It is the Christmas holiday!!! The most wonderful time of the year!! I do have a fair bit of work to be cracking on with, but it is really hard to not just surrender to the inevitable mulled wine and mince pie induced coma that happens this festive time of year. However, this is my attempt at staying productive and resisting temptation - I do feel as though it is waning though!.....

To get a bit of a start on my research project  - 17th and 18th Century - I took a wee trip to the Manchester Gallery of Costume.

Beautiful 18th century dresses.

17th century bodice, so elegant, pretty and tiny!

Beginnings of research and sketches.

But in this beautiful winter weather and surrounded by home comforts I soon resorted to cake.....

Happiness.

Whoa.....have been a bit neglectful towards my blog, been living in the constant whirlwind that is uni and haven't had a minute to sit back and have a bit of blog time! However.....

..........It's CHRIIIIISSSSSTMAAASSSSS, well soon anyway :)

I am completely Christmas obsessed, not even ashamed of just how much I love it, as a knitwear junkie the beautiful array of Christmas jumpers are just one of the many temptations and joys at this time of year, so I've been soaking up the festive vibes and a starting to feel pretty darn jolly.

Fair to say the flat looks rather festive.

Yum.

And, of course, baking!

 Away from all those festivities I have been wrapping up my last project before the holiday. For this I had to find ways through a garment and a figure to portray my Dad and his emotional response to Joy.....pretty tricky but hey I've had a go.....Here are some photos of my finished figure:

He's enjoying that fleeting feeling of joy, pure, simple happiness. Feels light as a feather and on cloud nine. Childishly simple emotion of optimism -- suspended in the moment.

My own personal response to joy.....

Care free and weightless.....