CL December Issue

[Oola]

Just having got my CL December issue from Waitrose, I've quickly had a flick through the Christmas interiors. This is my favourite issue of the year and I wish there were more interiors (might have to get Country Homes & Interiors).

I was wondering what people thought of the dressed sets/houses they've done this year? Will you be using any of their ideas? I like the big fir cones with the ribbons on page 71, and I might have a go at the caramel crunch biscuits on page 145. Mum wants to bake the Christmas streusal cake instead of a Christmas pud this year.

I love the idea of making my own wrapping paper (page 61)- I posted about it much earlier this year on RM and CL. A lady who's blog I read is an illustrator and she makes beautiful stuff -

http://purplepoddedpeas.blogspot.com/2007/11/christmas-arts-and-crafts-fair.html

http://purplepoddedpeas.blogspot.com/2007/09/tree-decorations.html

http://purplepoddedpeas.blogspot.com/2007/10/leaf-doodle-papers.html

I'd love to be able to make this sort of thing for myself. I have the art skills, just none of the resources or patience to experiment and design my own stuff!!!!

[magic cochin]

Hi

I'm so pleased that you've been enjoying your visits to my blog, and thank you for your kind comments about my designs.

I will have a stall at the Arts & Crafts Fair in Saffron Walden (Essex) Town Hall on Saturday 1st Dec. Saffron Walden is a small market town with loads of character, cafés, delis, a great range of small shops and a traditional outdoor market right outside the Town Hall. So if you live in the area we'd love you to come along to buy hand-made unique Christmas Gifts and get in the Festive Spirit in this historic town.

All the best
Celia (of Purple Podded Peas)

[Oola]

Hi Celia, great that you've joined the site! I'm Lucy, owner of the Smallest Smallholding :)

Hopefully at some point I'll be getting a Rural Business Directory up and running if you're interesting in being listed there?

[Serenity]

Hi Oola, I'd be interested - I have a fledgling business making Sterling silver and semi precious gemstone jewellery - I'm just in the process of setting the website up so it should be up and running this week!

[Pippa]

Hi Celia, loved your hand printed tree decorations. I am hopefully going on a Printmaking course on Sat (it keeps getting cancelled) and hope to learn how to do lino-cuts b it I don't think I will produce anything as wonderful as those birds. I hope you have a really good day at the Arts Fair, bit too far for me unfortunately.

[Oola]

Serenity absolutely - I'll do an announcement when the directory is running. I think to get it established it'll be free listings, but eventually those from outside the site may have to pay a small fee if they want to advertise there.

[keepersdaughter]

:)Hello Celia, welcome to the site. Very much enjoyed browsing your blog. There are some very creative people on this site and I'm sure everyone would enjoy learning more about your designs. Wish I could attend the crafts fair, I'm from around the area originally, and would love to be able to pop along and meet you and see your designs in person as it were. Good luck with the crafts fair.

[Redstart]

My copy arrived this morning and no. I can't say I like much of what I've seeen, although I haven't had a close look. I'm showing my age I think and becoming old fashioned!

[Oola]

I do like the jewel colours but the simple fact is that they wouldn't work with my house. I bought Country Homes & Interiors for some more ideas - never really considered the Scandinavian colour schemes of pale ice blues and whites. We always stick with the green, gold and red colour schemes intertwined with naturals like raffia, fir cones, berries etc. Although I like all those I would like to have a few more warm 'accent' colours added too. I might have a go at doing that more with my Christmas wrapping paper and cards that I make.

[SummerSkye]

I have only just received my December copy and for a moment wondered why on earth there were Christmas decorations on the cover when it was all over with. I wasn't terribly impressed with the whole edition but then again it may have been because it was a Christmas issue will see what January brings.