Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Where oh where has this year gone, and what has been happening to all my time? Last thing I remember it was the start of October and I had a few little sewing projects on the boil, the we hit 'wedding season' again (including a lovely little holiday to New Zealand), not to mention chasing around my now crawling baby. Then all of a sudden it was December, and people were putting up trees, playing carols, and posting Santa photos on Facebook... and I was completely disorganised! 

I offer many apologies for being so neglectful to you, and here is a little catch up on what I have been up to of late.

The sewing has been going in peaks and troughs the last few months, but here's what has been happening:

I am loving these sweet little cuddly elephant toys, and have given them to new babies and as Christmas presents too. The awesome PDF pattern is available from Retro Mama's Etsy store. 

I have patched a few more baby quilts, and working on a bias binding free version, which is much easier, and gives a pretty nice result. Watch out for a tutorial on those babies next year.

And lastly, a wee stocking for our beautiful girl's first Christmas, pattern courtesy of Noodlehead. This was a pretty easy little pattern, though it took me forever as I kept putting off the hand embroidering of the name. This one taught me the valuable lesson of sometimes just follow the pattern, as I did my own thing and messed up the lining so had to do it twice.

The Christmas baking has been a little lower key this year than last, but the customary Strawberry and Rhubarb Jam and Russian tea cakes have of course been coming out of my kitchen hard and fast this month. 

We are hosting my family for our traditional Christmas Eve dinner this year, my first year as host, which will be lovely. We always have a big platter of prawns with Mum's seafood sauce for starters, then the big hot Christmas dinner, and if there is any room left some amazing sweet my sister has concocted. It's been our little tradition for years now, and is so nice because we then all get Christmas morning together too before heading off to our partners families for Christmas day. 

That is what it is all about after all. Being together. Sharing food and happiness with the ones you love most. 

And so, from our family to yours, may your days be merry and bright while you enjoy a safe and happy holiday season.

xx