Festive
December. Oh, December. Half way through already. That can’t be right.
The house is feeling festive. Lots of twinkling lights in the evening. A more Christmas past, as I’ve had no time to add much new. I’m glad I made the mistletoe and my needlefelted King Winter earlier. It has been busy. School events, work project deadlines to hit and exam tension to juggle.
To add to the fun, along with me being hit with more sick days in December than the rest of the year put together, the telephones and internet are still playing up. I’m now on first name terms with our telephone engineer and he has learnt that he can explain the problem using proper terms and I will understand. Yes, I am a mother but I can put CEng after my name. Hear me roar… just not too loud as it will set me off coughing again. Er hmm.
(Youngest’s homemade jumper for Christmas Jumper Day today)
In between, there have been events to attend. We were given tickets to see the Yeovil pantomime, which was more fun than I thought it would be. First time we’ve been to a panto as a family. Very impressed with the theatre too. Will be keeping an eye on future productions, for sure.
Last school Christmas concert in the village church, this week, as Youngest is in his final year. He was a narrator. He learnt his lines and delivered them perfectly.
Highlight of the week was going to Bath Abbey and listening to the children singing carols. Several primary schools came together for the service. Youngest stood up in the pulpit and read part of the Christmas story to everyone. It really was magical and made me very happy.
We had a mere sprinkling of snow, which I was relieved about. I’m not keen on driving in the snow and ice, especially as it has been a lot of coming and going this week.
Older teen has finished her mocks and is home now. Middle teen has a half day and then she is home for the holidays. Youngest’s school breaks up this afternoon. I still have work to finish, but I’m hoping to move down a gear for the run up to Christmas. Be nice to finish the table runner I started a few weeks ago…..
Hope your week is going well and full of festive fun.
Joining in with #wotw
Christmas Jumper Day
Seeing one of the children rushing out of school, clutching a note, has one of three effects on me. A sense of dread (small slip of paper, typically, letting you know that they have unwelcome guests in the classroom – nits), sense of the inevitable (sponsorship or school trip requests – reach for purse, again) or sense of joy (a creative challenge -Yeh!) I love the latter, but I guess it might make other parents groan and, again, reach for their purses/wallets.
This year, the primary school is joining in with Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day. Just as I was bemoaning the fact that all my children are now too old to be in the nativity play. The thought of no costume making this year. Instead I had jumper-making to look forward to and plus its a charity I like.
Youngest was easy. Finally settled on using an old jumper of his which had a fox on it. He helped design, but was happy for me to do most of the work! I stitched on the words. Ummed and Ahhed over “Xmas” or “Christmas” but time became a factor. The jaunty Christmas hat, which is perfect for a sneaky fox, came from a toddler jumper I hand knitted years ago and then felted (sob). The white feather boa was left over from an angel outfit from years ago.
He’s happy.
Middling wanted to do her own. We found a slightly too big jumper, but lovely festive colour, for her to use. She raided my scrap bag and sequin box, and went for it. I offered to knit her the scarf, but the rest is all hers. This morning I suggested she used some of my 3-D fabric paint to add snow to some of the trees. Five minutes before we left for school, as I stood, using the hair dryer to make the paint set, I did wonder if I should keep my creative suggestions to myself.
She went off happy.
I’m pleased that the school encouraged the children to make their own. They could either wear a shop bought jumper or have fun designing their own, so no-one should feel left out. (Unless they forgot. Like I do sometimes.) My children had fun, and this morning ran into school, clutching their donation money.
(No nits or purses were harmed in this activity)
Are you sporting a Christmas jumper today?
A Reindeer Homemade Jumper
As a crafter, December is a difficult time to be a blogger. The crafting blogger’s Christmas lament. Hands are busy, beautiful things are created, but the photos have to be sat on. Just in case a gift is spotted, by the intended recipient. Before its even been wrapped. This is why it was a complete hurrah moment when I heard that Turtle Mat were running a decorate-a-Christmas-jumper competition. How could I resist?
I have been waiting for an excuse to make a Christmas jumper. This jumper is for Eldest and she loves reindeers, so my theme was easy.
Sometimes when I’m crafting, I can’t help wondering where my design influences come from. The red nose is easy to fathom, but the rest?
We have been reading one of my very favourite childhood Christmas-time books recently – Hubert the Deer
I love the illustrations. So delightful. How about that kissing camel? This is such a lovely book and I could add so much more about it, but I transgress.
The grown-ups in the book refer to Hubert as a ten-pointer, in reference to the number of points on his antlers. The antlers on the Christmas jumper are surely influenced by my love of Hubert the Deer. Although my Hubert is an eight-pointer.
Of course, in everything we make, the design influences come from so many different places. Most of the time, they creep in without you really being aware.
The melting pot of ideas and snippets of memory are essential for creating something new. The beauty of any handmade piece, I’d suggest. They are bound to be unique and, maybe at the very same time, hint at many favourite and familiar things.
Making details (prices are estimates as some bits are recycled):
Jumper
Furry fabric (99p)
Recycled button strip from felted cardigan (but tape or ribbon would create the same effect – 60p)
Scrap of felt for nose (15p)
Fabric piece for applique (40p)
Sequins, button, ribbon (80p) and 3D fabric paint (£2) to add details
Disclaimer: I was sent the blank jumper and the cost of crafting materials, by Turtle Mat ( Thank you!) as part of the competition. Link to Amazon is part of the associates programme.
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