Little Christmas Tree

Hi,

Oooh, we are now well on our way to the run up to Christmas.  We love Christmas in our family and this weekend we put up our Christmas Tree. Our tree is a black one and we dress it with silver baubles.  Which, I think, do look pretty good - if I do say so myself!

 

 

I do love this time of the year and seeing all the Christmas trees and lights in everyone's homes as I pass by on the way home from work.  We bought some new additions for under our tree this year from our local Garden Centre.  These lit presents caught our eye as we wandered through all the fabulous decorations and ended up coming home with us.

 

 

I do think they look pretty good under the tree.  Just need something for the other side now....

 

This gave me an idea!  I had recently bought this great Christmas fabric and here was my inspiration to use it!  So I set about making a simple pattern with the trusty greaseproof paper.

 

 

A little bit of careful sewing and filling and here is my finished result....

 

 

I added some jingle bells to the end of each branch and found these great little glittery star decorations that I then added to the top of the tree.  I have placed the sewn tree on this pot for now but think I will add a bit of Christmas glitz and glamour to brighten it up a bit more.

 

Bye for now

 

Von x

 

 

 

A Visit to Birmingham

Hi,

I thought I would share with you a recent visit into Birmingham which is very close to the town where we live.  We always go by train which is only a 15 - 20 minute journey.  We had visited for a quick shopping spree and a visit to the new Library which was well worth going to see.

 

Birmingham, Council House where the council is based.

 

 

 

The Library

 

 

 

The Shakespeare Room at the top of the Library.

 

 

                                          Views of the City from the top of the Library.

The Library is definitely a huge success for the city and was very busy on the day we visited with a lot of visitors enjoying the views and looking at the Shakespeare Room.  We did visit the New Bullring which is a great shopping centre and would be great for a Christmas shopping spree.  The German market will soon be in the City too which is always well worth a visit.

I am continuing to make progress with the blanket a long that I have been following from Zooty Owl.  Here is a photo of my four Zooty Mandala squares which are all complete now and I have made a good start on the final four squares so hopefully the big reveal of the finished blanket will be soon.

Bye for now

Von x

Remembrance - Close to Home

Hi all,

I thought it was only fitting this week to have a focus on Remembrance Day.   With the 100 year commemorations this year of the start of World War 1 it has really brought home the links to our own family.  I am sure many of you have some relative that you can trace that served within the First World War.

Our family has two significant members who unfortunately did not return from their duty and they are often in our thoughts during these moments of remembrance.  Thomas Bishop, who is my Dad's Uncle was lost just before the end of the war and although we have no photo of him we do have the medal that was given on his death and the letter from King George.

 

Our other lost family member was Albert Coopey, who was my Grandad's Uncle, whom he was named after.  My Grandad often thought about his Uncle particularly when he himself had to serve during WWII.  My Grandad told me how he strongly hoped throughout the second world war that he would not follow the same fate as his Uncle and lucky for him, and us, he did indeed return safe and sound.

 

It was with these brave men in mind that when I spotted the latest patterns in the Simply Crochet Magazine I decided to have a go at making my own crochet poppies.  The first I attempted was the larger poppy as shown below.  I have been wearing this on my own coat.

 

Then my daughter said she wouldn't mind a poppy either and would much prefer a home made one so I had a go at the other pattern in the Simply Crochet magazine.  I added some black beads to this poppy too as my daughter thought they added a little extra to the overall finish and I must agree with her.

 

 

I have ended up making another of these too for my Mum so they have been a very popular make.  Of course, we have donated to the British Legion and totally support this wonderful charity.

 

Bye for now

 

Von x