Crimbo Limbo!

Hello there!

I have been very, very absent from here recently through being very busy in the run up to Christmas. I was all set to do one last post on Christmas Eve when I had trouble posting photographs. In short I gave up, and now I appear to be having the same problems!

Anyhow, we now find ourselves in that strange in between time which is not strictly the festive season any more but there is a little while until the celebrations for the New Year begin.I've already started thinking about the New Year and what it may bring plus how I can plan for it. I do absolutely love Christmas but I also really love the start of the new year and the positivity and possibilities which come with it and I've been searching Pinterest for ideas of how to start the New Year with a bang. During 2014 I have kept a Journal of Gratitude which has been great and I look forward to reading back through some of the entries. I don't go in for personal goal setting but I do try to think how I can improve myself, make myself think a little more and consider the lot of others, too. 



The whole thing about the New Year DOES also have something to do with the requirement of a brand spanking new calendar, a lovely blank diary and journals waiting to be written in for lots of reasons, be they important or trivial - I love either! I've also been getting my lovely Household Notebook spruced up a little with some new pages, these all being part of my home organisation which is so important to me for a well run house.

I'm in the process of covering my daily diary - can't do electronic ones. I have my calendar at the ready and it already has high days and holidays marked on it. (We just get over Christmas and then it will be Alfie's birthday - 7 this year - at the end of January!)

We are very hopeful we will be living a different life next year as we are filled with optimism for being in our new home by the autumn, if not before if we are lucky. House moving slows down during the run up to Christmas so we are keen to give it a push once January is here.

I have been neglecting my sewing which I was really getting into, apart from the table runner I made for Christmas Day, and my sister has bought me a great book which helps with the basics of sewing so hope to use that alongside some new projects. I have so much lovely fabric I don;t know where to start so need to focus! I also have to have a sort out of all my craft things with the hope of moving ever on my mind I need to downsize a little bit. Things are spread out a little too much but I have acquired a basket/hamper which may come in useful as I already have my fabric in another of these.

I must go as it is time for another pot-luck-from-the-fridge-left-overs-lunch. Mmmm, cold pork pie and cranberry sauce!
 
For what reasons are you looking forward to the New Year? I would love to hear your plans so do let me know.

Catch ya later! xx




 


  

So Much Creating and Baking Going On!

Well I have so many things running around my head at the moment - Pinterest has just got in the way for half an hour so REALLY need to focus!

I am loving my #Post Circle, in fact this morning I received a letter from a new snail mail friend called Nikki. Check out her jewellery at Bead It And Weep. She sent me this lovely hand made bracelet for my birthday. How cute is that? (Oooh sounding a bit like Ina Garten there!)

On Tuesday I went blackberry picking after seeing on the news that there is currently an abundance of hedgerow fruit. We get a good lot of blackberries near where we live so out I went with my trusty basket and got plenty, baking a lovely pie was the obvious thing to do and here it is. The picture was taken just as it came out of the oven as I had the feeling it would not last that long, and boy was I right!

Free, foraged fruit. doesn't get much better than that, really!

Today I have pulled my Christmas craft supplies out from under the spare bed and had a look at what I have got. I have already bought a couple of new things but need to see what I will be making.

It is no secret at all that I love Christmas but things are going to be a little different this year, but more of that next week. Those of you who are paper crafters may see some Tim Holtz inspired items here. I really love his products and style so cannot wait to incorporate some more of it into this year's crafting projects.

Going back to my #Post Circle for a moment, I decided that I needed to really make an effort with the envelopes I was sending out. Plain white really does not cut it so this is something I am planning on doing in between other things. 

 
















 
 I finally finished the sewing project gift for my friend as I think I said last time and today it went in the post, so hopefully I will be able to share a picture once it has been received.

Well, have to leave it there as hubby will be home shortly wanting lunch and I have MORE baking to do for the school Macmillan coffee morning tomorrow. Planning on baking cupcakes in flat bottomed ice cream cones - will post a picture of the finished items!

Take care and stop by again some time soon. xx

Pinterestingly Addictive!

Pinterest is frequently described as the crack cocaine of the internet. It only take one pin and you're hooked; people have been know to lose days searching for pictures of pandas.

I admit at times to limiting how long I spend looking at pantry organisation. The problem with Pinterest is that pins of interest are originally shared so far back that you can get side-tracked by practically any subject searching for the blog or website from which it originated! I have felt like reaching for the Bach's Remedy on occasion because the stress of finding the initial architect of the the pin was so overwhelming. This is the time to stop, for a little while at least!

But there is a positive side to this addiction. I have come across the most wonderful pins such as a company who will reproduce an picture your child draws of an animal or beast of their imagination. Take a look at http://doodlesoftie.com where treasures can be kept forever.

Also I now know I suffer from only a mild form of OCD compared to when I see the lengths people go to in organising every aspect of their lives! However, I now have a Household Notebook don't know what I did without it, but that is another story entirely!