Christmas Parcel Tags...

Well i have been busy today making my christmas tags to tie on my parcels...

I cut up a linen napkin which i found in the charity shop for 50p,then hole punched one end so that i can thread through some brown string to tie on the parcels...then stamped on my festive message & decorated with lace,old buttons,rusty bells & rusty stockings....

I got the idea from the lovely nicky of the vintage magpie who can be found here :http://thevintagemagpie.typepad.com/thevintagemagpie/

I am pleased with how they have turned out, just the cards to make & write now!!

This last tag with the little floral button is for my lovely mum,the button is off one of my cardigans when i was a little girl...so there will probably be a few tears when mum opens her parcel...

Well better go,the dinner is on the go...bye for now. xx

Happy Birthday to you!!

Love of my life is five today...so happy birthday my precious little man,you make me smile every morning when i open my eyes...we love you very much. xx

Back into christmas mode again..last week all the ribbons & sparkle came out again to decorate my unit down the mill...to try & get the happy shoppers into spending mode...

All my ribbons,glitter etc live in these little drawers...which has lots of little compartments...

Every christmas time i cook oranges...this year i thought i would try some apples. i usually lay them on baking paper but pipany had a different suggestion...

popping the slices onto skewers so that the heat/air circulates around them which helps them cook/dry more evenly....& you were right pipany. You clever girl...

& what am i going to do with these candy canes i wonder...

I found these wonderful beatrix potter books on ebay as a little extra to go with my friends little girls christmas present...gracie is 4 1/2 & is starting to enjoy storytime...when i was little i adored these books...

Friday evening was late night shopping here in our little market town...

We have a wonderful large tree at the top of the town which is sparkling brightly with white lights.

Radio essex were in the town playing music..there were some stalls..a man playing the bag pipes,rides for the children etc...a lot of the shops were handing out lovely warm mulled wine & mince pies..which i did except more than once..naughty me!!

The nativity scene again at the top of the town...

Lovely christmassy shop windows....

Even our church saint andrews was open handing out mulled wine & mince pies...

This is the antiques mill were i have my unit...it looked so pretty all lit up with the lights reflecting in the river..

Another busy week gone & i am sooo behind with my christmas preperations i dont think i have ever been so behind before,i seriously need to get my you know what into gear. Cards are arriving through the post every day & i havent even made mine..o my i can feel my stress levels rising!! Have a lovely week...xx

Starting the countdown...

Here we are december the 1st,the calendar has been turned over for the last time this year...

Love of my life has his own advent calendar...

filled with chocolate paws which dont come out quick enough for love of my life...

And here is the 'cooked' cake which i showed your on my last post..not burnt to a sinder.....

Today i have made a smaller version for my mum & dad...which smells just as scrummy....

It seems such a waste after you have used the peel from the oranges & lemons to just through the rest away....

And now to introduce you to the latest addition to my hug who i brought home on friday when i went to my bear club...i would like you to meet 'oscar'....

Oscar is by the very talented Gail Thornton of Bisson Bears,you will have heard me talk about gail & her wonderful bears before...i am getting a nice collection of bisson bears now...

They have such delighful faces....

& wonderful eyes,which seem to look up at you....

The attention to detail is wonderful...

Oscar certainly looks up to his big brother albus...

I managed after quite a bit of searching to get my hands on the 2010 teddy bear annual... which i am really enjoying flicking through..

I keep getting drawn to this page with bears by Sue Lain...i think the little green guy is rather cute...

And someone else is getting into the christmas spirit....my dear little rupert...x

From looking at everyones blogs it looks like all of you are getting into the christmas spirit too!!
~ XX~