Feeling Festive

Well, it is rather late, but I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, readers.  Time has just run away with me this year but I still wanted to get here, my special place, and record our goings on for the festive period.  Maybe one reason I've been short of blogging time, is that it has been a very handmade Christmas here this year.

First, as you may recall, there was the granny ripple blanket.

It isn't finished, although, it has grown a lot, but I never thought it would be finished this year.  It is much wider than I really anticipated so each stripe takes a good half hour but it is looking great and feeling super cosy.    I think I will park it now and get back to it next Christmas when I am in the festive mood again.  I have enjoyed the soothing, easy pattern very much.

It wasn't long before I was reacquainting myself with my Christmas fabric stash.  I still hadn't got those pot holders out of my head and whipped up a few as gifts for crafty friends.

I also made us a giant bauble pot holder which Mr HenHouse found came in very handy for resting the wine decanter on!

I also became seized by the desire to make another Christmas quilt.  I cut many 2.5" wide strips.  It was time for a festive scrappy trip along.

I worked on the blocks here and there, adding to my Christmas fabric stash along the way, (there is a new quilting shop in Bridport!) and watching old DVDs of Ally McBeal, so soon, I was nearing completion.  I wasn't sure I'd get it finished, so many other things were vying for my time and attention.

In between, we found some time to decorate the house.

I enjoyed gathering together all my red and green vintage bits and pieces for the shelves in my kitchen. Why not having something good to look at whilst washing up?  I will miss this when it's time to take it down.

The cottage also had a few decorations put up and was soon looking like a magical grotto!

The dresser had a bit of festive cheer added, too.

Back at the ranch, as they say, the making continued with a cute holly brooch.

I was very late in getting my Christmas cards made this year and I continued what I had started on the Jessie Chorley workshop back in November.

You might just be able to see that the one top left has a little embroidered and beaded Christmas tree brooch attached (which it was possible to remove and wear).  I liked this so much, I made the same brooch for myself but this one went to a good, brooch-loving friend.

Somewhere along the way, to accompany the Christmas crooners in the background, the Den received a little festive touch.  It's always a pleasure to work in here, but especially at this time of year.

Other making was going on, not necessarily of the textile kind.  The cakes had been made well in advance and dutifully fed and watered!   One for my in-laws, one for us.  I like the old fashioned way of decorating, with thick swirled icing to look like snow and old decorations, as my mum and nan have always done it.

More craftiness took place in the late afternoons and evenings, with the twinkly fairy lights aglow, a roaring fire to stay cosy, and friends dropping in for chat, crochet and nibbles.  Jacky Ginge was pleased!

We popped to see family, braving the awful weather (but how lucky we are compared with those poor souls without power or suffering from the floods), and I sat and hand stitched the Christmas quilt binding until it was finished for a shot of the three generations.  (The quilt in the background was my Christmas gift to my in-laws a few years back.) 

All too soon, for the run up to Christmas Day is really the best bit, I think, it was time to be off to church for the Christingle service.  We can still get away with this with the Munchkin but it is getting harder to take a cute shot each year! 

Finally, everything was ready for the big day.  I don't think Father Christmas came down the chimney in this room!

Looking at the tree, he'd clearly visited, though.  Phew, we must have been good.

Fun was had, tearing off all those time consuming wrappings, more quickly by some younger members than others!  How fortunate we are, everyone very happy with the lovely things thoughtfully chosen for them.  Vorey didn't seem so keen on his bow.

Charlie Boy went for tinsel this year...

By the end of the day, they'd clearly had enough!

We enjoyed a fabulous lunch.  All my meat was sent packed in ice, by overnight courier from Bridport, which was just fantastic.  We pulled crackers, wore silly paper hats as one must, and generally ate far too much, all under the watchful eye of Her Royal Highness.

We've had a thoroughly wonderful Christmas and now it is admittedly rather nice to have a well-earned rest!

I've packed away the Christmas fabrics and trims and had a good tidy up in the Den.  I'm ready for a New Year and lots of fabulous new crafty projects.  I do hope you'll share it with me. Xxx