What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #291

Here we are on the last day of the year and my desk remains behind the sofa for now. Today’s work space on show is the ironing board.

All the pieces, for a rabbity hare, cut from delicious wool felt and a scrap of Liberty for the insides of the ears and pads of the feet. The Liberty beneath is not my ironing board cover, but the fabric I’ve just pressed for her simple dress. It’s the perfect little project to sew in front of the TV.

I’d like to thank everyone who stops by to read my ramblings and most of all those that take the time to leave a comment. They are very much appreciated. It’s good to know I’m not talking to myself and that some of the things I say resonate with others. Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year.

Me on Monday ~ Christmas 2014

Today I’m quietly reflecting, while I watch Moonrise Kingdom catch up with the ironing, on the past few days of family festivities.

On Tuesday….

…..the children decorated the tree.

On Wednesday…...

…..I packed the hampers…..

…..ready to deliver……

…..and whipped up a chocolate tart for the Christmas pudding haters.

On Thursday we….

…..ate…..

…..drank (the shandy that defied logic) and were merry with the inlaws.

On Friday…..

…..we did it all over again at home with Mum.

And we had clementines, always clementines, because…..

…..”Nobody likes the tangerines.”

That was ours. How was yours? Waving to Sian for the last time this year.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #290

Julia asked us to share (if we had the time) how we leave our desks over the Christmas holiday. Mine has been de-legged and tucked away behind the sofa, to make way for the Christmas tree. The kitchen table is empty too. Cleared and cleaned, ready to bake up a storm this morning. All that’s left for me to say is,

“Wishing you all a….

….from our home to yours.

Christmas Club ~ Cowboys & Angels

For the last time this year, I’m dusting off a Christmas memory with Sian.

At Christmas we….

….took old sheets, corrugated cardboard and tinsel….

….a (too large) glittery purple hat….

….and an older cousin’s page boy waistcoat….

….and turned our children into cowboys and angels.

Thanks Sian for bringing back Christmas Club. Same time next year?

Friday Smile ~ Penguins

I’ve been meaning to join in with Annie’s cheerful meme for a long time and today I’ve finally made it! This little chap seemed the perfect candidate for raising a smile. Who couldn’t do with one of those on a Friday afternoon?

It was my last class of the year on Wednesday and if you visited then you would have seen the little penguins being assembled.

I threw it open to my class goers to choose what they would like to make. I thought it was probably a little late into the month to be making Christmas cards….

….but apparently not. I was asked for a card suitable to give to grandchildren. I didn’t think I could top last year’s tumbling gingerbread man so opted for a revamp….

….and swapped him for a penguin. Using icy blues instead of the festive red.

I’ll be back on Sunday with the final edition of Sian’s Christmas Club. Hope to see you then.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #289

I’m sure you’re all as busy as I am, as we hurtle towards the festivities, so I’ll keep  it brief today.

At the kitchen table, on Tuesday afternoon, turning owls into penguins. As you do.

I’m off to teach my last class of the year this morning and I’ll be round to catch up with you all when I get home. See you over at Julia’s.

PS You can most likely ignore the Word Verification and just hit publish without filling the number in the box. The exception being Wordpress users. Sorry.

Christmas Club ~ Celebrating Seventies Style

It’s time for another edition of Sian’s Christmas Club.

At Christmas we….

….gathered at my Gran’s house for Christmas lunch.* After the washing up had been done and the Queen’s Speech watched, my Uncle would pour a drink for the grown ups and the present opening would commence. My turn to give them out that year, resplendent in crackly green polyester and with only half a head.

At tea time, around the kitchen table, we’d have sandwiches, followed by trifle and Christmas cake. Cousin M’s turn to cut that. I love that her lava lamp, a much longed for gift, is in the picture. My brother’s turn to have half a head.

Back to the living room and we’d be allowed the crackers from the mantel piece and off the tree. I love my Mum’s face in this picture. My brother had clearly had enough of his smart tie by this point. The waste paper basket would be almost overflowing with nut shells by now. Not sure what the game board on the floor is. Anyone?

We’d stay the night and spend the next morning playing with our cousins, before driving on to my other Aunty and Uncle for a Boxing Day lunch. I’d have to wear my Christmas dress again for them, which is why I’m dressed the same and my cousins are not. The mantel piece now free of crackers and oranges, but the chocolate decorations were still on the tree. We’d be given those in the new year when it was taken down.

The composition (and the focus) may not be the greatest, but I’m so happy to have these photos. I haven’t cropped them at all, because I love all the little details that have been captured inadvertently. The stuff that memories are made of.

* I think this was 1977.

PS I’ve been ignoring the Word Verification that has appeared on a lot of blogs recently. I write my comment and hit publish, without filling the numbers in the box. Seems to work for me.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #288

Last Wednesday was one of those days that you just want to forget and I didn’t make it to the desk hopping fun. I managed to squeeze in a little bit of crafting yesterday and here’s the kitchen table just as the light was going.

I’m making little boxes. When you lift the lid, the cut out shape reveals the four tea lights nestling inside. This version is going to be blue and white with snowflakes.

This is the one we made in class. You can see the star shaped peep hole, which is underneath the lid, in the first shot. There was a card to match, but I’ve already given it away and forgot to take a photo.

Finally a mini cracker treat box. Perfectly sized for a lip balm (or sweets/chocolate) and made using the ever useful Envelope Punch Board. Three more projects to come up with for next week’s class and then I’m done for the year. Just like that.

I said it yesterday, but I’ll say it again: Apologies to anyone having difficulty getting past Word Verification. I seem to be unable to turn it off. I have tried and tried. I don’t think it’s just me. It has reared its ugly head on several blogs that I visit regularly. Come on Blogger, give us a break!

One Photo in Twenty Words ~ Carcassonne

Joining in with Abi’s meme, over at Creating Paper Dreams, and taking inspiration from the theme of her Christmas Club post.

Playing Carcassonne at the kitchen table and suddenly noticing that the table cloth completed the road. Who needs the tiles.

PS Despite the fact that I have selected the “No” option for Word Verification, it is still appearing. Apologies to anyone having difficulty commenting. I’m at a loss.

Me on Monday

These Mondays are coming around a little bit too fast for my liking this month!

It was a start as we mean to go on (with a treat of hot chocolates and a muffin for me and my girl), stroganoff cooking, Christmas shopping with her friend, Skyping/gaming with his friends, mini cracker making, first Christmas cards arriving, Never Let Me Go watching (naughty mummy substituting the film for the book. Do as I say, not as I do!) for GCSE helping, personal statement fine tuning (summing yourself up in 4000 characters, including spaces, is not easy), croissant warming, beef roasting, Christmas Club story reading/memory sharing (3 left to comment on, I’ll get there), tea in front of the telly (a rarity around here) kind of weekend.

Monday found me making the most of the sunshine to pre wash some fabrics….

….and watching an episode of Glee….

….while I ironed them. I have Homeland to catch up with still and Intruders (anyone else watching that?) but I was in the mood for something a little lighter, after the heavy subject matter of Never Let Me Go. There is a scene in the film (don’t worry, no spoilers from me) when one of the characters stands in the road and lets out his frustration. It’s a heart wrenching moment. All the more so for me as it could have been my boy standing there, having a meltdown. December is always a difficult month, but throw in a trip to London at the start and mocks looming after Christmas and we have a tough few weeks ahead of (and one thankfully now behind) us.

Waving to Sian again this evening, with grateful thanks. Without her clever ideas I wouldn’t have posted anything yet this month.

PS There seem to be some problems with Word Verification on Blogger at the moment. As far as I can tell it’s turned off, as always here, but if it’s coming up for you please let me know. Thank you.

Christmas Club ~ Pantomime

I didn’t have a blog of my own, when Sian hosted the Christmas Club, back in December 2010. I’ve shared some Festive memories here previously though, so I had a quick trawl through the archives to make sure I didn’t repeat myself. Then I saw this post from December 2011 and I knew that I wanted to repeat myself!

At Christmas we….

….put on a show. Here I am, circa 1976, playing the cat in The Four Musicians of Bremen. How I loved to be on the stage. It was my absolute favourite thing about Christmas, throughout my primary school years. From Snow White’s wicked stepmother, through Saint George and Mary, to Gobbolino the Witch’s Cat, I loved every single part I got the chance to play.

My little brother wasn’t quite so keen. Here he is playing one of the “Two Little Dickie Birds” from the rhyme. Whether he was Peter or Paul, I can no longer recall, but I do remember that he didn’t want to wear the red tights. They were mine and he had to fold the feet over inside his daps, because the legs were much too long.

Thank you Sian for bringing back the Christmas Club and giving me the chance to join in this time around.

PS There are different photos and more of a story in the other post, if you missed it.

Me on Monday

It was a super busy weekend here. I spent most of Friday baking. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll be well aware of this already!

Sticky Clementine Cake, White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies and lastly….

….Rice Crispy Squares drizzled with dark chocolate.

Then it was an early train catching, blissful hour of uninterrupted reading, brisk walking (to a warm welcome), coffee drinking, chatting, cake eating, pattern preparing, felt cutting, Secret Santa present opening, trestle table folding, chair stacking, goodbye waving (’til next time) kind of Saturday.

Followed by a coffee and croissant breakfasting, outlet shopping (for a sleeping bag and walking socks), chicken roasting, bag packing (for a politics conference and Kip in a Ship) sort of Sunday.

Today me and my boy had a 5.30am start to get him on the coach for London. This afternoon found me cutting an extra kit for tomorrow, after a last minute phone call from a prospective new member of the class. You can probably tell from the quality of the photo that it was getting dark already. Although that could have just been my left handed photography!

A very late wave back to Sian and I’m nearly ready for my bed. Night all.