Christmas in October

I have been inspired by the IACW posts these last few days. The ladies over there have been showing Christmas stuff and on 12th October, Claireliz showed her mini book that she has prepared ready for the festive season.
Like me, she doesn’t have time to take part in any big classes in December, she does her own thing. I was missing the advent calender in our house so I came up with this.

 

Advent 2009

 

I use 28 of my favourite Christmas cards from the previous year. I cut the card and use just the side with the picture. I cover over any writing that I don’t want to see, with plain card leaving me a clean white space to journal and decorate. The journaling is now on the left hand side of the book and the lovely festive scene is on the right hand side. You can leave it as it is, put the date or day number on, or what ever rings your Christmas bell!
I start with a cover and journal 25 days about the preparation for our Christmas. I like to do a reflection page and a page for extra photos. If you bind the back cover facing ‘the other way’ you will gain the extra page and your back cover will be done.
If you would like to see the rest of my project it is here

October photos 14/31

Michaelmas daisy

I never realised until today that Michaelmas daisy’s were so beautiful.

My nana had so many in her garden that whenever I see them I think of her. I thought they were kind of raggedy, dusty plants.

Today I had the opportunity to look around the garden of a lovely couple that I visit. The garden was full of beautiful autumn colour. I could have stayed there examining every plant I saw! but I took this photo for my project and for the memory.

I took three more photos but I will keep them for another post!

October Photos 13/31

Bed Head Corn

bed head corn

We didn’t celebrate halloween when I was a child and yet in Ireland when my mother was growing up it was huge. I remember mention of ‘pagan feast’ but the detail has gone now. Maybe it was just too much for mum, there were so many of us. We would have fought over using the bed sheets!
When my son was growing we used to do the whole thing! dressing up, party, trick or treat and of course it fell in 1/2 term so it marked the start of the Christmas preparations.
I miss it really.
I loved the scary looking corn and braved curious stares whilst trying to take a picture without any scary shoppers (or the permanently placed RAC man) in the photo!

October Photos 12/31

Ecclefechan
I didn’t like the look of these these at all.

Ecclefechan


They looked worse cut into little pieces in those cup cake wrappers. I didn’t have a clue what the words on the box were saying so I ignored the taster pieces and went straight for the victoria sponge which I knew was lovely. The demonstrator caught me. “no thanks” I said. ” I really just don’t like the look of them” Undeterred she said. “do you like Eccles cakes?” “Yes I do’ I said. “Do you like mince pies?” she asked. My husband jumped in there. “her favourite food!” So embarrassing. “Try a little piece” she said, “they are to die for”. How could I say no to that? I tried a piece, I am hooked, they are beautiful and I need some more… They are called Ecclefechan… does anyone know what that means?

October Photos 11/31

Two photos today.

beautiful stone wall

I have had an exhausting day.

When I saw this beautiful stone wall with the sun shining through the trees on the way home tonight, I knew I had seen todays photo. Not only do I think it is lovely but sometimes my work feels a bit like it.

.

Then I saw this

...just lovely

and thought, sometimes my day is a bit like this, special, wonderful and uplifting, just like this beautiful Virginia Creeper.