Crafty Christmas

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Is it me or is the run up to Christmas going at break-neck speed this year?  I’ve barely even started my Christmas shopping and suddenly there’s only 10 days to go.  Aaargh!! I’ve not made any cards this week but I have been creative none the less.

We had an extension done last year and moved our lounge to the other side of the wall.  The log burner then needed to be moved so we got the builders back to turn the fireplace around. Luckily, they managed to get the granite hearth pieces out whole and they were re-laid on the other side.  When it was in the other room, the fireplace was lined with brick but I’m not a big fan so took the opportunity to change that.  After the fireplace was dry lined with fireboard, Mr L and I then tiled it with porcelain tiles.  It was Mr L’s first experience with tiling so he was on the tile cutter whilst I was doing the sticking!

After the grouting was complete, I filled the holes around the edges, sanded and painted and then replaced the mantlepiece.  We hefted the 100kg log burned back into place and the final job was to cut and adhere the skirting boards.  We’ve just got to wait for the tile adhesive to cure before we can light the log burner but we’re very happy with the finished fireplace.


For my second crafty endeavour, some friends came around and we made a woven willow star.  I bought the kits online from My Own 2 Hands and, after soaking the willow the previous day, we got to work.

It was harder than it looked, I think in part because our weavers (the skinny bits of willow) were drying out being in a centrally heated house and they kept splitting.  However, we all got there in the end and did enjoy it.

The kit also comes with some battery-operated fairy lights which are simply wrapped around the star once it’s finished.  I’m rather pleased with the finished article.

My last crafty make was my wreath for the front door.  I usually use a mix of foliage but the branch I sawed off our eucalyptus tree was rather substantial and I had masses of that foliage so just went for a eucalyptus base.  The only difficulty that presented was that the leaves formed a thick mat so it was tricky poking through the wires for the decorative bits and bobs.  I don’t think I like it as much as the mixed foliage but you have to try these things sometimes!

I hope you’ve had some time for Christmas crafting - let me know in the comments below! 

 


 

Location: Fareham, UK

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