1st Christmas Done and some more Gift Ideas

Well today we drove down to Katikati and spent the day with my parents.  It was great to see them and they loved seeing us....We had cold roast chicken, salad and rolls and Richard and I were on Desert Duty.  Every year around Christmas I make trifles but with out the alchohol and normall use a really good orange juice.  Well today I made a Chocolate & Berry Trifle.  Photos to come when we have edited them...I used layers of chocolate brownie, then mixed berries (that had been frozen and then I cooked them down with some sugar and then cooled), then layer of custard, then brownie etc again finishing with whipped cream and shaved chocolate on top...OMG it was devine...Will def be making it again.

Sometimes it's the similest gifts that are the best...I have grown up with Mum loving to go to 2nd hand shops and she knew how much David loves books and got him a thick illustrated kids dictonary and OMG he just loves it and has had his nose glued in it for most of the trip back.

For one of Richard's work colleagues I am making the following gift which will suit him right down to the ground.



LUMP OF COAL

I got the idea from one of my fav sites eighteen25 from this blog post of there's which includes the recipie and Tag download.

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/12/lump-of-coal.html

I am going to make up a few of these this week as good joke gifts...

Oh well better head off and work on some more ideas and blog posts and will be back tomorrow to discuss Wrapping Gifts and all sorts of things like that.

Further Christmas Gifts

Yesterday I went and visit David's school teacher who is currently on Maternity Leave to visit and drop off some Christmas Presents.

For Tash I made the Crayon Wreath that I have been so excited to make.  I loved doing this and will def make them again.  Maybe next Christmas to order.

The following was "Caramel in a Can" that I found the label on the top on a website and you wrap a tin of condenced milk in patterned paper and put the label on top.  Turns out it will be the perfect present for her husband as he loves caramel so I chose well for him.

I am just in the process of making my mum's present which is a Kraft Callendar with vintage photos of Woodville and Gorge Township that my mum's family first settled in in 1874 when they emigrated from New Zealand.  I will take a photo of that and Blog about it when I am finished.

How is everyone's Christmas Present/Gift making and purchasing going?  Is anyone finished?  How much has everyone got to go?

I am spending the coming week finishing off as many of my presents as possible as school finishes for the year on Friday.  I want to have all the teacher's gifts finished hopefully by Thursday morning.  Though the present for their music teacher who is only there on a Wednesday will be done early.

What Christmasy things has everyone been doing?  David went to Sylvia Park this morning and got a photo with Santa and as his school were in the Clevedon Santa Parade this year he reminded Santa to make sure he was in Clevedon in time as they needed him and his raindeer.  So cute!  Pics of both these events to come once I have edited the Parade pics.

Take care and will Blog again tomorrow. Thank you to everyone for your wonderful comments.

Starship Hospital

This is the first of many posts i will be doing over the next few days.  Thursday morning saw me up bright and early to finish organising last little bits and peices before heading into town to drop the following off.

Christmas Card Kits - 4 boxes worth

Big Basket of Little goodies in kits for Parents

Pile of gifts we had been collecting during the year.

There was a photo taken that once I get a copy I will upload it of myself with our wonderful contact at Starship...I felt amazing being able to help bring joy to them all.  I was told that the Play Specalists would be over joyed with everything.

Thank you sooo much to everyone for all your help.  This is something I am going to continue through out the year every year.

Watch out for another blog post latter today.

Spreading "Handmade & Heartfelt" into Schools and around!

This morning saw me arrive at David's school early and set up a Christmas Tree and decorate it before any of the kids arrived to bring some Christmas into the class room as a surprise.  I have also been helping their teacher with "handmade" ideas and next Tuesday they will be making stained glass cookies and handmade crackers which I am making up kits for and the dough for the cookies - i've got them some awesome cookie cutters of mine to borrow.  Today the kids started making up their own little cardboard Christmas Trees.

I have been in contact with all 3 families and by the end of next week everyone will have their Christmas Trees and decorations.  I will be doing a little profile on each family this coming week.  Our Timaru family had moved 3 times since the earthquake and I have found out over the weekend that this coming weekend they will be moving for a fourth time and they didn't actually think they would have a Christmas Tree this year.

I am in the process of getting everything organised for our Star Ship visit on Thursday morning.  Getting together and bagging up 200 card kits is a long task but one that I am enjoying doing and feel that I am helping to bring Christmas Spirit to them.  I will make sure I take pics of everything and will post on Thursday afternoon on my return.  So far we will have about 200 card kits possibly more, gifts for some of the pacients and 20 little kits of a few goodies for parents in some wonderful christmasy fabric bags donated by Tanya W's mum!  Thanks heaps you are wonderful.

How are everyone's Christmas Plans going?

I am off to get some photos printed tomorrow so that I can finish presents for my mum and dad as we are having our first Christmas at their place this weekend.  David and some of the other kids at his school will be in one of our local Santa Parades over the weekend and he is sooo excited.

Handmade Decoration or Gift Swap

Hi Everyone, Just a quick post while I finish up some emails and more Blog Posts for you all.  At the moment I have 5 people down on the swap list and thought there were more but with the corupted file I can't check.  I had 6 but I know one pulled out the other day by email becuase of all the amazing work she has on at the moment.

If you are not on the following list can you please urgently email me on debbie.blincoe@vodafone.co.nz so that I can get these swap names out please.

Debbie
Nicki V
Sandra
Ali
Louise

If this is all the actual number is that's totally fine.  We are going to have so much fun!

Have an awesome Summers Day everyone.

Big Big Big Annoucment!

Big Big Things happening at Handmade & Heartfelt today....

We have had 3 nominations for our Christmas Tree and Decorations Paying in Foward...Well after reading and reading each nomination 5-6 times each and can't decide....

So over the next 7-10 days we will be having a Christmas Tree Farm delivier a tree in Christchurch and Timaru and we will be getting the tree that we have here at our place delivered to Hobsonville.

The Chrstchurch tree and decorations are going to a wonderful family of 5 that until very recently lived in Bexley.

The Timaru tree will be going to a family originally from Christchurch that since the earthquakes have had to move 3 times with 3 young children with out transport.

The Auckland/Hobsonville Tree will be going to a Single Mother with 3 children who even she has been through many many issues she is so generous with what she gives and does for others.

I will share more about each family once I have their permission and Sarah and Nic C if you can please email me and we will work on details of me getting decorations to each family with some other goodies we have here and arranging delivery of the Christmas Trees....

Merry Christmas Everyone!