Snow Show

The Saltmine Theatre Team arrived yesterday at 8.30am and set up in the chapel. All this scenery and equipment from one white van!

I loved the amazing fabric flowers on the umbrellas

The show was brilliant – the story of the Snow Queen, and how a shard of her ice in Kai’s eye almost turned him into a sad and frozen boy – but his friend Gerda rescued him, and all was well.

It was a clever retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen story – ending with the discovery that the true message of Christmas is love. Love for family and friends, but more than that, the love that God has, for he sent Jesus to be our Saviour.

We had two performances yesterday [one afternoon matinee for the village school KS1, and an evening public performance] Today it will be a morning show for KS1 for the school where I have done supply work this term, and then in the afternoon, the village school KS2.

The audiences have been really well behaved and entered into the atmosphere [and sung the songs with gusto] Oh yes they have!

Huge thanks to all those who have helped – especially Lynda, Gwen, Janet, Val, Ian, John, Sue [hope I’ve not missed anyone there – apologies if I have!!] and the families who have provided hospitality for the team overnight.

And big thanks to the team themselves – Anna, Becky, Becky, Ben and Paul.

Pretty In Pink

One of my work colleagues is taking her young grand-daughter to the Panto. “I wish I could go dressed as a princess” said the child [who is 6 years old, but tall for her age] My friend was not impressed with either the quality, sizing or price of what was on offer in the shops. Could I help to provide a pink princess dress, please?

This project has been such a joy to produce.

I used the pattern in last month’s Prima magazine as a starting point [plus one of the young lady’s dresses, which I borrowed as a size reference]and added sleeves and an overskirt. The bodice is two layers-- lined with the same pale pink fabric, and there is a punk tulle underskirt. The sheer overskirt and sleeves are decorated with tiny gold stars.

The picture above shows where I got to at teatime Tuesday – ready for final hand-finishing and trimming. Bob suggested something simple and I found this lovely heart jewel in my bead box, so that went at the waist, and a tiny white bow with a pearl at the neckline.

I found a couple of children’s bracelets in the bead box too, all pink and sparkly, so made a little drawstring bag and popped them in [well, they are too small for me!] I also covered a hanger in some more pink fabric. At the back I put a sash. I’d made the dress on the generous size, so the sash will pull it in for now – and she will be able to go on wearing the dress even when she grows a bit more.

I put four vintage pink sparkly buttons on the back – it is easier than inserting a zip – and I had them already. This took about £10 of fabric – and an afternoon of great fun for me. I am not thinking of setting up in business – if I charged for my time as well, nobody would be able to afford the frocks. But a one-off like this is such a fun project and so satisfying to see completed.

Unlike the ones from Asda, all raw edges are finished properly and enclosed, and all exposed seams are ‘French’ style. And this one is unique – no other little princess at the Panto will have a dress like it!

Bet You Didn't Know I Could Dance Like This!

Thank you Adam, my work colleague and amazing dance partner!

PS I shall not be wearing this outfit to Church on Christmas Morning!

If You Have A Spare Moment…

…which you probably don’t, it being barely a fortnight to Christmas Day. But I thought I would share this little pattern, which came from the Knitting Group I belonged to about 7 years ago. It only takes an evening to make one of these cute little jumpers [Bob bent some copper wire into hangers for them] They look very sweet on the tree.

Mini-Sweater

Materials needed:
Size 2.75mm needles, plus 4ply yarn ( a plain colour is recommended so the pattern shows) OR omit cable pattern and knit in stripes. Sewing needle for making up.
Optional -heavy gauge wire and pliers for a hanger
Stitch tension is not important
Cable pattern: 2 stitch Cable (2stC): Knit 2 stitches together leaving them on the left needle, then knit in the right hand stitch again, slide to right needle
Cast on 24 stitches
Row 1-4: K1, P1 across
Row 5: P2, *K2, P4* across ending with a K2, P2
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: P2, *2stC, P 4*, repeat across ending with a 2stC, P2
Row 8: Purl
Rows 9 - 24: Repeat Rows 5 - 8, four more times
Row 25: Work Row 5 and cast on 8 stitches
Row 26: Work row 6 and cast on 8 stitches (40 sts.)
Row 27: K 2, P 8, *2stC, P4*3 times, 2stC, P8, K2
Row 28: K2, P36, K2
Row 29: K2, P 8, *K2, P4* 3 times, K2, P8, K2
Row 30: same as row 28
Row 31: same as row 27
Row 32: same as row 28
Row 33: K2, P8, K2, P2, *K1, P1* 6 times, P2, K2, P8, K2
Row 34: same as 28
Row 35: K2, P8, 2stC, P2, *K1, P1* 6 times, P2, 2st.C, P8, K2
Row 36: same as row 28
Row 37: Same as row 33
Row 38: same as row 28
Row 39: K2, P8, 2stC, P2, cast off 12, P2, 2stC, P8, K2
Row 40: K2, P12, Cast on 12, P12, K2
You now have knitted half the ornament. Work from row 40 to row 1 again to knit the second side of your sweater. On rows 25 and 26 you’ll of course be casting off the 8 sleeve stitches instead of casting on and you’ll cast off the 24 stitches when you’ve worked down to row 1. Seam up your sides and sleeve underarms when completed.

If you get bored on Boxing Day, you could always make some for next year!
UPDATE; please see Fishcake's comment below and my reply about MORE Christmas Jumper Stuff

Be Encouraged!

You WILL get there, Christmas will happen, even if you don’t get everything prepared quite as thoroughly as Martha Stewart** would. Check out the lovely Advent Pause from Frances yesterday [here]

Just to make you feel better, here are photos of my dining room at 8am Saturday [pre arrival of Steph and Mark] and then 8pm Saturday [when we had our “Family Christmas Meal”]

**Speaking of Martha, I found this elderly cookbook going cheap, in a charity shop near Leicester Station, on Saturday when I went to fetch Steph and Mark. The book was published in 1992. I decided to treat myself!

I will let you know if there are any good recipes in it.

Snowy Mountain Part 2

Having posted about this dessert last week, I actually made one for the weekend. Here it is on Saturday morning, having been weighted down all night. That’s a random selection of my ancient  metric and imperial weights.

Once I began the process Friday evening, I remembered that experience has shown that lining the bowl with cling film was a wise move. It means that the turning out process is much simpler [and also any gooey bits that escape the bowl are well contained]

See how easily that has come out [also please note the jar of Gary’s chutney lurking in the back of the shot. Gaz, it’s delicious! thankyou]You can also see the one triangle of sponge which only fitted in the wrong way round.

I dug out my tub of retro Christmas cake decorating bits. Holly,trees snowmen and paper Greetings.

I also snipped a length of the tree-trim beads that I had not needed elsewhere.

And here it is – my finished pudding – over Saturday and Sunday it served ten generous portions. The family think the snowmen are holding brooms – or maybe lacrosse sticks – or possibly giant matches. Whatever they are, they make the pud look good.

I ran out of inspiration for the cake, and just slapped on a coat of royal icing, and arranged the figures on top. I don’t think this would score many points on the GBBO. But I am happy with it.

All in all this weekend – Family Christmas Part 1 - has been great fun

Sign Of The Times

Saw this in Leicester yesterday

It wasn’t true!

Pause In Advent #2

My Willow Tree Angel for this week is this one

‘Angel Of Courage’

Her tagline is ‘bringing a triumphant spirit, inspiration and courage’

It seemed sense to start last week with the ‘winter angel’ – but this one should probably have been my first Advent post- because she is the first Willow Tree figure I owned. Bob gave her to me as a gift when we visited the States in 2002.

This angel reminds me of the importance of the ministry of encouragement. The dictionary defines that word as “to inspire with hope, courage or confidence; to hearten.”

I love this angel so much, because this is a pose I so frequently adopt myself. I throw my arms in the air, and shout “Hallelujah!” or “Yessss!!” or “We’ve done it!” or “Jesus, you’re amazing!” or “It’s finished!” [sometimes my fists clenched purposefully, other times, hands open, fingers pointing heavenwards]

I walk through the busy streets, and see the people hurrying along, getting ready for Christmas – many look harassed, fraught, anxious, worrying about whether they should spend their money on all this stuff, whether they can pay off the Credit Card bill. Others are struggling to carry loads of bags [probably full of inappropriate, overpriced gifts, many of which will be forgotten very quickly. In the shop, the lady behind me in the queue is talking about a family member who has been diagnosed with major illness, and a neighbour recently bereaved. At the bus stop, they are discussing what will happen to their jobs next year, and how yet another local firm has gone into receivership, and how they will struggle to meet the mortgage payment in January.

And I want to encourage each one of them, and say “Christmas is not about giving stuff from Argos and Tesco and M&S…it’s about receiving hope. Not about feeling a failure because you cannot provide all the material things that the ads imply you must have if you are a ‘perfect’ family, it’s about triumphing gratefully in the many blessings you have been given. Love, friendship, home, family, friends, food and clothes. Not about being anxious about the things that might [or might not] happen in the New Year, it’s about receiving courage to face what lies ahead.”

I have quoted the Minnie Louise Haskins poem before [here] I have no idea what your situation is, what you are facing right now – or what you will be facing in the year ahead. But be encouraged, because Christmas reminds us that the Son of God became man, he lived and died – and rose again – for us. Immanuel – God with us. And He will walk with us through every day of our lives - to give us hope, and inspiration and courage. 

I am not perfect – I have ‘wobbly moments’ [usually around 4am] when I start stressing about things [great and small ]…the  lack of Supply Teaching Income, two daughters living 100 miles away, the many tasks I have ‘left undone’, the odd socks lurking in the bottom of the laundry basket forever seeking their mates, the latest proclamation from Mr Gove, my inability to make gravy, the troubles in Egypt and Syria…but then God’s gracious Spirit reminds me that He is there and He does care. And then I throw up my arms and shout “Hallelujah! Thank you Lord!”  and I get on with my day [unless it is actually 4am, in which case I stay very still and rejoice silently, in case I wake my beloved ]

Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go

Fast Learners!

Last Tuesday morning [25th] I started working with a couple of new teenage pupils, and they learned to thread up a machine and sew a straight line, as well as sew on a button. We had our second session this week. What enthusiasm! In two 2-hour sessions, from scratch, we produced

• four little ornaments to hang on the Christmas tree,
• a tissue holder [gift for Mum]
• a set of juggling bags,
• a hand warmer

All quite simple projects, but they seemed so satisfied to actually produce something they could take home immediately.

I loved the choice of fabrics for the three bags. The creator of these is determined to teach herself to juggle now!

That stripe fabric turns up again lining the floral tissue holder

Ornaments – front and back view – a little bit of wadding in each and a bead or button to emphasis the ‘cushion’

The handwarmer is a 4” square of Christmas cotton, backed with red fleece, and filled with rice, plus a teaspoonful of lavender buds. One minute in the microwave and it will be warm and toasty!

Seeing the sense of achievement on their faces was so rewarding!