Have a Cosy Christmas!

What a month its been! Little Maldod opened its virtual doors 4 weeks ago this week and the support I've had has been absolutely amazing. The messages of support and kind words that I've had from people have been amazing and i've been kept a lot busier with orders that I thought I would be. I am so grateful for ALL the support and want to say a massive thank you to you all!

I posted my final orders off at the start of this week so the last of the little maldod stockings and gifts should now have landed on doorsteps ready for the big day. I was involved in a lovely Giveaway last Saturday and was delighted that my final sew of the year was to make a personalised stocking for the winner. The winning lady is going to give it to her 8 month old son, this is what she told me: "Iv been looking for a stocking for ages one that he can have forever like I did when I was a kid, still have mine. These are gorgeous, still can't believe I've won. Thank you!"
What a perfect way to the end the year.

As well as being busy in the work room, as a family we've had a fun filled couple of weeks with lots of lovely festive activities. The house has gradually become more and more Christmassy, Wilf has sported some very cute festive outfits, the chocolate basket (Quality Streets of course!) has been restocked twice, and I've hoovered more pine needles than I care to think of (we've got a dropper this year). Its really been a great December and the special part is yet to come!

So, before I sign off for Christmas here's a round up of one of my favourite months of the year.

 

No time for making new decorations this year but this is an old favourite.

 

I didn't get to make a fresh wreath either but this fruity one has served us nicely. 

 

A trip to the local farmshop and their nativity barn was a huge hit!

 

The nativity story is very important to us as a family so I was very happy when I found this set. 

It'll be treasured for years. A rhino has since been added although i'm not sure one was actually present at the birth of Jesus!

 

Thankfully most baubles have been safe so far.....

 

Christmas knit overload

 

Final present deliveries to friends last night

 

The giveaway stocking. So delighted that this will be used for years.

 

Nearly there....

I opened this card whilst Wilf and I were cuddled up under a blanket on the sofa yesterday afternoon. Its one of my favourite cards we've received this year. So I'm sharing it with you all and wish you the most wonderful Christmas, may it be filled with fun, laughs, plenty of cosiness and lots of love.

Thank you so much for reading and joining me on the little maldod adventure this past month. I'm so looking forward to sharing my plans for the shop with you in the new year.

With lots of love,
Lowri x

A tree and a pin cushion

Yesterday was one of those days. We all get them from time to time so I'm sure you know what I mean. The sort of day where your patience gets tested.

My morning was fairly peaceful and I enjoyed a quiet few hours working though some orders on the sewing machine. My time management didn't quite go to plan though which meant that my afternoon plans fell by the wayside. Luckily Wilf doesn't quite understand days of the week yet (well, not in the slightest) so he was oblivious to the fact we'd missed our mum and toddler group, but I was most disappointed. I decided to write it off as a shame and to just get on with the rest of the afternoon.

However by tea time, my resolve to "keep calm and carry on" was slipping. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Christmas bauble fatality of the week, an entire plate of food moving quickly from high chair to the floor and a kicked dog bowl of water over the floor didn't really help matters.

Pre crunch

However, it was amidst all of this (whilst trecking to the green house head torch in place in search of an onion for our dinner) that I caught a glimpse of this....

Our jolly little Christmas tree twinkling away in the lounge window. It's amazing what some fairy lights can do to lift the spirits! In a moment I went from grumpy Mumma to a (still frazzled) much chirpier person.

It also made me stop and think about the nicer parts of my day. In particular when a friend popped by to give me the sweetest, most thoughtful gift to celebrate me launching little maldod. This little pin cushion chair.

I know they're just simple things but they really did brighten up my day and for that, I'm very thankful.

I hope you find pleasure in the simple things today.

Lowri xx

Welcoming December

Afternoon!

I've just spent a delicious weekend relaxing and enjoying the beautiful Cotswolds with three of my dearest friends. After a very busy couple of weeks working on little maldod and an ever growing baby bump, my body was in need of some R&R and this weekend was just the ticket.  It was my first weekend away from my son  Wilf and he was left in Daddy's hands from Friday afternoon. From the text updates and 'de-brief' I had it sounds like they had a blast. Manure collecting from the local farm appears to be the biggest hit with them both and now stepping out into our garden actually smells like the local farm too (at least the flowers will be happy come spring!)

Back to the girls....
Myself and a friend travelling from London were greeted at the quaint station by our two other friends who stood like girls from the Railway Children on the platform waiting for us. As is the norm our weekend started in high spirits and excitement at being all together again.

The beautiful Old School

Our hosts at the Bed and Breakfast (The Old School in Little Compton) warmly welcomed us with tea and cake in the beautiful sitting room- a Victoria sponge Mary Berry would have been proud of and Beatrix Potter napkins, what better way to finish a busy week and start a girl's weekend?!

A very warm welcome

Whilst I've been surrounded by stockings this week, our Friday evening spent late night shopping in the beautiful village of Broadway truly heralded the start of the festive season for me. The Christmas lights, wafts of mulled wine and choir singing carols got us all in the festive spirit.

Pub dinners, meandering around the picturesque villages and a trip to the spa more or less summed up the rest of the weekend's activities. Oh, not to forget the scrabble, cups of tea and chocolate in our pyjamas back at the old school in the evenings. We had such a brilliant time and I'm glad it's only a
few weeks until I get to see them all again, you can't beat great friends!

Two hours well spent 

I returned to a lovely welcome home from the boys and a special treat waiting for me in my lounge.... A Christmas tree! I may not have mentioned yet that my husband is a hero and him popping to our village stores to pick up tree ready for my return is just one of the reasons why he is!

It didn't take me long after Wilf's bath and bedtime fun to start decorating, although I think it'll take me most of the week to get the whole house fully kitted out.

Will any of our baubles survive Wilf this year?!

A lovely friend (who I'm so glad also lives opposite us) left this treat for me to welcome in the new month. What a beautiful gift and now my countdown can REALLY begin in style!

A December treat left on my doorstep!

I absolutely love December and the build up to the celebration of Christmas. We have some lovely things planned over the next few weeks with friends and family and Wilf has some VERY exciting activities ahead (can you tell that he has no idea and that I'm more excited at the moment?!) I'm sure I'll share some snippets of these with you over the coming weeks.

This week in the little maldod work room I will be making some large stockings that have been ordered. Amazingly I've now starting receiving orders from people I don't actually  know and I can't tell you how lovely it is that I get to make stockings which will be excitedly opened by boys and girls on Christmas Day - what a privilege! I was thrilled to see via Instagram that a little maldod stocking is already hanging from a fireplace waiting to be filled.

A little maldod stocking in its new home

So a busy week lies ahead here but with the help of a little elf I know and some Christmas music to help us on our way I shall be sure to sew some festive cheer into each and every order.

Wishing you all a wonderful December and great start to the week.

Lowri x