WOYWW 134

Love and joy come to you,
And to you your wassail too,
And God bless you and send you a happy New Year.
And God send you a happy New Year.

(English Traditional Carol)


After the joys and excitement of the Christmas festivities, I always feel that the week in the run up to New Year's Eve is a time for a good clear out, in all senses of the word. I always take down my decorations before then as I like a fresh start for January 1st. 
Also, much as I think New Year's Resolutions are made to inevitably be broken by mid January (or is that just me?? Lol) this week does make you think of what you'd like to achieve throughout the year.
So, LLJ, here goes....
* to try and do something that is not in my comfort zone
* don't prevaricate..just DO IT!!
That's it - only two, but they encompass many parts of my life that need tweaking. Now all that needs doing is to listen to my own advice *grin*


I haven't been doing much sewing but lots of knitting instead. However, here are some shots of my desk...
DH, as promised, blinged up my machine for Christmas Day!
I had some very thoughtful prezzies this year including some sewing bits and pieces in the lid of the box - the tiny scissors, buttons and ribbons are from my great friend Sue. The turquoise ribbons I saved from presents that my boys bought me from my fav shop in Winchester, Forme, where they gift wrap free of charge! I've got to re-use those beauties at some point.. The buttons and beads weren't a present but were passed on by my niece who's having a clear out. It is a gift really as I'm going to have fun with that little lot :-)
A big surprise was this amazing journal from Madam Dunnit

It's all about my 50th birthday week back in August - it's amazing and so thoughtful, thank you Julia. You needn't have worried about your homemade gifts, we loved them all :)
This is my next job on the list...
I'm going through my scraps box in order to make petals for flower corsages and charms - there's loads of tutorials on the net if you're interested. So, lots of tracing and cutting out in front of the telly, I think!!
I am a very fortunate girl you know, I've got a fab family for which I give my heartfelt thanks. But there are occasions when .. well, see for yourselves. All I wanted was a nice photo on Christmas Day...
Thanks for the sign, Julia, the words are more true than you realised.....!!!
Wishing you all a Happy New Year at the weekend - may 2012 be everything that you hope for.
LLJ  xxxx

46 comments:

Annie said...

Fab pics Jan. That's my sort of family :-)
I'm just doing a quick blog hop round as many of my friends as I can before the family calls. I've offered to have the twins today so may not have a lot of spare time later. Think they need all the help they can get at the mo....both Mum and Dad are poorly now :-(
Hugs to all,
A x

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

ah lovely family times and so good to have friends who bless your hear with such gifts - thanks for being a real bright spot in WOYWW for 2011 Lunch Lady Jan, and long may it continue :D Shaz in oz.x

sandra de said...

Ohh I love the family pic. I have a similar one of my three, all with their mouth open full of turkey. I think I will make it the chrissy card for 2012. Have a wonderful new year and I look forward to lots of woyww posts in 2012.
Sandra
#11

Neet said...

Hey middle man has my OH's dressing gown on! Brill photo and a real treasure one, good fun! Lovely blog again and nice to see you celebrating your birthday in the thoughtful present from your friend Mrs D. May I take this opportunity of wishing you and yours a Good 2012. Hugs, Neet #4 xx

Bridget Larsen said...

love all that bling
Bridget #14

Tuire Flemming said...

Lovely gifts! The book is wonderful!
Also love your blinged machine :D
Hugs
Tuire #36

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

Great fun post..the male gender here are the same for photos. Close their eyes, make a face, turn their caps or their heads and never let you win a great photo.
Love the Aqua ribbon, you'll have a memory treasure there. Have fun organizing before Jan 1st. I'm much too tired to tackle the downstairs. Just relish in the fact the total upstairs is back to sparkle!!
May you and yours enjoy the MERRIMENT of Welcoming in the NEW YEAR and Best Wishes for 2012.

Jaki Morris said...

Sounds like you had a lovely time. I'm with you on the 'nice photo' thing. I tell my boys that when I'm gone they won't remember what I look like because I'm the only one who takes photos! However, a very drunken friend took a photo of me on Christmas Day and it's not too bad.
Have a great New Year
Jakix

Emma E said...

Looks like you had a fabby Christmas - and your photo album is lovely! Have a great New Year! x

shazsilverwolf said...

Love the sign! I think we could probably ALL use that one, lol.I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, and wish you a very Happy New Year, Love Shaz xx

Carmen said...

Love that last piccie - the sign is perfect :D :D Hope you had a wonderful Christmas LLJan :)

Julia Dunnit said...

Now that is a good photo of your boys, really ie no idea where they get it from! Am not in Aylesbury after all today, so waning and sorting...but leaving the tree up for now...it's not annoying me just yet!! See you on sat. Xx

May said...

I love the pic, and the sign it's fantastic (he he) it made me chuckle, Happy 2012, Hugs May x x x

Ann B said...

Love the sign and hey, what's normal anyway?
Was singing along to the verse at the top of your post so 'God send you a happy new year' too.
Ann B
#20

minnie_mac said...

A lovely fun festive post.

Very best wishes for 2012.

Marilyn

Twiglet said...

Lovely crafty bits and bobs and a fun photo - what a cheery bunch! happy New Year.x Jo

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

Trying to get the younger members of a family to cooperate for a "normal" picture is almost impossible. That is why I really treasure the present we had this Christmas of all four grandchildren. Even so, your picture show the happiness in your house, which is a good memory in itself. I love all those pretty embellishments you got and Julia's journal is beautiful. Have a really happy and healthy New year in 2012, with lots of crafting and fun. Thank you for all your encouraging comments this year. xx Maggie #50

Elizabeth said...

Those sound like very sensible New Year's resolutions. :) Happy WOYWW and all the best for 2012! Tango, #37

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

Your family photo really made me smile! My brother was always the same, once he got a bit older and he hasn't changed a bit! Looking forward to following you in 2012:) Fiona x

505whimsygirl said...

Like the bling around the sewing machine. tee hee.

WOYWW #82

bohemiannie! art said...

Hmmmmm...nice, normal?!?! Hmmmmm.

Merry, Merry, Happy, Happy!

donnalouiserodgers said...

most people would give an arm and a leg for the kind of smiles you have going on under your tree,

love the box of goodies


Happy New Year

Dxxx

fairy thoughts said...

oh yes very normal! but then .... who wants to be normal. I'd much rather be a button lover, I think I recognise some of those button at the top, lucky lunch lady jan.
hope your new year is as happy
janet #22

Hettie said...

Lovely family pic there Jan!! LOL!!
Have a great New Year and thanks for your kind visits and comments over the past few months. Look forward to seeing you soon.
Hugs
xxx

CRAFTY WOMBLE said...

Awwww, happiness and smiles should never be under-rated. I haven't managed to blog today, building up for a party on Friday while madly going away for the night tomorrow (at least we can't create more mess if we are not here, and fingers crossed we can leave it tidy......) I'm not a new year bod, I can never really last until 12 and then of course the little fella is up at normal time and I can't deliberately inflict sleep deprivation on myself. But happy new year regardless and good luck with the ole list......

Anonymous said...

I do love your family's normality, much more sincere than most families normality that's for sure! Hhm, something outside of your comfort zone, what on earth could that be, or are you still deciding?? Last week you asked about where I was from, it's a tiny village called Nettlesworth, which is just off the main road from Durham to Chester le Street. Hope you have a brilliant and fun 2012.

Hugs
Brenda

Spyder said...

Fabulous Pictures, Happy New Year!!
happy WOYww
(Lyn)

SandeeNC said...

As always visiting your blog brings a smile to my face, I had to enlarge the pic so I could read the sign, it's adorable with the "posers" aka your normal family! I also joined your blog, thought I already had, but that might have been on my old blog that got destroyed, so joined again! Happy New Year from North Carolina!

Robin Panzer Art said...

LOL really that sign is just the BEST! Happy NEW YEAR ~WOYWW! #3 Robin Panzer Art Studio 33

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Don't worry--your secret is safe with me! Nice and normal! Love the festive sewing machine!

Michelle (aka Meechelle) said...

LOL! Oh my, that picture of your family is the best! And that sign is just perfect. Hope your New Years is just as fun as it looks like your Christmas was. -Meechelle #86

Sue from Oregon said...

A great tour this week LLJ! I think I need to clean out the ole crafty nook too! (and go look up prevaricate in the dictionary as well!) My best to you in 2012!

famfa said...

Lovely gifts. Great Christmas photo. Love the hare picture in background. I love hares. Wishing you all best for 2012

Electra said...

I love your blinged up machine! I hope you have a wonderful, creative 2012!

ScrappnBee said...

LLJ- Thanks for the fab ords on my site! IT has been an awesome year getting to know you in this generation of cyber pen pals! It looks like you got some great pressies! Love Mrs Dunnit's album from your birthday!...and her sign for the family pic! Have a fabulous (but not too too festive) a New Year! See you in 2012!-Amanda #9
PS- You may inspire me to declare a truce with the sewing machine...maybe!

Sunshine Girl said...

Thats a typical OH idea of blinging something up isnt it! Love all the sewing goodies you had and that album is fabulous isnt it. Love the picture at the end too - sums up my family perfectly too! Thanks for all the lovely comments you have left me these past few months and I hope you all have a lovely new year too.

SueH said...

I would normally take all my decorations down between Christmas and the New year too Jan but because I’m so far behind with making my January birthday cards “work” has to come first I’m afraid so who knows when the big tidy up will happen.
Love the family portrait but it’s a shame that you’re not in it.

Happy New Year to you and
Happy Crafting!

Sue
x

Tara Cardwell said...

I love that you decorated your sewing machine for the festivities - brilliant!
Happy New Year

Morti said...

"* to try and do something that is not in my comfort zone
* don't prevaricate..just DO IT!!
That's it - only two, but they encompass many parts of my life that need tweaking. Now all that needs doing is to listen to my own advice *grin*"

Duly noted! I'll be on hand to nudge when necessary!

And how funny! The "to everyone else we're a normal family" comment is the Bromilow family motto. ROFL. Glad to know we're of like minds...hehehehehe.

Have a fab New Year - see you soonest! Must come and find those GCs along your main road!

Elizabeth said...

Hello Jan, great post, as usual. I think my DH would love to have the tree and decs down by now but I usually keep them up to 6th Jan - it's just tradition and no doubt I could kick it if I really tried. It's not just you, I would not keep any resolutions so don't even bother - oh, the joys of being old enough to know that about myself. Love the family photo - they look like lots of fun :) Thanks for all your lovely comments throughout the year, it's been a delight reading your blog since you plucked up courage to join in, and I wish you many crafting hours in 2012. Happy New Year! Elizabeth #65

l00pyscraftcreations said...

Oh dear want help throttling them, LOL, sorry but thats just typical!!! What a lovely gift from Julia, and a handmade one is always more special!! Thanks hun, and happy belated WOYWW

HeARTworks said...

Great family picture! It's been a great year, hasn't it? A blessed Christmas season to you! Patsy

okienurse said...

Great gifts and pictures! Love the book Julia made you! Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog this week. I really enjoy hearing what you have to say! Have a Happy New year! Vickie #10

dianneo said...

Happy new year! I'll be back playing on WOYWW now that Santa (AKA my husband) has brought me a new camera for Christmas.

JoZart Designs said...

Such a fun post!! It looks like you all had a great Christmas!
I'm just back home from the South Coast of England visiting those Brighton Belles so quick catch up to thank you for all your lovely comments and fun and inspiration on your blog!
Here's to a great New Year 2012!! Health, Happiness, Peace & Joy,
Love JoZarty x

Julie said...

Love how your hubby "blinged" up your sewing machine! So cute!!!! Thanks for stopping by my place this week as well! Have a great week!
Julie

WOYWW 769

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