Saturday 18 December 2010

Christmas Spirit


Hello!

I've been doing a spot of baking this morning - mince pies - and Im topping them with a generous dollop of thick cream, well, you've got to haven't you!!


To be honest, it's been a rather busy old week, what with dashing about Christmas present shopping, working on a commission piece (which involves those materials I showed you last week) and enjoying a very festive night out with some dear friends (and still recovering from it!!).  So it was nice to get into the kitchen this morning, stick the apron on and do something relaxing and satisfying.  There's nothing like a fresh, home baked mince pie served warm from the oven is there?  I used Rachel Allen's recipe from Bake, if anyone is curious! :)


I think it was when the rather huge tin of Quality Street was brought into the house that the Christmas Holiday Feeling crept in too.  A rather carefree sensation has taken over which is very nice I must say; The Snowman is on the DVD player and I've posted out my very last order of the year - which brings me to say... 

Thank You so very, very much to each and every one of you who has visited my little on-line shops this year, and bought pieces of my work; be it cards, prints or originals...I am absolutely so grateful that you like my work enough to buy it, and I hope to welcome you all back when I reopen my shops on the 3rd of January 2011.

Despite all the dashing about, I've still found time to marvel at the Simple Stuff ~ like the reflection of sunlight on shimmery tinsel glittering on a wall...


...icicles glinting in a pink sunrise, hot chocolate after a cold walk, the crisp, creamy crescent of a new moon in a deep navy sky, the silent heron in the river at the bottom of the garden...

 I also love the rainbow bright colours in this glittery chain which the Small One has taken to wrap around her chair at the dining table too!


 I must say I find a lot of pleasure in the Simple Stuff, yes, I really do - and I've discovered that it's necessary to make the most of those moments when life is Too Full to get to the paints, or even to hook a line of Rainbow Ripple.
It's nice to have these tiny moments in the midst of the seasonal mayhem, although it's wonderful fun really with a three-and-a-half year old girl in the house...there is rapturous excitement at almost everything and it's completely contagious!!  This afternoon promises to see some paper snowflake making and if Im lucky, I might even squeeze in a tiny spot of crochet! :D

So - I send you each warm mince pies and mulled wine, tiny moments of tranquility and calm in the midst of the Christmas Chaos - and I would like to wish all of you a Sparkling Christmas and Radiant New Year.  

Thank you to everyone who stops by and reads or comments (or both!) - you are all so very, very welcome to be here and it's always a pleasure to discover that you are.

See you next year...Much love
Julia x

37 comments:

  1. What a lovely Christmassy post ~ those mince pies and cream look very yummy indeed. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas ~ and I hope that all your Christmas wishes come true :O) xx

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  2. Oh Julia those mince pies with their dollap of cream look so tempting! I love this time of year when there are even more colour and glitter and sparkley things everywhere! I have them all year round but this time of year so does everyone else which makes me very happy! xx :)

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  3. Thanks for colouring our lives so beautifully Julia. Have a great Christmas. xxx

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  4. Oh lovely. I love mince pies and they look especially yum. Have a wonderful Christmas week and new year. Keep warm. xx

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  5. A big tin of roses has done a similar thing in our house! You look like you've had a lovely morning baking, hope you enjoy the paper snowflake making too, that used to be one of my favourite things to do when i was little! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Chrismtas xx

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  6. What lovely mince pies! and what a lovely Christmas post, I hope you have a lovely Christmas and New Year, thankyou for allowing us all to see your great work.
    Andrea x

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  7. Those mince pies look quite delicious! And I love the mosaic in the post below, too.

    Wishing you a very happy christmas!

    Diana x

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  8. Ooooooh - those mince pies look absolutely delicious ... they're making my mouth water !!

    Have a really wonderful Christmas and New Year. Look forward to seeing you again in 2011 xxx

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  9. You paint such beautiful pictures,not just with water colours but also with words!!!!
    Have a wonderful Christmas,look forward to following you through into the New Year,Julie.x

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  10. I love your comments about enjoying the moments during the hustle and bustle of Christmas planning. So important I think and having a little one around helps too.
    Have a beautiful Christmas and thank you for sharing you lovely world with us.
    Anne xx

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  11. Sending Christmas Cheer to you too....its been a lovely year visiting your beautiful blog.

    Thanks for the mince pies. They look so yummy, I'm going to have to buy/make some now!

    Sending LOVE and JOY to you and yours.

    Jacky xox

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  12. Dear Julia, your mince pies looks so delicious and I wish I could join you for a mulled wine!
    Thank you for the lovely moments you gave us and showing your wonderful works this year!
    I wish you and your family Joyful Christmas time and Happy New Year!
    Teje

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  13. You are so right Julia, mince pies absolutely need a dollop of cream, delicious they look too!
    Children make Christmas enjoy every second with your little one. :)
    Have a wonderful Christmas and the happiest of New Years!! xxx
    Vivienne

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  14. Have a very lovely Christmas and sending you lots of joy for the new year.

    Lx

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  15. Those mince pies look delicious! lovely christmassy post, have you got any snow yet! or is that an understatement.
    have fun keep warm
    Jillxx

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  16. A lovely Christmas post Julia - best wishes to you - have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year too!

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  17. Thank you for the virtual mince pie and festive drink, they taste just as good as they look. Happy Christmas to you.

    Kate x

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  18. Happy Christmas Julia. Enjoy your time with the little one. x

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  19. Have a wonderful Christmas Julia!
    Sounds like you're having a ball already.

    Ali xx

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  20. Wishing you a very merry christmas Julia! thank you for al the inspiration you have brought since I discovered your lovely blog!
    XXXXX

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  21. Merry Christmas and have a fab 2011. Ax

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  22. Happy Christmas, can't wait to see what lovely paintings and crafty things you make next year!

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  23. your mince pies look yummy, happy christmas xx

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  24. The mince pies look deeelicious! I'm glad I found your blog this year and your lovely artwork. Have a wonderful Christmas! Helen x

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  25. I have so enjoyed reading your blog since I discovered it earlier this year. Colourful, creative, fun, chatty, inspiring too.
    I send you and your family all the very best for Christmas and the coming new year, may you continue to prosper and delight us with your work.

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  26. The mince pies look gorgeous. Just the right size so you can eat lots and lots!!! Happy Christmas Julia. x

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  27. So dreamy, those darling pies and the falling snow. I'm ready to have some pie and a glass of eggnog, if you don't mind. :)

    Your blog has been a gift to me this year, and I thank you for sharing your creativity and inspiration so freely with us all.

    Merry, merry Christmas to you and yours!!

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  28. Have a wonderful time at Christmas Julia.

    I've so enjoyed owning some of your work it brings a lovely splash of colour to my home.

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  29. your mince pies look really yummy! hope you all have a lovely christmas xxx

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  30. A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS Julia!! Best Wishes for 2011 :) lots of love Louise xx

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  31. Happy Christmas Julia to you and your family. Looking forward to more of your lovely colourful posts in 2011!

    Anne.

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  32. Just to say I hope you had a lovely Christmas Julia. Best wishes for the new year, Carolyn x

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  33. Gorgeous photos! I could just reach in and snaffle one of those pies! Hope you had a lovely Christmas, wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year
    BH x

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  34. Hello Julia! I hope you have had wonderful Christmas time!
    I want to give you The Stylish Blogger Award! You are welcome to take it from my blog!
    I wish you Happy New Year!
    xxx Teje

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  35. Hi Julia, your art is beautiful..found you through Teje today...signed on as your newest follower. Happy New Year!

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  36. totally yummy post
    and a truly deliciuos blog :o)

    wishing you a happy, healthy and sparkling 2011 xxx

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