Busy....Busy.....Busy...

Never fear.... I did say I'd get a couple of posts in before I finished blogging at the end of the year!

Oh My Word.  December always seems to be the quickest month of the year. You reach the first and you're all like 'yeah, yeah, I still have plenty of time'.....then in a blink of an eye, it's the middle of the month, and you start to panic. You don't know where a couple of weeks have gone and you suddenly realise you still have A LOT to do. This month has been MANIC. Manic I tell you. I feel like my head is somewhere and my body is somewhere else. In between school stuff, work and housework, I have been trying to get some Christmas cheer in. I made a homemade advent Calendar. Now, I know I am not alone in making use of the Bon Maman jars when all the rich sugary jam has been used, but did you know Bon Maman did a cook book? In honesty, it's not really a cook book for me. Jam is used on toast, crumpets and dolloped right in the middle of porridge or rice pudding....and that's about all I want it for. However, The clever Bon Maman lot realise that us crafters find uses for these nifty jars; and at the back of the cook book have put some ideas down. I like the idea of using them for hyacinths. Anyone following me for some time, will know my love for hyacinths, and this is one time of year when I am able to indulge in it. Funnily enough though, all my hyacinths at the moment have come in three's so it's been a tad difficult to shove those in a jar. Never mind I have a few jars at the ready for when I do. Anyway, I digress, They also had a rather nifty idea making use of the mini Bon Maman jars. I ADORE these cute little jars, and they are perfect for storing teeny tiny things. There was a lovely little crafty idea for using the mini jars to make an advent calendar. All in whites and reds, well that took my fancy. 

Had it all been left to me, it would have been a straight cardboard box made to house them in, but someone made me a rather lovely big box to place them in. Festive string and a bit of holly and voila. Filled with Hershey Kisses, but I was thinking, that throughout next year, I will buy little trinkets and bits like cheap ear studs, etc to fill in some of the jars. A little bit of a festive treat for mum when she is battling the busiest month of the year! I thought it would be a lovely thing to make and fill for a daughter. I'm not so sure that it would work with boys so much as you need really little things to fit in the jars. Little hair clips, stickers, accessories, etc are so much easier. I thought perhaps though for boys, that lego bits might work. Perhaps a little lego set that you divide up into the jars and at the end you get the instructions to build something. I don't know, but I do know that I shall enjoy the little chocolate treats for myself this year and will very much enjoy the other little treats next year! ha ha!

Okay, back to the hyacinths. Gosh I am loving having these beauties in the house. I have found lots of pots to put them in, and a trip to the Garden Centre saw me pad everything out with moss. 

I have seed lights everywhere too at the moment. Such cute little lights. I'm not sure I can bear to put them away after Christmas. These may stay out all year round all over the place.

All the decs have been brought out and I am having a dilemma as to what my winter mantel will be this year. Too many Christmas knick knacks and not enough display space. Typical of me and it really should tell me something.

The gingerbread house has been done. Cheating slightly with a shop bought one...which is even more unforgivable since I have recently purchased a gingerbread book, but speed was of the essence here, and I don't ever confess to being some superhuman woman. Errrrr no. Buy it if it helps is my motto.

Baby Bear LOVED decorating it. I do love making Christmas stuff with the Bears. The elder Bears are not so keen now, but Baby Bear still loves it.

I found this little lady in a shop. She seems too good to put on the tree. She reminded me of Vanessa Cabban and her beautifully talented sculptures she did. I still miss her terribly here in blogland, and I thought this cutie seemed a fitting reminder of her. I might even make her an apron as a fitting homage to Vanessa. I think she shall be kept year round on my bedside table.



Another thing that has been so much fun, was something I saw on good old pinterest and I knew I had to try it.....

Yes, just look at those. Gorgeous brightly coloured mini pom poms already to make.......

these!

Gosh, I can't tell you how much fun we had with these. My intention was to go out foraging for pine cones in our local Forest, but I walked into Hobbycraft and this gorgeous Christmas scent hit me. There were bags and bags of pine cones for sale that were cinnamon scented. The smell was intoxicating and I knew straight away that these would be perfect to put the pom poms on. Boy, were they steeped in cinnamon oil! My car STANK on the way home! All Christmassy though, so I can't complain, but hung on the Christmas tree  they look awesome. I found another bag of smaller cinnamon scented ones from another shop too, so I think I may just have pom pom cone overload, but at least the house will smells nice!

Actually, the house smells really christmassy. The tree smells lovely, and so do the pine cones on it. I usually have a pan on the hob simmering with cloves, oranges and cinnamon when I am in the kitchen. I have figgy pudding candles in the living room along with figgy pudding diffusers (which smell like cookie dough) dotted throughout the house. Really rather yummy. Some of the Hyacinths have come out and the scent is wafting from those. Bliss really.

This morning, Michael Bublé is singing his Christmassy dulcet tones whilst the lights twinkle and I think about getting my bum into gear to wrap a little after the chores are done.

So, December is in full swing. I am trying to enjoy the rare moments of calm. It's been so much fun making stuff. I have brown clay and brown paper to make gingerbread tree decs this year. I hope I will have time. I am enjoying the scented candles, the twinkly lights and the the cosy evenings. I cannot wait for the hyacinths to burst open and fill the air with their gorgeous scent (before it turns all pungent and rather niffy!), and I just remembered I need to bring in my potted geraniums whilst they are still blooming outside. Wow, it's been so mild. I did the school walk this morning in just a light shirt and poncho. Really? In December? Weird weather. I'm usually trussed up in winter coat, scarf, gloves and all manner of thermals.

I am loving this December, which is unusual for me. I feel festive and happy, and I'm really looking forward to the new year and the crafty exploits I have in mind. Crochet is way down on the list of things at the moment, but I am itching to get my teeth into something substantial. I know once January comes and all is back to its usual pace, then I can really go to town on all my plans for yarny goodness. I have been eyeing up some new yarn I want to try and colourways, and that's rather exciting.

I have Big Bear's Birthday just before Christmas. He is rather excited....and keeps hugging me! I don't know if this display of affection is his way of trying to sneak in a few more pressies, but his excitement coupled with Baby Bear's Christmassy enthusiasm is making the house quite a lively one.

Cheesy Christmas movies are on a lot. They are truly AWFUL, but very Christmassy. Big Bear and I usually snuggle and watch one after School. It's a lot of fun as we seem to laugh a lot at the hammy-ness of them and predict the acting. Oh little things.......

Before I go, I also wanted to say a huge and heartfelt thank you for all your comments and your private emails on my previous post. Forgive me for not replying to each and everyone of your comments on the post, but they were all read, and I felt very humbled that you took the time to do so.

Although sad to be saying goodbye to this space here at the end of the month, I won't be completely gone, and it's been so lovely of many of you to find me over on Flickr, Ravelry and Pinterest. Some of you have asked me to confirm my user names on these sites. I am Stripey Mooka on Flickr and Pinterest and stripey-mooka on Ravelry. And, like I said, I shall still be around commenting on other blogs and posts, and I'm still contactable should you have any queries on any makes I've made and posted about (or you just want to say 'hi'). Just email me through my email link or comment on any  posts and I shall get back to you. So, It's not REALLY a complete goodbye is it?




xxx