As we are moving ever closer to Christmas I have been filling my time with festive merriment.....


Because I am a skint art student I made my friends homemade cards and individual gingerbread men for Christmas. Well it is the thought that counts.....right?

For the icing I mixed in vanilla and ginger for a bit of extra Christmas spice!

I love making cards, so easy but people always appreciate it :)


Then today the lovely Jenna made the journey across the Pennines to accompany me on a day trip to Chatsworth decorated for Christmas. This year the theme was 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' and blimey they went to town! Then after our wandering around the house we resisted the very yummy mulled wine smell, and instead gave into scones with cream and jam. A lot of cream and jam.....

Mr Tumnus!

Pheasants.

Overall a lovely day in the fresh Derbyshire countryside.

This past week I got to see Matthew Bourne's brilliant 'Swan Lake' (designed by Lez Brotherston who I met over the summer!) went back to my home away from home; The Harry Potter Studios and every evening I have been masquerading as a 1950s rag trade seamstress in 'Toynbee.' On top of this I have had had a couple of trips to Winter Wonderland and a look around the 'Pearls' exhibition at the V&A - did you know they are parasites?!?

All in all pretty hectic, but now I am back in the tranquil peaks for Christmas, am currently lounging in front of the fire following a hearty lunch after a pretty speeedy 10km run, and all I have ahead of me is skating, running and making merry with friends and family. Oh it really is the most wonderful time of the year.

Me in my 1950s seamstress costume. Want to know more about Toynbee?

Follow the links.....

http://www.geraldinepilgrim.com/current-projects/toynbee/

http://www.everything-theatre.co.uk/2013/12/toynbee-fragments-of-other-lives-and.html?m=1

Here are some snaps from my last week in London.....

Winter Wonderlaaaaand.

Catching up with the old favourites!

Of course there has been plenty of Christmas baking!

For Jenna's Birthday, we went to the pub for pretty much the day, decked out in Christmas jumpers. Cracking. My rather festive jumper won me 2nd place. My prize?.....

Best painting I have ever done.

Christmas jumpers + pub. Happiness.

Birthday girl Jenna! WE ARE ALL SO SMILEY.


My second trip to Harry Potter pretty much made my life, as it was decorated for Christmas. I went stupidly snap happy, taking nearly 300 photos! You will be pleased to know that I am not going to put them all on here but here is a taster.....

It just makes me so happy, I am such a 'Pothead.' Oh and fyi I have the same slippers as Ron. Fact.



I also had some friends over for a 'Christmas' night. (Basically an excuse to drink mulled wine.)

Merry Christmas everyone!