Christmas Goodies

Hello everyone.  I hope you all had a lovely, peaceful Christmas.  We had a lovely time with family, and are now enjoying a quiet few days (playing with our presents!).

I was a very lucky girl at Christmas and received some fab presents, which I thought I would share with you today, although I apologise for the poor quality of the photos.

I got two sets of Dylusions inks as well as these great rubber stamps. These are in readiness for starting Art Journaling which I have been interested in for a while, although I confess to being slightly nervous of doing it wrong.  I have been slowly building up a collection of acrylic paints, stencils and inks, and I think now I am ready to make a start.

I also got a set of star shaped Nestabilities dies that I have wanted for ages, a flourish die from Memory Box and a 2-disc set of Art Journaling DVDs by Kate Crane.  

A much wanted addition to my tool kit from my mum and dad.

The cake stand was a present from the teachers I work with who know that I love to bake cakes.  A very thoughtful and much appreciated present.

As a huge fan of the Great British Bake Off, this book was a lovely surprise.  The recipes look amazing and I can't wait to try some of them out.

The second series of Glee and a Robert Pattison DVD - these will keep me happy for hours!

Not to mention some edible goodies and a bottle of Pimms!

I was indeed a lucky girl.  I also got a couple of calendars and a new charm for my Lovelinks bracelet.  But the present that meant the most was from my children.  We have had a pretty tough year and Mark and I haven't been able to go out together, so the children saved their money and gave us some to have a meal out - just the two of us.  It was so thoughtful of them and unexpected and it made me cry,

So, I hope you are enjoying your presents as much as I am enjoying mine.

Take care

M x

Merry Christmas

Hi Everyone!  This is my final post before Christmas and I thought I would share with you two things I have made, first my Christmas card to Mark and second the Christmas cake I have made this year.  I hope you like them.

For Mark's card, I used last year's Christmas paper from Craftwork Cards (Jack Frost) and added some blue organza ribbon, some foil stars, a sentiment and of course, some Candi.  It was a bit last minute, as I said in my previous post, we weren't going to do cards this year.  Heigh ho, I am pleased with the finished article, even if it was a bit rushed.

I decorated my Christmas cake today, with the help of my mum.  She kindly did the marzipan and icing bit because I am not feeling very well - streaming cold (always get one this time of year - the moment I finish work), and I did the decorating.  I made the cake from the Waitrose Cake in a Box by Delia Smith and have shamelessly stolen her decorating suggestion too!  I hope it's nice because I have bought another one that was reduced to half price - that will teach Mark to moan that I never make fruit cake.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, relaxed and peaceful Christmas, and to say a big thank you for your continued company and support - particularly Jane (thank you for your lovely comment about the funeral, it meant a lot).

Have a good one.  Lots of love

Michelle x x

With Sympathy

I ummed and ahhed whether to post this card or not.  It is the first sympathy card I have ever made and it is for a dear friend of mine who lost her husband very suddenly last week.  The funeral is tomorrow.

M x

Christmas Wishes

Ingredients

All materials apart from ribbon and card are from Craftwork Cards

So it's not long until the big day.  Don't know if you are all ready, I've still got a bit to do - tidying, cooking etc.  Mark and I have an agreement that we don't give each other a Christmas card, however this year he forgot and bought me one!  So guess what I have got to do today or tomorrow!

Have a good day.

M x

New WIP - it's Rippletastic!

Hello my lovely readers.  Time to share my new WIP with you.  It's a ripple blanket for Edward, the colours are completely of his choosing, although Emily helped decide the order.  I have never attempted a ripple before but it is SO easy.  I can't actually believe how simple it is.  I have used Lucy's brilliant pattern (here ) and also took inspiration from here and

here .

The photos aren't the best quality, isn't the light appalling at this time of year?  But I think they will do.

The colours, in order of crocheting, are : meadow, teal, spring green, aster, royal, turquoise, denim, bright green, green, aspen and bottle.  Almost forgot to say that it is the usual Stylecraft Special Doubleknit.

Well, I have almost finished at work - one more day to go.  The pressure is off as all our obligations have been carried out.  Tomorrow will consist of a fun morning and a final assembly.  I have to go to Edward's school during the morning for a presentation - he is being given an award for academic achievement.  I am so proud and I may even cry!

We have managed to avoid the snow so far although we have been forecast some for tomorrow - hope it's not too bad.  I know further north it has been heavier.

Keep safe and well.

M x

Christmas Money Wallets

Well, it's been a while.  Things have been rather hectic to say the least, but I bet everyone else is in the same position.  I am pleased to say that I have pretty much finished my Christmas shopping and most things have been wrapped too.  Today I have been writing Christmas cards, as well as making a couple more.  I have a couple of parcels to post and that is pretty much that.  The next job is to plan the food - haven't really given it much thought yet, except that I have made a Christmas cake.  I used the Waitrose Delia Smith cake in a box and am really pleased with how it has turned out.  Much less hassle than buying all the dried fruit that will sit in the cupboard for ever more.

I am giving my nephew and niece money for Christmas and I wanted to make them something nice to put the money in, hence the money wallets below.  I used a landscape folded card and decorated the front with papers that were free gifts, used matching embellishments for the envelopes.  Then I cut a semi-circle freehand inside to hold the money.  (Just got to find the cash now!!).

I have started a new crochet blanket for Edward - colours chosen by him - which I hope to share with you this week if I have time.  We are now in the final push at work - just got to get through Christmas parties tomorrow, panto at Stevenage on Tuesday, Christmas lunch and staff panto on Wednesday, Christingle on Thursday and then we break up on Friday - if I last that long!!

Ta ta and have a good week.  Thanks for dropping by.

M x