Merry Christmas

It's not long now and we've been busy preparing. We've enjoyed lots of festive traditions and come up some new ones too. Here's to a very Merry Christmas. I hope you all have amazing Christmas. Thank you for all your lovely comments this year - I really do appreciate each and everyone. See you in the New Year!

Christmas at Chatsworth

I love the Peak District. I love Chatsworth. I love Christmas. Put all these things together and it's a thing of wonder and dreams. Whilst we were in the Peak District last weekend we went to Christmas at Chatsworth and it was spectacular! Each room so beautifully done - so wintery, sparkly and simply amazing. There aren't going to be many words with this post as I'm under the weather with a heavy dose of Flu, but I did want to do a quick post to remind me of our lovely festive time courtesy of the Duke of Devonshire!

Christmas in the Peaks

I was very fortunate to be taken to the Peak District this weekend for a quick jaunt around our favourite places. I little bit of shopping, a little outdoors appreciation and some us time. After leaving Norwich early on Saturday, our first port of call was Bakewell for some lunch. There was only one place that we wanted to go - the Boy was rather fancying a decent Breakfast with Oatcakes and boy it didn't disappoint. I kept it seasonal with a Turkey and Cranberry Panini. I loved the little Christmas Trees on each of the tables. After lunch we bought  several Bakewell Puddings and some Oatcakes and we then had a wander around enjoying the shops and festive decorations.

We then headed around the corner to Calver Bridge to the Derbyshire Craft Shop. We were quite impressed back in September and their seasonal display didn't disappoint! Inside was a joy and we purchased a few more Christmas gifts and some decorations.

After the shopping it was time for something else, so we went over to the Hope Valley. I think this area is our very favourite in the Peak District. This sign always makes me smile as I wish that it really is a footpath to hope - wouldn't that be wonderful! 

We had a wander around Castleton, complete with Hot Chocolate, which was much needed in the cold. Castleton did look lovely with lots of Christmas Trees, sparkly lights and inviting shop windows. I simply adore Castleton. It's a must on every trip we take to the Peak District. I love that it seems like it's guarded by Peveril Castle up on high over the town. Another bonus to Castleton is Winnats Pass which always blows my mind. It makes me feel so small as the limestone pinnacles tower above you.

We then had a short stop around the Mam Tor and the Great Ridge - I love the landscape here, especially with the sprinkle of snow in the distance. We didn't see a soul whilst we were up there and it beyond quiet. So serene and the perfect antidote to the Christmas madness.

We stayed the night at a friends and South Yorkshire - it was so good to see them and their rather delightful 2 year old daughter, who really is exceptionally cute.

The Christmas Mantelpiece

My dearest darling Husband installed a Fire Surround in our Living Room a couple of months ago - purely decorative, but he knew how much I've always wanted my very own Christmas Mantelpiece. This year, he made that dream come true - gosh I love that man. I envisaged a woodland feel - Evergreens, twinkly lights, Reindeer and Candles. And here is how it worked out....

At the bottom of the Fireplace there's quite a few Reindeer that we've collected over many years along with some bought and some home Christmas Trees. I have a real thing about making Christmas Trees - I have made all sorts in the past but this year is the turn of simple green ones - yarn wrapped, moss covered, glitter speckled and a deeply scented Coffee Bean one. We've mixed the ornaments up with beautifully scented Spruce and Candles - my favourites are he Silver Birch and Oak ones - it really does give it that Festive Forest feel!

On top of the Mantelpiece there's a cornucopia of evergreens, sleigh bells, apples, pears, miniature baubles, pine cones and holly leaves and fairy lights. Plus there's some sparkly glass Icicles too. It might be over the top - but my sheer excitement over having a Fireplace means that I just went to town! It makes our living room cosy, warm and truly festive. I just love it and one day maybe, just maybe we'll have a home with a real fireplace! My Husband is a complete star and I love that he made this dream come true.

Preparing and Celebrating

I'm loving this festive season so far. We're cramming as much tradition, preparation and celebrating in as possible. The Tree is up, resplendent in Golds and Cream. The Fireplace dripping with Evergreens and fairy lights. Miniature Christmas Trees and Reindeer cover almost every surface with more beautifully scented Spruce and Ivy. It officially looks like a Christmas Grotto. All the presents are made or bought and wrapped using what feels like miles of Twine. The Christmas Crackers are made. The Christmas Pudding, Cake and Mincemeat are maturing nicely. My Christmas patchwork blanket is keeping me warm in the evenings. The Turkey and Ham are on order. We've made our first Gingerbread House ever. We've visited every Christmas Decoration shop within 50 miles of here. We've drunk Hot Chocolate from our new Reindeer Mugs. I've made a rather glitzy Christmas jumper with too many jewels and sequins. We've been listening to Carols. It's been peaceful and slow, warm and cosy. I love a quiet evening in December with the glow of the warm lights watching a Christmas film. I just love December and there's still more to look forward too...

Christmas Making

I'm still working on making something for everyone I love this Christmas. I have rummaging through my stash, hoping that I will have all the bits to making something pretty. Recently I have been making Lavender Bags - cute little two inch ones. I have made them with a particular loved one in mind and choosing fabric that I think they will love the most. Plus you have got to love twine! I seem to be wrapping everything in Twine this year!

I have made some Crackers for the Big Day itself. I have a idea that I would like the Christmas table all white, glass and candlelight so these Crackers will fit the bill. I cut them by hand which took a little but I am pleased with their simplicity. Plus they have a shiny gold hat, 3 Jokes that my Dad would have approved off in each and a lovingly chosen gift for my Husband, Mum and Sister. I will confess to laughing way toooo much when reading Cracker jokes on the internet. My Husband said he was embarrassed for me!

Then I've been crocheting up a frenzy, making up Mug covers as I go - who knew it was so difficult to make a cover to fit a Mug that tapers at the bottom - frustrating, but now they are done, I am quite pleased with them! These are a great stash buster as I have lots of little bits left over from bigger blankety projects that I just cant bear to throw away!

My Sister in Law is recently got into making stuff, so thought I would making her a little Sewing Jar, completely with Pin Cushion and a Needle Book. It has enough supplies in there to get her going and some beautiful Pearl ended Pins to let her block her latest makes, Crochet Stars, which are very pretty indeed.

Finally, as Stocking Fillers, I have been making some Polymer Clay ruffled flowers. Super easy and quick to make. I still have a few more ideas up my sleeve and I need to making something for my Husband for our upcoming Wedding Anniversary, but all in all I feel like progress has been made!

Christmas Stockings

I have been preparing for Christmas and beavering away in the evenings making something for each of my loved ones by hand. I have a real thing for Christmas Stockings - they evoke such strong childhood memories. Hearing the rustle of the stocking and the presents being placed at the foot of your bed by Santa. Waiting for Santa to visit the next house before creeping oh so silently to the end of your bed to feel the Stocking without making a sound, but invariably making a lot of noise! Scrambling back under the Duvet and squishing your eyes shut to hope for daylight to come soon. So this year, for my Cousins I have been making Felt Stockings, jazzed up with some Ribbon, Sequins, Buttons and Pom Poms. I love the clashing colours, it makes me smile - who knew how much I would love Hot Pink and Orange together quite so much. 

I plan to fill them with Chocolate Coins, Sugar Mice, Candy Canes and some Chocolates. All things naughty and nice! It makes quite a cheap present as I used stuff in my crafty stash and I've spent only about £10 on the sugary treats to fill all five of the sparkly Stockings. We might all be grown up now, but I still love a Christmas Stocking and hope my Cousins will too.

The best night of November

This evening is my favourite in November, the Christmas Lights switch on. After work I met my Husband and we ventured through the City to the lovely Department Store Jarrolds. We spent some time wandering around their Christmas decorations, choosing a few beauties to come home with us. By this time our friends had made it into the City and we went to get some Hot Chocolate to keep us warm. We then made our way  up to City Hall to watch the entertainment before the big event. 

This year the proceedings were hosted by David Webster from BBC Radio Norfolk and we also got to see the Chermond Gymnastics Club, The Norwich Ukulele Society and Demi Semitone and Swank’s Frolicking Fairies. There was Carols a plenty and giant snowballs thrown into the crowd. There was singing and dancing amongst the 5000 strong crowd. The lights were switched on by silver medal winner at the London Paralympics for Archery, Mel Clarke. There were lots of Fireworks. Oh how I love these! Then Norwich glowed in it's Christmas finest. Plus there was the Confetti Canons which always make me feel like a little kid trying to grab the ornate paper shapes from the air. We wandered around the city marvelling in the festive delight and generally prettiness of the sparkling lights. I particularly liked the snow machine near the Cath K shop - it was the warmest 'snow' I had ever experienced!  But boy did it look magical. Seriously, it really is the best night of November.

Adventures in Soap Making

About six months ago we tried making Soap. It was a complete and utter disaster. After 24 hours the mixture separated and we had a hard bit at the bottom and then a very oily bit at the top. That mixture stayed there for weeks, with a little hope it might do something, but it didn't. After lots of reading, watching videos and doing the maths, we thought we'd give it another go.

Out came the ingredients and after a lot of careful measuring we were off in our second attempt. Lots of golden yellow oil and the lye water that we scorchingly hot!

Then there was the mixing. Lots and lots of mixing. I started it off by hand for half an hour and then got the big guns of the electric mixture out for another twenty. Fortunately we this time the colour change, it thickened and then the elusive trace happened. Hurrah - we might have just made it work this time!

Then there was the fun bit of added the sweetly scented oils. We made four different scents - Sweet Orange, Cinnamon, Lavender and English Rose. The kitchen smelled a treat! We sprinkled pretty things on top, Blue Lavender, Rose Petals, Cinnamon and Orange Zest. We then decanted the Soap into the containers, clamped on the lids and hid underneath a blanket for twenty four hours. I was very good and didn't peak once, honest! After the time had elapsed, we released the Soap from their containers and it had worked! We had Soap. We left it to cure for 4 weeks before chopping it up into bars.

We're going to give this away as Christmas presents this year so wrapped them individually in baking paper and Twine. I can't wait to give these beauties away - they smell divine and the bar I have used so far is quite alright!