Christmas Dinner with the family.

Are you all organised?

Have you finished shopping? 

Will the turkey fit in the oven? 

Have you forgotten anyone?.......... are you sure?

If you're hosting the Christmas Dinner don't forget that......

Sophie is allergic to nuts, 

Uncle Tom only drinks malt whiskey, 

Aunt May only likes the white meat and Aunty Anna likes the dark, 

or is that the other way around? 

Cousin Charlie will feed his sprouts to the dog under the table, 

Little Jimmy will pinch Uncle Tom's whiskey when nobody is looking,

Grandma doesn't like parsnip, Granddad will say “I'll have hers” 

Sophie won't eat Christmas pudding, 

Aunt May will only want a little bit, 

Aunty Anna will want second helpings, 

Little Jimmy is after Uncle Toms whiskey again, 

Sophie wants cheesecake, 

Cousin Charlie wants apple pie and custard, 

Grandma wants her Christmas pud with fresh cream, 

Granddad wants his with Brandy butter, 

Little Jimmy will fall off his chair. 

Don't forget the cheese and biscuits?

However you spend your Christmas I wish you a very happy and enjoyable one and may your 2014 be all you wish it to be.

Best Wishes to All

Jan x

I'm popping over to Handmade Harbour's Linky Party, you're welcome to join me.

I Love You to the Moon & Back, Hanging Hearts and Snowy Scenes

Hello all, another busy week, whether it's shopping, baking organising or making. I'm sure you've all been busy too.

One of my jobs this week has been painting a few Hearts, these are all 15cm x 15cm or if you prefer imperial measurements it's 6x6inches and have a ribbon for hanging up.

I Love You to the Moon and Back has continued to be a popular saying, these Hanging Hearts were ordered as a gift for sisters, They have slight differences in the placing of the stars and the colours, one being dark blue the other a deep purple.

I Love You to the Moon & Back

Hanging Hearts with Moon & Stars

I usually leave the backs of the Hearts plain but I decided to paint stars on the back of these, I know if they are hanging against a door or wall nobody will see the backs anyway but if they are hanging in a window or somewhere they can spin around I thought it would be a nice touch.

I've also been painting snowy scenes on Hearts.....

A Snowy Scene on a Hanging Heart

Houses in the Snow Hanging Heart

Hand Painted Hanging Hearts

Wishing you all a great week and don't forget to pop over to this weeks Handmade Monday Link up.

Jan x

Gingerbread Houses and Doors for Santa's Elves & Winter Fairies

Gosh, it's the first day of December already, the day you can start to open the doors of your Advent Calender.

This week I've been busy with Gingerbread Houses. 

Gingerbread has a long history, I read that Gingerbread was brought to Europe in 992ad by an Armenian Monk and from there the love of Gingerbread spread across Europe to Britain and America.

It's believed that Gingerbread Houses became popular after the story of Hansel & Gretel by The Brothers Grimm was published. 

These Christmas Tree Decorations are painted individually so are all slightly different and in different colours. 

Gingerbread House Tree Decoration

Handpainted Gingerbread House Tree Decoration

Gingerbread House with a Candy Cane

I've also painted a little Gingerbread Man for a Tree Decoration.

Watch out here comes the history snippet.. 

The popularity of the Gingerbread Man has been attributed to Queen Elisabeth 1. (1533-1603) It is said that she had the gingerbread figures made and presented in the likeness of some of her important guests and courtiers.

Gingerbread Man Christmas Tree Decoration

Christmas Fairy & Elf Doors have been a hit this year too, they are great for weaving a story around, they are a way for Santa's helpers to pop in from the North Pole to see how the children are behaving or as an alternative to a Santa Key. If you are going away from home for the festivities you can take the Door with you and Santa will know where to leave any presents.

I have traditional Reds and Greens,

Christmas Elf Doors in Red & Green

lovely Blues

Christmas Elf & Winter Fairy Doors in Blues

and even Pretty Pinks..

Pink Christmas Doors for the Winter Fairy

Don't forget that if you'd like to purchase any of these items (or similar) please contact me.

I hope you all have a great week and don't eat all the advent chocolates before the first week is out!!

This post is linked to  Handmade Harbours Linky Party

Jan x