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so this is it. No more sewing for this year.
2006 has been good. New house, new friends, new blog, new crafts. I've got great hopes for 2007, lots of projects in mind, lots of people to see and places to go. Lots of love to share.
So, I wish you all a fabulous new year. Happiness and health and love and friendships and sewing and knitting and quilting, felting, crochet... anything and everything. All your wishes come true.
Let's make this the best one ever. Deal?
PS place mats for the boys.
I know it's a bit late to be posting about this, but it was crazy before Christmas and I just didn't have the time to sit down and post. I know you know what I mean.
The tradition of the nativity set is very strong in Italy. Every household has one, every classroom, every office, not to mention every church. In fact there's a big rivalry between churches for who has the biggest and better one. They have electricity, running water, the light changes from night to day every couple of minutes. As a little girl I remember going with my parents from church to church to admire them. Some of them use real people and animals. We used to collect moss and use it for our little home version, and foil for the stream (it has to have a stream!! are you kidding me?). And one year we were so excited because mum had bought a piece of paper with silver stars on it to use as sky... we thought it was the best idea ever. Well it was the 70's after all. Martha Stewart was still nowhere to be seen or heard.
Many years ago I bought a few little statues in Italy and brought them back to my English student flat... they were the cheapest I could find and looking at the craftmanship you can easily see why, but through the years I've grown quite attached to them and can't bring myself to upgrade them. (check Maria's arm out... could do with some plastic surgery, and the donkey looks real mean!!)
So every year, together with the tree we put the nativity set out. This year the boys really enjoyed doing it and I'm sure we could make it even bigger next time...
This old man is one of my favourite characters. He's got a wise look about him.
This fisherman on the other hand is either in great pain or he's having a mystical experience... the jury is still out on this one.
And we can't forget about the three Kings. They start the season on the television and each day they move a little closer. They traditionally reach 'baby Jesus' on January 6th. It's quite fun. This year they had quite a long and adventurous journey as No 1 and No 2 posted them all over the living room.
Have a wonderful Christmas!
Now that most of the boxes have been opened and emptied, that the house looks fairly livable it's time to turn to other pressing engagements. Presents. Did you know that Christmas is LESS than a week away?
I must have known about it, but chosed to ignore it and so now I feel rather 'under pressure' to finish up a few things. Tonight Mr M and I have the dreaded annual Toys R Us run. I hate it. We know what we want and I can be quite disciplined... him? forget it. The proverbial child in a toy shop. He would buy everything. That HE likes. He totally regresses a few decades!!
These felt corsages are for some special people out there (although I'm kind of tempted to keeping them for myself), just to bump up their presents with something personal...
Take it easy everyone.
Where's the snow? I want snow. Now.
The decking of the house has began in earnest.
The tree was up yesterday afternoon, and slowly the rest of the house is getting engulfed in a sea of red and green and gold. In actual fact this house needs more things to be full Christmassed... but for this year we might have to make to do.
This morning we did the stairs - with kids things tend to take a little more time -
In an ideal world those are freshly cut pine branches and the hall is full of their beautiful smell... well, let's just close our eyes and imagine that... aaahhhh lovely.
This afternoon it'll be the turn of the nativity set...
It's a cruel, cruel world one in which your computer gets connected the same day your kids brake up for the holidays leaving you NO TIME whatsoever to catch up with your blogging friends.
I'm back. The house is almost ready I repeat.. ALMOST. Every window needs curtains, I've got tons of plans and projects to do, but apparently something called 'Christmas' is heading towards us fast... any idea? I'm sooooo not ready for it. Oh and the garage is still full of boxes. Full boxes.
Anyway, last night was Santa Lucia night. Now I know there are lots of traditions out there for this holiday... but we do what I always done growing up... we put a shoe on a table (don't ask for a logical explanation... it's one of those family things whose origins died with the dinasours) and in the morning we find a small present in/under it.
It is also the start of the holiday season (or in my case the beginning of the panic!) so now let's the show begin!
Oh, hope you're well out there. I missed you.
trallalla laa lala llal lla...
or something like that anyway.
Look what I got in the post today:
from Soo. How wonderful are they?
And, wait, there's more:
from Beate.
Cool stuff, eh?
Think about me. I've started the countdown for the move. They're coming on Monday to pack the house. They'll be back on Tuesday with the truck.
And if you see my husband... send him home. NOW.
