About me & Christmas

Here's a Christmas meme I thought I'd do:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both - depends on the shape!

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial.

3. When do you put up the tree? Varies - this year was early November.

4. When do you take the tree down? January 6th

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  Trampoline, Roller Skates & Walkman

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes a sweet little one I bought last year - it's in my daughter's room

8. Hardest person to buy for? All males I find hard to buy for.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Kids

10. Worst Christmas Gift you ever received? A Yothu Yindi Tape

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Definitely mail - but I'm usually pretty slack & end up hand delivering them

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Love them all really!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? If I see something during the year I get it and pop it away for Xmas

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not yet - don't think anyone wants the Yothu Yindi cassette

15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? I love the Pavlova!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear

17. Favorite Christmas song? I enjoy them all - much to my husband's dismay

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Donner, Dasher, Prancer, Dancer, Donner, Dixon, Rudolph? - I vaguely remember a song in Primary School that named them - obviously failed that test

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Can't really think of one

23. What is the “silliest” family tradition you do, or miss doing? Don't have one - at least I don't think we do - maybe everything we do is a little strange & I don't know it!  One thing I miss doing is decorating & cooking with my grandmother in the lead up to Christmas - she passed away 10 years ago.

24. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented? Not sure  - I've found that if you have kids around they can usually show you the beautiful chrismassy side to even the most tacky or garish decoration & make it seem wonderful.

25. Which looks best, theme trees or homey trees? They are all wonderful.

26. Gingerbread or sugar cookies? Don't really eat bikkies - probably gingerbread.

27. Do you like Fruitcake? It sounds really bad but I think it depends on the fruit & alcohol content. 

My Grandma used to make a wonderful cake & several years ago I found a recipe that requires for the fruit to be soaked in 4 different types of alcohol.  After the long wait I finally tasted it and it took me right back in time to those Christmas spent at her house when I was a child.  Most of the time I don't really eat cake.

I wonder did you notice that there's a number missing? - I copied these questions from another Blog & couldn't be bothered fixing the numbers.

My house has been really busy this week with the Dancing Christmas Party on Sat nite - we were entertained by floorshows by the Junior & Teenage dancers & The Darryl Cotton Band.  Darryl made me laugh introducing himself to the kids by saying "I used to be a rockstar. You know Shannon Noll? Well I'm him in 20 Years". 

Sunday was the day My Sweet Little Miss turned 8 years of age! She had a little party with friends following by one with family.

I was also a lucky winner over at Helen's Hugs:

I've been a lover of Helen's work for many years - these are her new "Tempters" which are easy Iron On Transfer Designs for stitching.   Gotta love it when there's no tracing - just iron on & stitch!

Bye for now

Corinna

Shabby Christmas Surprise

As I said earlier, I was swap partners with Linda from Lilly Cottage in the Ornament swap organised by Kerryanne.

Today my parcel arrived, inside the post bag was this lovely parcel

Complete with beautiful card featuring a bird (which I particularly love at the moment)

Unwrap the parcel & there was a beautiful Christmas Boot/Stocking to place on my tree

Lucky me - I wonder if Linda has received her package yet?

Corinna

Homespun Surprise

I'm a regular reader of the Willow Valley Store Blog, by Cathy Baynes, and am lucky enough to sit & stitch with her on occasion.

I was very excited to see she's been published in the current issue of Homespun Magazine.  This is one of my fav publications & this issue is devoted to kids - Cathy's Baby Bag is one of many great projects. 

Run down to your local newsagents & grab a copy before they run out - then come back & check out her Blog.

See you later - I'm off to read mine now  . . . . . . . . .

Deck the Halls with boughs of Holly Fa La La La, La La La

Phew - hard to know how to punctuate those La's - but I'm sure you get the gist of what I'm singing!

I participated in a Handmade Ornament Swap over at Kerryanne's Blog.  Lucky me!!! I was partnered with a wonderful partner - Linda of Lilly Cottage & her ornament has been sent - she may even receive it today.  I can't show you my creation yet - that would spoil the surprise.

Christmas time is closing in and gifts need to be ready so I'm making a few more:

Here's LA - Actually it's A for Amy & L for Liam (my niece & nephew) - (hopefully their parents don't read my blog).  If they do that's OK they are far from being finished - lots of ideas & not sure how I'm going to embellish yet but will post another pic when done.

Steph's got lots of teachers at dancing - so what to give?  I decided making these Bag Tags would be a fab idea.   Against all my Bomber's loyalty, Steph convinced me Sarah (her after school carer) needed a Collingwood (Black & White) Bag Tag.

So now I've just got the other teacher's presents to organise.  A student of mine that used to be a teacher told me that she has collected an amazing array of Christmas Decorations received from Children she's taught in the past.  Each year she remembers them fondly as their decorations are placed on the tree. 

What's your tip for a great Teacher's gift?  or Kris Kringle for an unknown recipient?  Now the time to share any hints we have only 19 sleeps left!!!!!!

Til next time - happy crafting

Corinna