We fetched down all the Christmas stuff from the loft - including the "late bag". That's the carrier which holds all the random things you find in January which somehow got overlooked when you cleared everything up last year [a festive tablecloth awaiting ironing, a decoration on a forgotten hook etc] And I found these characters - which went into the bag in late February...
Freezy George McBreezy, Snowy Jacob McMerryMittens and Frosty Arthur McIcyPants
This year such elves cost between £3.50 and £6 in various outlets. This trio were in a bargain basket for 50p each in a Garden Centre during the February Half-Term. There were very few girl elves, no Jess or Rosie. But these will go to the boys in Manchester and my great-nephew in Norfolk.My John Lewis Xmas mugs collection started about 15 years ago with the red reindeer one at the top. I kept adding mugs, till JL changed the shape, then I looked out for them in CS. I wanted to have a set of eight.I got up to 7, and then someone gave me a green one, almost identical [Was it cousin Gill?] Sadly my penguin one got chipped. I keep it as a 'non-drinks' item to hold teaspoons etc. 
The Peas Mug is the same shape and size but the handle is curved differently. But look at this! For £1.50 on Friday, this was in a CS in Greenwich! New style handle, same old shape and size. The regular everyday mugs will go away for a month, and these will be the matching mugs for visitors.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Do you have any decorations up yet?
Don't get mine out for a couple of weeks but I like reading about everyone else's.
ReplyDeleteI've got into the habit of doing it at the beginning of December, because we were always so busy with church/school Christmas activities once the month got started
ReplyDeleteI love that you have festive mugs! My festive ones get used all year round but it might be nice to save them!
ReplyDeleteI'm ACTUALLY going to put some decorations up in the music room this year as when my work colleague left in July, she was trying to get rid of stuff and passed on some little wooden jumpers which I'm going to hang on sucker hooks on my door! Kx
Now you have a music room again, I think you should decorate it. Can you find some old carol sheets to recycle - cut them into triangles and make bunting?
DeleteMy husbands birthday is 16th December so other than our advent candle and calendar we wait until after his birthday to decorate. As a child he got combined Christmas/ birthday presents so often felt he missed out so I try to keep his birthday a separate occasion.
ReplyDeleteWell done! It always seems hard for children(and adults) with birthdays on/near Christmas. I had a work colleague born on 25th December who really resented the fact that her parents named her Carol.
DeleteWe've got the advent calenders up; 2 chocolate ones, one 2-part fabric one and 2 wooden ones with little drawers. And the live tiny tree that I received as a birthday present. 'It's beginning to look a bit like Christmas '
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of little things to open each morning!
DeleteOh, you have reminded me to pull out my ‘Twas the night before Christmas’ china to start using on the 1st December. I say china, but I just have one bowl and one plate bought separately in charity shops. I would love to find the mug. It’s made by Masons and is so pretty and detailed. And now the sun sets at 4pm I will wind a string of lights around my orange tree which has come indoors as it’s somcold outside. I must remember to pick a few sprigs of Holly with berries on and stick the ends into a potato to keep them fresh and the berries attached until Christmas Day. Meanwhile I am knitting and making my presents - Shetland wool fair isle mittens and lavender and wool filled patchwork hanging bags made with scraps for my friends, a handspun Romney marsh merino wool gilet for my husband. I love Advent. Sarah in Sussex
ReplyDeleteYour husband is very blessed... Handknitted is great, but "handspun" "Romney Marsh" and "merino wool" each add an extra ***** in my book! 🐑🐑🐏🐑🐏🐑
DeleteExperimenting with various sewing patterns I found on Instagram (little patchwork Xmas Trees and stockings) and some things from the eco Christmas crafting book I borrowed from library. Nothing down for attic yet!We bought our elf at Semichem last week for £2.99. Cheapest around. Most expensive was £5 and I wasn't paying that!
ReplyDeleteSadly SemiChem is only in the North - Scotland N Ireland or North of England! Sounds like your shop provides a good elf service though.
DeleteI'm looking after my 3 year old Arthur on Monday so will get him to 'help' with the tree decorations.
ReplyDeleteYour mugs are pretty and how good to find matching.
My very large Christmas cup and saucer went to a charity shop when it got too heavy to lift when full!
Some festive china is pretty but impractical [like that mug from the 1990s which had a 'magic' message activated by hot water. Fine until somebody put it through a dishwasher and it was permanent.
DeleteWe put ours up the day after Thanksgiving and I usually take them down on January 1st. Love those mugs!
ReplyDeleteI start around 1st of the month. And take them down once the family have gone home
DeleteHi, Angela! Your things are so festive! As for me, I am just now working on putting things out — hopefully by Sunday it will be done. BTW — I posted a few days ago about being concerned that my blog was endangered by my FB hacker but I think that was an over reaction so please feel safe to visit me again! I think it is all good.
ReplyDeleteThank you Melissa. Hackers are a pain!
DeleteI'm afraid I can't deal with all the early hype about Christmas! It has become so commercialised and it is quite exhausting. Our decorations go up a week before the day and come down on 2nd January. As Emma is working on Christmas day we will have our family celebration on Boxing day this year. I am., however, having my first Christmas dinner tomorrow with my Carey gardens family and friends 😊
ReplyDeleteYes, commercialisation is sad. But the Carey Gardens events were always brilliant. Do give my love to old friends - I miss the happy times we spent in Kirby Muxloe
DeleteLovely your festive mugs!
ReplyDeleteWe'll get our decorations into the house today. Heaven help us!
Hugs!
Mine remain in boxes, mostly, cluttering up the hall
DeleteAny day now I shall collect some greenery from our yard, before it gets hidden by more snow. There is a tree we earmarked but that will wait until closer to Christmas. I want to throw the strings of outdoor lights over the bush in front of the porch soon. Otherwise I need to concentrate on Christmas mailing. I did find some lovely Nativity stamps at the post office.
ReplyDeleteWe had a brief flurry of snow this morning
DeleteI like your mug collection and those little personalized elves will be such great gifts for the boys!
ReplyDeleteI haven't done any decorating, yet, but, I am thinking that I might take down the Christmas glasses and use them instead of the regular drinking glasses!
Yes, I use Christmas tableware throughout December
DeleteWe get our tree this weekend at a Christmas tree farm. I like your Christmas cups.
ReplyDelete