Reading, Reading Reading

A belated Merry Christmas and a timely Happy New Year to all. This Christmas has been quite the hybernation for me and my Noisy boys - I think we are just at that time though where cabin fever might now be setting in as the wee boy has been a joyous mix of cranky/nutty! He has been an absolute diamond though for the last week so all is forgiven for at least one day. The boys are in fact out to give mum a little bit of peace and quiet - sigh!! The bump has been wriggling around lots this week - enjoying all the Christmas sugar I am sure - so I am looking forward to curling up on the sofa and devouring all my Xmas books!!

I was so lucky to receive 4 craft / studio /gorgeous home books. Handmade Home Living with Arts and Crafts has already been read cover to cover with drooling over photos and now I think I will ogle over peoples studio spaces - before I digest Ms Kirstie Alsopp's craft book - that is linked to her Channel 4 craft series in the UK.

I also wanted to share with you a picture of some fabulous designs done by a family just before Christmas. A mum and her wonderful noisy boys (she has 3!) all came round to print on some adult aprons I had made for them to give to their families. They were such fun to work with and each had made their own stamp to add to the designs. I was really impressed I have to say - what say you? I hope the grandmas and aunties were delighted!!

Mr Maker Straw Rocket Ship

This is an excellent Noisy Boy craft: it is quick, easy, involves glue, other things I have around the house and very little sit down time. All a plus in the life of a busy little boy who has ants in his pants most of the day. Then you get to play with it too - what more could a noisy boy ask. SO instead of showing you mine - pls find this great link as the lady in this blog spent the time to make hers look very pretty - I don't know what the term "napping child" means so mine weren't nearly as handsome (read blobs of paper on a straw).

Beginning of December means one thing in our home....

...advent calendar!! We have the most amazing advent calendar at our place so generously put together for us by my dear friend over at Appliquetions on etsy. I have never seen anything like it. With beautifully hand stitched backing, the needlework is then LADENED with little wrapped bags full of goodies for every day. The boy just LOVES coming down stairs from his slumber to unwrap the new day of delights - it is such an exciting build towards Christmas - a whole puzzle is split over the month for noisy boy to build piece by piece over the 24 days and mum loves the chocolate treats of course too! Yes, yes I do save some for hubby - I promise. So I just had to share with you a new project Cia has been beaverng away on in her studio this year. Check out these amazing reindeers, they are just the cutest decorations I have seen standing alone - but these ones have been saddled up with goodies already on their way to another lucky family. The pattern was found in a very inspiring book called Scandinavian Needlecraft by Clare Youngs which Cia based her design on - felting her own saddles out of gorgeous coloured yarn she had in her stash. These really were too cute to not be shown off I thought and a great idea if you were thinking of future Christmas gifts for your family.