Yes it's Monday, yes it's cold and damp and the kids have to be dragged out of bed. It's not quite Christmas, but winter is starting to kick in although Autumn seems to be hanging on. All in all it's probably the most depressing time of year. It's time to crank up the heating, light those fires and turn to stodgy food. You can understand how our ancestors needed a winter festival to bring on the new year, a turn in the darkness. You don't mind winter on those bright crisp days, when the sun shines and the frost is crunchy underfoot, it might be cold but the sun is out and it makes you smile. Of course it's easier now we have warm, insulated homes to go to and layers of thermal clothing fit for arctic conditions to keep us warm.
As we hurtle towards Christmas I keep trying to get myself motivated and start shopping for presents. It must be something to do with the kids having grown up (although they both still want an advent calendar). The urgency seems to have gone, there is less to buy and less to do, the magic disappears the older they get. We are having dinner on Christmas Eve as neither of them are likely to be up before 1 pm on Christmas Day itself. So a lazy, laid back Christmas beckons, which is nice in it's own way.
Getting the house ready for Christmas is another thing, some people decorate and buy new carpets and curtains. I am having problems with where to fit a Christmas tree this year! As I mentioned before my son moved back home after living with his friends for a few months and brought more back with him than he left with. Mine and Jessie's hobbies have filled the conservatory at the back, so no room there this year. Michael has taken over the other conservatory on the side of the house (aren't we greedy, two conservatories), but I think that is where we'll have to shoe horn one of the big Christmas trees. I think we might get a real one for the front room, just a small one in a pot.
I have been doing an online course, well not doing at the moment just watching! It's called 2013 Arsty Ornaments of Christmas, it's a lovely course with some wonderful ideas. It has inspired Jessie and I to decorate the front room tree with just homemade ornaments this year. Most of us have a few homemade or childmade ornaments anyway, things from primary school or sessions around the kitchen table. Usually involving egg boxes, loo rolls and lots and lots of glitter. These still get put on every year, even though the glitter has slowly shed over the years and they are probably a fire hazard! But our kids made them and so they stay.
Today is going to be a tidying day, a getting sorted and ready day. I am going to try and organise our craft stash so that when we decide to make something it doesn't take 2 hrs to find the stuff to make it with. Usually by the time you find something ( you saw it last week while searching for something else) you have lost the motivation to make it. I have thought about buying Jessie a labeling gun for Christmas, it would gladden her heart as she loves things like that. For someone with OCD her bedroom looks like absolute chaos, but heavens forbid you move something! We just need to win the lottery really and buy a bigger house, then we can have a massive craft room with proper fitted cabinets. Unfortunately that's unlikely to happen, so plastic boxes and piles of paper it is.
Well Carolyn has her new stall up and running and it looks lovely, she has started getting her Christmas stuff in, as well as some things made by fellow crafters. There are some gorgeous handmade stockings and lovely wreaths, as well as the bunting she makes herself. There is probably still time to place orders if you pop in and see her, she is opposite the cafe as you go into the market from the car park. She has some photos on her Facebook page, Make Me Fabrics, that show some of the goods for sale.
I suppose I better stop writing and start tidying, I have been waiting for the temperature to rise in the conservatory a bit, I don't do cold! I probably need a second cup of coffee first though and then let battle commence. I really do need to finish off some projects first before I start anymore (Jessie's blanket is still sat in a corner making me fell guilty). So I'm off to put he kettle on and psyche myself up to start tackling the mountain that is my work table. I might even be able to do some work by the end of the day!
So I hope your projects are more organised than mine and may your Christmas projects run smoothly. This is one chaotic crafter saying goodbye for now.
All my love,
Louise xx
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