This week has not started too well. We have had a great holidays and I really switched off and enjoyed a much needed break. We caught up with some friends. We went on a great walk in the Yorkshire Dales (queue picture on my header). We ate alot. Drank alot. Chilled alot.

I knew I'd relaxed well because towards the end of last week my fingers were starting to twitch. I was beginning to sleep less well as I needed to get active with work again.

My studio had got into it's usual pre-xmas over-worked chaos that needed tackling head on. I had all these plans that required the children to be back at school. A trip to Ikea was in order so that I could sort the chaos. Oh and purchase some more fabric ;-)

Samuel was still off yesterday so that was already a staggered start to the week. Matthew was off too, so a trip to Ikea was order of the day. I'd been planning to get this set of drawers for a while - highly recommended by Madame TFD. Purchase made. Drawers built (by aforementioned off work hubby). Organisation started....

And that's where it's ended. The night's heavy snowfall has scuppered any further plans to regain order up in my studio. The children were off school today and with school closed again tomorrow, I'm not totally sure when I'll manage to venture up there again.

Still, there is something rather mesmerising about that colour coordinated site, don't you think? Or am I just a little more anal than normal?

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(P.S. Thank you for your lovely comments and good wishes about my grandparent's anniversary. We had a fab old time with grandad rather proudly declaring secrets of their courtship - stories we'd never heard before!)

Call me a bit slow but it has suddenly dawned on me today that not only is it New Year's Eve, but the end of a decade. I know, I know, where have I been hiding! The thing is it is my Grandparent's Wedding Anniversary today. Not just any anniversary, but their 70th. And as you can imagine this event has been much anticipated and for me anyway, has slightly distracted from where we are at in the world in general.

My Grandparents are the centre of our whole family and as a consequence we are an unbelievably close-knit family. Whether some of us are living overseas or elsewhere around England, it's as if we are never away from each other. That is true from the grandparents down to the now 3rd generation of the grandchildren's children.

From when we were children, we have always had a family tradition of Friday afternoon tea being held. When we were all little we used to gather after school. Big plates of bread and butter and jam, crumpets, and chocolate cake would be devoured. Then us kids would scatter ready for 'It's 5 to 5, it's Friday and its'....'! (If you're old enough you'll know what I'm talking about!)

This tradition still takes place today and no matter where abouts in the world you happen to be, you know that anyone who is in Leeds will be gathered at Grandma and Grandad's.

It may not be Friday, but guess where we will be this afternoon, celebrating an incredible event?

Wherever you may be on the cusp of this new decade, I hope it will be a memorable and special dawning for what is to come. Happy 2010 xx

(P.S. The wonderful card was done by the amazing Helen from storeyshop who came up trumps by producing this card super quick over the xmas period when yours truly hadn't got her act in gear quite soon enough to order in plenty of time. Thank you Helen, you are a star!)

It's my Mummy's birthday today, so the kids and I are just about to pop over and go and take her cards and presents. Unfortunately this present I ordered hasn't arrived in time. It's my own fault. I can't expect miracle postal delivery at this time of year. So last night whipped up this tea towel for her, so I wouldn't be going empty handed. I know it looks a bit raggedy. It's a linen mix and embroidering it creased it all up. And our iron is broken!

I need to give full and entire credit to the inspiration coming from Sam of Inklore. Sam is incredibly talented and produces the most beautiful screenprinted designs on her textile work. I've been a fan forever. Go check her out if you don't know Sam already.

One of my daughterly duties is to buy my Dad's card for her. He's disabled and can't get out on his own, so I always get one for him. Normally I get an overly slushy 'To my wonderful wife, I love you' kind of card, but when the kids and I were in town earlier this week I found this card and could not resist. You'd need to know my Mum and Dad to know how utterly appropriate this is!

Happy Birthday Mum! Wishing you a very special day for a very special Mum. (Managed the gush after all ;-))

How appropriate we should wake up to this winter scene when I was planning to send my festive cheers to you all this morning! I have no idea if it is due to last, but it always looks beautiful while it does. I love the light that comes into the house when there's snow outside. There's such a mysterious glow.

The downside is we are heading down to London today for a family celebration and I'm not relishing the extra time in the car it is going to take or the amount of extra layers we will have to drag with us.

Still, I suppose it is winter after all!

The children break up from school today, so I'm not very sure how much time I'll get to come on here over the next couple of weeks. And we'll all be busy with our families and own celebrations. So if I don't see you for a while I wish you a very merry Christmas and looking forward to sharing lots more with you in 2010.

I'm going to leave by sharing with you a scene that I think will be featuring quite highly over the next couple of weeks - having time to cosy up and drinking lots of hot tea!

(Latest purchase from my trip to Anthropologie)

Happy Christmas everyone xxx

Isn't that a pretty site?

Those of you who follow me on Twitter will know about my mad dash out yesterday to get wadding for my kits. I can't actually believe I ran out of one of my basic components. I really wasn't in the mood to head out...far too much to do at base camp...and with all the Christmas shopper traffic on the roads, it wasn't as straight-forward as it should be.

Needs must so I dropped everything and off I went.

It really wasn't too painful a trip. The traffic was pretty cloggy but not as bad as it could have been. I grabbed the aforementioned wadding (4 large bags) and on my way to the till, happened upon. That's right, happened upon...the above embroidery threads. It would have been rude to walk straight on by, so into my basket it popped and now it's sitting all serenely on my desk waiting for the right moment to have a play.

That moment may be days, weeks away. In the meantime, isn't it a pretty site?

Imbetween the hecticness of work at this time of year, I've been trying to make a few of my presents. I'm not doing too badly, surprisingly, but no doubt there will be the last minute franticness. I'm still planning on making all the children their own initial keyring. There aren't too many of them so it shouldn't be too much of a challenge.

I made a friend this purse. I was playing around with some of my new stash of Mikodesign fabrics. I think she'll be pleased with it.

Then the in-laws. My in-laws are very hard to buy/make for but I'm quite pleased with what I've come up with. My father-in-law is taking us all away next summer for his 80th so I've made them both a Passport Holder...useful and appropriate! I even spoilt them by cutting into my precious Liberty stash.

Hopefully they like it enough to at least use it next summer...if they don't lose it/wear it out before then.

Could not resist sharing this with you... What a cool idea to make with old sweaters! Check it out here along with other felt holiday projects.