Scented Fir Cones

Hello everyone, I hope that you are all keeping warm and safe. We are well and truly snowed in today with school closed and roads impassable, so no work either. Overnight, we had about 6-8 inches of the lovely white stuff.

So, what better way to spend the day, than a bit of crafting for Christmas. Now, for the life of me I can't remember where I saw this tutorial, so I must apologise if it was one of "yours". I gathered the fir cones a while back and have been drying them out by the woodburner for a couple of weeks now.

In a pan I melted some cheap and cheerful candles. I didn't bother doing it over a pan of boiling water, just threw them straight in and turned the heat on low.


When it was melted, I added some silver glitter and a good few drops of spicy christmas oil to the mixture. The glitter is optional I suppose, but as these are scented firelighters, the oil is not. I bought mine in Sainsbury.

Now you have to wait a few minutes until the wax cools and starts to set slightly when you dip the fir cone into it. You have to be fairly quick at this stage and get as many done as you can before it becomes too gloopy. When this happens just put it back over a low heat and start the process over again. I had to do this several times as I had quite a lot of fir cones to cover.

They should look soemthing like this when they are done...

Tap off any excess wax as you go and place on some newspaper to dry thoroughly...and that's all there is too it. A pile of gorgeous, sparkly smelling fire lighters.

These are an ideal pressie for friends and family who have open fires or woodburners that they will be lighting over the festivities. I have some cellophane and pretty ribbon to make them look nice and will write on the label what they are for in case they should mistake for pot pourri. I just wish that we had smellyblog, because the whole house smells gorgeous now!!

On other crafting matters, I bought an advent panel a couple of years ago and told myself that I would get it done. Alas, it has been sat in a bag until now that is. A friend of mine has just made a beautiful one and it stirred me into action.

I wish this picture was better, but we have no natural light here today, but as you can see from the close ups above, it is very sparkly and bright.

Anyway, I will say bye for now and leave you with a lovely snowy dove picture. Take care all of you and stay safe.

Dev x

Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

Who would like to take a walk with me? You will have to wrap up warm, find your scarf and gloves and wellies would be a jolly good idea I think. Are you ready....then off we go!

We must walk round the patio furniture first....mind your step.

Say good morning to Griddleshanks, (the resident dragon)! Yes I did say dragon, what's so unusual about that..everyone should have one! Honestly, his barks worse than his bite.

Down the path we go and out through the gate, should we go left or right? I think it should be left today, the hill is a bit too steep and slippery. Hope you are warm enough, pull your collar up because the snow will go down the back of your neck. Don't you hate it when that happens?

So down the lane we go, walk carefully the snow is deep, at least 12 inches in parts, it's going over the top of my boots. It's breath taking isn't it. No one else about, only the birds flitting from bush to tree to wall, looking for breakfast. Wish I had brought some corn with me. It's so quiet. No cars..sheer bliss. The main road is empty, a car abandoned on the lane opposite, too steep to drive up I guess. Someone hopefully didn't have too far to walk home through last nights blizzard. The road at this time in the morning is usually wall to wall cars. The rush hour, work, the school run. All is quiet, nothing stirs, except a man on a bicycle funnily enough.

The village green is totally deserted except for the Littlest Fairy. She has come along too. No school for her and her classmates today. The bus unable to get through the drifts.

The village pub offers morning coffee, but not at 8.30 am. Sorry to get you up and out so early.

It's snowing now and getting colder by the minute. I don't know about you, but my feet are freezing. Shall we head back now?

Say bye bye to Badger, he isn't looking too happy the wind is picking up a bit. Come on, I'll race you.

Let's go back the way we came shall we? Up the lane again. The snow is falling quite thickly now and filling in our footprints. Lucky I know the way home so we won't get lost...promise.

Littlest Fairy is full of the joys. She doesn't seem to feel the cold at all which is lucky. She stops for a rest though and makes one of these.

Then decides to make one of these to keep it company.

We are tiring a bit now, it's hard work walking through such deep snow. Are you okay, try and keep up it's not far now. Lets rest a while by the wall at the bottom of the lane and get our breath back. That's better isn't it?

Ready?... then lets get back, turn right.. there's the Fairyglade tucked away on the hillside. Can you see it through the trees, nestled there, warm and cosy?

Through the gate we go and we are home safe and sound. Did you enjoy that then?

Take off your wet things and warm yourself by the fire. I will put the kettle on shall I? Fancy a chocolate biscuit...or three!
Dev x

p.s. Check out Tabibooland for more wintery gorgeousness. She lives not far away from the Fairyglade and so got to share our snowy, snow too!

Happy Birthday...Again!

Happy Birthday Littlest Fairy!!!

This was taken last year, hasn't she grown up? (note the snow in the background..more is forecast for us this week)

So gorgeous and funny and wonderful and sassy and all mine.

The Birthday is still on-going. She had a friend to stay over the weekend and then opened her presents yesterday evening. Today is her official birthday and we all went out for a meal this evening. This coming weekend, it's off to the cinema with girlies and more food afterwards. I don't know whether I am coming or going, who should be where and when? So disorganised this year!

However, I have managed to make a few cuties for the party bags. Remember my last post..... Well with a bit of practice I made a few little flutterbys,

I added a few of these gorgeous buttons...aren't they cute?

Pinned everything out on a soft towel and spritzed with water, then left to dry over night.

And hey presto....the prettiest handbag charms in the glade. Do you like them...and more importantly, are a bunch of 10/11 year olds going to like them too.....finger crossed!

Dev x

Deja Vu!

Well, I came home from work on Friday afternoon, sat down with a coffee, looked out of the window and guess what I saw..........

It was heavy and thick and laying rather rapidly, just for a brief 5 minutes and then it was gone again! However, Saturday morning at around 7 am I opened the curtains and...well....there it was again!!

Nowhere near as bad as last week, but there all the same, crisp and white and very,very pretty. All rather odd really, and all rather gone again!



So what's a girl to do when the weather presents itself like this yet again..? Yep you've guessed it....crochet, crochet and more crochet. I have foolishly decided to make party gifts for Littlest Fairy's forthcoming birthday. Instead of the usual party bags full of expensive nothingness, (she is past the stage of a balloon, a plastic something or other and enough sweets to have them all bouncing off the ceiling), I had my second epiphany in as many weeks. I know...why not make something for each of them, something small and cute and woolly...mmmm! (Lots of exclamation marks in this post)! See I told you.

So my current WIP are these little pretties.

Above is stage one. Stage two involves a butterfly and stage three might be a ladybird. I haven't decided . I'm not going to give the game away just yet, I am going to let you wonder for a few days, let you ponder what they might be when finished..mmmm any idea yet? There isn't much to go on I know.

Another project still in the planning stage involves chickens and wool and Debbie Bliss bargains. Remember this pattern that I posted about?

Aren't they cute and designed by a very clever lady called Susan B Anderson who also happens to have a lovely blog . She also designs and lists her projects on Ravelry. I had to get the pattern from America from here. With postage it cost me $11 in total.

The next thing was to source some lovely cotton wool and in that I was rather lucky. I was reading Nina's lovely blog and there it was, her stash of gogeous new Debbie Bliss cotton yarn in the most scrumptious colours. So what's a person to do...I followed her link and bought myself a stash too. Sweet spring colours, lime green, soft primrose, pale pink. I think I might make the stripey one first.

I think these were reduced from £3.99 to £1.99. Bargain!!! Go and have a look for yourselves, there are some fantastic savings. I still have to get some circular needles before I can get started, but have spent my quota this month.

Anyway, for now I have a butterfly chart to master, so must dash.

Dev xxx

p.s. Saw Avatar on Saturday night, loved it!!

Big Freeze

We continue to shiver here at the Fairyglade due to the fact that our heating is not what it should be and we can only actually heat one room at present. It is mighty uncomfortable to say the least and we have taken to wearing thick jumpers and woolly bedsocks 24/7.

I have rung family and friends to make sure all is well and that they are warm and have enough food to be going on with. It is a mixed blessing really. One the one hand I love the stuff, I could sit and watch it fall from the sky all day. On the other hand, we are cold, particularly at night and the drive to work is fraught with danger, especially on the side roads.

I'm beginning to feel how he looks!!

(Elmer our resident gargoyle)


The lane is like a skating rink. Ice hidden under fresh snow makes for a treacherous combination and not one to be underestimated. Absolutely lethal. I am amazed at the amount of vehicles that have tried to drive up the hill outside our cottage.

The littlest fairy and friend had a lovely time playing in it all though. The picture doesn't really show the steepness of the hill..but take it from me...its STEEP.

This is one of our many log piles scattered here and there in the garden. Luckily we also have a log shed that keeps some in the dry too. It is hard work for man person keeping us warm.

It has been nice though, just staying inside, in the warm and reading and crocheting and catching up on films and such. Do you want to see a finished project, one that has been worth it's weight in gold under the present circumstances...well I am going to show you whether you like it or not.

Remember this???




Well it is now finished and looks like this..

It is as warm and snug as only a pure wool blanket can be and much fought over by the littlest one and myself. I have loved every minute of making this blanket in all it's hooky glory. What do you all think? Do you like it?

I couldn't end without showing you my xmas goodies. I may have mentioned the CK bag that I have coveted for ages and ages and ages, well here it is courtesy of my wonderful Mum who gave me a wad of cash for Christmas...ta very much ma! Little fairy and a friend bought me the lotions and potions which smell divinely of summer roses.

On that note, I will say goodnight as it is nearly my bedtime. Fingers crossed for a snowless night, though there is more forecast.

Take care all of you and keep warm and cosy.

Dev x

EDIT: Has anyone managed to get hold of a copy of the new crochet magazine that has been advertised on tv recently. I think it's called The Art of Crochet? I have looked everywhere and can't find it?

EDIT again: I have since been told by a collegue who made some enquiries that the first edition has now sold out around these parts, how can that be? So if there is anyone out there who is able to locate a copy for me and would be prepared to buy it and post it to me I would be ever so grateful. I can send you a cheque or pay through paypal if it is easier. Pretty, pretty please.