The final post of the year.

Well, I can't  believe we're at the end of the year.

December has flown by and my sewing machine has hardly stopped. 

I decided that in between making lots of animals, I'd make a fabric gingerbread house.

But not just a gingerbread house, a Moomin Gingerbread house!!

Being self employed for the last ten years plus (As a Design Engineer) I don't normally have a 'works Christmas do'.

But this year I took my social media expert (My Daughter) out for a coffee and we called it the Fabric Taxidermy works Christmas do.

I photographed this little lot for an upcoming exhibition.

With my daughters help, we made lots of origami stars.

I finished the Moomin House and made some tiny Moomins.

And we did lots of Christmas Movie nights.

We did a little bit of sale shopping.

And in preparation for next year I bought a new calendar and diary.

My new mantra - I will be organised in 2020.

This image of our Christmas table, makes Christmas look easy at our house but it isn't.

Don't get me wrong I love Christmas and we've had a lovely time. But behind lots of lovely Christmas images life goes on and not everything in life is smiley!

So looking forward to 2020, all I wish for is a healthy year for all my family.

December, the good, the bad and the good

The month of December is full of lists (for me anyway)

Lists of - gifts, christmas cards, extra household jobs, extra food shopping, the list of lists goes on and on.

So what did I do? yes, start some Christmas crafts!!

My Daughter joined in for some 'Air Dry Clay' fun.

But it did take a while to dry, which gave me time to look for more crafts . . . . .

So my clay made a little Christmas tree.

Next was a 'Cheap wool and tea light' craft.

I do like my woolly baubles hung on the kitchen door (and they don't scratch the door when it shuts)

Then finally (for this week) I pulled out the felt for some pretty fairy lights.

They look nice and cheery in our kitchen, no plug required and no holes in my wall.

My sons had some health issues over the last year and a half, which is all a bit overwhelming at times. So when lots of people where Christmas shopping we had another appointment at Alderhey Children's Hospital. The decorations where beautiful, they had a wonderful Christmas Choir and all the staff are helpful (always smiling and positive). But the biggest thing you realise is how very lucky we are. Some of the children listening to the singing are really poorly and lots more are too sick to leave the ward. You really do need to count your blessings.

On an altogether more positive note, we've had a birthday this week!!

'Do you like my hat? Mum made me wear it!'

Our little Penny was two this week. She's agreed to wear the bandana but wont be wearing the hat again!

A Christmas Sock for Penny.

Both my children have hand made Christmas socks, made by my Mum.

My Daughter thinks Penny needs a Christmas sock, with it being her first Christmas!!!

With fabric left over from the Christmas skirt and to avoid thinking about Christmas shopping, work began.

My Daughter arranged the colours.

I didn't add any wadding, just lined them with white fabric.

Then onto the binding.

All ready now for Father Christmas!!

(Just a quick reminder for my Mum, those beautiful twin grand daughters will need a sock in three weeks. So you better get sewing!!)

Take them out. . . . .

Don't worry, when I say take them out, I don't mean in a gangster sort of way (yet)

Today I did take the children out, well the sun was shining!!

We headed up to Beacon Fell Country Park.

Have you ever been? It really is beautiful and you can see for miles. 

Unfortunately, like many things, its under threat.

Cuts, cuts, cuts . . . . . If you would like to sign the on line petition here is the link.

Today was the only sun on the weather forecast for the next few days.

So stay dry & warm and enjoy Christmas 2015.

Christmas stuff . . . . .

 Christmas chaos, well not really but the house is in chaos.

(Although my Son has been kind and created a path through the Lego so that I can get to the window to draw the curtains later, hes soooo kind)

I've been creating lots of snipping's with my 'Christmas paper crafts'

We've done some baking. . . . . well Miss did some baking.

(look how well the oven reflects the huge washing pile, that was my treat for this morning!!)

I've done more cutting and made some simple star garlands.

We've also done the standard - school party, Christmas card deliveries, running round like a headless chicken thing and when the rain breaks this afternoon (yes I'm sure it will) we are going out looking for greenery . . . . . . what was that for?. . . . . ooh yes to make a 'Christmas table greenery display thingy'

Frost. . . .

Well the wrapping paper is all bagged up and the presents are spread around the house.

The cupboards are still full of 'Christmas food' that no one can face eating. There is still enough alcohol for a party (which we are not having).

This morning I ventured out before the rest of the house was even awake.

There was a beautiful frost on the grass and a glorious blue sky.

The garden looks beautiful covered in frost, but a little neglected. This year I even forgot to bring in my summer bunting. 

If I don't pop back in before New Years Eve, I will wish you all a Happy New Year in advance.

Hoping 2015 brings you joy, health and happiness.

Happy Christmas

What can I say, where has the time gone!! I had planned lots of posts during December but. . . . . .I didn't do them.

I've been busy, going places, sewing, crafting, baking, etc and I've taken photos ready to blog but never quite got around to it.

So from me and  'The Elves' I would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas. 

Dominic. . . . . .

How many projects can you juggle at once?

I really need to stop adding things to my list. The latest addition was a reindeer head.

I found this on Pinterest so didn't even look at the printable template ......

I sketched out the shape then got out the very sharp knife!!!

Luckily my other half had brought home some old boxes from work.

Had I printed out the template my reindeer head would have been a manageable size, lets just say 'its bigger than I thought!!!'

Some of my family (I won't mention my sisters name) are very derogatory about my crafting, its all in good humour and taken very well. But she did joke that I was making a donkey head, now we are all referring to it as a donkey head. It also has an accompanying song thanks to my daughter.

So meet Dominic the Donkey!!! 

A little bit of Christmas Madness!!

I know now that I have slipped into a state of mild madness.....

Earlier in the week I was measuring carrots. . . . .

Followed by a little bit of cutting . . . . 

You know its bad when you can't bring yourself to mention what you've been upto during the day!!

The children didn't even look surprise when I said what I'd made . . . . 

Two rabbit stocking and two guinea pig stocking. . . . a perfect size for a carrot!!!

Happy Christmas to you all.

On my lovely table. . . .

Early on last week my lovely table looked like this, clutter free!!

Then work.

Although my shop job finished last week for Christmas, my working from home job just carries on.

I brought home a roll of drawings to help me with a proposal drawing. The drawings are from back in 1996 and where drawn by me!! Talk about make me feel old. 

For a pre Christmas treat, we headed off for a panto on Saturday night. It was Cinderella with Ted Robbins.

We had a great time, lots of shouting, sweets, clapping, boooing, etc.

Lastly on my lovely table was a surprise mixer. On a trip to see my Mum and Dad-in-law it was mentioned that there was an almost unused mixer in the loft, did I want to take it on a long loan?

Well YES!!

When I've completed my jobs for the day I will take it out of the box, then what to make.... cake.....biscuit....meringue...bread...