Our Christmas in Pictures *********************** Out of the Box on Boxing Day

A portrait of the colours, scents and flavours of our Christmas

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Boxing Day trip out to the seaside of Hunstanton

Christmas is a time of Love and embracing it, a time to go back to childhood days and playfulness! So on the second day of Christmas me and my dear hubby fancied doing something different and more adventurous and went for a ride to the seaside and enjoyed a good walk watching the sea and the horizon - it was such a simple pleasure to walk along the front with a cup of hot chocolate and a cup of tea  - it was the first time I saw the seaside on a winter day - let alone on second Christmas day! Surprisingly it didn't look less cheerful and vivid than the rest of the year however pleasantly peaceful! And I liked that! The sunset was just heart warming, the orange tones were so kind and rich just like the festive flavours of cinnamon orange zest and chocolate- it was nature's own way of adorning itself!

My latest albums

The Annual International Craft Fair , NEC Birmingham

I find it hard to believe it's only a week since I went the NEC Craft Fair! Seems ages ago!

Sadly I could barely move in there, let alone take pictures but pleased I caught a snippet of the Prima line featurig some of Donna Downey's art. All very pretty of course!

I was however surprised 7Gypsies items were faintly there, but I also felt so little in this big big place full of artistic goodies!
Not to mention the Cake Fair!
But I'd better let the pictures speak for themselves!

It's looking good!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today it is indeed looking good for two reasons:
I'm very proud of my 4th album for the spring line, done in 2 evenings and with a soft vintage air, but counteracted by a fresh young colour contrast!

Needs embellishing inside but pretty even without! Here it is:

But even more proud, actually ecstatic with this:

I came back from work today, opened the door checked out the post and guess what was inside?! My 6 years' worth-of-waiting - QTS! Wow! I'll make a confession: I screamed and jumped with joy when I saw it! Such a masive achievement! Hope fully will be put to a good use in the future as that makes me a fully qualified teacher here! Once a T, always a T! Can't get away from it, that voice inside tells me that! :)

Passionate about my growing craft plans

So happy I have a plan for spring! I am thinking bigger: the words are EXHIBIT - JOURNAL JOURNEY - 7TH MARCH! i SHALL BE BOOKING A STALL to display my journals at a craft event next spring! I'm soooooo excited! My stall look ideas are growing every day! And my journal making inspiration likewise! I'm so much more productive all of a sudden!

Here's my first few items I made for this event:

October highlights

Swift snow, concert countdown and quince poaching

Yes, I did say October snow, it happened while we were on holiday in Romania. The need for adventure was stronger than the weather forecast message and here we were, turning around before even getting to Sinaia resort, as the skies opened, sieving white cold 'flour' and laying a carpet ahead of us. So going straight back was not an option. Surreal, but the cold was blooming real!

Back from holiday, chance made it that I found out I can book us 2 tickets to the Chris Rea concert at Nottingham which will happen next year on 15th March!
Sooo looking forward to that!

And if that wasn't geeky enough, the domestic goddess in me created a French gourmet art with 6 quinces bought for us by my parents and 'smuggled in' lol (need I mention there's nowhere to find quinces here in England), I poached them and decorated them with rosemary to look pretty in the jars! Picture will follow!!!

Such A GRAND day!

Yes, it's been absolutely surreal our day at the Grand Designs Live Show!

Me and Paul shook hands with Kevin McLoud THE Grand Designs star!

And got an autograph with my name on!!!!!

And as if that wasn't enough I've got a picture as well! Not 1 but two pictures!

How smug and star struck do I look?

So inspiring the whole event!