Tuesday, December 10, 2013

'Tis the Season.....


to be busy.....fa la la la la...etc etc....it seems everything must get done before Christmas...it's like putting everything into a neat little package and stowing it away in a tidy manner before the New Year begins.....most times it doesn't work like that and there are always some loose ends that refuse to be done with left dangling........I think once we realise that it's easier to relax and enjoy the season....if you don't get to catch up with Aunt Maud before Christmas hopefully she will still be around to catch up with after Christmas.....

So having said all that, I have been flat out at work getting things finished!!  of course my main focus at this time of year is organising the Australia Day event for work so that won't be finished until the end of January .....at home I have been finishing gifts - some to be sent in the post which means they need to be done sooner rather than later.....and some to be given in person....needless to say even though I have had all year to think about what to make and then make the gift it seems I always end up burning the midnight oil to finish stuff!

Saturday was the Stitch n Bitch Christmas get together......as usual it was a lovely day, great company, great food and great gifts......always a lot of fun opening pressies.......




Amanda made each of us a Christmas cake and gave it in the blue casserole dish you see below.....hmmmm.....I wish I could show you the cake, but I am a sucker for Christmas cake and it's all gone.....already......you know it's like I said ...things have to be finished! but the dish is still here and will be very handy.......just the right size for one......Joyce knows I like a good cuppa .....and gave me the "tea for one" set....I see a theme here!  Linda found the coasters at a local craft market.....love them.....


 Cheryl made the Bernina a coat......poor thing has been naked for years....the Bernina, not Cheryl!  the colours aren't quite right in this pic, but you get the drift.....red/white - you can't go wrong.......love it....

I love buying PDF patterns on line - no waiting for the mail, they are in your email in box almost instantly - and when you are working to a deadline "instant" is what you are looking for......I bought the ironing board organiser pattern from Bonnie and whipped up a few......love this pattern and will be making it again...because now I need one! 


I also made some of Natalie Bird's thread catchers from her book Red Home......very quick and easy to make and the perfect "bed' for a Lindt bear and some candy canes! the table runner was a kit I bought at the Melbourne show earlier this year.....loved making it....so now need to make one of those for myself as well.....the new year is looking busy already!!


So after a great day with friends there is nothing like a good cuppa........


Then it was time to head home and even though I could have done with a nanna nap I knew that after walking around the boxes of Christmas decorations in the lounge room for a week it was time to open them and get decorating or put them back in the garage......


I started to put the tree up on Saturday evening.....by the time I got the lights untangled it was Sunday morning....I kid you not!  .....note to self - make more of an effort to put them away in an orderly manner (pffffft as if that will happen......!!)  so the rest of it was put on hold until Sunday.......hmmmmm where to put the tree this year....(the middle of the room where it currently was probably wasn't going to work.......where to put the bit of furniture that the tree displaced......well, as it happend, it (the furniture not the tree) ended up in my bedroom and I have to say it just might stay there...I like it!!  .....and all the "stuff" that had to be put away to make room for the decorations, that all went in the boxes that the Christmas stuff was in....hopefully whoever occupies the spare room at any stage during the holidays doesn't mind "sharing" with the boxes.......while that was all happening so was the cricket, so I had to stop every now and then to watch......Phew...... by the time I vacuumed up the bits of "tree" etc and tidied up it was late....but so nice to sit back and admire my days work! 



 
Another thing I ticked off the "to do" list was my gift for the FIS online group.......done and posted ..........along with the main gift were five advent gifts the first letter of which spell out SANTA....and isn't he a popular man this time of year........hopefully they arrive safely and the recipient will like what I have sent..........


Not much else going on at Chez Loz......ok....who am I kidding...this week is the lead up to the Festival of Loz......and this year it's a big number....yikes!!! 

'Til next time...............................Lorraine

12 comments:

Daisy Jayne said...

I am exhausted ...from just reading your blog.... have a great day

Susan said...

You do sound busy......but happy busy. Great idea to give the cake in a casserole dish (might pinch that one!), and how cute to give the Lindt teddy a bed. I think your post may have cost me some money, I have been thinking about buying the Bordeaux Berry runner for two weeks....yours looks gorgeous.

Susan said...

Oh.....and your cs parcels look great....are they coming to me?

Anonymous said...

boy you sure have been busy Loz and i love your decorating and the xmas tree,have a lovely day my friend.xx

seabreezequilts said...

Got to say I have a bit of thing about the xmas lights I always make sure they are all untangled and put in the cardboard dividers that they came with, its a bit of pain but so much easier to put them up. I'm amazed at how unstressed I am, xmas is at my place gift shopping is just about finished so it is just the food shopping and you can't do that for a bit yet. Have a lovely break and a nana nap in between xmas decorating is allowed.

Lynda said...

Everything looks wonderful. So much happening at your place. The FIS pressies look very pretty.

Cardygirl said...

The tree looks fab! Looks like you have been having fun! I pack my lights away in loops held together with cable ties...easy and neat!

Sue SA said...

The lights are in the box and staying there, as nobody helps me put the tree up, put it done or take the decorations off...they only want the fun bit of decorations on, so lights are off limits till one o the kids starts an electrician apprentice!
Have a fantastic birthday, hope you get spoilt rotten! PS nice presses made and received

Chookyblue...... said...

getting in the groove with your christmas party and the tree and your FIS swap out the door..........

Fairy Floss Stitches said...

I know Exactly where you are coming from with the tree....Today is the day!!.. Im sick of falling over boxes!
Lots of fun at your place..Xx L

Sue said...

You're like me Loz. I have 5 plastic crates in the shed with Xmas decs and i take down my everyday stuff to make room for all my adorable xmas things. (Otherwise it would look cluttered) Looking forward to the festival of Loz. Enjoy. Merry Christmas. xxx

DAWNIE said...

Love all the pica. Tree looks great as does those wrapped pressies