no school and no snow...

the 'weather warning' is bad and so it would seem the schools are not taking a risk and the kids are staying home.

there is no 'glee' in my shed today.

having a day off school is all well and good if there is snow on the ground to mess around in...but no school and no snow makes for 'unhappy' folk. i have tried to maintain an air of 'joyfulness' around the place...whilst all the time inside my head thinking "oh no Tif, one week to go...this will teach you to live by the 'seat of your pants' when it comes to christmas and the birthdays"...

so to calm my thoughts i have taken up a 'spot' of knitting...in my favorite corner.

now dearest readers i have to confess it has been a wee while since the 'clickity clack' of knitting needles has been heard around here...since i started my love affair with a 'hook' my 'needles' have lain idle.

but i have had a 'must do' in the back of my head since September when my lovely friend Debbie came to visit from the UK...she found the most prettiest of 'knitted/crocheted' collars and i was 'green' with envy...not being able to find a pattern that i liked (and quite honestly we all know that when i follow a pattern it always goes hay wire) i decided to take some measurements and make my own 'version', using a lovely soft organic chunky cotton (lion brand) i had in my stash waiting for such an occasion to 'shine'...

i have managed several rows and now my wrists are complaining...but i am quite confident that this little 'scarflett' will come out a treat. it is doing the perfect job at keeping me 'contented' and 'sane' today...just what 'knitting' is best at.

she's hoping the snow stays away and school is back in tomorrow ~ Tif

Gladys and the cold...

it's been a bit 'brass monkeys' around here...not a lot of snow to show for it yet, but i've been informed by my lovely 'dears' that more is forecast and this time it's gonna be big.

they are keeping fingers and toes crossed there will be no school...what they haven't fully comprehended, is their mother has not done the best part of her christmas shopping, therefore requiring the few remaining days of school to complete her task. without those days, it isn't looking good...

but let that not distract from Gladys looking a treat at the weekend...

however something was missing...

as i don't do well in cold climates and must remain indoors at all times swathed in knitted attire and crocheted blankets, it became apparent there was only one person for the job...

the mistake i made was not to supervise the job, by the time i looked it was too late...i desperately wanted to correct the non evenness (why didn't i just put unevenness? what is with the 'non' business) of the lights but alas my

'snow and cold' allergy did not allow me the comfort...

shouting from a window

"but it's just not quite how i imagined" did not go down too well.

i quickly retreated so as not to catch the barrage of abuse that was hurled in my direction.

i have decided that it is good for me to 'suffer' this way, after all i have had full control over mantelpiece decorating (i caved at 10 trees and just shifted the whole display along) and must allow my man his 'uneven' lighting of Gladys...

she's out and about tomorrow, snow willing ~ Tif

FOOTNOTE: having just taken a second look, i see now that my man was only 'mimicking' my uneven garland hanging... thinking that's how i like it...sigh

christmas 'crafty' part two...

the corner of my studio is fast becoming a 'little' grotto and some might say a 'little' grotto with 'little' taste...the 'jaunty' trees have multiplied to a count of eight.

they have been joined by some 'pesky' little wood cutters from here, who do not appear to treat 'furry woodland' creatures as one should...(can you tell when a 10 year old boy has helped...i have corrected most of the massacre, to save your delicate dispositions...)

the 'garlands of joy' were created ever so easily...when the idea came to me a few weeks back i had dreams of vintage wallpaper etc but alas i do not have stacks of vintage wallpaper in my possession and even if i did, i doubt i would be able to cut it up for this purpose...

so the next best thing i feel is 'scrap booking' paper, i live in a land of 'scrap bookers'...it really is 'big' here, thus our local craft shop is just full of beautiful printed card stock ready to be transformed into a paper garland for my little 'grotto'...

this is where i shall mention a few items that are needed.

1. several yard lengths of lace and ribbon

2. 'die cut machine' or 'patience and a stencil'

3. parent to operate 'die cut machine' in craft store

4. preferable a parent with lots of technical ability and 'calmness'

5. parent who is willing to spend the best part of his first day of 'visiting' in a craft store surrounded by females cutting out tons of snowflakes and deer

i am actually pausing here, while i am thinking...is it really necessary for me to even tell you how i have made my little paper garlands, it really is a 'no brainer' for you crafty lot and let's be honest, it's really a little late for it as well.

but on second thoughts, i shall go on, just in case somewhere in a far corner of our globe, a little person like myself is wishing to make a 'little' grotto and for the life of them can't think where to get started...

continuing on, take home your 'cut outs' and parent...congratulate him on a job well done, give him a cup of tea and then set him to work on yarn 'snowball' making whilst you continue with the garland...

now it's all a little 'hodge podge' from now on, but all one does is stitch with the machine the said piece of 'cut out' (for example, a snowflake) leaving threads to dangle and moving on along your chosen 'strand' of lace or ribbon, stitching 'cut outs' in place. i made various differing lengths of garlands to add to the 'i just threw it up there' look i was aiming for...("we don't believe you Tif"...i shall ignore that)

i have only the trees left to work on and then my 'decor' for this christmas is complete...and just before i go, i have decided if it's good enough for the great british broadcasting corporation then it's good enough for my little blog...here's a repeat of my door wreath and door hanger for anyone who likes 're-runs'

she's off to 'batten down the hatches' as snow is forecast ~ Tif

FOOTNOTE: the circle garlands were not made by moi, i picked them up a few years back at a craft show...they are just perfect with my 'little' garlands, in fact quite honestly they make the whole thing have a 'wow' factor that it was missing before, would you not agree :)

FOOTNOTE #2: i do believe i have found the 'crafty' person behind the 'dot' garland on etsy...

kate greiner

i was just doing a little trawl around and 'hey presto'...