So this is Christmas.....

.....And what have you done?
.....Another year over......
.....And a new one just begun......

Yum!

Bark

 Mince pies by the barn-load

Cinnamon squares

 Save the Children's 'Christmas Jumper Day'.... last minute crochet project!

Littlest boy's school concert

Teacher presents

Seeing the New Year in with Mrs. Micawber's Honey Caramel Corn

So what have you done?....another year over......... and a new one just begun!

 Thankyou for all being so inspirational, encouraging and most of all, just brilliantly you!

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy 2014! 

Handmade Gift Exchange

At the end of November, I signed up for Craftaholics Anonymous Handmade Gift Exchange.  I fancied joining in a Christmassy swap and this one fitted the bill.  I got matched up with my swapper, a lovely lady Liz from the USA and then given some time to find out a bit more about her. She has a blog A Little Bit Original.  Check out her giving plate, I love it!

I thought it would be nice to do something a bit different for me and once I started this cross stitch, I thought I would add the Welsh element by adding Nadolig Llawen (Merry Christmas).  Hand sewing is not something I often go in for, but I soooo loved doing this, although it took forever (and did make me late posting my parcel)

It is the first time I have used this waste canvas (ha, ha I thought it was called disappearing canvas and got lots of confused looks).  

Your design is stitched on to the canvas and then after soaking the canvas dissolves.....well, that is what I thought, in reality, you have to pull out every strand of the canvas....slow and painful!  But the finished look makes it so worth while.  I machine sewed the finished linen piece onto  polka dot fabric to make into a wall hanging.

While the machine was out, I made a hot pad filled with cinnamon and cloves for the full Christmas experience!

 

Liz and her husband have four lovely daughters, so I hooked up some hair bands for them.

For Liz I also crocheted a scarf to keep her warm in their cold winter weather.

It was such a delight to be involved in such a great swap.

The most exciting thing was receiving a huge box of goodies from America!

Pressies!!

Liz makes lots of brilliantly clever things.  She made this personalised Christmas Plaque to hang up....I have to say this actually made me shed a tear....she made one for my Mum too, but mine was the best ;-)

She also makes these mini Christmas countdown chalkboards....so cool!

The boys were not left out, they had  hot chocolate goodies.

Beautifully presented with marshmallows and candy cane stirrers.

It did not stop there, I had a lovely candle holder made by a friend of hers, lip balm with a Merry Kissmas label.  A bottle of vanilla, and on a really thoughtful note, some magazines....Liz knows I am a foody, and the cookie magazine was a-maz-ing  I had a whole afternoon of baking, and there will be plenty more to come!

Thankyou Liz, you made Christmas, extra special for me and all my boys!

Year of projects 08.12.13

So I told you last time, I had a few days to make a gift for my MIL who was off to S.Africa for Christmas, well, I did it, with time to spare and here it is.....

Clapo-ktus by Loredana Gianferri

A really enjoyable and quick knit....although, I have to admit to spending a long time trying to figure out what to do....but ravelry's read the useful projects search came in to its own.....once started I didn't stop and I think is was around three evenings to do.

I knitted it in Sirdar Baby Bamboo which is a DK weight with a lovely sheen, which helped when you dropped the stitches to run down.....what a weird experience!

I spent some time trawling about for a shawl pin for myself and one to package with the clapo-ktus, and then had a 'bing moment' when I emailed the local jewelry shop Be-gemmed, who hadn't got any, but said to leave them to it.

I gave them free reign really and they came up with a few designs, from which I picked these two.....

Stunning!

The second shawl pin includes a rose quartz stone,  beautiful in its simple design, but with attention to detail with the hammered finish.....

I am so pleased I can't tell you.....if you are in need of something special, consider dropping Phil and Helen an email or phone call....handmade, therefore with its own unique beauty, and supporting  real craftspeople in a trade which can be forgotten in a factory mass-produced age.

Be-gemmed Handmade Jewelry

Right.... on to the next thing....this time....just for a change.....another shawl....but for now that's all I'm saying ;-)

To see other people's YOP work, check out the ravelry page here.

Summer.......

Well, as promised....here is the first bombardment of photos....I have plenty more, but I don't want to let a wonderful fun filled summer go by without remembering it here.....lots of reasons for smiling here.......

A meal out for my birthday and then cake at home afterwards. 

This wasn't the only birthday....we did birthdays in the best way....with plenty of cake!

There were days out at the beach....and quick dips in the sea....Chester over seeing the whole thing.....

Littlest boy's fifth birthday, complete with chocolate monkey cake....and lots more cake.....

All partied out, littlest at middle boy's birthday tea.

The eight year old himself, trying out his birthday skate board

A birthday trip out to the local zoo.....very strange meerkats here......

Days in the yard....even for Daddy who re-visited his childhood on middle son's skate board.

Sports day, big, middle and little

Walks....plenty of walks....I have discovered this year a need to be on top of a mountain, as often as I can!

A long watched mum sitting on her eggs, rewarded by two little ones.

A dabble back in to painting when I was asked to donate a picture for the summer fete in our village.

Days out to visit beautiful gardens.

Proud moments as Biggest boy is invested into Scouts and later gets his Silver Chief Scout award.

This summer has been hard to top....this is just a small chunk of memories....I have our hollies to Austria and our charity walk in the Brecon Beacons.....hold onto your hats.......