Preparing for the Sweetpea crochet along

Preparing for the Sweetpea crochet along

15 different colours of Stylecraft yarn wound into balls.

Attic24 have a new crochet along starting on January 4th, so I have prepared everything to start as soon as I can. I think it runs for 7 weeks and we happen to be on holiday for seven weeks, so it is a perfect holiday project.

New Mitts

Just off the needles a new pair of Mittens. I love wearing mitts in fact rarely wear anything else.. they enable me to drive, shop and pick up things unlike gloves which I have to keep taking off and loosing.

Pattern by Susie Rogers 'Reading Mitts', yarn Woolcraft Nuvo, bought in Spain, worked in the round on size 4mm needles.

These are just SO cozy to wear.

Christmas Wreathe workshop

Definitely in the swing of Christmas now. My friend Penny and I attended a Christmas wreathe workshop at a local florist. Everything was provided starting with an oasis ring and Santa apron!
Gradually the layers of greenery were added followed by sprigs of holly. Next the choice of coloured balls and cones etc... plus if you intended to hang it, the raffia ribbon for a bow. I decided to keep mine as a candle surround on my dining room table.

Mincepies, hot drinks and a cracker added to the fun of the morning.

A visit from Harriet the cat as the wreathes start to take shape.

Wearing lots of clothes as we are working in a marque and the temperature outside is minus degrees centigrade burrr!

Pride of place on my table with red candle added.

Family meal & friends sewing

On Sunday the family arrived for a meal and the girls were full of beans.

A competition to see who could do the most scissor splits, or something like that!
Oh for an ounce of their energy!!!

Tuesday four of us got together for a sewing day, Penny, Christine and Pauline. It was so nice to sit and sew with company away from thoughts of the Christmas preparations.

I managed to almost complete my second Christmas cushion.

IAM Christmas party

Decorations up, mini workshop organised, presents wrapped, games prepared...

Three members were missing, due to holidays and illness, we missed them.

Preparing the Happy Room

Busy making candle holders that I had cut out with my Sizzix machine

Everyone was given enough cutout pieces and candles to make two
However some managed to make 4!
Great sticky fun!

Desserts brought by Dorn were delicious

Show and Tell by Penny, the star is a little bag on the back to hold a gift.

Shirley had been 'hooking' again, love the colour

Dorn showed us her Christmas panel, quilted ready to hang.

Dorn also had crocheted a blanket for a new baby

 I showed my new Christmas cushion, which has already appeared on my blog.

Fun time with our £2 gift opening. Eight gifts each all very different.

We then played two games, firstly the Left/Right game with fat quarters

Next a dice game where the £5 gifts went backwards and forwards until frozen by throwing a 12 or 9.

This caused much laughter and fun.

Some of the gifts I received.

I look forward to our 19th Anniversary year in 2019 and the great friendships that have been made through crafting in the Happy Room.

It's Christmas

December 1st has arrived again, why does that always surprise us all?
I must admit I have been busy getting all my gifts and even have them wrapped, only need to get to grips with the Christmas cards.
Chris decorated outside while I tackled the inside. One of my favourite things at Christmas to to see again my Nativity sets.

Our fireplace looking festive

My latest Nativity bought in Spain

My special nativity set made by my friend Jane in the USA and given to me many years ago.

Decided on a red and gold themed tree this year, hopefully it will last until Christmas as I have put it up earlier than usual.

My new Christmas cushion made this week sitting next to Santa who is 15 years old!

This nativity set was bought when on a trip to Michigan and carefully brought home in my luggage.
Probably 20 years ago.

This wooden nativity set was bought for my granddaughters to arrange but now they are
older we do not see them as much so it just has a nice memory.

My smallest nativity, in a walnut shell

December 1st the first Christmas card arrived, thanks Diana.

Sewing Day

Penny, Clare and Dorn visited for a sewing day. It was wonderful getting together with friends to work on our different projects.

Penny was busy cutting out and sewing hearts to squares for Linus projects.

Clare continued with her ribbon blocks made from a jelly roll

Dorn was busy bag making for her scrabble friends.

I worked on a Christmas cushion, which turned out much bigger than I thought it would! 

[picture on next blog post]