Wintertime candles

 Photographs found. Oh my, making these candles was so much fun. I first came across a how-to on the beautiful apartment apothecary - I had no idea candle making could be so simple. I gathered supplies (soya wax flakes, pre-waxed wicks from LiveMoor, essential oils from mystic moments) and a collection of old tea cups from local charity shops and then oh so simply made candles.

I selected what I hoped would be wintery scents - sweet orange, cinnamon and clove - and they smelt delightful as I mixed and poured. But I wasn't generous enough with the oils and they have just the faintest whiff of scent as they are burning, something to remember for next time

Happily for me I enthusiastically gathered tea cups and old jars which meant I made more than needed, so we are still burning them now on these grey days. Looking forward to experimenting with some floral scents next.

It is a day for cosying at home with scented candles and some knitting. I am joining in with the Snowmelt shawl MKAL - there are some beautiful shawls being knitted. And some dreamy yarns that are tempting me. My snowmelt is being knitted in seasonally appropriate colours and matches the skies of Suffolk perfectly... a light and mid grey just like these foggy morns with a cold, bright blue for the glimpses of sky when it does peek out from behind the blanket of cloud. So I shall make a pot of coffee and back to my knitting. Bliss

Hand warmers to keep little and not-so-little hands warm this wintertime

 For Christmas presents each year I seem to find one thing to make which I then gift to everyone - there have been scarves, tea cosies, egg cosies, hot water bottle covers, hats - and I enjoy choosing just the right fabric or wool for each one. This year was the year of the hand warmer (and candles, but more of that another time when I have found the photographs). Some of these have also been made as birthday presents and were bundled up with a mug and hot choc, or a flask...

These are all filled with cherry stones, which I found at brow farm. Simple to heat in the microwave (though be warned, one overly enthusiastic nephew has managed to set fire to his hand warmers. The microwave still smells, sorry Weens. Know the power of your microwave, and keep to the heating times given!) though they also work by popping them on a warm radiator. Ours are keeping hands toasty on these wintery walks to school...

Either rather late or rather early...

For a Christmas jumper that is. I had hoped to take these photographs at least in January - well I suppose they were taken in January as that was only yesterday. January has worn me out this year. Horrible take-to-my-bed type cold after Christmas lingered in a bone aching manner until a few weeks into the new year and last week another cold has taken hold. Yuck.

Does anyone still want to even see a Christmas jumper? Maybe someone far more organised than me may be inspired for the festive season this year. And hopefully, unlike me, not forget about it again

 Fairly gentle for a Christmas jumper. I found the pattern in Simply Crochet issue 51, Esme Cricks's we heart it. Although I made a wreath instead of the heart shape, used slightly heavier wool from the basket, and sequins rather than pearl beads as that is what I had. Just add a creased jumper

The position of the mistletoe leaves isn't quite as I imagined but now they are sewn on I think they will be staying put. I'm off to see what other makes I have to catch up with - hopefully they will be appropriately wintery rather than so obviously festive...