Alternative advent calendar #7

So this is supposed to be an alternative advent calendar, you know, for Christmas right?  So why am I  posting about the Allotment?  A ha!  Because we've been putting the allotment to bed for Christmas; burning the weeds and old tomato plants which gave us tomatoes right up to 1st December, and keeping a close eye on our leeks...

... these bad boys were looking rough when I last saw them (approximately three weeks ago), but a couple good frosts and they have been completely rejuvenated they love a good frost!  They were beginning to show signs of leek rust (red marks on the leaves) but that has all but gone and has been replaced with fantastic grey/green leaves and these will be a big part of our Christmas day meal.

Alternative advent calendar #6

* Controversial comment alert* I don't really like snow.  There I said it.  

Perhaps I should clarify; I only really like snow when I don't have to get to work and I can choose to go out in it or choose not to.  Where I work is on the top of a massive hill and there is no approach to it that has a gentle incline so getting to and from work is a nightmare!  The perils of icy pavements that don't get gritted, people grippig on to every available railing, people wearing MASSIVELY inappropriate shoes (stilettos in snow?  Seriously?), and the afternoon slush that freezes and makes the journey home (downhill) so much worse.  Bah humbug.

Alternative advent calendar #5

You know it really helps having a screen printer as a husband, it means I get the off cuts of some really nice card and paper.  I have set myself to work creating cards and gift tags in an attempt to minimise the cost of Christmas, here is a sample of what I came up with!

The materials I used:

Fir branch stamp: Conifer Stamp Set from Yellow Owl Workshop

Babushka stamp: from Pretty Tape

Fir tree stamp: via Sieben Morgan

Star stamp: Image Tree Alphabet Stamp set via Amazon

Turquoise ink: 'Glacier Lake' by Colorbox via A Life Handmade

Red ink: Ink It Up! via Amazon

Grey ink: 'Seattle Sky' by Colorbox via A Life Handmade

Yellow ink: 'Lemon Yellow' by Versacraft via Snuggly Monkey

Red polka dot washi tape: Christmas washi tape via Pretty Tape

Alternative advent calendar #4

Oh look at all the fabulous gift-type things, they are SO up my street! *exaggerated wink*

Navajo inspired wallet by Couch Guitar Straps

Outer space pencil box by Mmim

Forget me not ring by Curly Girl Glass

Ecce Momo rubber stamp by Juliet Caesar

Alternative advent calendar #3

Why am I furiously making pom poms?  Well, because of this little beasty really:

Little Pigga who sadly died in May this year paid no attention whatsoever to the Christmas tree which meant I could have my lovely, lovely vintage baubles adorning my tree but Mewster here, Mewster is another story entirely.  This one will walk across the sideboard or table knocking things off just for the hell of it, what can I say?  She loves to play.  Which is fine, but it's not fine anywhere near the vintage baubles so I'm busy working on Christmas version 2.0, an unbreakable, pom pom and plastic decoration Christmas.  I'll show you the results when they're up....

Alternative advent calendar #2

One of the things I love most about this time of year are the Christmas editions of my favourite magazines.  I have the ones that I like to buy and MoMa gathers the ones she likes and we swap, the only problem is they make me want to buy a whole new set of decorations every year.

Alternative advent calendar #1

Last year I posted an alternative advent calendar which I really enjoyed, it was a challenge posting everyday but a good challenge so here we go again, I hope you come along for the ride!