Deck the Halls!

With the nights drawing in, I've been enjoying cosying up on the couch, crafting the long evenings away.

Actually it's dark about 4pm, so the evenings feel like most of the day too.



But hey, that's more of a reason to enjoy the warmth of the twinkling fairy lights from the tree.




Each year I like to make an addition for the tree collections of my family. This year its Bells! And what better way to collage a bell than with sheet music.





I covered with a layer of straw hat varnish and added bows and ribbon for loops.

They are best displayed in pairs I think!

Carving the Lino for Christmas

I find Britain quite different from New Zealand at this time of year. Firstly, it's freezing cold! I arrive into work with a red nose and rosy cheeks.

Christmas is such a bigger deal here and it the build up starts on November 1st! The Brits do it well though, department stores competing for the best snow scene window displays, German markets on the Thames, mulled wine and roasted chestnuts, lanterns strung up lining the cobbled lanes. It's all terribly romantic and like something out of Dickens.

Full of inspiration, I've designed and carved out my Christmas cards for this year.

Choosing to try a lino print, I've been loving experimenting with one, two and three colour prints. Layering and layering. It takes ages!
But worth it.

Mixing up colours change the feel of the print, from cold snow scene to dark starry night sky.