Christmas Decorations for France

Amidst all the chaos of the usual

Christmas preparations

I've been sewing

decorations for

my daughters Christmas tree.

I found some vintage
Christmas images

that I love

and transferred
them on to calico fabric.

and then the sewing began!

 I chose calico/muslin,

and a red striped fabric

as the background.

Then the fun started
with embellishing,

using gold trims and thread,

and tiny pieces of lace
and ribbon saved
from other projects.

some red stitching

to circle a Christmas tree

Tulle, lace, pearls
and a little
gold bell

more lace
and a little
gold glitter!!!

gold thread and beads
for the carolers

The decorations have all
been posted to France
and should now be on their tree.

my favourite one

the Nativity scene

in the stable at

Bethlehem

where

Christmas

began.

Thank you to all my dear friends

for visiting.

We've only got 12 more sleeps!

Be kind to one another

Christmas hugs

Shane x

Light a candle and remember the children

This Sunday is
Worldwide Candle Lighting
day
to honour and remember
the children who
have left us too soon...

Each year
at 7pm

on the second Sunday
of December
we light candles
in memory
of the children
of the world
who have died.

New Zealand
is the first country
on Earth
to light our candles.



Please honour our children

who have gone before us

by lighting your candle

for an hour

on Sunday 12th December

 at 7pm

in your time zone.

 You will help create

 a wave of light

 that will travel the globe

 in quiet remembrance…

Thank you dear friends

for your comments

and emails

of encouragement.

I'm back on track

and getting into

the Christmas spirit.

Be kind to one another.

Christmas hugs

Shane x

Lost for words....

It's been a difficult week...
and everything's finally
caught up with me.
There are no words left...
I'm feeling incredibly
empty.

Please enjoy
these quintessentially
New Zealand
images.

 
A Maori waka (canoe)
such as the ones used in
the great migration from
 Hawaiki
to New Zealand
1000 years ago.

The Sky Tower
in my home town
Auckland.

The indomitable majesty of
Mitre Peak in the
Fiords.

These images are
who I am -
intrinsically
kiwi!
They give me strength.

Have a wonderful Friday
I'll be back to my
old self tomorrow!!

Take care of one another
hugs
Shane x



The rainforest wept in grief today

A Memorial Service

was held today

at Pike River for

the 29 miners

who lost their lives.

Pike River mine

is in a tranquil location

in a rainforest



The New Zealand native fern

is our national symbol

it tells who we are.

It is also a symbol of

mourning.

Each miners family
had a "tribute table"
where they had placed
memories of their
loved one.

The ferns were placed
on each table also.

Todays final tribute

was a haunting rendition of

'Going Home'

by a solitary piper.

May their souls Rest in Peace.



They are coming home.....

and I couldn't possibly
be happier!!!

"Going Home"
is the title of the beautiful
song on this video clip.

When I heard the words

I thought

how appropriate it is

for my theme this week

"my family is coming home". 

Please take the time

to listen.

It will only take a few

precious moments

and I promise it

will make you feel

warm all over!

It comes courtesy

of Tiffany from

Tiffany's Writing Compendium

a lovely blog I found

only last week.

She very sweetly

allowed me to use it here

thank you Tiffany!

Please visit her

- I'm sure you'll be as

enchanted as I am

with her writings.

I'm listening to the

music again as I write

this post and the tears

are welling up.

The anticipation of my family

coming home is

my dream come true!

I hope you are all having

an enjoyable and happy week.

Amidst the Christmas preparations

please take time out to

be kind to one another and

put the Christ back in to

Christmas.

Hugs

Shane x

I'm getting ready....

If you read yesterday's

post, you'll know we're

expecting VIP visitors

in February!!

While shopping for

Christmas presents

in Whitcoulls (book store)

this morning, I discovered

that for each $20 I spent

I could buy a 'Horace' bear

for the special price of $7 -

naturally I had to buy two!!

They are now propped up

on my computer chair -

you can see why I

just couldn't resist them!

Horace 1

and Horace 2.

And very soon I'll be preparing

two little beds for my

darling granddaughters

and there will be a

Horace bear on each bed

waiting to be cuddled.

Also on the chair

with a bears is

Peter Rabbit's

Cookery Book

which was given to

my daughter when

she was four yrs old.

When the girls arrive

we will have a little

tea party,

would you like to

join us?

Do bears like rice pudding
and jelly

and jam tarts

and oat biscuits?

I hope so...

They must surely like

Mrs Rabbit's currant buns!

There's just so much

planning to do and

I'm hoping Horace 1 and 2

will help me!!!

If you would like any

of Peter Rabbit's recipes

please let me know!!

Thank you so much for visiting

and for leaving your lovely

comments

be kind to one another

hugs

Shane x

Call in the Experts I say.....

I've just received some

wonderful news -

my daughter and her family

will be visiting us from Europe

early next year!

Sooo I feel the house

needs some extra titivating!

I've sought the expert advice

of Julie-Ann of

The Decorating Forum

Julie-Ann has very kindly offered
to do a post for me today
as we thought there maybe
others out there needing help as well!

Over to you Julie-Ann!!!

 _________________________________________

"Would you like to give your

living room or bedroom

a little makeover?

Maybe it just needs some finishing

touches to make it everything

you have dreamed of?

It can be as simple as

adding a few extra items:

Perhaps some cushions.

Or a throw rug.

You can even make one from

your favourite material

or an old quilt cover.

I love adding flowers to a room,

especially orchids.

They look so elegant

and can last for months.



A rug can help to frame a space.

Try adding some personal photos

of your last family holiday -

don't keep them hidden away

on your computer.

Have them on display

to bring back great memories.

There are some gorgeous wall decals

and canvasses for sale online.

Or make your own canvas

with some stunning fabric.

It's cheap and can look

sensational.

And when the Minister of Finance

says there's no money in the bank

don't worry - look what one member

of the Decorating Forum

managed to do with pieces

she had around the house

(elements bedroom before photo)



(elements bedroom after)

If you are looking for ideas

on decorating, renovating or building

pop over and chat with us

on the Decorating Forum.

We would love to meet you!"

Thank you so much Julie-Ann

I love your simple ideas -

it doesn't need to be

complicated after all.

Even the Minister of Finance

will agree to this makeover!!

Thank you dear friends for

visiting and leaving your

lovely comments.

Enjoy your week and

be kind to one another.

Please surf over to sign up

at Decorating Forum too!!

Hugs

Shane x

I'm counting my blessings

On my daily journey through

blogland,

visiting and reading

my favourite blogs,

I sometimes encounter a

giveaway.

Often the content of the

giveaway

will be treasures that

have been collected

or even hand made

by the host.

I only enter a giveaway

if the items on offer

are...

"I've just got to try and

win this - it's got my

name all over it"

you know what I mean.... 

 I was recently lucky enough

to win a giveaway

made by Rhonda here
Now, I'm a huge fan of
Rhonda's
and I would love
to have everything
she makes!!!
I was 'over-the-moon'
when I saw my name
on her blog
as the winner -
crossing my fingers
and toes
really did work!!

In her parcel were
this beautiful

fabric tag of the

Madonna and Child

 and also this sweet
French themed shadow box

(click on it to see the beautiful detail).

Thank you again Rhonda

I'm so blessed to have a piece

of your art work.

 This is the second lovely

package to arrive in

my post box all the way

from Barbara in the UK.

Barbara and I did Caroles book class

together earlier this year.

Barbara used exquisite fabrics,

laces and buttons

so I knew when I saw

her Giveaway, it

would be amazing.

The french fabric edging with

children embroidered on it

was enough for me!!!

Click on the photo

to get a closer look.

Thank you Barbara

I appreciate your gift.

Please visit these two blogs

they are both so talented

and both also have

on-line shops

(Christmas is almost here)!!

I'm finding it very hard to move on
following our mining disaster.

Next week there is a
formal Memorial service for the
29 miners
who lost their lives last week.
Please continue
to remember their families
 in your prayers.

Thank you for visiting my blog
and for leaving such
lovely comments
I appreciate each and
every one of you.

Be kind to one another.

hugs

Shane x

I am so thankful for.....

my family

my dear husband

(my rock)

for my darling son

currently working in the

Soloman Islands

for my sweet daughter

and her family

living in France

for all my friends and

for the place I call home

Auckland

New Zealand

and for all my

dear blogging friends.

Special wishes to those

celebrating thanksgiving!

Today Im linking to Maxabella here

Be kind to one another.

Shane x