Thursday 8 December 2011

Word Love......

A few months ago I saw a wonderful word sign on a door, in a house, in a magazine....I loved the words, so I took a photo of the picture and kept it on my phone....I'd never seen anything like this in the shops......one day, I told myself, I would try to make something like it. Then yesterday I took my friend M out shopping to a town we had not explored before.....we wandered into a nice little shop, and oh my, oh joy.....there was the lovely little sign, just like in the picture....well I thought it was just like the one in the picture, but it turns out one of the words is different.....but that didn't matter, I still loved the words anyway......I oohed and ahhhed over it....but in the end my head overruled my heart and I walked out of the shop empty handed.


We did a little more wandering, and a little more looking, and then had a spot of lunch in a nice little cafe....the best ever panini we've ever had, actually....but the little sign had been playing on my mind, niggling at me.....so I said, on the way home I'd pull over outside the shop and run in....if it was still there I'd have it, if it wasn't, it wasn't meant to be....and guess what....it was still there....soooooo, I did have it.......


I these words....they are such wise, wonderful words to live by.....keep Peace in your heart, always live in Hope, and spread Joy wherever you are! The words are ideal to hang for Christmas.....reminding us to spread the Christmas spirit, but they are also perfect for remembering at any time of the year.

The other sign, incidentally, said.....Joy Love Peace....which is absolutely lovely too, but I do have a couple of other words that say Love....and I need to remember to stay hopeful.....so this sign is actually even better than the one I coveted in the magazine!

May we all keep Peace in our hearts, always live in Hope, and spread Joy wherever we are!

-xx-

Thursday 1 December 2011

Christmas is coming......

I've been a little preoccupied of late.....planning and organising for our super duper, fabulicious news which I received back here.......the most wonderful of wonderfullest Christmas surprises for my Angels....so I haven't really had the time to pop into my blog and record the things that are making me happy just now.....although, as its a s u r p r i s e I can't really put anything about what I've been up to on my blog anyway.....just in case one of my delightful Angels just happened to check up on my blog and all was exposed just a little too early.....but it is good.....it is worth the wait....all will be revealed s o o n....I promise.
But now it's December, the magical big C.....Christmas can full-heartedly be talked about. Every year for the last 12 years (bar one) I've made advent calendars for my four Angels....I prefer handmade and customised calendars to the commercialised shop-bought a-choc-a-day type of calendar.....I include little pressies, sweeties, and a chocolate coin or two, but also items to evoke the Christmas atmosphere......little bundles of cinnamon sticks, tiny parcels of cloves, small sprigs of christmas tree, holly and ivy, a decoration, maybe a christmas poem I've penned....you get the picture.......

Big Lad's Advent Calendar 2010

What started out as a special little treat for two Angels, has now turned into quite a major undertaking, not to mention quite costly......it requires quite a lot of planning in plenty of time for the 1st of December, and even though I try to make at least half of the items, that still leaves half to buy.....and since I have four Angels it all adds up quickly......and we haven't even got to Christmas proper!

And so it is for two reasons this year......all the planning and organising for our Christmas surprise, and the cost.......that I sadly decided to forgo my handmade calendars and give my Angels a much cheaper and quicker alternative......a-choc-a-day advent.....Sorry Angels......but I promise it WILL all be worth it!!!

I actually thought the Angels would quite like the change of calendars this year......a chocolate every day for 24 days......but although they were obviously happy they had advent calendars, it was Little Lad who voiced his (and I suspect everyone's) disappointment at not having one of Mummy's special calendars.....it really tugged at my heartstrings......initially, because I hadn't stretched myself just that little bit more to find the time and the money......secondly, because it made my heart sing that they did actually prefer mine.....and lastly, because in just a few days I can at last reveal why our Christmas is going to be so special this year.....yay!

But while I haven't been thinking about and planning and organising advent calendars this year, I have been  thinking about.....and making.......lots of teeny tiny hearts......


Now I've not yet crocheted a blanket....it's on my wish list of things to do.....I will get there eventually......so I can only imagine what it must be like to sew all those straggly little ends in.....just the thought of all those little tails on my hearts filled me with dread.....



But needs must and all, so I set to and threaded, weaved, and snipped till all the teeny tiny hearts were tail free.....


Such a colourful little pile of strands.....not to be wasted mind.....I'm saving them till the spring, then I'll pop them outside on a warm, calm day for the birds to help themselves.....a little helping hand with their nest building.....


So now tail-free, they need to be made into something pretty.....




Ooooohhh, I know......lots of little strings of bunting.....





....just perfect for Christmas decorations and presents.....



Happy Advent!

-xx-