Monday, December 17, 2012

Christmas in the making!


Crochet granny covered baubles for teachers gifts


Craftapalooza happening on the dining table!
No eating here folks!


One of the many Christmas skirts I have been making using Anna Maria Horner's
"Bo Peep" pattern.




Yep! Another pillowcase dress, this wee one is for 
my friend's grandaughter (how can one of my lifetime friends be a Grandmother, sheeeesh!!?) 




Sunday, December 9, 2012

Time to wrap the gifts!


First the tissue paper



then the brown paper and wash tape


Some bakers twin, snazzy ribbons, paper doilies and handmade clay tokens (Thanks Miss Muggins
for the idea and link to Christina's tutorial!)

 Voila! Pretty traditional looking Christmas gifts, maybe even looking a little French!


Saturday, December 8, 2012

Let the Baking begin!


Martha kicked the baking off with her gingerbread men and shapes- she always does
a great job in this department!


Then the "Big" one of Christmas baking - the Christmas Cake!
The fruit for this cake soaked for 10 days in brandy and today I baked the cake!
Slowly, slowly, I have enough mixture for 2 cakes! Bonus!  
The aromas were divine and had the family drooling for an early taste - bad luck peoples!
These babies are waiting for Christmas!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Rocking around the christmas tree or trimming the home fo rthe festive season


Shortly after the excitement of Miss M turning 9, we launched headlong into
Christmas!!!


It was kid #2's turn to top the tree.


Shocking picture i know - no matter how much I played around the lighting was just
awful. The new LED lights give a cold glow rather than the old warm ones - still getting used to it.


A traditional red and white theme is happening this year
maybe with a little scandinavia thrown in!


This little corner is always being decorated to fit with the festival, so handy a corner it is!


Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Getting ready for Christmas!

Christmas making is going full power over here.
We are going for a more traditional type of Christmas, making
as much as possible ourselves.


here is Martha making paper chains


I made two more pillow case dresses for gifts and used up some
more of the stash! I bought this fabric for $1.99 p/mt from IKEA  6 years 
ago. It's a lovely crisp cotton, meant for home furnishings but worked beautifully 
for clothing - it has been made into painting smocks for school fetes, table cloths, wrap skirts and
now dresses and finally I have exhausted the huge stash of it I had! 


Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Home Project : Spiffy up for Christmas

Two years ago you might recall me going on a "white" bender, when I painted sooooo much of our stuff and house white. Well the saga continues and I am still loving white!
My dining room chairs which are antique, where brown with an olive green "leatherette" kind of seat cover - when a previous owner must of given them a make over!


Well after two years the seat covers needed some more help thanks to grubby fingers belonging to my husband's progeny (they are his when they are grubby!)


Thanks to my previous career as a Visual Merchandiser (window dresser) I have recovered many things, so I am a dab hand with a staple gun - even the poor quality one that I currently own. Note to self : do not let Mr G aka Miser Meany buy the staple gun! 


In keeping with my challenge to "reduce the stash", I turned to a very large bolt of red and ivory ticking that I have had for many years - it just never seems to get smaller! 

And ta da! Within an hour I have all six chair seats recovered.

Very nice and fresh I think. 
Good job Miss Prudence, now on with the next job



Monday, December 3, 2012

Happy Birthday Miss M

Beautiful daughter you are now nine.
How fine!


It feels so "yesterday" when I was carrying you in my arms, 
nibbling on your chubby arms and toes, 





How fast the years have flown!


And here you are on the December 1, a beautiful, bright
carefree girl. I love how you look, sound and laugh.
You were the final piece to our family puzzle and 
you bring sunshine to us every day.


So enjoy your rainbow pancakes and pink breakfast.
You have another big year ahead, you'll need your strength!


As you told me last week - Seven was heaven, Eight was great
and Nine will be fine!
Happy Birthday Moo Moo, my little Ladybird,
your mummy loves you to the moon and back!