Phew – Christmas over and done with for another year! All our hand-made decorations were taken down yesterday and I was very proud that they all survived the whole holiday period without any disasters! Some have been put into boxes for next year, but I think some of the paper chains might be a bit too delicate for storage, so they’ve gone into the recycling.
Anyway, all my presents were a great success, including the Argos discount vouchers I sent to my lovely British relatives and the goregous Nao figurines I gave to my mother. I’ve already had lots of thank you emails from my nieces and nephews; no-one sends cards any more do they?
So, now my crafty mind is turning to spring ideas. Aside from a brief romantic interlude for Valentine’s Day, I usually spend most of the late winter months stuck inside because of the poor weather we get up here, trying to cheer myself up by making colourful, sunny Easter and Mother’s Day cards, with lots of pretty dried flowers and warm colours. It can really cheer you up when the weather is grey and grumpy outside, to spend a few hours living in spring.
My home-made cards are very popular with my friends and family and I even sell some of the better ones to neighbours and at my kids’ school fair. I’m usually a bit shy about selling the stuff I make at home, as I consider myself an enthusiastic amateur rather than any kind of professional, but every year I always sell out and end up taking orders for more! When I started crafting all those years ago as a student, I never thought I’d be making a few dollars from it. Mind you, the money I make usually just goes straight back to my local craft shops and fairs, buying ever fancier crafting materials and kit. Just don’t tell my husband!
