HAPPY DAYS

This picture of me with two of my three grand-daughters was taken on Christmas Day. I think the picture tells its own story ...

Isabel is four and is wearing her Disney Fairy dressing up outfit; don't ask me which fairy because I can't remember, only that I saw rather more of this character than I really required during the holiday. Isabel insisted on being addressed by her fairy name the entire time, and I think I have blocked it out as a result!!

Amelia is 9 weeks old and did start the day in a red party dress, but this went the way of all flesh owing to a milk related incident, so here she is in her Cath Kidston(esque) sleepsuit. Granny has gone for the classy look and is wearing grey silk by Sainsburys, with pearls (also Sainsburys). And in case you're wondering what happened to grand-daughter no.3, here she is! This is Molly (almost 3) wearing her Christmas tiara. I'd taken mine off by then ....

Molly having a bout of gastric upset didn't spoil the day at all, except when she needed her nappy changing - at which everyone tried to be somewhere else!! Isabel being a fairy got mildly tiresome, but otherwise she was adorable, and colicky episodes from baby Amelia didn't dampen our enthusiam for cuddling her (much).

Hope you and yours had as much fun as we did, and that 2010 will be your best year ever!!

ITS A BIT BUSY AROUND HERE ...

Not much time for crafting around here - but I am keeping busy with activities like this!! Help yourself to one or two if you're passing .... my hand slipped a bit with the brandy in the mincemeat so they rather refresh the parts other mince pies don't reach!!

The house is filling up with daughters, and the grand-daughters arrive very soon, so shan't have a minute to myself for a few days ... but HAPPY CHRISTMAS to (both!) my readers and all my wishes for a joyful New Year. Because its a special time of year I have got a bottle of Jack Daniels and I intend to become very good friends with him indeed!! (I normally get supermarket own brand whisky, but this is a treat).

Back soon with pictures of our festivities .....

I'M REALLY ORGANISED ....

Don't hate me please, but I'm really organised for Christmas this year! I even sat down yesterday to make the covers for the Christmas book I like to make each year. Mind you, just in case I don't get any good pictures I haven't actually put the date on the cover yet ... I should probably explain that Christmas isn't just one day in our house. My daughters (and 3 grand-daughters) all gather at our house, so we have visitors for about a week - which is wonderful but usually totally exhausting. Still, last year's book (see below) is already a treasure, so it is worth doing.

This will be just a small book 8 x 5" but I like to make something which can hold daft things like jokes out of crackers and other little mementos, as well as pictures. I'll use the Bind it All to hold it all together when its done, and last year's book had ribbons recycled from packaging and items from crackers fastened to the wires as well. The papers are My Minds Eye and the holly is some I made from Fimo years ago, to which I've added Stampin Up Crystal Effects (brilliant stuff) both for protection and to make them nice and shiny. Watch this space for the finished item in January, and here is last year's below!

SOUNDS ALL TOO TRUE ....

This is my failsafe Christmas recipe, guaranteed to cheer the heart at this festive season ....

A Christmas Cake Ingredients: * 2 cups flour * 1 stick butter * 1 cup of water * 1 tsp baking soda * 1 cup of sugar * 1 tsp salt * 1 cup of brown sugar * Lemon juice * 4 large eggs * Nuts * 1 bottle Brandy * 2 cups of dried fruit Sample the brandy to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the brandy again. To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the brandy is still OK. Try another cup... Just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 eggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the frigging fruit up off floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the brandy to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Check the brandy. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or some fink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the brandy and wipe counter with the cat. Bingle Jells!

ANOTHER NEW PROJECT ...

I love making mini books so recently signed up to do the Confessions class over on Big Picture Scrapbooking, where they have some lovely workshops on offer. This one involves thinking a lot about the quirky aspects of your personality, maybe why you do those odd things that drive you (and other people) crazy! I thought it would be something my daughters could one day inherit and remember me by .... not that I'm planning on going anywhere yet!!

The covers are 6" x 10" and the pages will be slightly smaller. I'm using the K & Co Sola range of papers so the whole book will co-ordinate (I was brought up on making everything to match and can't quite get over it ...). I was going to paint the chipboard swirls but they looked so exactly right as they are that I didn't bother! The book will be spiral bound on the Bind It All when the pages are done, but at the moment I'm still thinking about what the subjects will be, so watch this space .....

I'VE BEEN FINISHING THIS!

This is my second attempt at patchwork, a lap quilt made in colours to go with my sofa. For very cold days I have a fur blanket to snuggle under (this is a large, old, COLD house!) but the rest of the time I'll be using this. It was a very simple pattern - way simpler than the first one I chose to tackle, but I'm very pleased with how it turned out. I had intended to make a couple of twin bedspreads but beginning to wonder if these are really needed - DH would only throw his on the floor because he gets too hot ... and the cats would sleep on mine!

Also been having a visit from delicious new grand-daughter - ah if they would only stay like this!! She's so beautiful (reminds me of her mother at the same age), and quite a placid little soul. I'd forgotten how fiercely you love them when they're so tiny ......

FIRST ATCS FOR QUITE A WHILE ....

I think I'd forgotten how much I love doing ATCs until I made these for a swap on UK Scrappers. As you can see I was back in vintage mode (so what's new I hear you ask)! Still not quite firing on all cylinders so please don't ask me about which collage sheets I used etc., but the one on the left is a distress ink background which I overstamped. I also antiqued the brass charm - it was a bit too brassy!! The other one uses a background from a collage sheet and my new Martha Stewart lacy punch. I still have the feeling that this one needs something, just couldn't figure out what!!

FEELING BETTER NOW

I finally feel as if I've recovered from attending the NEC Hobbycrafts show last Saturday (or maybe not ...)! I love these big events and look forward to them all year, although we normally go on the opening day Thursday - which we thought was busy enough. This year we had to go on the Saturday and all I can say is never again because it was absolutely hideous, and Health & Safety would have had a fit if they'd seen the overcrowding!

Walking with my trusty zimmer frame meant I could hardly penetrate the crowds, let alone get into a lot of the stalls, and it (almost) took the pleasure out of shopping! Didn't get very much in the end, not least because of being unable to get in the busiest places. I actually bought quite a lot more than this, but most of it was for our monthly scrapbook group and not actually for me!!

Sorry

Sorry for the lack of posts, had a worrying few days with new granddaughter - after the heel prick test we were told there was a possibility she might have cystic fibrosis. Now it seems they made a MISTAKE and its actually the thyroid part of the test they are concerned about, and we were given the wrong leaflet!! Yes I know, beggars belief doesn't it. Fortunately our daughter is a sensible woman and didn't panic (much) but .....

MY NEW FRIEND

I'd like to introduce my new friend Mary Jane (just finished her yesterday). She's very good company, always takes my side, and approves of everything I do - although she does give me some very knowing looks if I'm misbehaving ....

Isn't she sweet? I bought the kit about 3 years ago and finally the other day, deciding that I was in a sewing mood I set to work, and enjoyed myself so much.

The pattern called for stitching a lace-up effect on her boots, but I couldn't resist adding these little buttons instead.

I foresee a long and happy friendship ahead of us - we seem to be at one on any number of subjects, in fact she shares my opinions even on the dreaded politics and religion front! Funny that ....

LITTLE BIRDHOUSE

I am just crazy about birdhouses, and rarely come back from my visits to the USA without another one to alter. This is just a tiny one at 4" tall and I originally did it all pretty in pink and green, but although I liked it the more I looked at it the less it seemed like me.

So I gave it the grungey vintage treatment and now I like it even more! You will spot Distress Crackle paint on the eaves and perch, not to mention all kinds of stamped and collage sheet images. You can see it very well, but the wording around the opening says "Take Your Wings and Fly". I did the sides with wood effect paper and rubbed all the edges with chalk ink to distress it, and finally gave the finished product a coat of Mod Podge to protect it. If I say so myself, I think its CUTE!

THANKS BE TO GOD

After chewing the carpet anxiously for the last 24 hours, we have a third gorgeous grand-daughter, Amelia Lucy, 8lbs 12oz, born by caesarian section, mother and baby both well! Can I breathe now please ......?