Seasonal Red

It's that time of year,

preparing the home with Christmas decorations,

featuring the warmth & brightness of the colour Red

With the latest weather,

 snow helps add to that christmas feel,

 as the snow wraps itself around the many clusters of red plump berries.

The Christmas season blending together,

 with the manmade efforts & the ways of nature.

Sigh of Relief

Finally, getting organised with Christmas preparations.

 Just enjoyed a lovely week off from work, although it went far too quickly, 

 but time used mainly  to bascially catch up with myself.

The Xmas decorations I displayed, above, are nearly all my own work except for the santa.

I made a table runner using techniques of patchwork & quilting. Then a cross stitch christmas hanging, a few years old now but I was please with the effort I had put into this.

Finally, 'Noel', the centre of a cushion I had made, using cross stitch once again.

The top cushion is one that I kept for myself,

& the bottom cushion I gave to my neighbours,

but knowing how much they enjoy the festivities of Christmas,

especially with their famillies & friends, I knew this was appreciated.

SEASONAL   GREETINGS

The Festive Mood. . . .

Starting to sort out the Christmas decorations.

The first to be found is the cross- stitch creations.

The centre Christmas Tree was a present for myself  from one of my Niece's a few years ago.

The framed stocking was one my daughter made when she was about 10 years old.

They both come out every year.

I taught both my daughter & my niece how to cross stitch,

so both projects have significant meaning.

The other Christmas stockings are projects that I made.

The fully embroidered stocking is specifically for the tree.

It's quite tiny & it was awkward to make.

There is a series to this but never gone back to make the rest yet. . . .

Most projects have to be quick to make these days.

My niece's Christmas Tree featured again.

 The bear has been used many a time for presants. . .

Countdown

The countdown of Christmas has now begun. . . .

Although, this year, I've not even given it alot of thought yet,

 and I am not as organised as I should be.

But, I now have a week off  from work,

so maybe, I'll get myself sorted. . . .

Over the years, I have preferred to make some of the Christmas decorations.

The Advent Calendar above was made when my daughter was 2 years old.

She is now twenty-two.

The tree shape was made from a corduroy fabric, while the pockets were made from Xmas prints.

The numbers, I worked in Cross Stitch, & then handstitched in place.

Each year, I would put a small gift into each pocket, not always chocolate, maybe a hairslide, etc., although, the 24th number always had a small amount of money.

Needless to say, this became a tradition for our Christmas's.

My daughter may be older, but she still expects to see it hanging somewhere within our home, even if the pockets are left empty now. . . .

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S E A S O N A L   G R E E T I N G ' S    

Signs of Autumn

      

Now, there's plenty of evidence that show's signs of  the forthcoming Autumn.   So many plants so heavily laden with berries.  Will certainly keep the birds happy, but I just hope it's not a signal for a very hard or long winter.

Hedgerows full of ripening Blackberries. . . . really delicious in a pie especially with apples.

Blackberries, an inspiration for a Cross Stitch project some years ago. . . .

Conneaster

Rowan

Elderflower. . . .thoughts of elderflower wine or cordial.

Ducks & Geese at Slimbridge

One favourite place to visit is Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucester where there is numerous ducks, geese & swans, even flamingo's, besides other wildlife.

The Wetland centre is dedicated to wildlife & conservation.

Flamingo's

The Mute Swan

The Greylag Goose

I was inspired to produce these Geese cross stitch pictures, but still waiting to fine suitable photo frames.

The Teal

With the thought of ducks, I couldn't resist making this cross stitch picture just a few years ago, very characteristic at Easter.

Weddings

The cross-stitch project was ideal as the overall wedding theme was burgundy red, as the wedding took place just days before Christmas.

A smaller version of the previous embroidery.

A present for my niece & her husband together with the calico heart to open on their special day in Barbados.

I always try to discover what the colour theme of the wedding is, which is then a colour I can incorporate.

This cross-stitch project was for a June bride & her husband.

This time, I included the date of their wedding to make it even more personal.

Birth & Birthdays

My most recent was the Cocktail & glass for a 21st Birthday.
Very please at how this turned out.

I was also fortunate enough to have been able to do the cross-stitch for Lucy's 18th aswell.

If a lack of time, then I have just created intials to be slipped into the front of a photo album.
These pressies I've found to be brilliant for several different celebrations.

And not forgetting Birth samplers,
one for a Boy & one for a Girl!