you make a hot gin toddy ...

A Hot Gin starts with gin, lemon juice, water, sugar and cinnamon.

2 ounce gin
3/4 ounce lemon juice
2 ounce boiling water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cinnamon stick

Pour into a heat-proof goblet, and serve.

Mmmmmmm!!

xxx

A relaxing weekend ... x

Hello, I hope you have had a wonderful weekend, mine has been fabulous!

It one of my friends birthdays this weekend which means Soo and I venture down to Bicester to see our close friend Mike ... and shop till we drop and be fed and watered extremely well!!

 

We have been to Bicester Shopping Village ... and dreamed of what we may buy if we ever win the lottery! Then onto Wyevale Garden Centre where there just happens to be Hobbycraft ... and so many purchases were made to add to those made the other week! I have managed to tick off a few presents on the list which was good too!

 

And of course ... there is always a little time for crochet ...

 

I have made a few more snowflakes, with the total now at 15 ... which maybe enough ... almost!!

While at Bicester Shopping Villages I was inspired by a snood in Jack Wills, at £70 even at a discounted price I couldn't justify buying it ... but I knew I could make it ... so after a taking a photo I skipped out the shop with another project on the list to do!!

 

The snood was constructed out of granny squares and was a total of 8 squares by 4 squares with an edging at the top and the bottom ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And this is so perfectly timed ... as ... do you remember this ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lucy Pack I brought from Masons Wool Shop ... well I have brought another pack for a few project ideas I have on the go and so I thought I could use some of this to make the snood!!

 

Which brings me nicely to another Christmas present for those crafters in your life ... specifically this time woolly crafters.

 

A Lucy Pack of wool!

 

Lucy refers to the wonderfully talented and colourful creator of all things crochet at Attic 24. Following her inspiration in the world of crochet an number of wool shops are now selling 'Lucy Packs of Wool' be it Stylecraft Special DK or Rico Yarn the colours are fabulous!

 

This could make such a simply satisfying present for any woolly crafters!

 

My snood is not going to contain any grey it will be a colourful creation, and thankfully in softer wool than the original was created in at Jack Wills ... it was much to itchy!!

 

I need to crochet!!

 

bye, bye

 

xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Its beginning to feel a lot like ...

Hello, oh my its December ... and it is indeed beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

 

The lights in my beautiful little town were switched on yesterday evening! It always amazes me how many people come out to watch the lights come on, the town is packed with people celebrating the start of the festive season!

 

I began my own little tradition last year, on 1st December I began reading Charles Dickens 'A Christmas Carol' ... with the aim of finishing it for Christmas Day ... a perfect way to quietly start bringing in the festive season.

 

Picture sourced from Google

 

I loved disappearing into the book during December last year and will picking the book up again this year.

 

Are you beginning, or have you begun to make any of your presents to give this Christmas?

 

I love making presents for my friends and family, one year I made bags and spent an enjoyable day finishing the presents off, sewing togther the crocheted bags, and adding embelishments of flowers and lining them too. My front roon was awash with flowers and bags, my chair was turned to the windown and in perfect position for the radiator so I was all snug and warm.  It was hard work but so much fun, and over the years I have made ponchos, scarves and brooches.

 

Then there are the questions about what would I like for Christmas ... this bit always makes me feel a little cheeky ... I still write a list so if anyone asks I will have an idea to give them, I love surprises don't get me wrong, but to be able to answer the question 'what would you like for Christmas?' a list always helps!

 

So ... firstly to my family and friends there is a list but you all know me so well too that I would love you to surprise me!!

 

Are you a crafter thinking of ideas for Christmas or do you know a crafter and are wondering what to buy ... while I will not promise to answer the question of what to buy I hope by sharing a few of my favourite things and ideas it may help you decide what to choose ... and it doesn't have to be expensive, gift wrapped beautifully it truly is the thought that counts!!

 

So may I start with the smallest but possibly the biggest gift you could give a crafter ...

 

"Time"

 

One evening when I went to see my partner he had set up a night in front of a fire the crochet I keep there was out on the sofa and a glass of something lovely was waiting for me too.

I do pick up my crochet at his on a regular basis, be it a granny square or too, my grace shrug (that still continues to grow!) or some other project I have taken with me ... but on only a few occasions had I actually picked up the project I kept there.

So to arrive that evening to find it waiting for me, gave me the time to try it again ... and it was a most relaxing and successful evening, I got the pattern, I understood it and it was a perfect moment.

 

So, remember to always give your crafter a little time, arrange a special moment at home, set up the room perfectly around their favourite chair and a little drink whether that be a glass of something red, or a steaming hot chocolate in their favourite mug ...

 

... and it will tell them very simply how proud you are of their craft, their love of it and it will give them permission to relax for an evening.

 

So go on ... after Christmas surprise them with a little time ...

 

bye bye for now

 

xxx

 

 

 



Its snowing ... !! x

Hello, isn't the weather awful at the moment ... and no its not actually snowing where I am! Its only been snowing in crochet. The last couple of days I have had a bit of crochet time given to me and so I have been making snowflakes.

 

 

The snowflakes are going to be both on my tree when it goes up next month, and they will also be added to the presents I will give as part of the festive season.

 

Oh my, but hasn't it rained recently! It was so good this morning to get out of the house and venture around my beautiful town.

 

 

And while the rain can be so destructive, it can be so beautiful too. I love the reflections in these puddles.

 

Along the lanes you could see how big the puddles had got!

 

 

The oak tree had nearly lost all of its leaves, I love the structure of the branches as a child I used to draw trees drawing branches off branches to the smallest of twigs. It is something I want to do again ... to just sit down with my pad and pencils and just draw and lose myself.

 

 

Windfall apples

 

 In this little town you are never far from the countryside and that is why I love it so much here.

The river is up ... and so are the flood defences, much to relief of the residents, these are amazing they are just metal planks that slot one above the other! Magic!! It is a little surreal to walk along when the river is really high as it runs past you at shoulder height ... a little scary and amazing at the same time!!

 

And many taking the opportunity for a photograph!

 

And then it was the slow walk home ...

 

The reason for the crochet time ... is the dreaded lurgy!! I have been able to fight off a cold for the last couple of months, but one has crept up and got me so out comes the honey and lemons ...

 

 

Mmmmmmmmmm ...

 

 

... there are always advantages to having a cold and at night when I know I have nowhere else to go a drop of whiskey may find its way into my honey and lemon ... for medicinal purposes only of course!

 

And note the cup and saucer ... the dignified way to drink hot honey and lemon!

 

And so its all about relaxing for me for the rest of the day and so I decided to finish off Rosie Ragdoll

 

 

And also do a little reading ...

 

I have recently subscribed to 'Pretty Nostalgic' after reading about the magazine in blogland I purchased a copy recently ... and what delights I found within! It is an independent bi-monthly home and lifestyle magazine that focuses on vintage living and nostalgic values ... and is completely British, and celebrating all that is!

 

 

So, when I saw them at the Birmingham Festive Gift Fair I couldn't resist!! With the subscription I got the Pretty Nostalgic "Home" book.

 

And I thought I would share some of its delights ...

 

 

Patchwork!!

 

... and this is why we love to create beautiful things 

... I love this page there is so much pleasure for me here ... teacups and saucers, milk jugs and other delightful things.

 

Sigh ... dare I say it but I love this too, although I will probably keep to Thriftwoods plan for housework ... I may add a few things from here too!

 

Well I am definitely doing Christmas shopping at the moment, and I have started the making for presents thats on Decembers list ... and in December I may even write some letters.

 

And here are the Pretty Nostalgic rules ...

 

Live your life the best you can

Be yourself and don't follow fashions

Evaluate how you live

Try to live by traditional values

Spend some time making your house a home

Focus on family and friends

Work out what is important to you

Don't automatically buy what you think you need - slow down and think before you spend

Get out of the habit of doing what everyone else does

Appreciate what you can learn from the past. Just because something is old doesn't mean it isn't relevant today.

Appreciate what you already have

Treasure family items and heirlooms

Keep family traditions and rituals alive

Think about what makes you happy. What made you happy as a child - what are your fondest memories?

Break a few rules - eat pudding for starters if you fancy it, but appreciate and savour it.

Focus on life's simple pleasures

Get a new perspective on life



Oh, these are very me!! And maybe there are a few blog post subjects there too!!

 

Oh, and before I forget may I introduce you to Rosie Ragdoll ...

 

 

Sitting pride of place on my mantelpiece.

 

So its time I wish you all a good evening ... and keep warm!

 

bye, bye!

 

xxx

 

 

 

Crafty Christmas Shopping ... !! x

Hello, what a beautiful day its been today. It was so frosty outside this morning, a very crisp day and the sun shone gloriously!

 

I ventured out on a run this morning ... I haven't been out all week as I felt so bad running last weekend I thought I would have a break. It paid I ran well, still walk run walk, but the walks of one and a half minutes broke up two minute and seven minute runs.

 

I did have to stop and take a picture of my favourite oak, it was caught in sunshine with frosty grass surrounding it ...

 



 

The rest of the morning was spent visiting the local Hobbycraft with Soo ... now this is a very dangerous shop to visit and was full as expected of glorious Christmassy things to tempt and delight!!

 

And so my shopping list of;

 

12" Cross Stitch Ring

34 x 34 Grey Aida

White Cotton DK

 

Extended to include those items that 'jumped' into ones basket of;

 

3 x cross stitch patterns for christmas cards

2 x Christmas Garlands

3 x Christmas Decorations

2 x Jam Jars

Make your own Christmas Crackers Kit

A set of tiny little pegs with wooden hearts on them

 

Fortunately they had £5 off if you spent £25 ... yippeeeee how well timed was that!!

 

Every year I like to make things for the Family, I always do special cross stitch cards for each of them, Christmas Crackers for the table with their own specially brought present and little Christmas Stockings filled with a chocolate for the Christmas table.

 

I feel a little more prepared to get these done in time ... but no doubt I will still me here on Christmas eve finishing them off!!

 

The cross stitch ring and aida are for a Christmas Pressie I am creating for a friend, I want to write a little saying in cross stitch ... something from Literature ... I just need to decide what ... Austen ... Shakespeare ... oh decisions!!

 

Oh PS they didn't have the size or colour of aida I wanted hence why its crossed out above.

 

And while I was there in some lovely fluffy pink wool I left a tiny bunny to be found by a fellow crafter ...

 

 

Please may I introduce you to "Petal".

 

I hope she found a good home!!

 

You should have seen me look for a quiet part of the wool aisle ... and then pop her on the shelf and then pretend I was taking pictures of the wool!!

 

Here's me making her last night ...

 

This afternoon has been housework, baking and cooking ... the smells coming from the kitchen are a delight!!

 

I have made my own Granola for breakfast ...

 

 

red pepper soup for lunches this week ...

 

 

and a carrot, walnut and fig cake ... yummy!!

 

 

(I just hope the more 'well done' bits don't detract from its taste)

 

I had better say bye bye for now and get on with some crafting!!

 

Soon I may need your thoughts on an crafty idea I have ... !

 

xxx

My weekend ... and chocolate buttons!! ... x

Hello again, I have to share more of my weekend ... but I am going to save the best bit to last!! I have already told you about my Sunday Morning so may we rewind back to Saturday ... and shopping!!

It was a trip to Malvern, as I knew which shops were there I wrote a list which would take me to The Knitting Parlour and Stitch 45 and obviously purchases were made in both!

So at Knitting Parlour the two balls of Rico Baby DK were purchased to make a Christmas present ... so no more will be said on that one until Christmas!! Although I am having fun as its crocheted on the round and the joins are slanting, so now I am thinking of adapting the pattern.

At Stitch 45 I brought the 3 bits of felt, the black is for the backing of my green man and the green and red are for making a few more different coloured autumnal leaves ... so my green man isn't going to be very green!! I am hoping to spend a bit of time on Sunday starting to create the leaves.

While in Malvern there was also an Arts and Crafts fair ... wonderful! I didn't have my camera with me to take pictures of all the delights I found ... but please trust me they were wonderful! The wicker basket contained a Christmas pressie purchased at the fair and does contain wonderful delights for the recipient ... but no more will be said about that either!!

Finally and by no means least there was the purchase of a butter knife ... for £1! Bargain!

Then to Sunday ... after my walk and taking pictures of the frost and autumnal colours (see yesterdays blog!). It amazed me how much colour was still around in my neighbours gardens, so I thought i woudl share again the colours in my garden thanks to the pansies ...

It was such a lovely day on Sunday ... sunny and frosty ... beautiful!!

Now if I may I will take you to the best bit ... and its one of those simple things in life ... lunch at Mom and Dads! Mom had created a feast and Lunch was delicious ... but the best bit was pudding, and it was the simplicity of this one that also brought back sooo many childhood memories.

 ... chocolate buttons and custard ...!

Mom and Dad had brought come chocolate buttons especially and were saving it for Christmas, but as my sister had especially requested custard for pudding on Sunday it seemed an opportune time to reveal the surprise. So the custard was duly made, we like it thick so the spoon will stand up, and out it was served into four bowls ... and then Mom headed towards the fridge. My sister and I thought we were having the chocolate swiss roll that was hiding inside ... but no out she brought three packets of chocolate buttons!!

Yipppppeeeeeeee!!

Have you ever tried it? Its a must if your haven't, the chocolate melts and makes the custard all chocolately too, and it is sheer heaven!!

Yummy!!

xxx

Sunday again ... ! x

Hello,

the nights have drawn in and I am sat at home after a truly relaxing day! It was meant to start with a lie in, but the cats put paid to that ... you know when they are no longer happy to wait for their breakfast I could hear bangs and crashes from downstairs, Evans began grumbling as I think Prilly was picking on him a little judging by the bits of fur I found.

 

So I lasted till 8 o'clock in bed and then I got up to a beautiful frosty morning, this is what autumn is to me.

 

So I got dressed and first of all popped to the shops to get a Sunday paper and food for the moggies. I then dropped these purchases back home, grabbed my camera and ventured back out into the morning.

 

 

The frost looked so pretty on these leaves it seemed a crime not to record them ... naturally beautiful.

 

It was early enough that the sun was still rising so the shadows created were long ...

 

 

the photo above makes it look like I was walking a long dress, I was in more sensible walking attire ...

 

I love my Doc Martens, a total impulse purse a couple of years but they were worth every penny!! Note the BIG jumper too ... its huge but is so snug and warm and the perfect partner for a autumnal walk.

 

But these poor nettles weren't as snug and warm ... brrrrrr.

 

 

And so to frosty views ... and it looks as if in the distance the farmer has got the last of the hay in too.

 

While on my walk I went to take a photo of my favourite oak tree, I have decided to take this tree through the seasons as a way of recording the year.

 

But today there was a little poignant reminder of the day left, that it was so unexpected made even more thoughtful and touching.

 

 

The barbed wire seemed also a stark reminder of the war my Granddads fought in, and it made me stop and think for a little while and say thank you.

 

They added to the effort that made ourt lives what they are today, and for that I shall be always grateful to them.

 

And so on I ventured ... admiring the frosty morning.

 

 

A fence post.

 

 

My favourite tractor ... not mine obviously but one I admire for possibly drawing one day.

 

The sheep enjoying the sun ... but not the frosty grass!!

 

 

This local farm has a studio avaliable to all for Mellow Monday's I am sooooo tempted one day to book a day off work and book myself in ... I feel much in need of a Mellow Monday instead of the usual!!

 

Cobwebs ...

 

 

More frosty pictures ...

 

 

I love this leaf, I love the frost caught on the leaf ... sometimes my photos amaze me.

 

 

A simple fence post all frosted up!

 

What was meant to be a short walk, was filled with lots of photo taking, after which I headed home and to my yummy breakfast (nothing exciting just weetabix and hot milk but yummy all the same!!)

 

And the papers, every so often I indulge in one of the broadsheets knowing it will last me all week.

 

 

The perfect partner to my week of breakfasts!

 

And so that was just the start of my Sunday ... I will let you know more tomorrow.

 

bye bye!!

 

xxx