A bit of brightness on a dull Tuesday afternoon

Zzzz... what a dull afternoon, it is making me sleepy and tempting me to just go to bed and curl up with a hot water bottle. It's cold, cloudy and windy. I'm not keen on days like this, I don't mind the cold (well not too much) or the wind but the cloud is so miserable. I much prefer the frosty, yet sunny, days. Still, the Spring signs are showing, in my greenhouse I have pots full of sweet peas and edible peas sprouting and the red onions I planted last month are starting to grow.

There is one thing I love about Winter and that is Christmas. I don't really like that it is advertised so early ( I think to much of a good thing ruins it) but I when I sat down to make the Crafty Folk Featured Seller treasury I was inspired to make a Christmas themed one. Plus it has brightened a dull day seeing all those sparkly things!

This week's featured seller is GreenStreetMosaics

All the photo's are links to the shops :)

After Christmas

 I always feel the week after Christmas is a bit of a limbo, the decorations are still up but Christmas is over, the next year is just around the corner but not quite here. All the new plans feel like they have to be put on hold until new year (though that's probably me being lazy).
We had a lovely, quiet Christmas here. We have a tradition where we open a present an hour because it makes the  "oooo present!" factor last longer. I love Christmas, the food and decorations and even the awful television. I always get this urge to go to a church service at this time of year, I'm not sure why as I am in no way religious ( I think there is "something" I'm just not sure what.)

 I made some of my own decorations this year, the glass Christmas tree on the left is an experiment I had.They turned out a bit wonky and have only a passing resemblance to a Christmas tree shape but I have gone from initially hating them to loving how they look... I'm fickle! I hope that they are hung on the Christmas tree for years to come.

 This fairy is older than me, her wings are half off and her head is hanging by a thread but I love her!

 Along with the usual decorations, someone (my dad I reckon) has hung the shoe horn I won out of a cracker, on the tree.I think this will be the start of a new tradition!

I must admit I go a bit overboard on the decorations, as I see it the more shiny and bright the better.

Christmas shopping was a bit of a last minute rush this year, I managed to catch myself a lovely virus (lucky I was already in hospital when it started to kick in, I haven't felt that bad for a few years and because of the pain I couldn't open my mouth which was a problem for someone like me who likes to gab, saying that I lost my voice a few days after and had to resort to angry hand gestures. I was given codeine which took the edge off and made me a bit smiley. ) just over two weeks before and with no presents bought, it all had to be done during the last few days. Needless to say I wasn't feeling great as I dragged myself around town, and I promised to listen to the doctors warning to take it easy when all my wrapping was done.
Still, I'm feeling much better than I did and am up and about. :D


I've taken alot of photos with my new, Christmas gift, camera which I have fallen totally in love with and will be with me where ever I go.

I hope everyone had a fab Christmas!

LH
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Shaolin Warriors

Last night I went to see the Shaolin Warriors perform at my local theatre. It was the best show I've been to for a long while. Take a look at this youtube video for an idea of what it was like- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7VhLwAlqRc
I went with my sister who is massively into martial arts (she's a black belt ) and my mum who loves anything with a bit of action :) I couldn't take my eyes off the stage from start to finish, they were so skilled and fit, I have no idea how they manage to move like they do.
 I love watching any form of talent or intelligence, there is something fascinating about watching someone (not in a weird stalkerish way)  do the thing that they are good at, perhaps its because I haven't found the thing that is my talent yet (if I have one!) that makes seeing people that have discovered theirs so appealing.... anyway, if you have the change to see the show go and see it!

It's Handmade Monday so I thought I would share some of the things I have been making this week. I've been teaching myself to crochet for 5 weeks now and thought it was about time I ventured from making squares and tried to be a bit more ambitious. I found a tutorial on youtube (what would I do without it ?) teaching you how to make flowers... I got a bit carried away and have made tonnes...

A few of the tonnes I have made

Some are a bit irregular, with differing amounts of petals which I don’t understand as I'm doing the same thing every time so surely they should be pretty uniform? It must be something Im doing differently but I haven't worked out what yet. Still, the ones I’m happy with have been turned into brooches.

Crochet Brooches

I’ve gone a bit crochet mad this week and even crocheted with two pieces of lace that I bought on a whim a month or two ago and had no use for, I embellished the black one with a white plastic bead and some silver seed beads just to set it off a bit. I’m really happy with the black one and will definitely be listing it in the shop if I can stop myself keeping it. I’m not so happy with the white one, I don’t know why, as you can see I’ve started to add a bit of embellishment but it just doesn’t feel right… I ll have to work on it.

My last bit of crochet to show you… the squares I am sending to Africa. The yellow one was knitted by my mum, I have to teach her to crochet soon as its much faster than knitting. A few posts back I said how it was a shame my practice squares were going to waste, well it was Picto who mentioned this charity . It such a good idea and a lovely way to help people that need it.

I’ve made a start on Christmas decorations (ahh! way to early to be thinking about that!) and have made these. I used normal string to hang them at first but thought that was a bit boring so I’ve threaded seed beads onto beadalon which I think adds a bit extra.

Have a great Monday!

LH
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