The British Homemaker - One day at a time

I still cannot believe so much time has gone by since I last posted here. What is also amazing is all the good and not so good things that have happened in a few short weeks too! The biggest and best news I have is my youngest child, my lil dude was finally baptised into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints! He's so badly wanted this for a few years now but its customary to do so when a child turns 8, however with one hiccup after another it wasn't meant to happen so when one of the sisters popped by with the sister missionaries they were determined to make it happen. Belated Halloween photo but good grief he was awesome in his self made part! Photos will come shortly {computers off to have a make over today cos usb/s and other bits don't work} but it was a really awesome day with one happy little man hugging me oh so tightly come bedtime thanking me for making it happen. I really can't take the credit for it. I'm so proud of my doodlebug I can b...

Do you like white Christmas trees? I have to be honest I have never, ever liked or appreciated them, that is until I saw my moms last year and I kinda sorta maybe almost liked it, a teeny, tiny bit! Being in temporary accommodation when Christmas came last year we had zero tree/decorations so I set out building my own, or at least I planned to when my mom offered me to use her green one. The kids jumped at it and who was I to say no? I mean, they'd had so much to deal with for the previous 8 months that I was going to do anything to put some magic back in their lives if only for a couple of weeks. I think I should learn to stop digressing! ;) This week I went into town to get a couple of things I'd 'added' to my list, one being a 6' white Christmas tree. Now for those of you that know me in real life will know that my Christmas tree is the pride of the season seconded only to the Saviour himself. I usually have a huge one, 8' high by 5' wide at the...

I love things to do with homemaking, diy and creativity and for the last 5 years I haven't had a fire surround for the stockings to be hung... an absolute must in my house but it just wasn't feasible in our former home given the ridiculous amount of doors in just the living room and radiators on the other. However, a few months ago I gained a dark wood one from freecycle with an electric fire, it needs a good overhaul in all honesty but I just haven't got to that on my to-do list yet. BUT that doesn't stop me enjoying the fact that the kids now have a place to hang their stockings and i get to play at mantel dressing.... or is it a fire place? Here in the UK we call it a fire place/fire surround but our fellows in USA call them mantels....so we'll go with both.. keeps the peace, dontcha think? :) I have a gorgeous dark wood framed picture of the baby Jesus above the fire place/mantel, {another to-do list project, lighten up the frame} which i...

Week three and my little dude is still sick, week two and the teen is also sick... I am assuming that when they are both recovered I will be sick. I have an irrational fear of being ill. But that's for another day. On the 'up' moments with Charley he has been getting down and crafty with my cricut machine. He came up with an idea, I simply followed his directions... An A3 canvas board was covered with some thick fabric then Charley placed his strips of cardstock and numbers exactly where he wanted them. I added a bit of blitzy glitter glue to the push pins {he chose that way to secure them to the board} and job done! He's very impressed with his idea, I a so proud of him for getting something so awesome from his wonderful little mind! Forget the other two advents he has, this is the best....and if he says that over Moshi Monsters then that's the final word!!

I've been practising time management this last few weeks, I set out my to-do list, kept it real for this time of year and set out to achieve three things off the list per day... except Sundays. So far I am on target and I'm kinda proud of myself. Because I found a system that works for me I have been very blessed to have Christmas 'all wrapped up' as they say thanks to my seasonal craft sales... Handmade fabric wreath with a selection of accessories.  The popular wreath this year is silver. This mocha and polka is the second favourite. Handmade, lighted garlands. I do these in different sizes and they too have been flying out the door! I feel extremely blessed for the things I've been able to achieve this year, so very different to last year that's for sure :)

When Charley decided it was time he learnt to wrap a present he wasn’t kidding! No-one was even allowed to assist! Not bad for a 7 year old eh?

Charley is an innocent 7 year old who loves all things magical and imaginative. Last year everything was scored off the scale, from the mention of Santa to making cookies. He would do the I-need-a-pee dance at the sight of the tree or a gift. This year he’s taken it all in his stride. He has taken any opportunity to bake, make and create yet until the gingerbread house he hasn’t instigated anything himself. This worries me. Is my baby losing the magic, or has it been the toll of the year just pulling him back? Admitted I have lost all momentum this year with all the things I’ve had to deal with but I’ve tried hard for it to not affect him. Maybe I didn’t do enough, I don’t know. Then we watched The Polar Express together and he was back to a million questions a minute needing the answers to be just right. It was then that I saw that the magic is still there for him, he still believes. I’m not ready for him to question the magical side to Christmas . I’m not ready for him to st...

Rag garland with lights and an array of bright, funky baubles Chocolate marshmallow skewers sprinkled with glitter and other crunchies. Huge teacake! What can I say? Sorry did I show this already? Hehe Need a quick table centre piece? Just spray a basket, add a cute candle and add a pack of baubles! Unfinished table garland. More on this another day…its for the big day itself! Add some umph to a doorway! Add some strands of ribbon to your tree for that added effect. Throw in a little cutie and you are all set for the next thing.

I love the hymns we have available to us, I love to flick through the book and sing away {did I already mention that I am tone deaf and can’t sing for toffee?}. This time of the year I find I listen to them more, I make up my own cd and play it till its worn out, my kids are not always amused either because it takes away their choice of what goes in their ears but they end up singing or humming along, win-win I say! This year I find myself  humming this one below, I don’t know all the words but I’m pretty sure I will by the end of the year! 1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King! Let ev’ry heart prepare him room, And Saints and angels sing, And Saints and angels sing, And Saints, and Saints and angels sing. 2. Rejoice! Rejoice when Jesus reigns, And Saints their songs employ, While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, r...

It’s been some time since I got to post here. Why? Because so many things have happened and still happening that I haven’t had the concentration to sit and write regularly! So while I play catch up in the background and do some catch up posts I’m going to just share what I am currently doing. Rag Wreaths. I totally love making these! These are just the ones so far this week, I have so many more either in the making or planned to do. What I love about these wreaths is that they are fun and funky but also they can be used after Christmas too and any room will look awesome with one hanging on the wall! I’ve opened a Folksy shop where you can purchase these should you wish to do so. The P&P is free in the UK and I’m also offering a multibuy deal to save you all money! Sweet! Debs Linked up to: