Stocking swap

Hi everyone, well here we are nearly at the end of another year!

So I thought I had better post about the lovely treats I received in the Stocking Swap!  My partner was the lovely (and very patient!) Krafty Cupcake

Just look at all the wonderful  treats she sent me:

And dont you just love the darling penguin on the stocking?  We are massive Happy Feet fans here at Moonstruck HQ!

Here is what I sent to her:

I really enjoyed making the stocking as I dont think I had made one for over 35 years!!  Thanks again so much for being such a wonderful swap partner.

Anyway, this is my last post of 2011.  Thank you so much for all you kind and thoughtful comments and for showing an interest in my little corner of the world.  I have really enjoyed being in blogland and look forward to reading what you are all up to in 2012!

My bloggy-versary (what a word, who would guess that Im an english language teacher!!!!) is on January the 13th so will organise a little giveaway for that I think.  It ties in nicely with my birthday which is the day before!

In the meantime, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

much love, Helenxx

Driving in a Winter Wonderland!

Hi everyone!

A couple of weeks ago we were driving up to Manchester to visit relatives.  Started off from home, no snow, but as we went further north this is what met our eyes for the first time this year

Happily I could enjoy snapping away at the beautiful views as DH was driving!!

Helenxx

Vintage Christmas Decorations

Hi everyone, hope you are continuing to enjoy the holidays and getting some well earned crafting time!  I really love the time between Christmas and New Year for so many reasons:

• all my family are on holiday so I can spend time with them, not least DH who usually works away in the week.  He has spent a good deal of time saying "so thats what happens when Im not here".
• Going out for country walks on a weekday
• Going to coffee shops
• Not doing a big supermarket shop!
• And of course spending time crafting with no big deadlines
• Knowing that everyone I work with is on holiday as well so nothing building up on my desk while Im away!

I thought to keep in with the season I would share a few vintage decorations with you all.  My darling Mum has the most amazing Christmas tree full of so many memories.  I remember buying this little guy all the way back in 1967..

This green and white striped bauble always makes me smile.  It was bought in a set of 12 from dear old Woolworths back in 1965.  I had just started infant school.  Imagine my horror upon going into the school hall for assembly and spotting the same baubles on the Christmas tree there!!  Surely the headmistress had stolen them from my tree... so I stood up and shouted at her to give them back!!!!  School life went downhill from there really....

This Santa is a bit older, from the 1940's (before my time!!)

The final ornament has a really poignant meaning for my family.  My sister had died in the November, and my brother bought this at Christmas as he said my sister must now look like this

The angel is from the mid fifties - my sister died before I was born.  But is always in our hearts.

Im sure so many of you have treasured ornaments and decorations that hold so many memories.  Would be lovely to hear about some of them!

Helenxx

Christmas crafts reveal!

Good morning all, hope you are enjoying the holidays!

I have been enjoying reading all your blogs recently on my phone, but couldnt get to the computer to make any comments...

Anyway, I can now safely reveal what I have been busy making over the past few weeks as they have all been handed out!

First of all, here is my dining room table full of all the gifts I made

Lavender scented felt hearts with appliqued crochet motifs:

organza corsages:

Now on to the edibles!
First of all, sugar cookies with ginger and orange zest:

Hand made truffles:

Handmade caramelised nuts - oh my goodness it was hard to let these go...!!



Peppermint bark:

I had a wonderful time making all of these, and so far feedback from the recipients has been good!!

Have a great day!

Helenxx

An Award!!

Hi everyone!

Well, I have been very lucky and have been given a blog award from the lovely Emma at Sweet Williams - please go and check out her blog its super!

It is the Leibster blog for those blogs like mine that have under 100 followers

Now I have to pass it on to five other blogs that I love that fit into this category so here goes:


busybusybeejay

Kashis Corner

KCs Court

Mereknits

The Undomesticated Scientist

Please check out these blogs and tell them I sent you!!

Thanks again Emma, Im really delighted to have received this award!

Helenxx

Heart is where the home is...

Morning everyone!

Im still making lots of crafty gift things so cant reveal too much just yet.  But thought I would show you a couple of things I have made for me...

In the true tradition of my obessions with hearts we have

Felt heart made by me, but can't claim credit for the wooden heart!

And another one

The amount of pleasure I get from making these felt hearts is amazing - I just love handsewing! And I pop a bit of lavender inside so they smell nice as well..

Have a great Saturday! 

Helenxx

Crochet goings-on

Hello everyone!

Thought I would just give you a little peek at some tiny little bits of crochet I have been doing recently.  We have hearts

and doilies

Flowers

Here they are all together

I cant reveal yet how these will be used as these are going to be part of my crafty present making!

Helenxx

If you go down to the woods today...

Hello everyone! 

Sorry to have not been able to comment on all my favourite blogs for a while it is beyond hectic here.  What with work, a MSc assignment, UCAS etc etc etc its all go go go!!  But I have been reading your lovely blogs and enjoying all the activity out there in blogland.  I do this on my phone but I cant use it to comment. 

Yesterday I got to go for a lovely walk with my DH - and we came accross some unusual faces

Mysterious woodland

Fantastic toadstools - I had never seen so many Fly Agaric in one place, DH couldnt understand why I was so excited!

There must have been well over a dozen of them - here's another one:

The walk was just short of 9 miles, so we worked up quite an appetite.  Good thing, as lovely daughter had been baking these treats

And of course there are not any left!!! (Sorry Sue!!)

Have a lovely evening, will be back soon with some crochet bits

Helenxx

Autumn in the garden centre

Morning all!

Last Friday I was lucky enough to go out and about for the afternoon with my friend Sue from @home.  We had a lovely hot chocolate in a local cafe and visited some local gift shops.  I cant show what I bought as they are destined for pressies...

But we then visited our local garden centre.  This was the sign that greeted us on our way in

These plants were charming in their autumn colours

Reminded me of the colours Im using for my crochet blanket

These friendly fellows were also there to great us

This chap is obviously a hit with the birds ;)

These fantastic leaves were attached to all the displays - I wish they had been on sale - three together would have made a wonderful table runner as they were massive

All in all a most enjoyable afternoon!  Thanks Sue for being such great company.


Helenxx

Pumpkin tableware

Good morning!

I mentioned a while ago that I was obsessed by all things pumpkin - Im sure you have realised that this is the case after my recent posts!

But I thought you might like to see my collection of pumpkin/autumn inspired tableware - I love using these plates, platters and dishes!

First up, the big daddy of them all - the pumpkin soup tureen:

Little pumpkin snack dishes

Pumpkin plates

Not really pumpkin inspired but this is my candy corn bowl - wish we could find enough candy corn to fill it!!

All of the above came from TK Maxx.  However here is the platter that started off this collection, a lovely gift from my sister in law (this made it back safely all the way from Jordan)

Here is the entire collection

I love them all!

Helenxx

Autumn Leaves...

...are certainly starting to drift past my window...

I love this time of year so much - it is the best season as far as Im concerned.  The beauty is so awe-inspiring and yet so fleeting so I carry cameras around and make the best of any photo opportunities that present themselves.  These shots were taken from my back door

I always have my phone with me and it has a decent camera so a walk to work becomes a wonderful opportunity for capturing the Autumn beauty:

The beauty of nature a little closer up

Early morning sunshine makes the colours shine



And when Im back home snuggled up in my cosy armchair on these dark evenings, the autumn palette continues to inspire me

When autumn leaves start to fall - I fall in love with the season!

Helenxx