The Mad Dash

'Tis the week before Christmas and all through the house,

The family was hiding. Yes, even my spouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

Though the smell of fresh glue still hung in the air.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
To the sound of the sewing machine hitting high revs.
And I in my 'jamas and all in a flap,

While he settled down for a long winter's nap.

When from the kitchen there rose such a clatter,

And he sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.
He sprang down the stairs all of a flash

And flung open the door with vigour and dash. (Colin Firth look alike is my man! Honest!?!)

The angle poise set the nook all aglow,

And gave the lustre of day to the little tableau.

There at the bench was a snoring young maid

And before and around her the following were laid...

Twelve strings of bunting,
Eleven socks with piping,
Ten dye lots steeping,
Nine skirts for dancing,
Eight cards for gluing,
Seven stars for sticking,
Six sacks for fraying,
Five golden wreaths,
Four crochet hooks,
Three pinking shears,
Two craft knives
And a jar of glitter on the floor!

Look What Arrived!

The postman risked life and limb and look what he brought.
My swap partner from Linda's Craftaholics Handmade Gift Swap ( say that 3 times quickly!) Stephanie sent me a lovely box containing beautiful bracelet and earrings all the way from the state of Georgia.
Thank you Stephanie and thank you Linda. I have thoroughly enjoyed the swap and will definitely take part next time.

When I know that Stephanie has got her parcel, I'll post up pictures of the other bits I popped in her bag. Don't want to ruin the surprise for her. Apparently the weather has caused havoc in the postal system so it could take longer than usual

Am I strange?

In my family, Christmas was always a very special time, made more so by the unbridled excitement of my younger sister Lin. I have always loved the decorations and the music, the food and the presents so I am fairly sure that I am not a Humbug. But I don't put up any decorations or the tree until a week, maybe 10 days before Christmas at the earliest.
I am tempted of course, but I can't help but think that it would be torturous for my young daughter to build up her expectations and then make her wait another month for the big day to arrive.

Am I strange to want mince pies at Christmas, and not the rest of the year?
Am I odd to want to hear Christmas carols at Christmas, and not for 2 months before?
Am I peculiar to want my Christmas tree to be special, and not something that I need to dust and hoover under?

Craftaholics Anonymous Handmade Gift Exchange Linky Party

Dear Linda, S~ and all the Gift Exchangers from C.Anon.,

We have had a little snow here in Ireland and sadly, the postman can't get through. Hopefully it will have melted by the time a parcel is likely to arrive from America. Since these photos were taken we have had another 20cm of snow. This in a place where we usually would have snow once in a year... and then it generally melted before noon.

Luckily, I got to the post office before Saturday when the snow started, so the parcel was in the post before we got snowed in. And this is what I sent...

A shopper bag with pockets inside for purse, phone, etc. It is made with fabric swatches from a shop sample book.

There are a few random bits and pieces inside it too. I hope S~ likes it.