Mum's Advent Calendar 6, Days Left 19

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Jolly good jolly the other day to the Open Doors Day at the Winter Gardens. Most doors were open for visitors and many visitors were there for a fantastic nosey around the building. Here's the stage door office decorated with memorabilia.

We even got to view the dressing rooms in the Opera House - all mod cons in this one.

Information posters were in all areas showing the building in its original state.

Many stars and celebrities have trodden the boards in the theatres.

This room is behind the ballroom.

And here's the ballroom again.

We were able to go onto the balconies and this sulky lady greeted us.

It's just as impressive from on high.

The Baronial Hall was set out for a wedding.

When the Queen visited for the Royal Variety Performance her every needs were met. I can safely say that I have now sat on the Queen's throne!

Jolly good music today as I walked into town. Does anyone else sing along to their iPod while walking along? I have to make sure there is no-one else within listening distance!

Jolly good progress on making my heart wreath. I started the covering and guessed the size as the heart form hadn't arrived from Apple Blossom Dreams.

Jolly good thing that it arrived today and my guessed measurements were correct.

Jolly good that Astri had crocheted me a poinsettia plus 2 of her signature roses. Thank you so much, Astri.

Deck the Halls with Boughs of Jolly. Tra la la la la .... la la la la!

I am linking my Advent Garland to KC's Court this year for a really Advent Bloggy Christmas.

xx

Mum's Advent Calendar 5, Days Left 20

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Kitchen Window - December 2013

The dangly plant is back.  I hope I don't catch it when I'm wiping the window. The flowers are fake. The tree is pretty and the window wreath was a present from a friend a few years back.

Ooh, the Christmas tree has arrived! Time to have a trim.

I am linking my Advent Garland to KC's Court this year for a really Advent Bloggy Christmas.

xx

Mum's Advent Calendar 4, Days Left 21

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I found these little characters in one of the Christmas boxes.

They each split apart into three self inking stamps.

I might decorate the Christmas card envelopes.

I am linking my Advent Garland to KC's Court this year for a really Advent Bloggy Christmas.

xx

PS Welcome to my new followers. Busy Little Chicken please click this link.

Mum's Advent Calendar 3, Days Left 22

My friend was having a de-clutter and passed on some dressing up clothes for me to 'deal with'. This home-made flapper dress was sparkly enough to make Christmas wrappings so out came the scissors and quick unpick.

The black sparkle has already been used for DD's birthday pressie.

The sequin number is now a reusable pressie bag complete with zip opening.

Methinks it needs a fairly large present inside it!

Next out of the bag came a padded silver jacket. This made some smaller padded pressie bags and with the left over fabric I made a bow tie for teddie.

Making a bow tie - Two rectangles were folded in half and sewn round leaving a gap for turning.

The gaps were sewn together with ladder stitch so the stitches wouldn't show.

Does anyone else have difficulty threading the machine? I can't even see the thread to poke it through the threader helper.

Make sure you give the corners a good poking to push them out.

Smartsville!

Hey, man, what's happening there!

I am linking my Advent Garland to KC's Court this year for a really Advent Bloggy Christmas.

xx

Mum's Advent Calendar 2, Days Left 23

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Time to get the decorations out of the loft ...

and put them up bit by bit, starting with the garland for the bannister.

The garlands on the fireplaces are next ...





and then the twinkling lights.

Now have I got time to play I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas on the juke box?

I am linking my Advent Garland to KC's Court this year for a really Advent Bloggy Christmas.

xx

Hello new commenters. I've been reading all the Advent Calendars. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas now!

Mum's Advent Calendar 1, Days Left 24

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The majority of my Christmas cards are everlasting cards which means I send them and the recipients send them back to me the next year. No new cards to buy. The cards are made from scrap materials and the envelopes I'm using this year I purchased quite cheaply from Lidl-iddle last year.

Some cards I didn't have envelopes for so I made them myself out of a piece of paper - not the neatest of jobs but it covers the card.

The front got a bit of decoration.

I hadn't got a window card so I just stuck the cross-stitch straight on the card and outlined it with silver pen.

These cards were very simple to make.

And this card was made while helping some children to make cards last year.

This one's my favourite.

The cross-stitch here is recycled from someone else's card that I rescued.

Just a few extra cards as spares. I seem to have quite a few small red envelopes so I'm making cards to fit.

Nearly all written now. The majority I am able to deliver by hand, thank goodness.

I am linking my Advent Garland to KC's Court this year for a really Advent Bloggy Christmas.

xx