Let the Festivities begin!

Last week at scrabble, (yes, that's how rock n roll I am) I was asked if I'd given the Christmas table any thought, which to be honest I hadn't but I really should have done.
You see, it has become my thing, it ensures that I am never asked to cook the dinner, that's Mum & Jill's thing, or wash the pots, that's a magic thing, apparently....

I'm also aware that many people will not take it as seriously as I do.

I've heard stories of people having their Christmas feast on a tray in front of the TV (...reaches for paper bag...takes deep breaths...) 

NOT ON MY WATCH!

 Over the years we've done many themes, so  this year I'm  thinking of something a bit different but truly festive. In my heart of hearts I want to do a natural wood & stone affair but I could see their faces when I suggested this, its taken me several years to get them to come round to the idea of more than two colours!

Last years brief was "Three Kings" so I was able to  go mad with lots of coloured silks, an abundance of candles, piles of fruit & nuts & ancient scroll menus tied with purple silk & gold ribbon.

One year we had Santas train running around the centre of the table, which was nice!

Thats the fun bit, logistically its a bit of a nightmare as we have to seat as many as twenty two people (Now you see why I dont offer to cook!) This means dressing the whole of my sisters double garage, floors walls and ceiling with sheets and dust covers and assembling a selection of mismatched furniture into one level feasting table...usually takes about six of us a day to get it looking sufficiently Christmassy.

You wouldnt believe there's a stack of bicycles, paint pots and toolboxes behind that curtain now would you?

Place settings are important, I urge you to take control and tell your guests exactly where you want them to sit, Jill and I normally go through at least half a bottle of baileys while drawing up our seating plan. (Even tho its basically pretty much the same every year...)

And I always do something a bit special for the children...

All in all I would encourage anyone who doesnt like cooking to throw themselves at the table in a bid to make it so special, that it too, will become "your thing", it works for me, I get to tuck into this guilt free on Christmas Day,

Happy Christmas
Lisa x

A Breath of Saltaire

Ok so firstly, sorry its been so long, I promise I will try harder from now on, but life gets in the way and it feels like both a luxury and a chore to sit down and actually blog, but today was so inspiring I had to share...

Today we took a train to Saltaire to visit the Makers Fair and to explore the arts trail,  usually we’re busy selling our wares somewhere or other on a bank holiday weekend and so it’s a real treat to be able to be on the other side of the table, so to speak.

Anyway I digress...We stepped off the train and agreed as we generally do that we would grab a cuppa somewhere and plan our day, with four children in tow it’s a prerequisite they are fed and watered at regular intervals and bribed as  and when necessary. However straight out of the station we stumbled upon Number 11 William Henry Street.  Invited inside we were a little nervous to say the least, it seems odd to go into someone’s private house and even stranger when it is strewn with tea of every kind, teabags on the floor and wall, teapots and cups and saucers on every surface and a lady asking if you’d prefer earl grey or “ordinary” tea.

We had one of each out of big china cups and watched the performers a little in awe and a little apprehensive as to how involved we should actually be, (Isabelle & Eliza offered to help out & wash up our cups). We left as a lady in nothing but a bath towel tidied around us...bizarre but brilliant.

We continued visiting  the different houses along the trail holding a variety of artists,  our previous inhibitions gone, not only marvelling at the work on display but the houses themselves, the fire places, the architecture, everything, it was ace! (I am now officially saving up for a Kate Lycett print)

After twelve houses the kids were starving so we stopped for lunch before heading to the Makers Fair at Victoria Hall. I actually felt pretty nervous about this, as I tweet and chat on facebook to a lot of the stallholders exhibiting there through Craft Soup & Yorkshire Made but had never  actually met them in person, I needn’t have they’re all as lovely in real life as they are in cyberspace! I spent almost three hours wandering around wishing I had money to spend, Sally bought a hat, Isabelle & Kathryn bought rag rug kits from The Yorkshire Craft Company and I treated myself to a Dear Emma Blue tit brooch because I would have kicked myself if I’d have gone home without it.

 The quality of the exhibitors was outstanding, it’s so inspiring to see such a high standard maintained throughout the entire fair, and the whole atmosphere is upbeat and friendly, we came away so impressed with what we’d seen and more than a little envious that we ourselves weren’t there with our own stall. (Needless to say we will be applying next year!) To be perfectly honest I could have gone round again, I know I missed a lot as it was so busy, but it was lovely to put faces to  artists and crafters whose works I've admired on the internet, unfortunatley the gang were growing restless and we were running short on time. Apparently Sally and I took so long gossiping that  Jill took it upon herself to make a bivouac with the girls in case we missed the last train home!

At this point we were asked to answer a few questions about Saltaire Arts Trail by a lovely girl and a man with a camera for the website, needless to say I think we will be on the cutting room floor as we went from waxing lyrical to speechless in a heartbeat once we realised they were filming...Obviously we had to run away! Quickly deciding you can’t go to Saltaire without having a bit of Hockney  & making our escape down to the Salts to wander through the galleries before heading for icecream & donuts off the barge & a lovely pint at the pub by the river, a perfect finish to a perfect day.

 Lisa x