PAUSE FOR ADVENT

I am taking part in "Pause in Advent" that is an idea from a fellow blogger Floss who lives in France, the idea is to share thoughts, traditions, ideas, crafts and experiences relating to Advent and the preparation for Christmas.

Floss has done a very clever post today which really made me think, to read it click on the pause in Advent picture to the right and see what you think.

I don't think I can compete with Floss but here are my thoughts about Advent.

Advent is still a special time for me and always feels like a time expectation, anticipation and hope. Christmas is such a lovely celebration in the midst of such dark Winter months.

The beginning of Advent is when the preparations for Christmas really begin - the festive menu is planned (although does not really deviate from the traditional), gifts are made (time permitting) and wrapped, carols sung, cards are written and the house decorated ( we do seem to be one of the last households to put up our tree though, the weekend before is when we put ours up, if it wasn't for the children, the romantic in me would put it up on Christmas Eve).

CHRISTMAS MARKET

The Christmas Market (indoor this time !) was very busy this morning and therefore success all round. Forgot to take the camera down so no photos of the lovely stalls !

Chris coped admirably with four children for the day and even had a roast chicken dinner ready for when I got home. Bliss...

..

Hebe's picture from nursery, she was very proud of writing her name and wanted me to show it.

BLOOMING WALLPAPER !

Well, the wallpaper saga continues, it is a Cath Kidston design called Antique rose in blue, but I can not find it on the UK website, but bizarrely found it on the US one which seems as though it has closed to amalgamate with the UK one, anyway I have emailed them to find out if I can still get it. I can't believe the wishes of a four year old has caused so much complication !



Talking of said child (Hebe) I bought her some new PJ's the other day with owls on and she has been asking me to make her an owl to match, so always one to oblige my children, here it is....

Whilst on my epic wallpaper name search I stumbled across this amazing blog of a lady called Catherine, her blog is called www.hyggelig.typepad.com Check out the Children's cooker she made, it is totally gorgeous and even better, looks achievable ! Might have to squeeze in a bit of woodwork before Christmas..

NEW BOOKS...

Well the market was surprisingly successful considering the weather, which was really windy, probably one of the windiest days in the last couple of months. The market is held on the plaza in the centre of town and is open to the 'front' (the estuary) so there is no protection from the elements at all. But I still made a respectable amount of cash and have a long list of orders so all is good, and a big thank you to everyone who came out to support me.

New books arrived in the post on Wednesday, CHRISTMAS GIFTS FROM THE KITCHEN BY GEORGEANNE BRENNAN (£3.99)and the brilliant MAKING CHILDREN'S CLOTHES BY EMMA HARDY (bargain price of £4.99).

Both from the BOOK PEOPLE.
Hebe spotted the wallpaper in this picture and has requested it for her and Clemmie's new bedroom! I think it could be a Cath Kidston pattern but am not to sure, if anyone knows please let me know.

I think that this poncho is one of my favourites, how great does the apple lining look ?

All just gorgeous and I can't wait to get started !

QUILTS, QUILTS AND MORE QUILTS !

Another busy week, explaining why I have not posted for a few ( all right probably more than a few) days.

I had a lovely weekend after a parcel of Tilda fabric arrived in the post on Friday.

Hebe has been asking me for ages to make her a quilt after she saw a picture of a bedroom in Tone Finnanger's book Sew Pretty Homestyle. Her and Clemmie will be moving bedrooms in a few weeks so this seemed the ideal time to start making one for her (and one for Clemmie too I should think).

I have had a couple of goes at quilting before but this time I would like to spend more time on it and perhaps do some freestyle quilting on the finished quilt. As you can see from the picture it is very much a work in progress, but something that is very enjoyable and that I can see myself doing more of.

The 'Yummy Mummy' party booked last week was cancelled due to the vicars wife being ill, but I have been frantically sewing to prepare as much stock for the market stall on Thursday.

I WILL BE A MARKET TRADER !

Another busy day, getting organised for the "Yummy Mummies" party I have booked for Thursday night.

Very excited about getting a stall on the monthly outdoor market in Lytham (19th November and 10th December), even if it will take a little organising, childcare etc.

Freya didn't have a good day at school and came out in a foul mood but unable to explain why! the trauma of being 10 I remember it so well !!

Hebe is loving her new Snow White dress and has worn little else since Saturday...

SPECIAL PEOPLE....

Just a short blog.

A few personal thoughts that we can all relate to;

The best plans always go out of the window so this is plan d.

Got a busy week ahead.

Special people are in my thoughts.

Waiting for the dark to come to that we can get some sparklers going, planned fireworks last night were a wash out.

Business blog staus;

All current orders are complete, deliveries are imminent.

Working on stock for Christmas and upcoming parties. Very exciting.

New sewing machine is working real well. :)

I have also got my first commission, so am extremely pleased. Pictures and progress in future blogs

Ma x

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO ?

I can not believe that it has been over three weeks since my last post ! I set out with such good intentions as well! Never mind I'm back and hopefully with a little more commitment....


Freya had her 10th birthday, and as you can see was very surprised to receive her first mobile phone, we had said she would have to wait until going to High School until she got one, but is becoming steadily more independent and going places without out us so this seemed an appropriate time. I took her and six friends to the cinema to see Up in 3D and we all had a great time, the seven of them have known each other since Nursery and it was lovely listening to them joke and tease each other.


Halloween was the next celebration after Freya's birthday, it was to be a quiet affair this year (we usually have a party), as Finn and Chris were going to the Burnley match and Freya was invited out to a Halloween/Birthday party. We carved the pumpkin on Saturday morning, something that the older two had been badgering to do since the day before. I cut the top off and presented said pumpkin to four excited children only to have the two oldest disappear after a couple of minutes because it smelt! The two youngest persevered and finished the job Well done girls and Hebe was very excited to show it off.




Freya dressed and made up for her party... SCARY!!

ME AND MA PARTY SEASON..





I started up the Me and Ma parties again last week doing one for a friend and one for the Lytham Ladies Circle, both were successful and fun to do.




I have been making a couple more of these..

Exciting to get my new sewing machine this week, I plumped for a Janome in the end after much umming and arring and it is great, incredibly quiet and runs sooo smoothly.

I have spent most of the week in these! Where has all this rain come from? and more importantly, When will it stop?

Clemmie was obviously unsure of what wardrobe choice to make and so covered all eventualities with sunhat, dress and wellies!

On a final note (ha ha) a big thank you to my friend Becky who donated her unwanted piano to me. All I can say is its a good job she only lives in the next street...