Gifts from Gamma

I thought I would show you what Gamma (Jean), who is Babes Mum, therefore my mother-in-law and the Princess's grandmother (all that detail so that you are clear on who she is!) made the Princess for Christmas.

I can't believe she made it, well I can because she is very clever . . . anyway, its this gorgeous, shabby chic, girly pretty, comforter for the Princess's bed.


The underside is pink gingham, so pretty! Its all I need on her bed at the moment because it is so warm here at night. In the winter I will fold it and have it sitting on the end of the bed.

We all want one!!!


A few posts back I showed you my Christmas presents, well here is a close up of the ornamental shoe Gamma gave me.


Isn't it stunning! The heel and body part of the shoe are ceramic, the toe and embellishments are all fabric, braids and lace. It has sewn a seed, thinking, thinking . . .

We are having a great summer, its hot, hot, hot here right now, just lovely, we have our little pool up and the Princess and I have been having fun playing in it and cooling off.

Our children don't start back at school until early February. I am loving having the Princess home, no getting up early, getting dressed early or making school lunches!!! Bliss or as my best friend Mary Thistle says "Heaven on a Stick".

I am off to bed, a big day tomorrow, stuff to do, places to go, people to see . . . you know how it goes . . .

Take Care, Bye for Now

Rachaelxo

Christmas Pressies

We got so spoilt with Christmas pressies from the family this year, loads of gorgeous things. I made a little arrangement so you could see what we got.

I told my Mum I wanted good sheets and towels so she kindly obliged. The sheets are to die for, 400 count Egyptian cotton, I can't wait to get into bed at night and very loathe to leave in the morning!

I also got scented roses, a fanciful ornamental shoe (which has planted a seed!), web cam, food vouchers, bath goodies, book, shawl, shower gel, painted mushroom (Princess), lip gloss, decorated hand duster (Mum), lavender plants, herb plants, yummy cheese spread (Amah), lavender soap and key ring. Some of those were joint presents for Babes and I, like the sheets, food vouchers, web cam etc. Lucky I am good at sharing!!!

Didn't we do well though!!!



Along with the world wide recession we have our own personal one going on so I made all of our gifts for other people. I made our little Chinese friends their own Christmas stocking, the same as I did for The Princess last year, vintage chenille and fur!!


I sewed four of these aprons, one adult size and three children's size, one for a friend, two for our little Chinese friends and one for The Princess.


All three little girls also got a white t-shirt that I had hand stitched hearts and a button on to.


Years ago Babes granddad had made these wooden toadstools, so I painted one for each of the girls also. This one is The Princess's.


My Mum, Babes two grandmothers and Babes Aunty all received one of these bags made by moi!


They each got three coat hangers, a heart and a set of shoe stuffers, all heavily filled with lavender from my garden. I also 'tarted' up a bar of lavender soap for each of them.


Lots of people received these home baked and decorated cookies The Princess and I made together. We had so much fun doing them!


I have other stuff I made as well but can't show at the moment as some people haven't received their gift as of yet.

Loved Christmas this year, loved making things for everyone and loved seeing everyone open what I had made them!

Next post I will show you the dress I made for my fairy niece. I am thrilled with it.

Bye for now

Rachaelxo

Christmas Day 2008

We had the most wonderful Christmas Day this year. Happy in every sense of the word. It started very early at 6am with one very excited Princess squealing in delight at the present laden pillowcase Santa left at the foot of her bed and at the chomped up bits of carrot the 'reindeer' had spat out all over the front lawn!!!!

Santa was generous but very sensible this year. The Princess got a scooter to encourage outdoor activity and Junior Scrabble for us all to play with and extend our minds!!!

She did get loads of gifts from the rest of the family but fortunately lots of books and activity type things.


My Mum stayed the night and Babes grandmother (Amah) came over to watch the present opening early morning! I was in the this photo but it was hideous so I cropped it!! Love that cropping tool!!


Even though it was very hot and sunny we had a traditional Christmas dinner, turkey and trimmings. Here it is uncooked on the kitchen floor, it was a whopper and the pan wouldn't fit on the bench.


And then cooked, still on the floor - I did wash the floor the night before!


My Mum set the table, it looked gorgeous, we used a table cloth and napkins Jean my mother in law had made and sent from Australia to use on Christmas Day.


Christmas was extra special this year because we invited our Chinese friends to share it with us and our extended family. It was their first experience of a traditional European Christmas and Christmas dinner so it was wonderful to see it through their eyes. (The children's glasses are Sparkling Grape Juice - looks like wine!!!)


The children even had a special visit from Santa, they couldn't believe what they were seeing!!!


In true Christmas fashion, the aftermath of Christmas Day, the trashed present opening room!

I've really enjoyed catching up with you all and seeing what you did for Christmas Day.

For my next post I will show you what I got for Christmas and the gifts I made for people.

I'm off to finish a dress I am making for my little 2 year old niece Miss Georgia Mary Fairy!!!

Till next time,

Bye . . .

Rachaelxo