Christmas Crafting.

I had a mad moment last week when I wondered if I might do a post every day in December, like I have in the past, a sort of blogging advent calendar. Which had I gone ahead would have meant more blog posts in this one month than I managed the entire rest of the year... but I came to my senses in time! I'm not sure what it is about December that makes me think I can do ALL the things as I go into a frenzy of making gifts, handcrafting decorations, baking, pickling and preserving and more. I turn into a crazy crafting woman who could give Kirsty Allsop a run for her money!

During an afternoon set aside for clearing up my studio, I found a bag of pebbles that had been knocking around for years. There has been a bit of a thing in our village (and in other places too I believe) for painting pebbles and hiding them for children (and adults) to find. The idea is that they get photographed, the picture is posted on a special Facebook page called 'Guilden Rocks' and then pebble gets hidden again for someone else to find. I thought it would be fun to paint my pebbles and hide them... needless to say the studio didn't get cleared that day!

I've also been making some origami stars to go on the front of some Christmas cards... I was inspired after reading some of those other advent posts from my past. This one here should you fancy giving them a try. I seem to remember threading them onto invisible thread and hanging them up as decorations too.

But they look quite cute on the front of cards!

I also made some of these cute little tags after watching a fabulous free tutorial by Laura Kemshall. Given my usual aversion to anything patchwork related these were strangely addictive and I ended up making a dozen or so to go on the front of more cards.

Or in some cases to decorate parcels. The observant among you may also have noticed there were mince pies made too. You can find my recipe for almond topped pies here... regular pastry just doesn't come close.

As if that wasn't enough I've also crocheted these Christmas trees which came in kit form from Cotton Pod. It was the most beautifully packaged kit I have ever received and felt just like I was sending myself a gift. It was almost a shame to unwrap it all to make the trees but I'm glad I did because as yet they are the only decorations up so far... and they look rather jolly on the mantlepiece.

I may not be doing a blogging advent calendar but the real one I made for our eldest grandson has gone down a treat. We get daily photos as he takes the latest ornament from its pocket and hangs it on his tree. The joy is infectious!

 

And as final note, which really has nothing to do with what I've already written about (I tried to think of an elegant segue but failed), I thought I should mention the second episode of my podcast with Izzy Moore is out tomorrow at 10 am GMT and we will be talking about some of our favourite textile and art books... as well as about painting pebbles and Christmas cakes! (Yes, I have made my Christmas cake too... I knew I could link it to making stuff somehow!)

Izzy and Gina... in stitches is available on all the usual podcast listening platforms. Have you listened to the first episode yet?

More Advent Windows

Before I disappear under piles of wrapping paper in a mince pie induced stupor, I thought you might like to see some more of the advent windows that have popped up in our village over the past week or so. I have managed to get out at 5 pm to the lighting up of most of them, despite some very wet and windy weather. Quite often the few hardy souls who venture out have been rewarded with some very welcome refreshments. Mulled wine, mulled cider and hot chocolate have all been sampled along with mince pies, Lebkuchen, stollen, cookies, flapjacks and panetonne... although not all at once I might add. I quite miss my 5pm treat on the nights I have not managed to get out! Anyway, the windows in the order that my photos loaded...

John and Lesley did a simple but very effective silhouette, lit beautifully with a star of fairy lights which hasn't photographed at all well. Taking photos in the dark has been quite a challenge. There is a touch of humour in this one with the Star Wars TIE fighter... did you spot it? It reminded me of my brother who aged about seven drew a lovely picture in his school book of Harold at the battle of Hastings removing the arrow from his eye, complete with a fleet of fighter jets whizzing overhead.

Tonight we were treated to this stunning tree from Peter and Christine. The warm mulled wine was very welcome as we stood in the freezing rain!

I didn't actually get to see the window above on lighting up night but isn't it beautiful with all the doves flying around. However I did get to see Jane and Alan's window below, which must have taken ages to put together. Although I have loved seeing every single one I think their rendition of a bookshop window is just perfect and probably my favourite. It is full of Christmas themed books that Jane has collected. Just peering in feels like entering another world. I think I would like to curl up in a corner with one or two of those books!

The stained glass effect angel was simple in design but very effective and quite poignant. Gilly made it in memory of her sister, with the angel wearing her sister's favourite colour dress. The sunshine was a reminder to keep sunshine in our lives despite difficult circumstances.

My photo doesn't really capture Anne and Peter's window very well but the beautiful traditional crib scene is made from a bamboo set that Anne collected when she lived in Hong Kong. But the piece de resistance is the coloured star which moves across the night sky in an arc down behind the stable, driven by Peter's childhood meccano set!

The window below is another feat of construction, again not really shown up in my photos but each of the little buildings is beautifully made from Lego.

This gorgeous snowy scene is just a few doors along from us so we didn't have to venture far but I think the children of the household had a part in making the snowflakes and pompoms etc. They were very excited by their lights being turned on and the people turning up to watch.

The window below is a beautiful parade of nutcrackers.

And Sarah and Colin's window is another fabulous stained glass effect, although Sarah did admit she had outsourced the work to her Mum!

I have missed a few and there are of course still four more to go. On Christmas eve the window will be unveiled at the chapel following a carol service so I expect we will wander along for that. From Monday through to Friday next week we have various family members turning up at different times culminating with twelve here for lunch on Friday, although Christmas day itself will be quiet with just the two of us and my Mum. 

So that's it from me for a while. The jury is still out as to whether I will continue to blog into the new year, as I've not been around much lately. We shall see... I won't disappear without saying farewell!

It really just remains for me to wish you all a very happy Christmas whatever you might be doing... I hope it's a good one!

Advent Windows

It's not often that I'm sitting doing nothing much on a Saturday afternoon but after several weeks of non stop activity plus a bout of seasonal insomnia (always happens this time of year - too much going on adds up to a busy head that won't let me sleep) has led to my body screaming "Stop and put your feet up woman". So that is what I am doing. However I'm not one for daytime snoozing so I thought I would pop by here for a quick update while I recline on the sofa.

Within just a few weeks of moving to the village I was asked if I would like to participate in an advent windows event called "Light the Night". Throughout December different households light up a window each evening until there are twenty four different illuminated windows throughout the village. It sounded such a lovely idea and back in July, December was still a long way off so of course I agreed to take part. Fast forward several months and I have been frantically gluing and grouting broken china and mosaic tiles to wooden angel shaped bases. There were a few technical issues i.e the stick on hooks kept falling off the window frames and until I actually switched it all on I wasn't sure how illuminated it would be but come lighting up time on 2nd December I was thrilled with the resulting window.

I have fifteen mosaic angels plus a bauble with a number two (because we were 2nd December) hanging from each glass panel amid lots of fairy lights and twinkly bits.

We had quite a crowd turn up for lighting up time who were treated to a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie or two.

It has felt lovely to be part of such a festive tradition and although I'm sure we won't make every lighting up time until 24th, we have managed to be there at 5pm every evening so far.

 

The event was started last Sunday on the 1st December at the village pub where ten windows were revealed one at a time while the landlady read the story of The Nutcracker to the gathered crowd.

On 3rd my friend Vicky revealed her windows, which depicted the Three Little Pigs. Her beautiful straw thatched cottage used to be a piggery and then subsequently it was a pub called The Pig and Whistle. Her thatch also has straw pigs along the roofline so you'll understand why she chose her beautiful scene. The colours are glorious.

On the 4th we were treated to a Bethlehem scene lit up by a beautiful star

And on 5th, the school revealed their window of the Three Kings bearing gifts, created by the pupils and staff.

Last night we were treated to a traditional nativity scene with beautiful carved wooden figures from Africa.

 

We'll be taking another little wander up the road this evening to see what is in store for the seventh window as it is such a wonderful way to count down the days until Christmas. Although to be fair we have got a chocolate calander too!

Advent 2017 :: Day 24

We have reached the final day of my mini blogging marathon so thank you to everyone who has stopped by to read and/or comment, whether every day or on just the odd occasion. It has been very much appreciated. Thank you all for your friendship and support.

It only remains for me to wish you all a very happy Christmas whatever you may be doing. I hope it will be peaceful and calm

I have sons and partners arriving today so I'm heading to the kitchen... after all where else would I be spending Christmas! I'll see you on the other side.

Gina xx

Advent 2017 :: Day 23

Despite all the baking, making and Christmas prep there has also been a lot of reading going on of late... often in the early hours as sleep has been elusive recently. Although I should probably point out that what follows is a couple of months reading not just the past couple of weeks.

The two most recent book club reads were Days Without End, by Sebastian Barry, which I did not enjoy and Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon which I loved. I could see why Days Without End was well rated, the language was quite poetic at times and there were whole sections that were beautiful to read but I didn't feel I knew the characters and there were long, tedious descriptions of the American Indian and Civil wars that just didn't engage me. It felt like the book without end! But it was not a view shared by the rest of the book club who mostly enjoyed it. Shadow of The Wind however, I found to be an intriguing and compelling read. It's atmospheric setting of post civil war Barcelona, its engaging characters and search for truth pulled me in right to the end.

Wanting something light to read after those two, I chose The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan, recommended to me by my sister-in-law. It was a bit of a far fetched story, rather too obviously sentimental and predictable for my liking, but having said that it was a quick and entertaining read.

Next I read The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler, which I won in a givewaway from Love Those Cupcakes. This one I really enjoyed - no great intriguing plot but beautifully observed characters carefully crafted observation of human behaviour and misunderstandings as it traces the story of a family and a marriage over three generations. It was a delight, so thank you for sending this my way Liz.

Another delight was The Blackwater Lightship from Colm Toibin. It tells of three generations of a broken family who gather together as their grandson, son and brother faces death from Aids. A painful read at times but so beautifully written and with such wonderfully drawn characters I couldn't put it down. Maybe that's why I don't sleep!

After such an intense book I wanted something less taxing for my brain so picked up a Jo Nesbo from the charity shop. Nemesis is a page turning thriller and I like the character Harry Hole (It was also  Liz that introduced me to the charms or not as the case may be, of Harry Hole) but I'm about 80 pages from the end and it is starting to lose me. Too many plot twists and I think I've worked out "who dunnit". It reminds me why I only occasionally read thrillers, although I quite enjoy them when I do.

There are still plenty more unread books piled up beside my bed so I'm looking forward to plenty more reading time over the holidays. What will you be reading this Christmas?

Advent 2017 :: Day 22

I first made this Cranberry Upside Down cake with the Cake Slice Bakers two years ago and declared it one of the best cakes I'd ever tasted despite being very simple. The only problem is that is must be made with fresh cranberries, which as anyone in the UK will tell you are only available here in December. It really does not work with frozen ones... the result is distinctly wet and soggy! (Don't ask how I know)

So it seemed a fitting cake to take to our annual book club Christmas party. 

And should you feel the urge to be baking cakes just three days before Christmas or maybe you would like an alternative to Christmas pudding then you must try this. You won't regret it!

You can find my version of the recipe here:

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

Advent 2017 :: Day 21

I make no apologies... it always makes an appearance at Christmas.

Nigella's Christmas Rocky Road... perfect bite size morsels for after a meal with friends and so quick and easy to make.

Or equally good packaged up as last minute gifts.

I'm the last minute queen, me!

Advent 2017 :: Day 20

Five more days of advent posts to go and as Christmas Day looms closer so these posts get shorter!

We are now into last minute gifts and Christmas baking (our cake is in the oven as I type... won't be very mature but I doubt anyone will notice)

But for now I bring you a little jar of Clementine Curd. I would share the recipe but I couldn't find the one I usually use so I sort of made it up. Not entirely sure how successful it was though... at least it looks festive!

Advent 2017 :: Day 19

Well, the halls are decked and my tree is up and it is starting to look a lot like Christmas.

Every year I have a secret longing for a minimalist white and silver Scandinavian vibe...

But I realise that would involve a complete house make over! There is too much colour on my walls, too much dark wood and too many textures for me to ever achieve white or minimalist... but I can dream.

There are lots of white lights and candles though and I'm lucky enough to have the perfect bannister for decking with greenery.

The tree does sort of match the decor in the living room, with the gold and red baubles banished back to the loft and only the silver and mauve remaining.

However, the look is somewhat ruined by the cluttered bookshelves behind!

But at the end of the day this isn't a showhouse it's our home and we quite like the colour. And let's face it... I'm never going to be a minimilist sort of girl no matter how much I dream!