a promise of Christmas cheer

Hello lovelies

OOoh it's a very cold and frosty morning here

Brrrrr

but I don't mind at all

I am warm and cosy at my kitchen table

with a fresh, steaming hot coffee

peace and quiet all around

just how I like it

Do you remember a while back when I was kindly asked
by Sarah Raven to review some of their indoor bulbs

I chose some beautiful paperwhite narcissi 'Ziva'

here is the post if you'd like a look

Well my bulbs arrived a couple of weeks ago

I promptly potted them up
following the little instruction book that came with my order
The bulbs were fat and plump
it always amazes me that something so beautiful
and, in this case, gorgeously fragrant
can emerge from one of these
little brown pointy things

Isn't nature just blooming brilliant?


They are so easy to plant ~

I used some 'bulb' compost, which I found at the garden centre
with LOTS of grit mixed in
large, deep pots are best as narcissi are big bulbs and grow quite tall
plant the bulbs just below the soil surface
pointy end up with 2 -3 inches between each bulb
(I think mine are a bit snug)

 

I added a layer of grit on top too

just cos I like it

:o)

      The bulbs need a spell in cold to ensure they flower well

although they don't need it to be dark, like most other indoor bulbs

     mine have been in the greenhouse for a couple of weeks now

I think I will bring them inside this weekend

it's all very exciting

 the compost needs to be kept moist but not wet

job done.

 easy peasy.

I do need to collect some twiggy sticks as they grow fairly tall

the sticks make sure they behave

they should will flower 4 to 6 weeks from planting

so there’s no time to loose if you fancy having a go yourself

even if it’s a bit tight to get them flowering for Christmas now

they would be so cheerful in January

I am tempted to plant some more

I will keep you updated on their progress

fingers crossed for Christmas day flowers

just like these .....

sooooooo pretty .....

 By the way ..... have you seen the Sarah raven Christmas range???

I have a serious case of the wanties

 I am hoping father Christmas may read this

* * * * *

I have been a very good girl this year

promise

 Wishing you all a super-dooper weekend

mine is a busy-but-nice one .....

a crafty get-together with friends tonight

a take-away evening with my brother and sister-in-law tomorrow

and on Sunday we are off to see Sweet B

two weeks and she will be home for the holidays ..... HOORAH

Thank you for popping by

it's always lovely to see you

can you believe that t's December tomorrow?!?!?

YIKES!

BIG love 

x jooles x

a winner, a thank you, a new day & a new friend

 Hello lovelies

I'm back

feeling a little battered and bruised by recent events

but also heartened and thankful

your kind words really and truly mean so much to me

I feel like I have been scooped up and given a huge hug

I feel so lucky

Thank you

x

x these are for you x

"Hello and welcome" to my new followers

it's so lovely to make new friends

Today is a fresh new day, the beginning of a fresh new week

and it is GIVEAWAY WINNER DAY

so let's get on with it shall we?

 * * * * * * *

The winner is .................... comment number 46

The lovely Daisy from Lazy Daisy Jones

I have only just met daisy

and am looking forward to getting to know her better

her blog is beautiful .... go take a peek

I will be in touch shortly Daisy

the Mollie makes Christmas book 

and 

Master Wally Winterbird are yours!

I have a new friend

 a Bernina 330

sooooooooo excited

I gathered together my earnings

and splashed out!

we haven't had much time together just yet 

but on first impressions

we will get on like a house on fire

(now I've typed that it sounds a very odd saying, doesn't it?)

I will let you know how things go if you like

Well I hope you are managing to stay dry

the weather here in the UK is mostly VERY wet

Thanks again for your kind words

 ♥

BIG love 

j x

a bit of good ..... a bit of bad

Hello

If you have come in search of my giveaway

you can find it here

it's not too late to enter!
A BIG thank you to everyone who has already entered
and to all the lovely peeps who have added links to their sites
x 
GOOD LUCK

 It has been a mixed week here

mostly really nice

 with a couple of 'not-so-nice' moments

Let's chat about the good bits first .....

 I am off to a Thanksgiving celebration tomorrow
at my lovely friend's house
I'm excited, it's a new thing for me

While I'm on the subject I'd like to wish
 a happy (belated ~ sorry about that) Thanksgiving to all my American friends


I made my Christmas cake this week
it has been 'fed' with brandy and wrapped up all cosy
ready for its next 'feed' in a couple of weeks
what a life hey?

This morning I have finally finished stitching the binding 
to my very last advent calendar of 2012
(I will start taking orders again in January)

just an excuse to show off my new ironing board cover

!

 
This advent is a Christmas gift for my cute little nieces

 

I have collected lots of little treats to fill the pockets
stickers, chocolates, hair clips, bracelets .....
I hope they like it

The first 'not-so-nice' moment was this comment I received

on my giveaway post .....

"How mercenary! Readers don't have to be followers but if you don't welcome readers and only care about your stats then maybe readers are not important? Two many 'geveaways' are not that giving really, more I'll pat your back if you pat mine"  It was Anonymous. How can I reply if you leave no contact details? I really don't consider that asking you to be a follower of my blog in return for entering my giveaway is "mercenary" I just want to assure you that my readers ~ YOU mean the world to me I hope you feel that I give a little in return x The other 'not-so-nice' moment was when I was browsing on Esty only to find that my advent bunting design had been copied  well, almost copied and not just once I'm cross. It takes a lot of time, brain power and practice runs to come up with  a product that I am happy and excited to sell and I know that we ALL get inspired there is constant inspiration around us all the time, everyday  but to copy and sell that is just plain old wrong in my book  By the way I am very happy for people to make something similar for their children I think that is lovely I have had some sweet messages from people doing just that  I've been debating whether to mention either of these issues maybe I'm being over-sensitive I just needed to get them off my chest they have been niggling away at me Here is my last grumble ..... if you are still with me ... it's nearly over! Miss Singer has broken (AGAIN) I was sad and a little VERY cross I have a spare, but we really don't see eye to eye we have been grumbling away at each other So tomorrow Mr Sweet is taking me out to buy a new one! happy I think I am going for a Bernina 330 anyone have one? I've been researching for days now feeling so confused  So as they say "Every cloud has a silver lining" Anyway Wishing you a fabulous weekend and I will be back on Monday to announce the winner see you then! BIG love  j x

giveaway ..... better late than never

Hello there

I hope you had a wonderful weekend

Well, I have ever-so-nearly caught up with all of my shop orders

just one last advent which I am making today

ahhhhh ....... I feel much less frantic now

It really took me by surprise

a nice surprise

Anyway

WELCOME ..... to my celebration giveaway post

:o)

Waaaay back in the summer (at least I think it was summer)

the lovely Mollie makes peeps

 asked me if they could feature a couple of my makings 

in a Christmas publication

these ones in fact

Well .... to say I was excited was an understatement

yes yes yes yes yes

I thought they were destined to be in their fabulous magazine

but it turned out that they would be in their

 Mollie makes Christmas book

gorgeous
and VERY exciting indeed

I went to Kew gardens last weekend

and there, in the shop, was guess which book?

I showed my sister-in-law

she was impressed

and I felt just a teeny bit famous!

I was very kindly sent a copy of the book by the publisher
 (there are so many beautiful Christmas projects in there)

but, because I am an impatient girl, I had already bought one
so, I happen to have a spare

which is what I am offering in my giveaway

along with my very last Christmas birdie of 2012

Master Wally Winterbird

So if you would like to win both the book and Master Winterbird

here's what you need to do .....

♥  For one entry  ♥ 

It would be wonderful if you could become a follower
 of my blog, unless of course, you are already
 (you can do this by clicking on the 'join this site' button on my sidebar)
 then just leave me a comment on this post

♥  For a second entry ♥

kindly mention this giveaway on your blog or facebook page with a link 

and then just leave me a separate comment on this post 
telling me you have done so

The giveaway will be open for one week

until the evening of the 26th November to be precise

I will post anywhere in the whole wide world
 so don't be shy

GOOD LUCK!

 

I shall be coming to visit later this week
I have missed you all
I am keen to know what's been happening in blogland
I feel somewhat disconnected

have a great week
BIG love 
j x

P.S

I have been lucky enough to have been featured in a few publications now

so I have decided to make a new tab (along the top bar ↑)

I'm not good at talking about such things
 they make me blush and go all silly
 so all the info will just appear one day soon


Thank you to everyone who entered
the giveaway is now closed