We had a great day out yesterday and London was all of a buzz!! Lights and people everywhere. I loved the atmosphere here outside the Natural History Museum and to watch the ice skating was brilliant! Today, New Year's Eve, we must shop and get ready for tonight's end of year celebrations...Happy New Year everyone!

Looks as though it's going to be a lovely day as we head off to the Big City to see dinosaurs and other marvels in the Natural History Museum! I absolutely love London .. but also love to get back to the sea!!

I feel a sense of achievement that I have completed various projects that I wanted to do before the end of the year. It has been a time of 'finishing off' and here is a pile of completed throws. Hopefully I shall now have the incentive to start afresh in the New Year. I am walking around with a notebook at the moment and so far have written "2012" and "Projects". That's as far as I've got, but never mind, it's a start!! Off to collect youngest grandson today, and off to London tomorrow.....

I think this is the first Christmas that I have had time to myself! It worked really well having a family time the week before and it has meant that we have really been able to chill out and be self indulgent. Of course, for me, that meant time to play with my embellisher. This will be the last chance until next year (!) and so I have made the most of it! My head was buzzing with ideas when I went to bed last night...how lucky I am never to feel bored......always some new venture on the go...

I grabbed an hour the other day to spend splashing around with my paints...very therapeutic! I realise I can create things when the mood takes me...the minute I think I've got to do something...the desire to do it goes. That's why I no longer take commissions for people, because I feel under a certain amount of stress..and therefore loose any enjoyment. Now the New Year approaches, it gets me in the mood to get my life organised (I keep trying). I shall start writing lists and planning what I want to achieve in 2012. It did work this year, because one of my goals was to produce a book of my work. Well, I have actually produced 2, and am very pleased with the results!

Joy to the World! What a brilliant time we had last night...utter chaos at the Christingle service with over 200 people, and then a beautiful midnight mass. A bit tired now..but chauffering the priest off to another service in a minute. Have a good day x

Well...it's Christmas Eve and the sun is shining...so I'm off for a good, long walk in a minute with my girls!!! Can't believe that I had time to play with my embellisher yesterday..but I did. I'm doing lots of samples to see what effects I can get, and I've started to needle felt them together. The idea is that I shall have (hopefully) an inspirational piece that I can use as a reference point if and when I start to make something sensible. In the meantime I do wish everyone a peaceful and contented time over this holiday......x

A fantastic day yesterday..just like spring. I'm sure the birds thought it was as they were singing so happily. So was ( I !) and I celebrated by spending much of the day outside....walking, dyeing and chatting. Here is this week's bunch of picked flowers.

I can't tell you how good it was to get back to playing yesterday afternoon....it felt like coming home!! I absolutely love working with felt,so I need to make more as I have very little left. It's a very strange feeling at the moment, because we have had our family Christmas, and I am seeing everyone getting very stressed,rushing around the shops ... I am feeling very relaxed and calm and , if I'm honest, slightly superior!! Seriously though, I do recommend it......I can now enjoy the church celebrations, and this morning I am helping to prepare the oranges for Christingle. Have a good day everyone, and don't get too exhausted!

I love these pictures of one of my granddaughters modelling a knitted creation......she wants to be my business partner one day!! After family has left today, I can relax (sorry all of you who are still rushing around!) and maybe later even get my new embellisher out, and have a play, Yippee!!

Well, we had our Christmas yesterday...a great day was had by dogs and humans! The weather outside was disgusting, so it felt really good to be indoors with lights. fires Off to the panto today..

It's still dark outside, so the candles are bringing their lovely soft light into the home. Today family arrive with a selection of grandchildren. We are having our Christmas Day with them tomorrow, so all presents etc. are now wrapped and will be put under the tree today. Also, we have a double celebration because our golden retriever, George, (a girl!) is 3...so is today having a birthday party with Jaz and Madge!!!

I've been unwell this week with a sickness bug and so haven't felt very creative. I was wondering what picture to put on my blog today when I came across this slightly withered and faded (like me!!) rose. I thought, that even in its dying days, it had a particular kind of beauty. I read the other day that "nature nurtures the soul". How true.

Here are some pages from one of my art journals...I really do love working with paper. and splashing around with paint. The trouble with me is that I like everything....at least I'm never bored!! By the way, I can't quite work out why three of these pictures are upside down...hey ho..

My 'red' phase continues....and this is what I have knitted so far. After draping it around my mannequin, I have had second thoughts about felting it. It certainly hangs well in its natural state. We shall see..

Our knitting group had a great party yesterday. I have been trying to upload a video of our musical concert, but unfortunately I can't seem to do it. Meanwhile I hope you enjoy a selection of photos which I think capture the atmosphere.

Had another play last night. I felted knit on to felt, and felted on to knit. It's all very exciting and I am discovering things all the time. I still can't get over how easy it is.......It's also very economical because I only use tiny bits of fleece each time I embellish. The cat is slightly miffed because his bed is beginning to disappear!!

The great thing about my new toy (embellisher) is that it is so quick and easy to use. No fiddling around with threads and spools.....but straight in there. So, when I literally had half an hour to spare on Saturday, I had a go and did loads in 30 minutes. I've now got to make some more felt so that I can continue to play. Someone sent me a quote the other by George Bernard Shaw. It went something like this....."You don't stop playing because you're old, You're old because you stop playing."