Neighbourhood Watch!!

Yesterday as it was a nice bright day we went for a walk around our neighbourhood. We went on a bit of a mission to find some allotments someone had told us about on the edge of the park. I have walked across the park many,many times and have never seen them.... so they must be secret gardens! We stopped off at the cafe on the park for a cup of tea and watched people and dogs watching other dogs. Then we wandered off to find the secret allotments.....success. They are quite cunningly disguised. We then did a bit of a circuit through another area which I know very well. It has lots of streets of terraced houses. I didn't know it is called "The Six Streets" They have an advent window trail and some nice christmas wreaths on the doors. They are also organising an arts and crafts trail next year, so something to look forward to then!

Christmas trimmings

I started to fill my christmas crackers with these small items I'd bought and then I remembered that I had promised to show them to you. That's why there is a bicycle clip missing of the top of the card - it is already in one of the crackers....... I also added butterfly lights to the small pompom tree....... Look at the nice napkins I bought for a friend - not given them to her yet, but I will, yes really!.......

XXXX-xmas-+-solstice-XXXX ( wrapping and trapping )

Tie dyed paper sample made for a workshop.......
Used to decorate a present........
A willow christmas tree sample made for another workshop wrapped with newspaper strips and decorated with newspaper pompoms........
Winter solstice workshop I did at Erewash museum wrapping garden arches and decorated with leaves and fibres trapped in acetate shapes, other artists made the lanterns........
A collection of stars.

(-: Swedish Treasure :-)

Some lovely things brought back by Mr D from his trip to Sweden. I'm kind of hoping he did get me this book which I hinted about very strongly and even wrote down the addresses of where to look for it. Will have to wait till the 25th!!!!

Added to my wishlist!

While browsing through the art and craft section in Waterstones bookshop I came across this very desirable book.

Crackers!!

Think I'm a bit Christmas crackers, and definately ready for a break. I have had a really horrible cold and felt a bit spaced out, but in true shopping spirit we traipsed off to Bristol yesterday followed by a jaunt through to Nottingham today where I bought these nice Christmas crackers.

I had intended to make my own inspired by this lovely link , but hey there's always next year!!
I am going to add some extra goodies in them but will have to show you tomorrow as I forgot to charge my camera up.

Wish this was my room.

http://www.clarionstockholm.com/the-lobby-bar

Pink Christmas Bicycle!!!

Mr D returned from a trip to Sweden at the weekend. Look at this amazing bike he took a photograph of for me. If I owned a bicycle it would certainly look like this!!! I love the spotty fabric and the crochet on the seat and the Christmas greenery in the basket.
Have you spotted the pink cat picture in the window?