Oh my!

Remember my tree last night - well we've had another foot of snow overnight!! Hubby managed to get to work last night, and then back home again this morning. Most of the other staff on his shift are sleeping there!! As we are very close to where he works they will send a landrover out to pick him up later as his place of employment is not one that can just shut because of the weather. I don't think I've ever seen snow like this here. Even though it's causing such chaos it is very beautiful.

Here's my ornament for Polly's Ornament Swap. Very simple, but very effective, even if I do say so myself ;o). Feeling a bit more productive today so fingers crossed.

Definitely Winter

How very fitting that King Winter arrived today when my own land turned to Narnia! Just look at how beautiful he is! This photograph really doesn't do him justice, he is stunning. Thank you so much Dawn - such a talented lady (now get that shop open ;o) ).

And my very own Narnia. Must get some piccies tomorrow it's just sooo beautiful outside. Thank you for your comments regarding yesterdays post. Feeling a littler better today, but definitely need to do something, just need to get started!

Frustrated

Hubby made a joke earlier about the lack of decorating going on here - my mood plummeted dramatically! I think my Yule gift list is starting to look a little daunting - trying to find the time and space to make some of the items with the children in the house is very frustrating, the house is still in need of some serious decorating since the extension at the beginning of the year. Heck, even the housework being done would be nice!! Maybe his comment was the kick up the butt I needed to give myself, so this evening I've got the fruit steeping in brandy ready to make the christmas cake tomorrow. I've made 3 of the 5 (only got 3 tea cups at the minute) tea cup candles for the pamper hampers. I've got some bath melts setting in the fridge.

Hubby has now gone to work so I'm going to go to bed with my book, my blankets, and a couple of candles. Here's to a new day tomorrow.

Autumn or Winter?

Think we can safely say that today is winter :o). Took this picture this afternoon once it had melted slightly - it did look much nicer this morning. I love the sound (or lack of) when you have a good layer of snow - blissful.

I'm sorry to say that one of the craft suppliers that I love is closing down so I thought I'd take advantage of their sale - go take a look over at altered element before it finally shuts.

I took part in Polly's ornament swap and mine arrived this morning - just look at these gorgeous gifts. Got to post mine on Monday then I can show you what I made :o).

Who needs Facebook anyway!

Firstly, let me show you my gorgeous prize from the talented, strong, beautiful, amazing woman - Polly. She had a give-away on her blog to celebrate opening her shop and I won :0). Of all her artwork the above is the one I love the most so it's fantastic that I now have a print of my very own. Thank you so much Polly.

So back to my title who needs facebook anyway! I know some people will think I'm slightly bonkers (actually I know a few people who think I'm more than bonkers ;o) ) but I darned some socks last night!!!! I found the Make Do and Mend book on the bootsale in the summer and it's full of really helpful stuff. Hubby was watching some of his programmes so I took myself off to the quiet (actually not really that quiet as I have a small child that is fastened to me with a very short piece of elastic) of my bedroom with my socks, some darning thread (bought years ago in a charity shop), my darning mushroom (another second hand gift), my needle book (handmade of course) and then spent a lovely evening darning socks. While sat there I was reminded of my Grandma who used to knit my Grandad his socks - it was such a lovely evening that continued long after the kids had gone to bed and hubby had gone to work. Who cares if I'm bonkers ;o).

My Gift

Look what my wonderful hubby made for me yesterday - a proper soap mould. It's different to the ones you usually see but it's just how I like 'em. Fab, fab, fab. Thank you xxxx

Shameless selling of craft items :o)

Link to my photobucket account which should have basic details and prices. Priced everything to sell so if your interested in anything you can contact me at shell.good@btinternet.com (i'm open to reasonable offers on multiple purchases :o).

Edited to add: I haven't added postage just in case someone wants to buy more than one thing ;o).

http://s531.photobucket.com/albums/dd359/h1ppiechick

Decisions

Decisions, decisions ;o). I have decided to sort through my vast amount of craft stuff and sell the stuff that hasn't been used for years. And I've also realised that hanging onto my Mum's craft stuff (a lot of which I've stashed away!!) is not what she would have wanted. It's quite a relief to say that - she is in my heart, not in things. I've also decided to close my facebook account. I don't think I gain anything extra from it - I just seem to whittle away time reading what other people are doing or playing a couple of games. So I'm reclaiming my time.

_

Yesterday I made my first hand cream from the Neal Yard book Recipes for Natural Beauty. I won't say the first attempt was perfect (the emulsifying wax hadn't completely dissolved) but my hands feel so soft and smell wonderful (I made the rose and almond hand cream), and I didn't give any hard earned cash to those pharmaceutical giants :o).

_

Becky - the book cost £55 for 250 odd pages with a discount (can't remember how much the discount was - 10 or 15 percent).

Winner and stuff ;o)

Thank you, everyone, for your continued support when needed and for your lovely comments which you leave. This blog would mean nothing really without other people reading it. Although it is primarily a record for me and my crafty adventures/rants/rambles/business ventures, it just wouldn't be the same without you lot. So, my 2 year blog-iversary give-away was drawn after tea...and the winner is Claire :o) (I'll be in touch asap).

I decided we needed some sweet stuff this morning so here we have almond and apple muffins, some shortbread (and the daily loaf of bread).

I finished these little handwarmers the other night - no pattern again, just made it up as I went along. Perfect for a 4 year olds stocking at Yule.

And finally, a gift to myself - the first year of my blog in a book! I've drooled over the idea of these for so long, had it saved on blog2print for months, and then I got a discount voucher via email!! Anyway, 245 pages of my crafty stuff and ramblings, preserved in print.

Off the Handmade Yule list :o)

Aaron's crocheted scarf that I started at the GP weekend and completed at the beginning of the week. Two colours used at the same time again (as requested).

Remember the felted blanket I bought on the bootsale in the summer? Well I sat and made 2 storage boxes which shall be used for the pamper hampers. I'm also using the fabric storage boxes that I made in the summer which I never got round to putting in the shops.

One crocheted bookmark and one pin cushion. These are for Aaron - he's terrible for leaving books open flat and ruining the spines, so hopefully with a selection of bookmarks in his book holder that will also be made for Christmas, I can encourage him to store them better. He likes to sew puppets and things so he's his own pin cushion (plus one of the needle books that I put aside for him) to go in his stocking.

And lastly, a little something for me - a crochet choker. Took all of 30 mins. One chain of 75 (for my neck), one row of half treble, with a double all the way round that so it creates the loop on the end, then stitch a button on for fastening, easy peasy.

--o0o--

Don't forget the giveaway - I shall draw it early evening to give everyone a chance if they want to enter (and I don't mind where I'm posting to either). Good luck :o)