Gifts.

Presents to me...

...a lovely oil painting of a robin...

...it's perfectly small, fits into the palm of my hand.

Also this painting of a cellist and a bassoonist. Well, it's almost a double bass (and I did learn 'cello for a year or so before children arrived on the scene - for when the bass becomes too heavy to carry & play), and the hair is pretty good (see later...). I really like it, it's from a friend I'd almost lost touch with, I need to get her something special in return. I'll get both paintings framed soon.

The 2011 Christmas books collection - I like to keep my bookcases topped up. I also got a needle felting kit and a needle felting book which is still to arrive.

Lots of lovely things, I feel very fortunate.

Presents from me...

Don't worry, I'm not going to list all the presents I got for friends and family. However, I wanted to show what I'd made for the Pay-It-Forward (PIF) hosted by Diane@HeartShaped that I joined in 2009 and finally honoured at the end of 2011 as I know all parcels have now been received and opened. I took the opportunity of it being close to Christmas to include a few Christmas related items...

Each present included a tiny matchbox sized mini nativity set. I already have one of these (see here) and it's probably my favourite Christmas decoration. I got them from a fair trade Christmas fund raising catalogue, my own set is from a couple of years ago and is slightly different.

Aside from the chocolate coins also included, I made all the other items - crocheted snowflake, felt ornament, mulled wine sachet, bracelet, fridge magnet and wooden bird.

I bought the wooden bird blanks and decorated them using my latest toy - a wood burning tool I bought in Lidl.

After a few attempts I found it easiest to make the burn marks using tiny dots.

For Vicki @ Vintage Vicki.

For Jacquie @ BunnyMummy.

For Suzy @ RusticVintageCountry.

Vicki and Jacquie I think already have their PIF volunteers but Suzy is still to start her search if you're interested.

I have a finished crocheted thing...

I made a cosy chunky wool scarf. The pattern is from Cute & Easy Crochet by Nikki Trench. I made almost all of it while watching Great Expectations so it will be forever linked in my mind with Pip, Estella and Miss Havisham.

See what I mean about the hair. As you can tell from the frown lines above my nose I usually do look this grumpy. How I wish I hadn't spent so many years frowning, I'll never get rid of the evidence now.

We had a tiny spell of sunshine this morning. I like how it highlights small clusters of clutter around the house.

My purple shoes arrived! Since aquiring a pair of red shoes, my next desire was a purple pair. When I noticed Moshulu were having a sale an order was duly placed. They're not quite perfect - I'd prefer the toes more square - but they're not bad at all.

I also had my first charity shop visit of 2012. There have been slim pickings recently -nice vintage items seem very thin on the ground. However I got four dinosaurs for N, two paperbacks for A, and yet another cookbook for me. It's Tana Ramsay's Real Family Food. On a quick flick through the bakewell slice caught my eye, though I'll be using 11oz of ground almonds not the 110 oz as written!

I've started another crocheted thing. It's something rippley! This means I can join the Attic24 and LittleTinBird Ripple Along. I got a few more rows done tonight whilst watching the last installment of The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy. A friend mentioned that she and her husband watch this every Christmas, it seemed a nice idea so hubby received a set of DVD's for Christmas and after 6 nights (1/2 a film per night) we've finally destryoyed the ring and saved Middle Earth, phew!

These are my intended colours. They took a while to choose, whether or not I stick with them all... we'll see. There's no purple, I decided on red as the accent colour this time. Speaking of purple again...

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Warning by Jenny Joseph

Hmmm, I think I'm practising already, I now have purple shoes, I've been wearing a purple coat for the last three years (I would have liked a new coat this year but I had to take back the one I bought as it was defective and haven't been able to find another I like that has long enough arms), as for hoarding things in boxes - I think I could win a prize! Mmmm sausages...