Friday 16 November 2012

Frosty Festivities Blog Hop


Hello and welcome to my little corner of blogland.  This weekend Jennifer, over at Jennifer's Jumbles, is hosting a blog hop, the Frosty Festivities no less!  Jennifer has a fantastic prize on offer and all you have to do to be in with a chance of winning, starting at Jennifer's, is comment on all of the blogs you visit returning to Jennifer's to let her know you've done it.  The prize is items from the Basic Grey Aspen Frost and Carta Bella Winter Fun ranges.






Now it will be no surprise to the people that know me to find out that I absolutely love the winter.  Mother Nature plays out her final, fantastic symphony of the year in autumn.  She shows us how amazing everything around us can look when it has a splash of gorgeous reds and oranges and then it's almost like the lights of nature are switched off.  That's when it's our turn to brighten the place up with Christmas decorations and lights!


When I was younger and living at home there used to be a train station at the end of the road.  In the winter, when the wind was blowing and the rain was falling, I used to sit in my room, cozy and warm, watching the commuters rushing home after work. I loved being indoors with the rain beating down, I felt so relaxed, safe and happy and I think that's where my love of winter stemmed from.


When the snow fell we would grab our sledges and head for the hills, returning later in the day wet through and freezing cold.  Now I love to be walking in the park with the dogs in the snow. I love how the sounds are muffled and I sometimes feel like I'm the only person on the planet.  Like a big kid there is nothing I love more than to be the first person to leave footprints in freshly fallen snow!


I always rush home from work during the winter months to shut my front door on the world, light the fire and do some crafting.  Although I scrap all year round I always feel most creative, with all of my hobbies, during the winter months.  It's probably because I don't feel guilty in the winter for sitting in all day and knitting, sewing, painting or scrapping.  In the summer months I know my mum would be mortified if she found out I stayed indoors when the sun was out, in fact she calls me every day just to check!


Winter for me is all about Christmas and coziness, hats, scarfs and gloves, walking in wellies and enjoying eggnog lattes and mulled wine! I never see it as a dreary month with drab colours.  What do you love most about winter?
Thank you for visiting Buckingham's Palace, your next stop is with another Jo and if you've got a little bit lost along the way here is the full list of all the fantastic people joining in:
Jennifer
Abi
Daphne
Jacky
Jemma
Jenny
ME :)
Jo S
Julie
Kirsty
Lisa-Jane
Lizzie
Louise
Mel
Rinda
Sarah
Sian
Jennifer
I hope you all have fun hopping and enjoy your weekend.
Jo x

40 comments:

Fay aka Beautifullily said...

I know what you mean about not feeling so guilty about crafty in the winter!

humel said...

I love how you interspersed your writing with little shots of your project :) You've certainly made a good case for winter!

hotpotato said...

lovely layout.

Lou said...

i've with you on the winter crafting! lovely layout Jo x

Lesley G said...

Sweet LO.
What do I love most about Winter? Not feeling guilty about being inside doing what I love the most - crafting!

Tracy said...

I like that we dont really have a winter here :-) but when I read posts like yours I feel like we miss out.

JO SOWERBY said...

I love the snow and hopefully there will be some this year again,
Jo xxx

furrypig said...

I love the birds on your page. My favourite thing about winter is Christmas!

K said...

ooo, I'm like you, guiltless winter crafting :)

Jane said...

I love wrapping up warm and going for a walk and then coming home to a lovely fire.

Jennifer Grace said...

I agree with you that there's less guilt staying inside and crafting in the winter, the only trouble is there's also less light - our house is very dark in the winter. It makes me feel a bit too lethargic for crafting, and most of the day is too dark for me to take photos of stuff to blog it! So I often end up reading a book instead!

I love the big swirls on your layout, it's very dreamy.

Thanks so much for joining in with the hop! x

Sian said...

You have said it so perfectly! and you've put your finger on my favourite thing about winter: it's the guilt free crafting opportunities! Beautiful details - a pleasure to peruse

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

I couldn't agree more Jo. I love to be cosied up indoors in the Winter.

Julie Baswell said...

You're right. There's just something about staying in and crafting without guilt, and really enjoying doing it.

scrappyjacky said...

I'm afraid I'm not the biggest lover of winter....so Christmas is definately my favourite part!

Kirsty.A said...

Crafting in the winter is much harder though as the light is so poor. I love still having daylight after work int he summer to craft

Lisa-Jane said...

Jo I loved your description of Mother Nature's final symphony and it is all so true. I love Winter as well and I more than happy tucked up with a book under a blanket.

Mary B said...

Mmm comfy cosy indoors with the rain beating down outside, a glass of mulled wine and a craft item on the go, my kind of winter too.

Jackie said...

I love crafting anytime!! But you are right...don't feel so guilty in the winter!! LOL

Lizzie said...

Cute layout, Jo! I love all the birdies you cut out and the colours are so warm and cosy.

I like the "cosy" part of winter time, but I'm not good at "cold" (I have a mild version of Reynauds syndrome, so even normal chilly can be pretty painful!). But I do like to look out at pretty, frosty weather, when I don't have to go anywhere (and the larder is well stocked up!).

Enjoy your winter-time!

Jimjams said...

I don't love our British winters much ... too damp and dreary most of the time, but Sweden! There they know how to do a good winter with crisp white snow crunching under your feet, studded tyres on your car (and my bicycle) and lots of lights twinkling from peoples windows as you walk (or cycle) by! I miss it!

Sarah said...

Hi Jo ... great layout! I, too love crafting indoors on winter evenings guilt free - a definate bonus of this time of year!!

Sandie said...

I love the the build up to Christmas and being snug indoors when it is dark and cold outside.

KraftyKaren said...

I am not a big fan of winter - with mobility problems I can't leave the house when there is snow or ice underfoot. But I do love Christmas, I love making cards and giving presents and putting up decorations and I love having fairy lights on and candles lit. I also like being warm and cosy indoors too x

Julie H said...

I love the colours on your page and the little details!

scrappymo! said...

I love to cozy up by the fireplace with a mug of coffee and relax, watch the flames and linger over my coffee.

Maria Ontiveros said...

Beautiful post! We don't have snow, but I'm really enjoying the early darkness this year.
Rinda

Annie Claxton said...

Hi Jo, love the colours of your page and really enjoyed reading about your cosy memories :o)

Abi said...

this is such a lovely layout. The colours go so well together.

Alison said...

Christmas is defs my favourite part of winter...especially here- our houses get too cold and damp in the winter months ...love the LO!
Alison xx

Margie said...

Beautiful layout-I love the swirls and the colors are fab!

Karen said...

I love the beautiful colors you've chosen for this layout! Our winter always seems to last so long, and I'm not a fan of cold, but I do seem to get more crafting done.

Anonymous said...

Glorious page - I love it

Missus Wookie said...

Pretty! Have to confess being all snuggly and warm inside and watching the families dragging cold complaining kids to school was a favourite part of home schooling for me ;)

Still love being inside and watching the snow/rain outside.

Sally said...

Lovely page Jo. And what lovely memories

dogmatix said...

I love this LO. The only trouble with winter crafting though is when the radiator doesnt work in your craft room and the room with the nice cosy fire is not practical for papercrafts....or is that just in my house ;-/

My not so simple life said...

beautiful layout, love how you describe winter. :) Im another big kid who loves making footprints :)

To boldly polish said...

Loved reading your post! I went sledging a lot as a kid too (and still do on occasion :) ). I love the snow and the special kind of silence you get on a winter morning when snow has fallen.

Susan said...

Wonderful story, I also feel more crafty in the winter. Love snuggling up with a good cup of cocoa or hot coffee and reading the blogs to get inspired then off to the craft room to make a page or grab my knitting and working on that. Thanks

Candace said...

Great lo