A Pause in Advent.

I along with many other bloggers have joined in with Floss's 'A pause in advent' We will be posting on each Sunday of Advent or the following Monday, as is the case here. This is a chance for everyone to share their thoughts, traditions etc during Advent. Advent for me begins with books, lots of books!

I like to get out all my Christmas cookery books and write lists of what I'd like to cook during the holidays.

I then like to plan what I'm going to make as in decorations and gifts.

And of course the things to make at home with Lily or at the toddler group sessions.

I suppose I only manage to make/cook half of what is on my lists but I enjoy the planning.

If you have time have a look at the other 'A pause in Advent' posts. The button at the top of my side bar will take you to Floss's blog where there is a list of bloggers taking part and while you're there read Floss's beautiful post about putting things in prospective.

Today is also my daughter Tara's birthday and for me most of the Christmas planning begins

once her birthday is over. Happy Birthday Tara!

First Produce Market

Last Saturday I did the first produce market in our village. On Friday it was lovely and sunny but on Saturday it was really heavy rain luckily this didn't deter people as the room was packed for the whole 2 & 1/2 hours. I sold quite a few things and had many people saying that they would be buying things at the 19th of December market. I didn't have time to take photos of my stall but took quite a few the day before and as you can see it was no exaggeration when I said how much I had been sewing/ crocheting. It is so nice to be able to have a rest now and just catch up on lots of crochet projects that I need to finish before Christmas.

crochet flower brooches

Doorstops fragranced with rose oil.

Pincushions

Little boots with dewberry oil.

Birds.

Owls.

Cats.

Snowmen.

Penguins.

Fabric buckets.

Patchwork stars.

Stars

Trees

Birds.

Hearts fragranced with Christmas spices as were all of the Christmas things.

Felt rustic garland.

Bunting.

Gingerbread house.

Flower fairy sachets.

Felts.

Definately a picture overload as well as work overload! I was so tired by Saturday evening that I was falling asleep as I crocheted Christmas trees, I kept dropping my hook!

I did buy a couple of things too, this pretty cup & saucer candle was only £3 so I couldn't resist and this lovely bell that smells gorgeous, it's quite big about 6 inches and was only £2.50, oh and a huge stem of locally grown Brussel sprouts delicious.

Autumn days

It's so lovely to see the garden full of bluetits, blackbirds and robin's again, these photos were taken through my kitchen window.

Walking in our local woods.

Halloween and Guy Fawkes: Lily made a friendly spider. This year I made Yorkshire Parkin for the first time and will be making it again as it was very nice indeed. I also made some cheese & ham puffs made using a pumpkin shaped cutter, very simple to make and tasted delicious.

Eden project's 'Halloweden' we visited the pumpkin carving workshop, made magic potions of lavender, rose, callendula etc. and visited the owls. The last 3 photos are of the cotton growing it was the first time I'd seen these and the cotton just bursts from the plant.

I've also partaken in a little bit of fabric buying.

I haven't been around much recently because of the amount of work I have to do and feel terribly guilty that I haven't been looking at any blogs, I know that if I leave the computer on I will spend half the day on there, which is what has happened this morning! The produce market were I have a stall is this coming Saturday so only 3 days left and I still have lots to do. I have lots of stock to take: Christmas bunting, spiced hearts, stars, trees, sachets & felt decorations. Scented hearts, birds & doorstops. Pincushions, fabric baskets, owl, cat, dog and rabbit shelf sitters and an abundance of crochet brooches. As well as finishing of lots of those I also need to try and make some bags, and pegbags but we'll see what time allows. This is going to be a monthly event and I have a table booked indefinately, the next one will be on the 19th December hence the reason for doing so much sewing now as there is so much to do in December and I like to be able to enjoy the festivities. Hopefully after Saturday I'll be able to catch up on all the blogs.