Here we are advent almost over, I have had fun with the different number combinations..

There was great excitement when the post came this morning, the letters from Father Christmas arrived ( I must say he cut it a bit fine this year !) they were well worth the wait and beautifully written as always....



I managed to finish the napkins for Christmas dinner tomorrow, and I am really pleased with them....

I have been after a white dresser for the kitchen for some time, we needed something to fill the gap now that my sewing corner is being relocated upstairs.

I eventually found one I liked in IKEA, unfortunately neither Warrington, Leeds or Aston had them in store and they could not be bought online.

Never fear ! Super Chris to the rescue ! He drove to GLASGOW! the only store in the country apart from Wembley and Belfast to have them (a 400 mile round trip !). How great was that ?

We spent the same amount of time to assemble it as it took Chris to drive to Glasgow and back, but isn't it just fantastic ?

Here's a rather grainy picture of it getting dressed...

Aghhh, just realised I have not wrapped one single present ! So that is what I am off to do....

THREE SLEEPS AND COUNTING..

Had one of those busy days where you don't really get a lot done.

The children were pleased to see a little more snow this morning and spent hours playing out with their friends this morning, only returning home when hungry !

Completed my last order yesterday, so hopefully I can concentrate on making things for us and our home for the next couple of weeks before starting again in the New year...

We had snow again today, a little more than last week, enough for the children to play with, the younger two soon got cold and came back inside, but Freya persevered for well over an hour and built this snowman...


Footsteps in the snow......

Have started on the children's stocking fillers, well Hebe and Clemmie's at least. I thought I would make some hankies from the lovely new fabric I have recently bought, they may not use them as hankies as its not a concept they are used to (living in the world of tissues) , but they may, if not they can double as little doll covers !

More hankies....

Also made these little purses from this lovely Michel Miller fabric...

Letter key rings for all four, these are really simple to make and are great to fasten to a bag etc...

I really need to start posting in the mornings, but having said that nothing will have happened, but I'm so tired some evenings I can't think what to write about.

Spent most of the day painting Hebe and Clemmie's new bedroom ready for the floor to be laid tomorrow, their new bunk beds were delivered yesterday, so when the floor is down we will be able to put them together...

Started making some stocking fillers, but more about them tomorrow.

What does Father Christmas like to eat and drink ? Finn thinks a glass of Baileys and a mince pie, Hebe thinks milk and a biscuit, Freya says he's probably not that bothered and I don't think Clemmie has an opinion. When we were children it was a glass of Whisky and a piece of Christmas cake. How about you ?...

I went Christmas shopping today, nothing unusual you might think, but I don't really do shopping, I shop online (so much easier), anyway I wanted to get some stocking fillers for the children, so popped into town first thing.

Unfortunately I came away almost empty handed, every time I looked at something I either thought "How much !" or "I could make that", does that make me sound really tight ? (probably !), anyway I have decided to go down the make it line, just something else to do to add to the list !!

It is me and Chris's 13th wedding Anniversary today, we were going to go out to eat tonight, but its always a bit odd going out as a couple at this time of year as the restaurants are full of big parties and you tend to end up on a table for two pushed into a corner by the door !

Chris has been to M & S for treats and is cooking instead... We sound quite sad don't we..

HANDMADE CHRISTMAS SWAP

Very exciting parcel arrived from France today ! I took part in my first ever 'swap' ( A handmade Christmas swap), and I was partnered with the lovely Floss, if you click on the 'Pause in advent' button on the right of this post you will be taken to her blog.



The parcel was beautifully wrapped in a linen pillow slip, and had the most gorgeous card attached..

Inside was a lovely wrapped parcel (using a page from a map book, great idea), with another card attached and a gorgeous linen collar..

A very nice handmade card...

A bar of yummy chocolate....

A very unusual garland made from card, paper and buttons....

Lovely collar, I think this may end up on a dress for Clemmie...

Beautiful illustrated gift labels...

And a useful calender...

Wait, what is this..

Just as I thought I had opened everything, I found this other little parcel in the bottom of the pillow slip, and inside was this gorgeous button decoration...

I am thrilled with all my goodies and a great big thank you to Floss for such thoughtful gifts.

See Floss's blog to see what she thought of my swap gifts...

DISCOS, PARTIES AND SNOW..

Finn had his school disco this afternoon, Freya's would have been after school but she decided not to go (she has never really enjoyed discos).

Hebe had her first Christmas party at nursery this afternoon and had a lovely time, she won a packet of smarties for being the last one out in musical chairs and got to see Father Christmas came, what more could a four year old want...

We had snow ! It snowed for about half an hour after tea, four VERY excited children, I think that they may be disappointed in the morning though...

Freya's quilt is coming along, another border of white and it will be ready for backing.



She chose some lovely Amy Butler fabric in her favourite colour green...

The outcome is that it has a real retro feel to it, I was not sure if she would like it, but she absolutely loves it !

I been making and selling a lot of these sock monkeys over the last couple of weeks, I enjoy making them and they make me laugh !

Finn and Chris are off to see Burnley play Arsenal tonight, that leaves me to get on and sand the walls upstairs for the final coat of paint....

Aghhh, ten more sleeps to go !! Am I organised ? Well I'm getting there, the house is still in chaos due to the loft conversion, but the decorating has started ! and the end is looking closer.

Had a busy and very varied day today, altered a dress for a lady to wear to a winter wedding , made up some samples for a merchandise company to present to new clients and started Freya's quilt !...

Clemmie not a well little girl today, just as we thought she was getting better, she seemed to go downhill this afternoon, pulling at her ear and crying. My first thought was that she had an ear infection, (having gone through the same with Freya and Finn when they were little), a trip to the doctor confirmed this and antibiotics were administered. here's hoping she is back to her happy self soon..

Usually around this time of year letters arrive at our house from someone very special, and always cause great excitement..


They are always in beautifully decorated envelopes, and sometimes, like last year they are written on coloured paper...

The letters themselves are written to each child individually and often tell a story..

And they have pictures to illustrate the stories...

As I said the envelopes are also decorated....

We are all still awaiting this years letters (Father Christmas must be particularly busy this year !) but I am sure they will bring as much pleasure and excitement as they always do..