1st make of 2013 and upcoming plans

When #1 son was little I made a collage/memory picture and we hung it in his room. This became a bit travel weary as I had made it from a cheap chipboard frame and a bit of card as that was what I had at the time. So a few months ago I re-did it in a sturdy frame with a few embellishments. 

I have been procrastinating and procrastinating over #2's frame but last night I sent hubby up the steps to find a good scan photo in the box and any other useful items and I picked out a couple of photos. Then I spent a happy hour or so this morning finally creating his frame.

I was led to this burst of enthusiasm as we decided that the boys needed shelves in their room. Specifically Lego display shelves. I already had 6 single shelves tucked up in the attic as we were reluctant to make too many holes in the walls when we first took over this quarter. (If any of you have had brushes with the military you will be familiar with the march in march out process). But you can't spend your life not doing things because of where you are living. So we took the boys to the local Hornbach, (B&Q style shop), and let them choose some coloured paint. Hubby sprayed 3 with a few coats and last night we put them up. The wall just needed the final picture to look like a boys room.

We haven't taken our Christmas decorations down as you can see. 

I am a stickler for tradition and in our house as children it was tradition to wait until the kings came before clearing up. As I only have a week and a half left of pregnancy and hubby goes back to work on Monday we have agreed to take them down on Sunday.

I wasn't quite up to scratch last year with my 'Make a Month' pledge. And I hadn't got the hang of remembering to post the pictures in the group Flicker account so this year I am going to take it on as a personal challenge instead of trying to keep up with everyone else. I do have various things planned but I also know from past experience that a new baby throws things out of sync rather.

I look forward to seeing you makes for this year.

Fiona @ Christals Creations

2013. . .

is well on it's way.

I hope it brings you all the things you work for and doesn't thrown too many curve balls your way. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Fiona.

Finished!

Now all we need is the baby to wrap up in it. This blanket has taken me months as knitting is not my strongest point but at the same time I have enjoyed it. Nice to get it completed before Christmas I have to say. On to the next project. I have a couple of things to complete and then I thought I would try my hand at crochet. Watch this space. Not too closely, as you may have to wait a while!

Merry Christmas to all of you. 

I am off to the emergency dentist tomorrow so will be back after Christmas to catch up with everyone's blogs then.

Santa came a calling. . .

But I am just not happy with his beard. It's from a book of patterns I was given last year but the beard sits so much better on the picture in the book. I suppose to be fair it is made by a professional knitter who can write a pattern let alone read one. I still have to you tube or Google to find explanations when trying to knit things.

This is a now finished a UFO and also a Make a Month for December. 

Ho Ho Ho!

Looking back

I haven't blogged for a while and while I don't really have anything huge to share with you I thought I would add a few pictures of things from the past.

Last years home made wreath. Time to do another soon!

Our Boxing Day Snowiatta

The boys Xmas cross stitches

Christmas shortbread

Napkin rings

Not much but a little bit of last years Christmas to get us in the mood for this years!

Today I made. . .

I started this cushion ages ago and never got round to finishing it off. It's actually now the property of my husband not my boys as you may have expected as he didn't want me to throw their old pyjamers out. Both boys wore them the spaceship was the top and the repeat pattern the bottoms. I ended up cutting the back off an old cushion and sewing it on to this front. It's not perfect the material is all fluffy and wouldn't sew properly and the cushion pad is a little large for the cover but he is happy with it and it is another U.F.O that has finally been finished. There are quite a few of them floating about so it is nice to get some done.

I used to be pyjamers

Then this evening I made this bracelet. It is for a very good friend of mine who is counting down the days to her wedding next year. I have now three hair combs to make and her bridal jewellery is complete.

I was stumped with this one for a while. The flower is on wire to keep it from jiggling too much and the pearls are on silk it took a while to work out just how I was going to get it to sit right but I am happy with it now and she has seen a picture and was happy with the picture.

Something Blue!

 We took our time this morning and we remembered what the 11-11-11 is all about. Hubby was the wreath carrier at the local ceremony, he went back and forth with the wreaths and handed them to those who were laying them at the memorial. Nothing major but a little part in making the ceremony run smoothly.

I hope you all had a good day and took a little time to remember the fallen and those still fighting.

An Autumn Walk

Despite the chill in the air the sun is shining this afternoon so after lunch no 2 son and I set out on a mission to find the 'Quack Quacks'. I have to say I was a little dubious about the ducks being out on the river in this weather as it is not the warmest of days. I remembered to take my camera with me to capture a little bit of what we saw.

There is a real autumnal feeling about carpets of leaves

Hurrying on with teddy

The colours were lovely in the sun

Our river

More river

Where we normally feed the ducks

I love this picture - he was looking for leaves

The elusive ducks

They weren't as interested in food as normal

But we fed them anyway

The bridge at the point we left the river to come home

You wouldn't think that apart from the side we came from where there is a housing estate most of this is surrounded by roads and civilisation. It was a lovely after lunch walk. We followed it up with a quick play in the park and the idea of going home to draw ducks together. However he wore himself out and is fast asleep on the chair beside me so I thought I'd share our walk with you instead.
I think we went at the right time. It looks a little grey out there now.