Merry Christmas

So as you can see I have done some wrapping, though there are many more presents awaiting me and I really should be wrapping :)

We have had the most delightful Crib Service at our Parish Church, and look what Miss and Master Poppins wanted to do before they went bed. They wanted to sprinkle our magically sparkly Reindeer food on the lawn, they had so much fun and made a wish, have you made any Christmas wishes.

So he shall be here soon, so here's me wishing you all a healthy, happy, safe and peaceful Christmas.

Sshhhh, if you listen very, very carefully can you hear jingle bells :)

Best wishes

X

Happy Thrifting

Some of my Thrifties...

Two lovely Jars, and a gorgeous little Christmas decoration, you have a little tealight in and the snowmen and Christmas trees all twinkle and light up.

Some Enid Blyton.

Vintage-esque Christmas decorations and a pretty Garland.

A little set of floral photo frames.

And a wonderful Hat Pin/brooch in a very old Bond Street jewellery case.

Happy thrifting!

X

Pretty Swaps

Well I couldn't resist and have unwrapped one of Tilly Roses wonderful gifts she swapped with me. It is a delightful Laura Ashley mug bowl, I call it a mug bowl as I can drink my hot chocolate from it, or indeed as the lovely Tilly Rose had it, brimming to the top with gorgeous Christmas chocolates. The chocolates came with the most delightful CK napkin which I have made into one of my Napkin Cards, I am really enjoying making them. Thank you Tilly Rose, I so look forward to unwrapping more of your gifts :) It is gorgeous and the chocolates are yummy, I wonder if you have unwrapped any of mine to you, the one with bubble wrap is somewhat Christmasy, so you may want to unwrap :)

The postman has been with my lovely SC Cafe Sparkle Swap from the very talented Debbie A beautiful handmade Christmas Card and the most gorgeous handmade sparkly Home Sweet Home magnet.

I love the Home Sweet Home sign magnet.

Gold treasure!

Some yummy goodies and a truly beautiful handmade keyring.

The most adorable handmade Gingerbread Man decoration, lovely pink and blue sparkle buttons, children shall love the little man.

A very sparkly organza bag.

Look at the delights, some gorgeous sparkly snowflakes, beautifully scented smellies for the bathroom and the brilliant Reindeer Food, Ohooo Debbie Thank You so much for your wonderfully sparkly pretties. I love them so Much.

Please go look at Debbie's Blog, she really is inspirational and makes the most adorable cards and pretties.

Someone else who has been sending me pretties is the lovely Little Gem, now she is one delightful little crafter, she makes the most cute and girly pretties. Please have a look at her wonderful Flickr We had a Floraly Girly swap, if you would like to have a look at my swap to her, have a little look at her Flickr.

Here are her delights to me.

So beautifully wrapped and pretty. Two beautifully handmade initials, they really do mean the world to me, and shall look adorable in the children's bedrooms. And the Christmas Decoration, how sweet and lovely and what charming ribbon.

The most prettiest organza bag with something gorgeous in it.

A delightful handmade brooch in the most loveliest material.

Thank you so much Little Gem, and I love the gorgeous handmade Christmas card, I know you know how much I love your pretties X, and there are more for me to unwrap, how lucky am I :)

So, my lovely swaps have really cheered me up as some of you may or may not know we have had Master Poppins in hospital with a chest infection, he is back home, having much TLC, the Christmas festivities have taken a back burner so it has been a delight to unwrap some of my swaps, they have really prettied my days up :)

X

Where Are You Jam Makers?

I love Jam, I could eat Jam sandwiches morning, noon and night. I love strawberry, raspberry, apricot, pear, plum, cherry you name it. So it is with joy in my heart that I, yes little olde me is going to embark on making some. How hard can it be, some sugar some fruit.

Mmmmm well so I thought, pectin, jam sugar, wax discs, jam covers and lids, labels, skimming, processing in a boiling bath, setting ,three saucers in the freezer.

So you see not quite as easy as I thought, I dearly hope I have one or two brilliant jam makers who read and look on me as someone they would love to help get me on the road to making my jam.

I do kind of get the gist on how to make the jam, and would love to know:

Can I buy jam sugar from anywhere?

What precisely do I need to sterilise and for how long, we have no dishwasher?

Should I use wax discs if I am having twist lids?

What would be a nice easy fruit to use for a beginner?

Do you skim the foam?


Please help me get out of this jam :)


X

Favourite

Phew!! No more mad dashes to Tesco as I have managed to purchase the Blue Ottoman Rose Cath Kidston designed Tesco Bag, which I have to say is my favourite of all of them. Here are the lovely bags I dashed here there and everywhere to find and definitely brought some colour to my Home Sweet Home.

It has been quite an adventurous summer searching isles for these little CK bags. I know many of you have joined me in the chase, I cannot only grab one when I know there are so many wanting one too, so yes one of my two that I grabbed has been promised to a good home.

If you have these bags, what do you use them for, shopping, have your knitting and crafts in them, laundry, toys, magazines, Mmmmm they have many uses. For me, for now, I enjoy looking at them, whilst deciding how I shall use them :)

X

Lavender Love

I really enjoy making my little scented lavender hearts and pillows and love even more giving them to special friends and family, which is where my lovingly handmade lavender sachet one is going, to a very special cyber friend.

I just love receiving handmade gifts, I really hope the person who receives this likes it!

Take care my lovelies!

X