My brother got married ........ back in April 2000 ... he married my best friend :) .................... I started a sampler for them ... 'started' being the operative word ... I am very embarrassed to say it got put aside ... and then forgotten ........ but I have now finished it (yey) I had a blitz on it in January and completed it within a few weeks.


I made most of it up as I went along ... and am so pleased its now finished.


I framed it on Sunday ... I hope they like it ... just need to deliver it now ...


... lets hope that doesn't take another 12 years (eeek)

Did you make many gift this year? I didn't make as many as I wanted to, but I would like to share this one with you ... My Auntie and Uncle have moved down the road which is really lovely having some family so near. They spent Christmas day with us too. I find making gifts for men is especially hard, and was originally thinking of getting him an AppleMac mug, but couldn't find a funny one. I then thought that I could paint my own ... then I had a brainwave. My Uncle is full of silly funny sayings that he likes to repeat ... one is a great grace that he says ... 'Thank you Lord for my dinner and bless my wife who is a winner' ... so I decided to paint it onto a dinner plate.


I haven't done ceramic painting for years, so had to buy a new set of paints.


I worked out with a 6B pencil the wording onto the rim of the plate, so I would fit it on ...



... and then using lots of colours I painted ...


I am really pleased with it, and I think he liked it :)

Have you all had a lovely Christmas day and boxing day? I hope so ... mine was quiet ... never had such a quiet one, but as I was pretty ill for most of the day, that was ok! I am still feeling pretty ill today, but having a quiet boxing day ... managed to catch up with Downton Christmas special ... wasn't it lovely! and am now watching one of the films I got yesterday ... Apollo 13 ... one of my favourites, that I have watched many times before but always makes me cry :/

I have missed not seeing any of my brothers, sisters in law or nieces or nephews, but thanks to the internet managed to open presents with them with skype :)

Here are some of my presents :)


Some lovely book, DVD's and a CD


A pretty tea cup and saucer, lovely watch, apple pot, heart decorations, hair flowers and some gorgeous earrings :)


A remote control for my camera and a camera cleaning kit (I feel like Harry Potter getting a broomstick servicing kit! haha)


Lots of lovely chocolate ... and how great is this box of Edward Monkton box of joy!


A lovely warm winter hat and pretty scarf.


And this great picture frame that I am really looking forward to filling with photos of all the people I love :)

I got a couple of crafty books ... one on tatting ... I had a go a while ago, but it was from a book that I got off eBay and kinda expected you to know how to tat already ... this book is far clearer and even has a DVD with it.


... and this lovely cross stitch book ... I love being inspired by antique samplers and this book is full of pictures and patterns that I will enjoy looking at :)



I wanted to show you these fab cards made by my sister-in-law and little nephew ...


Aren't they lovely :)


I am looking forward to having a really restful week and working on some samplers that I am trying to finish and just picking up some other half finished projects and working on them. Did you get any new crafty bits for Christmas ... something you haven't tried before perhaps? I would love to hear how you get on :)