Six Geese a-Laying

Five of the geese have laid golden eggs.  The sixth has laid a jewelled egg (beads and sequins!) and is looking rather pleased with herself - note her eyes ...

Five Go-old Rings ...

The Five Gold Rings decoration was the first to be completed.

It consists of five brass curtain rings on a red velvet cushion with beaded piping.  The long tailed tassel is made with metallic threads, some of which are beaded with small red and green beads. The hanging loop is made from the same bead as are used in the piping.

Four Calling Birds

The Four Calling Birds were one of the first to be planned (the Partridge in a Pear Tree was the first). Back in June, as I was starting chemo, I stayed with my sister for the weekend and we discussed the decorations in the light of the me having less energy over the coming months.

My sister had a pattern for fabric birds and thought it could be adapted without too much difficulty.  We then had a happy time going through fabric and beads.

The location, against the patio doors into the conservatory/craft room, doesn't make for a good photo.

Each bird's body is made from three different fabrics and the beak and wings are of net.  They are suspended from the curtain rail at different heights using beaded cords.

Three French Hens

My sister made the Three French Hens in the colours of the French Tricolour.

 She used waffle-texture tea towels and felt, with beads for their eyes.

On the Second Day

Two turtle doves

These too were not made from scratch but I bought them from a bridal section in a craft shop!  They have clips on the undersides, so we have clipped them to the curtain.  The number is tied on with ribbon.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Health issues rather overtook me again this year and from the late spring I haven't really had much time to spend on preparing for Christmas.  Fortunately our Twelve Days theme had been set and some things had been started.  My sister and her younger son pitched in and between us we have made a good display.

As well as having a decoration for each Day, we also themed Saturday's family dinner and many of our Christmas cards.  My aim this year is to a daily post, one day behind real time, of each of the decorations and then follow up with a few posts looking at the other aspects of our theme.

Here to start us off is the First Day. This one (as well as the Second Day) isn't entirely made by us as the tree I had already and the partridge I bought at one of the local garden centres.

Happy Christmas!