Christmas is creeping in...

This morning, I (slightly belatedly) packaged up and posted off my ornament for this exchange on Micaelas blog. I hope my secret santa ornament recipient likes it, there's a little sneak peek of my handmade ornament below. I won't lie, I'm a bit nervous at giving something I made to someone I've never met, or talked to even, but we'll see :). Micaela has sorted all of us so its secret santa-esque as well, so my ornament-present won't come from the person that this one has gone to. I'm excited waiting for a parcel to arrive in the post though!

Christmas has been creeping into the house a little bit too over the last couple of days. I'm not one for putting up my decorations gradually, I like to have a few hours on a weekend, or an evening, put some carols on and decorate the house all at once. But the advent calendar has to go up on the 30th November, obviously, so here it is. (the poinsettias might have crept into my bag at morrisons, I had them sitting in my grandpas fish kettle last year, and loved it so much I've done it again. don't they look good with the advent calendar above?)

My great aunt (now 81) made this advent calendar for me when I was three - I know because she sewed the date on the back - there are tiny hooks all over the tree, and around the edge, and I have the box of decorations below to hang up each day. I love this, and its so special to me as I can bring the same calendar out every year to count down to Christmas.