Coming together...

This is my first attempt at stained glass creating on British soil... First you need to cut the glass and grind the edges so you don't cut your fingers off!

Then you need to put copper foil tape all round the edges, using a burnishing tool - or a plastic thing from a Dino-Dig set, in my case! That's improvisation for you...

Then you spend a couple of hours soldering all the edges, adding rings for attaching ribbon and beads. Voila! Custom-made glass bunting for my conservatory for the festive season.




A few weeks ago I spotted some half-price amaryllis bulbs in Woolies. They just can't help themselves, they have to grow!

And before you know they're looking gorgeous just in time for The Big Day!

And look perfect with the bunting! 'Scuse the dirty windows...

So, I'm nearly ready. I put the tree up on Monday with some new decorations from Ikea. I was worried it looked a bit sombre, but in the evening it looks nice and twinkly...

Finally, this is my first attempt at needle-felting. I bought a little kit at the Knitting and Stitchery Show way back in October. I decided to cut the tree out as my triangles weren't very neat. I only made 5 and sent them to my nearest and dearest.

Where did that week go?

Just a quickie to post some photos before I go away for the weekend - hooray!

The obligatory first soft-boiled eggs, with soldiers, of course!

Appalling photo, I know, but these are the finished Christmas cards. I was really pleased with them...

I've made some bunting out of stained glass to hang in my conservatory. Photos will come in next post...

It's been such a busy week. I was so tired last night, I went to bed at 9.30! I've worked all day every day so far, plus C had his Christmas Show at school on Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Ohmigod - it was magical. I was so choked, sitting there listening to them perform. I was so proud. The whole of Year 7 sang an Irving Berlin medley and then a Christmas selection.

I'm rushing now as I've got to make a mad dash to the local shopping centre before work at midday. I'll have a couple of hours when I get home to pack, clean out the chickens and generally leave everything ship-shape before disappearing into the countryside for the weekend. We're staying with friends in Warwickshire, on the edge of the Cotswolds. Lovely...

On a final note, the moon looked serene last night...

Small but perfectly formed...

Yippee! I have an egg!!

Soft boiled with soldiers for my tea, I think! I was beginning to get disheartened and actually spent a good while on the "Forum for the Egg-less" last night and had even saved an out-of-date egg to hard-boil and put in the nesting area as a decoy...

Also coming under the same title, I feel these little felt bowls fit in...

They are so easy to knit and I shall be filling them with little goodies for all the girls in my life...sisters, mum, aunties, friends...

Christmas gifts...

Now that we've got to December I feel quietly satisfied that I've a few gifts made and bought.

2 stripey Mousie Mousie's will find themselves in deepest Warwickshire care of 2 special little boys...

And don't you just hate it when you find a gift for someone and just really, really want one for yourself too? Well, I found this gorgeous carved wooden toadstool for my Mum's garden...

And decided that I would treat myself to these in miniature...

The tallest one is about 8 inches high. I have the perfect spot for them. I also ordered an extra medium one and I will take it to the cemetery for Splodge. Toadstools are one of the (many) things that make me think of him... Hope he likes it...