Christmassy Things

I love Christmas! I loved it when I was a kid and I still love it now - What's not to love?

I know some people find the jolly season a crazy time, full of stress and worry. A lady today told me that she just refuses to buy into all of it. She loves Christmas but she just refuses to ruin it with worry. Love that. This year has been very cruisey for me, whether its because a lot of the gifts are homemade or whether I had a very clear idea of what everyone was to get or maybe cause we have eased back on the kid presents too. Maybe its a combination of all of them but I am relaxed and really enjoying it all.

I do have one more pressie to make as I changed my mind and Im not making my new nephew bibs after all, I decided to make him some wetbags (really for mum but hey he is only 7 weeks old). And I have a little pack of boy face washer I got, 3 for $1.50.

I absolutely can't wait till my presents get opened!!! Specially the home made ones.

My niece Kelly got me this awesome recipe for a nibbly that she had at her Engagement party. I am the nibbles person for Christmas night so I am doing the blue cheese/pecan/fig thing, white choc and macadamia rocky road, a couple of dips and some very retro devilled eggs.

Just so you know what type of family I come from, we are all about the nosh. We are having FOUR desserts at Christmas dinner, yep four!!! We love our food, oh yes we do!

How's your Christmas preparations coming along?

More Chrissy Presents!

Yes more aprons - that is the theme this year! I will add jars of jams, jellies and relishes to go with as well! I can only post the pressies of the people I know don't read this blog!This one is for a workmate and she will love it. She loves homemade stuff - which is very lucky for me!

The one above is for a guy. I found the proper straps at the sewing shop and the ties wrap around the body like a chefs apron.

This one is cute! Amelia slyly hinted that this one could be hers!

So I have had a busy week with sewing and sick children. I loathe high tempretures for no reason!

Another Apron

Yes its ANOTHER apron and no it won't be the last! I am having way too much fun making them. This one is for someone in particular and I think will appeal just to them. Amelia is being my model though it is a bit big for her.
Here it is laid out. The bows are stitched on so they aren't going anywhere. My fashion consultant (Dave!) and I thought it needed a little bit of something extra so we decided on bows.

See how lovely the colours are in it? I very nearly made a skirt with the material instead!

This weekend we are hoping to do a little Christmas shopping since we only have about 42 days! Our list seems bigger every year though alot of presents are homemade. Sunday we will be strawberry picking again as I will be making jam in the afternoon. Have a great weekend!

Crafty Saturday

Here is Harry's Christmas present - Bunting for his room. I hope he likes it!
This is the material for Megan's birthday present - can't say any more as she reads this blog.
No matter how many plastic bags I don't accept we STILL keep getting them. We have been just throwing them into a cupboard but this was giving me the cranks so I whipped up this bag keeper. I saw them in a kitchenware shop this morning for sale at $15.95.These are Amelia's stars. Her and Grandma finished them off last weekend while I was away. I cut all the stars so that they could just sew and stuff them. I sewed the ribbon on today and then we put them up. I like them.

Presents!

We got some lovely gifts this year. I have taken a few pictures of some of them. We had a really nice day, with Wes waking everyone at 6am and then a yummy breaky. Then off to church to sing carols and home again to open more presents!

We had a roast for lunch with chocolate tart for dessert. Though we did have dessert two hours later as we were busting out of our sides! Kim came over and we watched Marmaduke aand had cold meat and a potato bake for dinner and pav for dessert. I was in bed before 10.30.

Here is my "throne". The crochet blanket on the chair is my present from Bronwyn.

We got these from Meg and Tim as well as another set of canninsters that are now residing in the pantry.

Just a few chocolates........Dave's heaven

Wes staged this picture, we had a game of Scrabble this morning and he is hitting the shops tomorrow!

Wes smiling this morning in his Unit shirt and fluffy hair from washing but not combing it. Both kids went to bed completely buggered last night.

How gorgeous is my necklace, bangle and earring set? I love the colour of them. In the purple bag is a necklace from Julie and the perfume was a present from Dave and the kids.

Amelia's Barbie camper. Hope Barbie's okay there...

I got 3 cookbooks from Kate, Dave and Kim. Dave got me the dressmaking scissors and the pinking shears.

Mum did a fantastic job with Amelia's quilt. It is awesome!

Dave living with the torment of assembling the dollhouse. Yes, there has been some "frustration talk".

Christmas Morning in Inverell

Looks like someone has easten biscuits and drank a glass of milk....I bet it was Santa!

Here is Wes with his new TV. I think he has a new love in his life!

Amelia with her ZooZoo pet. I think she has named it Bun.

Breakfast at the Thirlways! Croissants!

Gift or No?

I made this gathered clutch, its from Noodleheads tutorial on her blog. It is not perfect but I am still pretty happy with the way it turned out. I was going to give this to Aunty Wilma with a cake of homemade soap in it but do you think it looks ok? (I like it but I made it so I don't think I am an acceptable judge).

Present for Harry

I looked everywhere for a particular Golden book for Sarah's son Harry. Could not find it. Not even in Vinnies! How rude! Then I came across Purlbee's blog/website and she had the pattern for these great balls. I filled them with stuffing from a new cushion insert. The smaller one has the round ends on it but the bigger one I sewed up slightly differently and I didn't think it needed them.

December

Today is the first day where I have actually felt hot. Its not that dry baking heat that usually comes with the summer here but a sticky humid heat that has probably come from all the rain that has been about. Ick!

On a happier note I did some power shopping after work today and have all done my christmas shopping except for going into one shop. I feel much better now and only have 3 things left to make and they are easy peasy so I am good.

Below you can see I finished all the girls' bags. What do you call a group of bags? A stand of bags? A baggle of bags? Anyhoo this is them. The Barbie one on the left is Ellie's .... shh don't tell!

Here is our tree in front of the double glass doors so you can see the lights from outside at night.

Wes made me 6 of these place mats in art class. They are done with lino. I think they look very good and usable! Wes didn't want to pose with them - again!

Amelia ready for her Christmas presentation day. Do you like the skirt? I made it!

Eye spy with my little eye something beginning with Z.

Dave with his Sensei. See his black belt?