Making little gifts

Whilst I watched a film last night I crocheted 6 Jolly Santas. I had bought a pack of Googly eyes and a bag of small bells from Amazon and still had lots of the red wooden beads left to use for the noses, so everything was to hand.

Here they are, 6 Jolly Santas:

Really quick to make now I know what I am doing.  I managed to find a length of thin black ribbon to thread through one Santa hat but need to go to my local Sewing Shop for some red ribbon for the remainder and also future ones which I'm sure I'll make - they are rather addictive!

Off to visit my sister and brother-in-law this morning for a quick coffee and catch up before Christmas.  This year I have put together a hamper of Christmas goodies and am including a Jolly Santa for their tree. When my sister Pat's children were small she bought a new Christmas tree decoration for each of them every year and when our children came along she did the same.  I hadn't seen Pat's Christmas tree for a few years but when I did a couple of years ago I was amazed at how many ornaments we have that are exactly the same.  Of course she had bought the same ones for our children as she had for her own.  It is so lovely each year when we put the decorations on the tree to remember where they came from.  Now I include our GD in this tradition when she helps me decorate our tree.  However I have started the same tradition for her Family Tree as each year I buy 3 or 4 pretty ornaments to give her with her Advent calendar but I have also wrapped one of my Jolly Santas for her to open on Christmas Day. I am seeing most of my sister's children and families over Christmas so I am going to give each family a Jolly Santa for their trees. Such fun!  Thanks again, Jo, for the pattern.

Hope you are all getting organised for Christmas and not feeling too rushed.  This afternoon I want to trim my Twinkler Star quilt and then make the binding (and sew it on) ready for our last Thursday Patchwork before Christmas. We are going to Ruth's and have all been asked to wear a decorated Christmas hat which we will wear the whole morning. Ruth's idea following a joke birthday card another of our group sent herlast year.  Three 'ladies of a certain age' , clothes from the 1950s era, all sitting on a beach in deckchairs wearing hats, knitting or sewing ....... and talking!!!  As a joke Ruth suggested that is what we should do on 21st December.  We have two guests coming: John and Kimmy. John's lovely wife Mary was a valued and much loved member of our group but sadly died almost three years ago. Kimmy the dog was the love of Mary and John's life and John occasionally pops in when we are at Ruth's to see us all.  Kimmy is great friends with Ruth's little dog so a happy time is had by all.  John is a prolific gardener and makes lots of jams, jellies and chutneys from some of his produce and every time he visits he gifts us all a jar of jam.  Last time is was the most delicious Damson Jelly.  John will be 90 next year so we have made him a special Christmas gift, the Ship Quilt I showed blocks from a few weeks ago.  All finished now and will be handed over to John on Thursday. I'm really looking forward to the occasion, especially as we have a surprise for Ruth too!