Thursday, January 06, 2011

First Post of 2011

Happy New Year!
I hope all your Christmas and New Year celebrations went well - don't forget, it's Twelfth Night  and you need to finish getting those decorations down today!
Most of ours came down on Monday after the last of our visitors had left for home.  I've struggled with the whole festive thing this year so tbh I was quite glad to start getting the house back to normal. I've not really had much pc time over the holiday period so my blog has been very neglected and it's about time I got back into the blogging habit.  I thought a quick clear up of the Christmas bits and pieces would be a good place to start. 
I'd like to show you my completed "tis the season" journal, but as you probably guessed, it's nowhere near being finished - I wonder if I can get away with making up some of the daily entries.  Ah well, if nothing else it's proved to me that there was no way I'd manage to keep up with those that did the 365 journals last year hehehe
OK, so here's a pictorial round up
First, the card I made for hubby:
 Thank you to all those crafty friends who sent a Christmas card - I displayed all the handmade ones I received together on the lounge door and they looked just wonderful - I made this photo bigger than I usually do so that you can get a closer look!
 And now some photos from Christmas Day
My hubby likes to surprise me with some unexpected gifts - like the pink hammer that was in my Christmas Stocking!
 Another big surprise was the envelope with a voucher for us to go on a segway off road rally experience!  That should be interesting! (you can see video example here)
We had a power cut on the afternoon of Christmas Day (great, eh?) I discovered that whilst we've loads of candles, we've not many things to put them on/in!  Still it made for this pretty photo oportunity!
Sometimes I think my man is completely nuts!  Somehow he managed to hide this parcel behind the tree where I didn't spot it - I think I might have guessed what was inside.....a lovely new purple Radley handbag, of course!
 I've been looking around for a more feminine sort of camera bag for ages.  Doing some googling over the last few months, I discovered that I'm not the only woman looking out for something nicer to hold a camera than the usual ugly bags and which also has room for the other stuff we like to cart around with us. Sadly, there's not much available in the UK, but over in the US there's a company called jill.e 
who are addressing the problem - you can find a few of their bags over here, but the choice is limited and hubby ended up ordering mine from the States.  For those who are interested, this one is the small size and is plenty big enough for my camera in the middle and lots of space for my other junk too.  There are lots of padded velcro'd  dividers inside and extra pockets at either end and on the front and back.  As well as the two straps you can see (long enough to go over your shoulder) there's also a detachable long shoulder strap included.  The wide zipped flap has room for filters etc.


 Right, I really must get started on my already long to-do list. Hopefully it won't be long till I actually have some new crafty stuff to share - and hopefully it won't be too long till I get some blog-hopping time too - I know there'll be lots to catch up on from all my crafty blogging friends - it's going to take ages!


14 comments:

Di said...

Oooo loving that camera bag Kathy, it's fab.

I will try and send you a handmade card next Christmas rather than a shop bought one......famous last works hey!!

Karen Mortensen said...

Happy New Year to you dear Kathy xx

Looks like you got well and truly spolit by your dh!! That pink hammer might be one he could live (or not) to regret giving ha ha ha

Enjoy your gift experience, let us know how you get on.

xxx

Rachelxx said...

Happy New Year Kathy :-)

Sounds as though you had a lovely Xmas :-) Love your hubby's wrapping :-)

Rachelxx

Lynda said...

Love the photo of the candles it looks very romantic. Enjoy ALL of your presents too (not so sure about the hammer though)! Wishing you all the best for the rest of the year.

Love Lynda xxx

Kate said...

Lovely bags Mrs. I think I am the opposite of you I can't seem to shake off the holiday vibe and get back into things.

** Kate **

Loopylou. said...

ooooh kathy, i lurve the jill e bag!!! oooh its yummy and your hubbies wrapping talents are fab!!! gorgeous card hun hugs Lou xxx

Loopylou. said...

ooooh kathy, i lurve the jill e bag!!! oooh its yummy and your hubbies wrapping talents are fab!!! gorgeous card hun hugs Lou xxx

Janice said...

ooh I like the camera bag, I've seen those in magazines. Good to know the small size is big enough!

Traceyr said...

hahaha Kathy your face is a picture on receiving that hammer - hope you find a use for it?

Love all the handmade cards and your husbands "novel" present wrapping.

Happy New Year to you both x x

:)

Allison said...

Happy New year, loving the bag
AllisonX

Angelnorth said...

The original bag lady, if I'm not mistaken ;o) Camera one looks fab and your hubby is nuts with the wrapping! Happy New Year to you!

tracy said...

hehe-love the wrapping of the bag:) you did very well for presents didn't you :)

Tip Top said...

The cards look fantastic!!! And I see mine!

Karen said...

hahahahaha I love the very obvious way your hubby wrapped your bag!!!! XXX