happy new year!

we're going to spend New Year with friends - here.

4 adults, 4 children (9,7,7,5) Miss K is the oldest and the only girl so she gets to boss everyone around, or at least I think that's the plan!

lots of good food, good fun, good friends, and fireworks on the beach to celebrate the coming of the new year.

when we get back reality might start to kick in, and it will be time to starts lists, and resolutions like reddy made. I like the idea of a list of books to read, and maybe I should also resolve to make one thing from each of my craft books, and my recipe books ( of which I got several new ones for Christmas - yippee!)

hope you all have a lovely New Years Eve, whereever and however you celebrate.

Happy New Year. xx

christmas festivities

could it be that we were the only house where the carrots had to be individually labeled for each reindeer?

do you think someone was delaying going to bed?

can you believe that I was finishing presents at quarter to midnight - making that is, not wrapping?

how long will it take for my 2 year old niece to understand that not all dolls are called "baby jesus" after going to church on Christmas eve?

we had a truly magical day, the kids were adorable, I'm assuming the good behaviour will wear off now that father christmas has visited, meanwhile I'm enjoying it, and playing with lots of star wars lego.

hope you are all full of Christmas leftovers, and too much chocolate, we're heading off to the grandparents tomorrow-

- wish me luck.....

happy Christmas

I wish you all a very happy Christmas, thanks for making my first Christmas in "blogland" so special.






thank you for all the lovely comments on my last post, it was great to hear all your ideas, and so many people commented - thankyou!!!! I'll let you know what I decide on, just as soon as I decide........... but if you have any more ideas you know what to do!

I'll be back in a few days, hope you all have a magical Christmas


Happy Christmas!! xx

what's in a name

I need some help today.

I've very recently been in touch with a little local shop ( they visit craft fairs etc as well) that sells handmade items made by local mums, and takes 25% commision. I took in a few little tote bags, some Christmas hearts, and a few Christmas brooches. They liked what I had and would like some more.... and some patchwork, and some felt flowers, in fact anything I want to take in, you get paid if it sells, if not you get it back.

so here's the problem, everything they sell goes under the name of the shop primarily, but you can have your own labels if you like as well.

so what do I put on, if it works out well then maybe I might open an etsy shop one day, and driftwood is taken on etsy (by someone who has nothing in their shop..) and would people think the things were made of driftwood?

ideas I have so far;

handmade by tess - not very original, but does what it says on the tin..

or as my hubby always just calls me t something like

t and .......

or tea and .....

or patchwork pear - in homage to this,

possible other relevant things,

I'm very fond of cake and roses and tea, and my middle name is Kathryn (Kate, Katie....) and... no can't think of anything else.

please leave a suggestion, including all those people who've never commented before, I know you're out there with just the right name, and I could have a prize draw if I need to bribe you to comment....

let them eat cake

after seeing so many pictures of snow and cold it was a delight to see this on Gina's blog, it amazes me that she can be having such different weather!

meanwhile here in England it's grey and chilly, just as well we have more smiley faces to cheer us up!



2 more days of school, E has his school party today so could go to school in "party clothes" - he chose a pair of trousers of which the elastic button waistband had come undone, so I've just spent 10 minutes sitting in the corner of the class with a safety pin threading the elastic back through...





we took the teacher gifts in this morning, mostly because they were in danger of being eaten by J, who insists that as its now Christmas ("well we have the tree up don't we"), that any Christmas related food is fair play, including any cakes that might be on the kitchen table.





I'm not sure how well it would go down at school if they turned up saying "daddy ate your present" - it might make the next parents evening a bit tense..

oh christmas tree

little pixie hanging on the tree



the tree - I'd never realised how difficult it is to photograph a christmas tree, I tried several times, the ones in the dark are just a blur of colour, quite pretty actually, but unrecognizable!!!

getting into the Christmas spirit

here comes Father Christmas in his sleigh, no make that a light aircraft..



and his fire engine....



this is more like it, a fairy grotto, (inside a plane!)



now we are in the mood for writing Christmas cards