The van has arrived....

.....unlike Margo and Jerry's.

The shopping is all done the house all clean and ready. A few presents still to wrap, the family don't arrive until tomorrow but apart from that we are ready. As you can see Harley is already waiting in his favourite chair for the festivities to begin. he has at least tree presents under the tree just for him.
So have a Happy Christmas what ever you are planning to do. 

Here's a link to a fun website where you can track Santa as he flies around the world and play some games.

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html

Rosie xx

Recycling the Christmas Cards

I never buy gift tags. Why on earth would I spend money on something that is so simple to make and doesn't cost me a penny and just ends up in the recycling bin on Christmas Day anyway? So here are just a few of the tags for this years pressies made from last years Christmas cards.

Twas just one week 'til Christmas

We have very busy recently completing all the orders we've received on ebay so they get there before Christmas. The cards and mugs have been really popular and in the New Year we are adding lots more things. So there's plently to keep us busy. Poor Andy hardly has time for drawing and painting at the moment. He still has one commission to finish before tomorrow so it it can be given as a present.

Also the local galleries have been phoning because they have also sold several of his prints so on Tuesday we are off to stock them up with more.

All the homemade gifts went down well with my friends at work, which was a relief. I finally found a few minutes to decorate the tree yesterday and put on the homemade baubles.

I love candlelight and the nuts and sweets are looking good in the two glass dishes I purchased last week at a boot fair in the village for 50p for the two. the Spode candlestick was purchased at a previous bootfair for £1 and the East of India Christmas tree was £2 at the school Christmas Fayre last year. I love a bargain don't you?

She kept it very quiet from me but the counsellor who comes into my school every week and helps countless children and parents has written a book . I can recommend Whispers in my Ear by Jill Knowles if you have children and need a little help and advice and l you can learn about an inspirational lady. I don't think she would agree with me calling her that but whether she likes it or not she is.
I always look forward to her weekly visit with her beloved Lola. When I see her tomorrow I will be asking what she is planning to do next.
Last year I featured in an article that the Daily Mail that was written about Jill and Lola. Read about her here and find how special Jill is.
     

Christmas Countdown

11th December

This is Aubrey, King of the Elves made by the lovely 

Fat Hen and Flo.

I was lucky enough to win him recently at the school Christmas Fayre. I've just got to find out where he will be spending Christmas. I think it will be from the top of the bookcase looking down on the festivities. After all he is a King!

Today I have been busy putting today some Lavender bags for Christmas presents for friends. Finally I am getting into the Christmas spirit. A few more bags to make and then start making Christmas cookies. 

7th December

There are some films I watch every Christmas. Like the Scrabble, Cluedo and Monopoly we get out and play over the festivities. Do you do that or is it just me? Here are the ones I always watch. It's difficult to choose a favourite but National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and The Christmas Card always give me the feel good factor. To quote Eddie in Christmas Vacation 'It's the gift that keeps on giving'.

6th December

I have absolutely no idea what to buy or make people for Christmas this year. Other years I have been busy for weeks and already have things hidden away waiting for the big day. 

What's going on with me this year?

I'm off with hubby to my favourite city for shopping at the weekend with the hope of coming back with it all done and dusted.

5th December

For the past 20 years or more I have bought my Christmas cards from Charity Shops. My favourites are

Cancer Research 

Leukemia  Research

British Heart Foundation

4th December

We have started a new business selling my talented OH's work.
Have a look at George Morgan Illustrations ebay shop for T shirts, mugs, cards, posters.

More items are being added daily. 

3rd December

For something to keep you amused over Christmas time click on this link 

2nd December

December 1st

I'm an addict.

I can't remember who it was that introduced me to it. At first I only dabbled but the more time I spent with it the more I have become hooked. I am going to let you into my secret if you don;t already know about it.

It's called

 I'm not the only one who has been taken in by this.

 I have found so many ideas on it.

I discovered this idea. Which is so cheap and simple to make Christmas baubles.

Here's my attempt which I still have to tweak a little. I used white glitter and think I will use silver on anymore I make. The plastic baubles I used were from the local 99p Store for 6 baubles. The sheet music and Christmas lettering all downloaded from Pinterest. It also gave me the ideas of using lots of other paper for the decoupage such as wrapping paper or old Christmas cards.

Whatever you're interested in take a look for yourself.

For 9/11 and all those missing a loved one today.

Time is too slow for those who wait

by Henry Van Dyke

Time is too slow for those who wait,

too swift for those who fear,

too long for those who grieve,

too short for those who rejoice,

but for those who love,

time is eternity.

It all started

On Friday youngest son was home for a few days and wanted some things he had stored in the attic to take to his new home in Wimbledon. I suddenly remembered that when we moved in to our present house six years ago  I stored some items there myself.
After much rummaging around I discovered what I was looking for in an old suitcase including this Autumn decoration that was given to me by a family friend from France who stayed with us the Summer we moved.
So this Autumn it will be on display and the candles lit.

A few more things included a 1911 Coronation mug, a Wilfred Toadflax (Brambly Hedge) figure, a 70's Habitat candlestick (should be another one somewhere but not found it as yet), a brass elephant that my mum bought at a Boot Fair in 1975, some glass ornaments from the 70's and also an ugly cat ornament that I can;t remember where I got it from. There was also 70's Laura Ashley tablecloth that I had wondered where it had gone and much much more.
Trouble is as my house is for sale ( and I am desperate to sell it) is there any place for all my knick-knack out on show or should I put them away again?

Part 5 (The Final Bit)

At the risk of boring anyone reading this I am bundling lots of photo's from my trip to Devon into one final post. 

We visited so many places during our stay. The majority National Trust to make the most of our membership. 

This is Knightshayes Court an interesting place with a fab garden that we sadly didn't get much chance to look at as it rained heavily.

Next is Cotehele a place we last visited when our now grown up children were babes.

Lydford Gorge was beautiful, scary, exhilarating all at the same time. Well worth a visit but be prepared for quite a bit of walking and lots of steps. 

This was the way tot he Devil's Cauldren.

When we finally arrived at Bigbury on Sea (read Part 3 if you haven't already) there in front of was Burgh Island. I have seen this on TV so many times and wanted to see what it was like for myself. I would love to stay at the hotel but  looking at the tariff I think the chances are pretty remote unless I win the lottery.

 Finally the station at Kingwear. Here you can get a train to Greenway and Agatha Christie's home.

I can't wait to go back to Devon again.

Devon Part 4 (or How Many more Parts?)

Finally after driving through Totnes several times we finally stopped for a walk around this lovely town. Sal from Sal's Snippets has been tempting me for such a long time with photo's of it on her blog that it would have been more than I could have taken if I hadn't have had a look at a the shops and architecture.

 

 It didn't disappoint. It's filled with independent shops selling lots of things I wanted to take home with me.

There were quirky allies and lanes.

  But sadly this was all I could do at This and That  unless we waited around for another hour or so as we were there so early and they didn't open until 11:00am.

Oh well a reason to go back!