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and I'm all done. Gifts wrapped and under the tree.
I really didn't think I was going to make it. We have had so much going on at the shop in the last month and with personal deadlines I just focused on one thing at a time and I'm so happy with everything that I achieved.
We get a fresh tree each year 2 weekends before Christmas. Graham and Amelia go and choose it and then we decorate it. It's a very eclectic tree with some old ornaments. Some of which we don't know how old they are as they have come fom both our mums from when we were young and they can't remember exactly how old they are, there's one lonely bauble that was one of twelve that I bought 32 years ago. Of course then there are the one's that the children have made over the years. I now wait eagerly for Ethan's when he's old enough to make some. I wonder if he'll make a tree like his dad did when he was four years old and at kinder.
I've been very lucky over the years with wonderful friends making me some lovely home made gifts. I treasure them all.
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish eveyone a happy and safe holiday season whereever you are in the world from both Lesley and myself and also to thank you for all the encouraging comments and emails that you send they are appreciated.
hugs and all the best, Sandra
p.s. If you're interested check out the Christmas decorating album to see some of my decorations and gifts
since last week. Friday Night UFO stitchers breakup, two classes for Lesley on Saturday, our second SBS get together on Monday and another class for me last night. I must admit not much stitching last night lots of talking and a little bit of bubbles none for Dale though as she told us of her wonderful news that she is pregnant and is expecting a baby next year. Very exciting. I still have 2 classes to teach before we close for our Christmas break. Rosalie still has one class to go and will be back in January to workshop Mrs. Perkins details will be in our newsletter which hopefully will be finished next week. 
Well I'm off to do a bit more stitching on some homemade gifties that I am making for Christmas. I haven't started my other Christmas shopping yet but I know what I need to buy I just need to hit the shops not something that I'm looking forward to. I love Christmas and can't wait till we get our tree on Sunday and I can spend the day decorating it and the house.
In the meantime I'm enjoying our Victorian Christmas Bush that's in our backyard. It was only supposed to grow to 2 metres it's now about 5 we probably should have pruned it when it was younger :).
I do love it's tiny white flowers i'ts like having our own bit of snow.
I wish I could take a good close up. Today it's teaming with bees. I was very brave and got as close as I dared. There were two types of bees one was really really tiny perhaps it was a native.
Until next time cheers.... Sandra
I look forward to Thursday Threads once a fortnight, and today was no exception, our Christmas Party was a lot of fun, lots of lovely food, so much chat and laughter makes for a great morning. For two years now the ladies have been meeting, so you can imagine the catching up of stories, but they do get a stitch in now & then. We exchanged some lovely gifts, some hand-made and some bought, a beautiful hand embroidered hexagon needle case, a dilly bag, a Christmas sewing card and a lovely button over needle case, candles, chocs., a Christmas mug in a box,they were all lovely. Lyn, Tracey and Jenny through work and holiday comittments were absent.(we missed you) Look forward to more laughter in 2008. Thanks girls. Lesley
I had a lovely day today at the Christmas break up of a group that I belong to. I actually managed a stitch or two in between talking, eating, swapping our stitcheries and our KK gifts, a visit from Santa's helper and lots of show and tell. You may have seen Lesley's post a couple of days back about the new fabric called City Girl that arrived last week, well Hermione has used it to make up the new Toffee Apple bag from Melly and Me. I'm sure you'll agree it looks great. Now I want to make one too!!!! Don't forget if you see anything on our blog that take's your fancy we can do mail order. bfn Sandra
about being able to put the Christmas Countdown tree on our blog I almost forgot our own Christmas Countdown Advent Calender. So at 11.30pm on Saturday night Graham went up to the attic and got the box down for me. Luckily I always have some Lindt Chocolates on hand and was able to fill up some of the little rooms. Amelia had a double dose of chocolate on Sunday. Lucky Girl! Traditionally her Grandma always gave her an advent calender after her ballet performance. Two years ago after 10 years Amelia stopped doing ballet and so our little house has taken its place. I wonder if she will continue an advent tradition of her own one day.
Well that's the extent of my Christmas decorating at home for now.
At the shop we are pretty well done with our decorating, now it's just a matter of the finishing touches. We have lot's of new kits from Simply Country and of course some old favourites as well.
Well that's all from me for now. I have uploaded some new photos of the girls in
Ramona's table runner class from last Wednesday night in the Student's work album. Sue is an old hand but Shirley, Kerry and Pam who have done lot's of craft but are new to patchwork have done a wonderful job. These girls also did Gails Christmas Tree skirt so they are well on their way to a quilty Christmas. Well done!
Ciao from Sandra who is very jealous as her Italian cousins who went to a Christmas market in Austria on Sunday and were hoping for a little snow.
