Merry Christmas!

Hello my dears. I just wanted to pop in really quickly to wish you all a Merry Christmas! I was really hoping to update my blog properly by now but things are manic and I just haven't had chance to take any pictures of my makes.

I am super excited about Christmas - I've verrrrrry nearly finished (shock! horror! But it's Christmas eve I hear you cry!) I'm never finished with the Christmas prep before Christmas eve! I still have to hit the shops for a few last minute pressies (you know when someone gives you a pressie that you're not expecting and then you have to run out and grab something last minute so that you don't seem like a stinge bag!?) I also have to hit Tesco's (argh!) and scrub the house in order to give the impression to my family that I don't live in complete chaos all year round! Oh and I STILL have some wrapping to do. Did I say that I was nearly finished??? Oh well, tomorrow night I will be snuggled up with presents under the tree, safe in the knowledge that if it hasn't been done - it isn't going to be. I love that time. That's the time when I relax.

So Happy Christmas my lovelies and if I don't manage to pop in before then, have a wonderful New Years (New Years eve is also my daughters birthday so I am normally run off my feet with New Year and Birthday prep after Christmas!) I will certainly be back in the New Year with lots of crochet goodness to show you (and if Santa brings me my knitting needles perhaps some knitting too!) so until then,  festive hugs and kisses to you all! xx

Brrrrrr..

It's cold here! The temperature hasn't risen above freezing all weekend and we finally had some snow Friday night (the rest of England has seemed to have had plenty!) It feels like it should be January...but I guess we are only just over a month away. It's scary how the years seem to whizz by. Now I am a avid tree watcher, I love to watch the trees change throughout the seasons (is that odd? I don't know!) Unfortunately we left behind an abundance of trees when we moved but I can just make out one from my bedroom window (city living!) and this is it from a few moments ago. I think it sums up the weather here perfectly.

Due to the stinging cold we stayed snuggled up pretty much all weekend. Watching films, mummy crocheting, the children drawing and beeping away with their various games. It was nice to just 'be' for a while. No traipsing off trying to find something constructive for them to do, no visiting friends or making small talk with the neighbours. Just hidden behind closed doors. Just us. I enjoyed it.

I was given the most glorious wreath by a friend of mine last Friday though. She is Hungarian and has just come back from visiting her family. Her mum is a florist so whilst they were there they made me this....

...and I have to tell you it smells yummy. All outdoorsy and woody. It put me to shame as I had yet to make any decorations. At all. So I set to work last night. I have been eyeing this pattern for quite a while. Alice from Crochet with Raymond has a magnificent way with colour that I could only dream of being capable of. But Christmassy colours are easy! So ta-da! My very first African Flower Potholder (although it's not actually going to be used as a potholder!)

(Excuse the lighting - blame the clouds!)

I have another one on the hook in the same colours but a different combination. This pattern is super-duper easy and quick to finish, I really enjoyed making it. I am also in the middle of making a flurry of snowflakes which I will show you when they are finished.

Okay, I have horrible stomach cramps today so I am off to find the hot water bottle and do some reading. I hope you are all having a lovely Monday.

Granny Mandala...

It seems like foooorrrrrrevvvvveeeeerrrrrr since I started Mumzy's birthday blanket and although I love doing it I have been itching for something quick and cheerful to make. Something that won't take an age to finish. Do you get that when you're working on a big project? So after I stumbled across Crochet With Raymond and fell in love with her Granny Mandala's I just had to have a try.......

Okay so it isn't finished yet but I just had to share with you! This is a VERY easy pattern to follow. Before attempting this I had been fiddling around with another pattern (which I shall not name!) that was just sooooo hard to follow for my small amateur brain. I ended up chucking it all in the basket in a big frustrated huff. But not this one! I'm not sure what I am going to do with this Granny Mandala yet but I do plan on making a Christmas version.....(did she just say Christmas?!) ....Yes I did. Now I don't attempt Christmas until the end of November. I am one of these people who normally moan at the fact Tesco's is full of Christmas stuff before Halloween. But this year I am kind of looking forward to it....I'm not sure if it's the new house I get to decorate or I'm simply less stressed this year. But bring on Christmas. Yeah!