Merry Christmas

I hope you all had a lovely and fun filled Christmas, shared with those you love.  It all seems to have gone so quick, all that planning and preparation, and it is all over.  I spent the day with my family, and no Christmas is complete without the Christmas family photo.

Me and Mum took the opportunity to dress up.

And of course Molly couldn't be left out.

So that's it for another year.

~ Gem x

Christmas Time In Glasgow

As I'm sure you all know by now, I LOVE Christmas, it is one of my favourite time's of year.  I was fortunate this year to be able to visit Glasgow during a work trip, and in particular George's Square.  All I can say is that it looked beautiful amongst all the snow, Christmas Lights and decorations.  Of course I had my camera to hand, I can share with you some of the sights, although the pictures don't really do it any justice.

Santa's sleigh beneath the tree.

A snow covered Lion

Such a treat to visit this festive little space just in time for Christmas. 

~ Gem x

Festive Flower Arranging : Week Four

 I have really enjoyed this course and I have actually learnt quite a lot which is even better.  I think of the four sessions the first and last were my favourites.  This week was really basic and quite easy, it is surprising how simple some of the displays are, however to look at it I would never have said I would be capable of anything like this.  

The arrangement is the same all the way round with a candle in the centre.  A real simple but effective design that anyone could do it.  And trust me, if I can do it, anyone can.

~ Gem x

Baby It's Cold Out There

I think the title says it all, it's absolutely freezing out there today, and to add to the title I am listening to the song while writing this, I'm a sucker for Christmas songs. 

We took a visit today to the Battlesbridge Antique and Craft Centre, it was cold, oh so cold, but oh so very pretty indeed.

It still wasn't too cold for the swans though.  Beautiful and so elegant.

How gorgeous do those fields look in a frosty blanket.

The centre was quiet, I think most people had decided to stay at home in the warm, they obviously had more sense than we did.  However it meant that it was nice and easy for us to have a mooch around all the buildings looking at the antiques and crafts, without loads of crowds to contend with. 

After walking around for a couple of hours I was feeling as though I had frozen down to the bone and so we went to warm ourselves back up in the local pub.

We were even blessed with some snow, albeit only for 10 minutes.

It was a lovely day, although I'm glad to be at home now all snuggled up in the warm, on the sofa with the laptop and X-Factor on the box.

~ Gem x

Festive Flower Arranging : Week Three

I'm over halfway through the course now, only one more workshop to go.  I was really pleased with this weeks arrangement, and unlike the previous weeks, we have given it a slight festive feel.

Christmas is fast approaching, only 30 more days to go until the big day.  I have so much planned in the run up to Christmas, at the moment I feel like I am getting nothing done.  I'm starting to feel a little un-organised, which isn't like me at all.  It is time for me to pull my finger out and get a move on ready for the festivities to begin. 

~ Gem x

Festive Flower Arranging : Week Two

Last night saw week 2 of the festive flower arranging workshop.  I think I preferred the first week but still learnt a lot last night.

I'm already looking forward to next week's challenge.  It's nice to have something to look forward to on a Monday for a change.  

~ Gem x

Festive Flower Arranging : Week One

I started my festive flower arranging course last night, with my mum.  It is a 4 week course, a total of 8 hours held at Hylands House in Chelmsford.

It was a slow start but well worth it.  I really enjoyed it and learnt so much, which is always a good thing.  To top it off, I think this could well be something I am good at.  I'm so proud of the end result, especially for a first attempt.

As you can see it is quite a simple design but one that can be amended to any occasion or time of year.  We opted for a subtlee approach this week as we felt it is just a little too early to be getting too festive around the house, but that time will come, just wait. 

~ Gem x

Spirit Of Christmas

It seems like so long ago now that I visited the fair, but oh what a time I had.  As I'm sure you will work out for yourselves over time, I absolutely LOVE Christmas, and I cannot express my excitement to you that there are only 47 days until Christmas, yes only 47.  

The smell as you entered the fair was absolutely gorgeous, a real mix of spices and Cinnamon.  As soon as I stepped through the main doors my eyes lit up like those of a small child on Christmas morning when they see all their presents for the first time.  I didn't know where to look or where to go first, there just seemed to be so much there.  

It was a great day spent admiring all the stands and starting my Christmas shopping, plus a great way to gain some decorating inspiration for the festive season.

A very festive day.

~ Gem x

Halloween Celebrations

I have been busy over the past week with my build up to Halloween with lots of lovely activities to mark the occasion.

 

It all started off on Wednesday evening with a Jack the Ripper walk through London with some work colleagues.  It was a very interesting evening and I actually learnt quite a lot which is even better.

The start of our walk.



The celebrations continued Friday evening when I held a Halloween Disco, with a friend, as a fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer Support, it was a great night and helped to raise over £500.

The costumes were absolutely amazing and everyone made a real effort.

Saturday night was another fundraiser this time a quiz night themed Halloween.  We raised over £400, so within a weekend we have raised just over £1,000, AMAZING!

Then Sunday was when all the fun really began, Halloween at last had arrived and I began decorating our front garden for the occasion, and carved just a few pumpkins.

My favourite Pumpkin

All the Pumpkins together.

The decorated garden.

We were in-undated with trick or treaters, we had so many in fact that I ran out of sweets, and had to crack open a tin of Quality Streets meant for Christmas.  O well, the trick or treaters couldn't go without.

Happy Halloween

~ Gem x 

21st Birthday Celebrations

21 years ago today I became a big sister.  I was so proud of my little brother and wouldn't let him out of my sight.  I helped look after him when he was ill and stopped him from running off when we were out, I was so protective of him.  Isn't it funny how things change as we grow up, now he is the one who is protective over me. 

~ Gem x

A Sudden Downpour

I am starting to feel as though we may have had our summer for this year and that Autumn is well on it’s way. The leaves are starting to turn on the trees, I’m feeling that chill in the air more often and the heavy downpours are becoming more frequent. Although I don’t mind the downpours so much, as long as I am inside. I must admit I am a lover of rain. The smell, it’s so fresh and gives me a great feeling. I could get lost just sitting and watching it, the drops falling onto the ground and running down window panes.

From my office window today I was mesmerised by watching how the world changes, people running to get to a dry place. It’s never quite the same when you are that person though, but for today I was grateful to experience that warm feeling once more. 

~ Gem x

Who Knows Where This Could Take Me.

Well here it goes.  Hello, and thank you for visiting my blog. I have been thinking about doing this for some time now and thought I would just bite the bullet and get on with it.

As you can see from my profile I am 23 and living at home with my parents, brother and not forgetting our cat Molly. For a few years now I have dreamed about buying my own house with my boyfriend in the countryside. I can picture it now, lots of handmade furnishings, a gorgeous smelling kitchen, a huge garden with home grown vegetables with some chickens and pigs, the fresh air and being a part of a friendly village community. As well as this dream I have one other, to have and run my own business, a home furnishings and gift boutique (isn’t this what many girls dream of nowadays?).

For almost a year now I have been learning to sew (aided with a trusted machine) and am looking to venture further and learn how to knit, you will have to stay tuned to hear how that goes! I am hoping with having this blog it will encourage me to pull my finger out and get on with my hobby, extend my skills and start my business. There is no looking back now. I am going to start off small and work my way upwards.

Here is the start of my journey and I look forward to sharing it with you.

 ~ Gem x