We are nearing the end of the year.

 I know I've said it!

It seems like yesterday we were taking the Christmas decorations down and putting them away and here we are getting them all out again!

Christmas for us this year looks very different.  We usually have a seven foot tree up but now we have a small three foot one tucked away in the corner.  The reason?  We have a one year old cat that is so naughty and last year spent most of the year either pulling off decorations or pushing the tree completely over!  So instead of constantly replacing the tree we decided to play it safe instead!

Christmas day id different for us too.  We usually either travel to the older children or they come to us.  This year we are part of a team that is providing a Christmas dinner for anyone lonely or in need.  As a church this is the first time we have done anything like this and I'm so pleased that so many people are getting involved.  So far we have a fair few people booked in.  I'm really looking forward to being with old and new friends this Christmas.  I feel like opening the church up for others who may be struggling in some way is more than just providing a meal.  It is showing the love of Jesus in a real way.  In a way that demonstrates his love for us.  After all HE is the REASON for the Season!

Oh no I mentioned the C word!

 Hello lovelies!

the weather has certainly changed hasn't it?  I cant believe its only a week since the sun was out and we were all swelting in heat in the late twenties!  September has returned to its normal conditions for this time of year.  I cant say I'm disappointed.   I really struggle in the hot weather if I'm honest and much prefer the autumn and spring months.  

For the last three years I have been part time at my job and full time at university.  All this is to change now I've comp0leted my degree and from October I will be full time.  So I'm making the most of the extra days and hours I have by finishing up some of the crafting projects that i have hanging around that are half finished.  The first of which is this wreath.

I like it but I do wish I hadn't stuck quite so many pompoms on it.  I think it makes it look a little bit busy.  still its completed and ready to put up at Christmas.  One of my friends saw it and have asked me to knit them one as well!  I guess id better get the knitting needles out! Knitting and crochet is something I enjoy doing while watching telly.  It helps me to sit still and focus on something.  My nanny first taught me when I was a child and its something that I have done on and off for the majority of my life.  Both my Nanny and Mother were avid knitters and so I guess I inherited the gene!

The other project I am working on right now is a patchwork quilt for Miss PB who will be 18yrs old in November.  It really has been a labour of love.  I will never again attempt such a big project!  It is double bed size and despite starting at the beginning of the year I have just got to the part where I can start to sew the edging.  Every piece of the quilt has been sewn by hand.  Its not perfect but it is made with love and its something she can keep for years.  Maybe when she is away at university she can wrap herself in and be comforted by thoughts of home.  

Well enough waffling on from me!

I hope to see you back here in my little piece of the internet soon

Bye for now

Current wants!

Hello Lovelies!

In a world where consumerism is at the fore we often buy things almost without thinking.  Things can be bought by just passing a piece of plastic over the counter so money doesnt even change hands.  This year one of my goals is to think before I buy.  I have decided to make a list of things I would like in my bullet journal (read about it HERE) and then go back to it in a few weeks and see if I really do want it.  It stops impulse buying and also most times the prices of items are reduced by the time I get round to buying them!  So here are my current list of wants,

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick  here.  This was on my Christmas list but Santa forgot it!  Priced at £26.00 its quite expensive for a lipstick but just look at that packaging! 

The colours available are beautiful and I should think that there is a colour there to suit every type of skin tone.   I definitely don't NEED this but I sure would like to own it!


I also like the look of THESE.

It is a set of four  Artisan Tealight Set with Rose Quartz. Priced at £8.26 + shipping it will hardly break the bank and it sounds so lovely I can just imagine the smell!  I love artisan products and am always on the look out for more candles!  Its not the same on a winters evening if there not a candle burning! 

As you are aware Ive recently started Journaling and I have been eyeing up this "Fauxdori".

 It comes in a array of leather colours and you can choose the elastic colours too.  I think a purple one would be just perfect for me!  You can find them HERE.  They are priced at £20.99 and are the best priced ones I have found.  I think I would use it as my carry around diary and to-do list. 

Finally I like the look of THESE.  I drink lots of fruit and herbal teas and people don't always have them at their houses so I like to carry some in my handbag.  These are a lovely way to carry them that keep them tidy and all in one place

This would just be perfect to carry around with me and they are only £5!  They look very well made and the fabric is very Cath Kidstoneque.    

So that is my little want list.  Of course I don't need any of these but to have them would be really nice!  Oh and if Mr PB is reading, It is my birthday soon!

Thanks for stoping by
Bye for now

Hales x

My Bullet journal

Hi there lovelies!
Hows things?
Its been lovely and sunny here in Suffolk. A distinct change in the weather. It seems Spring has sprung!

This year Ive decided to give bullet journaling a go.  Its changed my life!  It really has.  No more missing appointments, forgetting friends tea/coffee meet ups, no more missing bill payments.  I'm totally organised!  If you know me you will know this is quite surprising for me!  In fact me being organised is positively  a miracle! 

 So this is how my journal looks.  I bought a LEUCHTTURM 1917 from Amazon .  I also bought a pen holder in which to store my growing number of pens!  Also from amazon you can find it here. It helps me to keep everything together and organised.  its amazing how much stuff you start collecting!

Firstly I set up my "goals for the year".  I didnt want to call it new years resolutions as I never keep to them and then feel dissatisfied with myself, so they are the goals I aim to reach.

I also set aside a page for quotes I hear throughout the year and I either like or are inspirational.
I have a page on books i want to read or have read.  I aim to read twenty books this year.  That is my goal and this page helps me keep track.

I also keep two pages for bible verses that I like.  We have a verse to learn each year for church and that's here.  I like to keep this page so I can turn to a specific verse when i need it!

Typically my weeks are set up like this.  I do a two page spread for each week and it works pretty well.  (I couldn't find a two page spread that wasn't full of my appointments etc!)  I prepare the page two weeks in advance so that I have a idea of what we have in store for that week.

I also keep track of my period and moods in the journal.  I'm interested to see if my moods are affected by my periods.  I'm sure they are but I guess I'm just looking for confirmation.  This is a good way to track it. 

I also have my Christmas list in there! I know its really early in the year but we are on a limited budget and  like to pick up bargains when I see them especially for the grandchildren.  These pages help me to keep a eye on what Ive bought and what I still have to buy.  Its a good system.

I also put in photos of people I love and want to pray for.  This adds something personal to my journal and it helps keep me focused when praying.

 Sometimes its hard to remember to do things you love.  Its important to give oneself love and so I have a small list of things that I like and like to do.  Also new songs that Ive discovered, sometimes played on the radio or stuff I hear coming out of my daughters bedroom!

Finally and most importantly I think I have a gratitude log.  Sometimes in life we forget things we are grateful for and the many blessings we have.  Something as simple as a warm bed to sleep in is something that a person would be extremely grateful for if they didn't have it. And so on.

So that's my journal.  It keeps me grounded and organised.  It gets me where I need to be, when I need to be there.  I challenge you to try keeping one.  Its extremely addictive but great fun.  There are facebook groups you can join to get ideas and meet like minded people.
I'm so glad you joined me today and I hope to read your comments below
Take care
Bye for now 
Hales xx

More tree decorations

Its getting nearer and nearer to Christmas and so I have been making decorations for our own tree.  Sometimes I get so busy crafting and making for other people I forget about doing it for our place!

Simple crochet circles with bells attached

Red and green pinwheels with decorations. 

Rudolf!  One of Princesses favourites!

And what is Christmas with out the Christmas pud!

Today I will be staying home, watching movies with my daughter and getting on with some knitting.  I have recently bout a pattern with a Nordic style hat which i want to knit for my sister for Christmas.  So clickety click!

Mother in laws christmas pressie!

As the time is ticking away I have had to get cracking with making my handmade presents.
My In laws are big Norwich City football club fans and they attend virtually every Game. So with that in mind I decided to make my mother in law some wrist warmers and woolly socks to keep her cosy in the cold weather.

Princess also bought Grandma a teddy for Christmas.  So that's one persons presents done just 15 more to go! 

christmas santa!

I just had to share this photo of my granddaughter.
It will go out as our Christmas card this year. she is such a cutie.  We love her!

Its such a joy to be a Grandparent.  I didn't realise how much love I could have for a child which isn't technically mine.  But she is such a joy and we cant wait till May when she will be joined by a cousin!  2011 is going to be a fun year,  watching our newest princess grow and welcoming a new life into our family.

its finally finished! (and tree decorations!)

About a year ago I started to make a patch work quilt.  This is the first time I have attempted to create something as big as this but I really wanted one!  Now after twelve months work on and off I have finally completed this project!  Its not a moment too soon with all this snowy weather. perfect for snuggling under with The Princess! (although Last night Mr and our doggie  poppy were tucked up under it!)

I also made a couple of cushions to go with it,

As promised yesterday here are the tree decorations I've been busy working on too! 

Some will be given as presents and the other are for our tree.  All in all I'm feeling very pleased with my self and christmassy!

crafting in the snow!

Well as the weather has been so cold I decided to hibernate and work on some crafts!
Ive been pretty busy!

Frstly I made some needle cases

Then I finished a wall hanging that I've been working on for what seems likes months! This is a gift from my family to our church.  They have been very supportive to us and I wanted to show how grateful we are.

I also had time to make a cat patchwork cushion and  a glasses case

and finally I made a heart mobile.  I love mobiles and had some left over material so I thought why not!

Tomorrow I intend to make some tree decorations.  we are hoping to put the tree up this weekend and decorate the house so some I shall keep to use and The others will be up for sale.  CHRISTMAS!!!!! only 24 days away!

Handmade christmas!

I'm joining in with the Handmade Christmas campaign and making as many Christmas presents as possible.  my aim is to make one present each for my mother, mother in law, four children, two daughter in law and my granddaughter.  Not forgetting my husband! That makes a total of ten!
 So id better get cracking on!

 

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof9NWIQsCoZdk5LN-h04tIF3zjLO-WZsnDZx4uNWeop7k8fBIgdqgopFypvdzqx-mwrIXw44bV_CiM_IR3g6Je1UEDsCa23NDxXYKC0vxnPG6Xqa7lAtS2K-6la85qhV_my3hF89UQefU/s320/vest.JPG

fabric patchwork sacks for christmas

today i have been making patchwork sacks for christmas.

they are patchwork on the front and plain fabric on the back.
they tie up with a draw string. great for putting under the christmas tree. i have also been making smaller ones that hang on the tree. really pretty way to give your loved one a present




tree hanging bags

£4 each. personalised with one name for £1.00

medium sacks Approx 1ft x1ft £7.00










large sacks approx 2ft x 2ft
£10.00 each
personalised with one name for £1.00

if you would like to buy one please contact me at iamhales@aol.com