Handmade Swap Parcel revealed :)

Now I know I promised pictures of all the festive stuff - in fact I'd almost finished a typing a blogpost about it when there was a knock at the door.  It was the postie with a parcel for me from the lovely Pam @ Hortensia - her half of our handmade swap.

I am a big kid about christmas at the best of times and was even more so today as I knew I could open this parcel now and not have to save it till the 25th :)

This picture shows all the parcels with their wrappings still intact - all in such a festive red with sparkly ribbon tied round them;

Right time for the grand reveal :) In no particular order (said in best Brucie voice ;) ) - some beautiful new decorations for my tree;

A new snug cosy for my teapot :)

These magnet are made with seaglass and my photo does not do them justice - they are really pretty - 2 are white and one is a delicate green;

Last but not least - a really gorgeous card;

I think in 2010 I must work on my photography skills - might even hunt my camera manual out and read it for the first time!!

If you read Pam's blog entry for the 13th December, you'll see what I sent her - her pictures are so much better than mine. However I did take one pic before I wrapped everything up;

Thankyou Pam for such lovely pressies - my decorations will be on my tree for many years and will be a happy reminder of my first blog swap :) and I shall think of you everytime we have a cuppa :)

Have an hours peace now whilst the boys are at a scout christmas party so I'm going to crack on with my card making.

3rd Pause In Advent - Christmas Memories

Blimey - we're up to the 3rd Sunday in Advent already - it certainly seems to be whizzing by.

Today we decorated the tree and house - more on that tomorrow.

Whilst we were decorating the tree the boys & I were talking about the different decorations and the memories attached to some.  This lead on to talking about christmas's past and the different things they remember and my memories of their very early christmas's.

Big son's first christmas (10 months old) - opening his stocking in bed with us.

The next year, he is big enough (22 months old) to meet Father Christmas and go riding on a steam train.

Little son (aged 23 months) meets Father Christmas for the 1st time and isn't too sure!

Nursery play - King Will (aged 4) is in the middle.

Playing an ugly sister in his last primary school play (aged about 9) - this picture is one that will come out everytime he brings a girl home and definately on his 18th birthday!! 

Off to tweak the baubles and take some pictures for tomorrows post.

xxx Vicki xxx

Shopping Saturday - Vintage Fair, CS & High Street :)

Good afternoon

Have had a lovely day at with my friend Country Girl. We've been to Woodbridge which is a lovely little market town here in Suffolk.  We headed initially to the Festive Vintage Fair on the hill.  As ever this was very popular with a wonderful selection of stalls selling vintage and handmade items.

We spent a long time looking round whilst sipping big cups of hot chocolate topped with cream and marshmallows - well chocolate comes from a bean so must be part of your 5 a day????

I treated myself to a pretty crochet brooch from Peonie - if you look down the r/h side of her blog you can see the wonderful items she makes.

As you can see it looks rather good on the dress that just jumped into my arms in Peacocks! Along with this t-shirt that is perfect for a party we're having with the kidlets at work this week;

We then headed into the high street and went into so many lovely little independent stores and charity shops.

I have plans once the hols have started for a baking session and need some more cutters - I got a great selection in the kitchen shop - a couple of trees, a star and an angel. Also inspired by Kirsty, I bought some red edible glitter!  Whilst having one final look around there, my eyes were drawn to a festive Cath mug in a tin - another item that just threw itself at me!!

We had a good look around the charity shops and one in particular came up trumps - 4 more Ladybird books for my collection @ only 40p each and a pretty button bracelet (which I've forgotten to photograph) for only £1;

Whilst us girls were having a shopping morning, our smallest children were once again playing with their school band. My VV was tasked with taking some photos - here's one of little son with just a glimpse of young country boy in the right hand corner!

More stitching :)

Ok - could someone please slow the evenings and weekends down a bit - I've still got festive stuff I'd like to finish - mainly cards and my wall-hanging (in the previous post).

This week has been quieter on the brass front - little son only played twice for other people - school assembly and then his old primary school.

Next week is not quiet for any of us - we've parties, christmas lunches, a christmas brass concert, school carol service and my little niece & nephews nativity play to enjoy.  Just think this time next Friday, school will be finished and we'll have just one week left till the big day :)

On Wednesday night I went with Country Girl to our second Stitch and Bitch meet - is our last one before Christmas but we'll be back there in January :)  I am determined to learn to knit in 2010 and there's plenty of help available at the group for that to happen.

As you can see - all very busy (not me or Country Girl in the pics though) - bags of fabric & wool and of course pretty mugs of tea and if you look really closely Tunnocks caramel wrappers ;)

I've started making Yoyo's having seen them on several blogs - have got quite a collection now which will become a sort of bunting at some point.  For those that don't know what I mean - have a look at this link.

I've turned a couple of mine into a rather pretty brooch;

Have a feeling lots of people will be getting brooches for their birthdays next year!!

Off out tonight to a Christmas variety concert - hoping for plenty of laughs and festive giggles. Tomorrow I'm off to the Christmas Vintage Fair in Woodbridge with Country Girl - hoping for some last minute Christmas goodies :)

Have a good weekend

xxx Vicki xxx

Another weekend whizzes by!

Yet another precious weekend has whizzed by in a whirl of brass engagements (3), festive shopping and family stuff.

Little son had 3 engagements over the weekend - started Friday night with a small concert in a local old peoples home, Saturday saw him at a Conservative Association Mulled Wine & Mince Pie evening (where he got to meet our local MP) and Sunday afternoon saw him playing in church (and eating all the goodies laid on by the church wives).

We managed yesterday morning to fit in time for the boys to do their christmas shopping for each other and also for MrVV & I.  They even this year did their own wrapping up and now the parcels have been squirreled away in their rooms till the 25th :)

Little son & I have been busy this weekend crafting - he's been making tree decorations for his form teacher and brass teacher;

Apart from the cutting out he did all the work himself :)   I hope this liking of sewing is remembered when he has another pile of scout badges to sew on or he loses a button from a shirt!!

I've been finishing my gingerbread house decoration and I'm pleased with how it has turned out;

Have also got a couple of items at the work in progress stage - a wreath for my front door - bought a plain twig heart (reduced) and am adding bits and pieces (all recycled) to it;

Last but not least - I've ended up with several left over felt shapes so have been turning  them into a festive wall hanging - here it is so far;

In case you're wondering - big son still exists, even though he's not getting as much of a mention!  He came home from school on Friday with a big grin on his face. They'd divided the boys in his PE group into 3 sections and had a badminton tournament - he's won his group!!  Now this boy normally excels at brainy stuff but is usually not at all interested in sport.  However since he started high school in September he's started playing badminton and is actually getting quite good!

Have a good week.  Have got S&B on Wednesday and a Vintage Fair on Saturday to look forward too :)

2nd Pause for Advent

As the preparations for Christmas step up a gear with more concerts, shopping, booking of tickets and buying of food - just pause for a minute.

I bought myself an Advent candle this year and every night I've lit it when I come home from work or after we've eaten.  In the time it takes for the flame to burn down another level I've sat and watched it and just pondered and thought.

This week I've mainly thought about a friends young son who has a rare brain condition.  He's recently taken a turn for the worse and has been in hospital both locally and in Great Ormond Street for the past 6 weeks.

We are all hoping he is well enough to come home and spend Christmas with his family and friends. He has now come back to the local hospital and things are looking up - so this week when I light the candle each night I'll be thinking about him more and hoping that our wishes come true.

December - so far

Blimey December is already beginning to rush by - can't believe I'll open my 4th window in the morning!

The pre-christmas rush has started already with the already full calendar gaining more things that we need to attend.  This coming weekend little son has 3 brass engagements - 2 with the training arm of the band MrVV plays in and another with his school band!

The christmas presents bought on Monday remain unwrapped and hidden away - am hoping next week I'll have a spare morning to sit there armed with paper, ribbon and tags and make them look pretty. Oops that reminds me - I need to make the tags!!

I have managed time for a quite trawl of the charity shops in town and the church one came up trumps again with 3 rather pretty things, firstly I couldn't resist this mother and child- I had something similar as a child in the 70's;

and this pretty little pot is perfect for my sewing room for storing pencils and chalks in;

Oh yes, my sewing room - actually its about a 1/3 of our spare room but importantly it now means that all my stuff is in one place and my sewing machine can remain out at all times.  These pictures were taken several days ago and since then its become more homely and less sterile with the addition of more clutter, a chair and a rather pretty patchwork cushion;

As you can see it still needs prettying up and I'm hoping that over the next few weeks, I'll have time to make some more things for there as well as finish all the projects I've got on the go at the moment.

Last night I went to a new Stitch and Bitch group that has been started in town by my friend from the pretty pink haberdashery shop.  I went along with my friend Country Girl , we were armed with our sewing (me) and knitting (her).  There were about 12 of us - all ages, some sewing, some knitting and some crocheting.  It was great - we shall definately be going back next week :)

Thats it so far this week folks - will be back Sunday/Monday with another pause for advent and some more pictures of the build up to the festivities.