Saturday, 23 September 2017

Finish For The Weekend

I have had a busy few days with a lot of finishes in the kitchen.  I have finally made a start on making jams, chutneys and flavoured oils to add to gifts for Christmas, but I will share all this in another post.  Today I am once again joining Jill over at Emerald Cottage for the weekly get together highlighting your finish for the weekend.  This week Gerard and I have finished painting the back of our cottage and we have also finished the fireplace.  I have just waxed the wood fire surround so it is looking good.




Each little job accomplished making it feel more and more ours.  It is such a lovely feeling to see something finished.

Whilst I have been working on Christmas gifts and cards, early due to our planned travels I was surprised on our trip to Stornoway to see so much Christmas goodies out on display in the supermarkets.  Despite my love of all things Christmas, I do feel that is a little too early for me.  How do you feel about it?

My finish for the weekend this week is Christmas cards, twenty to be exact.  I did have so much fun playing around with fabrics and papers.




It was a joy matching the colours of some of the beautiful tweed samples that Christina of a colourful life blog generously posted to me.



I love the reflection of the cards in the tin.






We have had some wonderful visitors in the croft behind the outbuilding, giving us hours of pleasure watching their antics.  They are certainly a distraction and a joy.




What have you finished this week?

See you soon.

45 comments:

  1. Cards look amazing, wish I was a relative to get one!!

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  2. The cards look beautiful. It's good to read your cottage is feeling more and more yours as you finish your tasks. It must be satisfying for the pair of you.
    As for me, not so much finishing but starting. As I write this I am finally making my blackberry jam! Will be attempting the saucer test shortly. Wish me luck. X

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  3. Your fireplace looks really good, and I bet you will enjoy it a lot this winter. The Christmas cards are great. Personally I don't think shops should be allowed to sell Christmas stuff until the beginning of November, otherwise by December you are sick and tired of seeing it all! September is far too early.

    Always enjoy your farm animal photos. Having grown up in the country 'in the middle of nowhere' as my friends used to say, I miss it a lot.

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  4. Isn't it just the best feeling getting jobs finished?
    Over the last couple of days I have caught up on things that have needed doing for a while.

    I love your fireplace and your gorgeous Christmas cards.
    I may be in a club on my own but Christmas goodies in the shops can never be too early for me.
    Hugs -x-

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  5. What a cosy looking fire place, I have been collecting free fabric samples for doing the same using for cardmaking.x

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  6. Beautiful Christmas cards! You are so ahead of the game. I love the fireplace. It looks so cosy.

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  7. It's that time again to start thinking about the holidays. It is early but being prepared is the best way to be. The Christmas cards you made are cute.
    xx Beca

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  8. Ha! Is that a gotcha question? I have started a lot, but finished little. Things are always a work in progress around here. Your fireplace looks wonderful and cozy. Yes, it is a bit early for Christmas, but not for those who must prepare early.

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  9. I actually finished something this week! You'll have to come over to see what it is. Those cards are lovely and I would have to keep it for years if I had one! Too much workmanship involved in those beautiful cards to toss it after the holidays.

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  10. I started joining my Maybelle blanket squares and I also started crocheting some little pumpkins for decoration around the house. I love your cards, so pretty and creative. Anyone would be thrilled to receive one in the mail.

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  11. You're getting all those jobs crossed off the list, the fireplace looks wonderful. I must admit that I've started thinking about Christmas myself, perhaps it's because there's so much of it about already in the shops. It is a little early but then again, it won't be long until September's passed, Christmas will be here before we know it.

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  12. Your fireplace is super. I'm sure you'll enjoy your wood burner as the winter sets in. Glad you got the painting finished. Lovely cards. I'm just beginning to think about Christmas and have sent off an order to my favourite small charity for several sets of cards so that I'm organised for the overseas posting deadlines later on. The only thing I can think of that I've finished this week is a novel.

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  13. I'd love to see a before and after photo of your fireplace side by side. It looks wonderful and I know how cozy it will be in the color of winter. I'm a last minute kind of person so xmas things are early for me but I do admire your pre-planning. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  14. Great finish on the fireplace! It will be a cosy place to be in a few weeks!
    I love all your Christmas cards!

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  15. Your fireplace looks lovely and those Christmas cards are so wonderful!! Wayyyyy too early for me to see Christmas in the stores already. I just dragged out my fall/Halloween bins from storage to start decorating. It's so warm outside today that I feel like I should be decorating for 4th of July!! : ) Btw what a wonderful idea to have people post finished projects. I might have to join that. I have so many projects in mind for this house. Maybe that will get me going on actually finishing one. Haha!! Have a beautiful weekend!! xo

    ~ Wendy
    http://Crickleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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  16. Love your fireplace, we are getting ready to have our stove taken out and a new one put in. It will be double fronted and will open up into the dining room, so lots of dust and a move round with furniture. Not looking forward to that part. Cx

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  17. Your fireplace really turned out well and your Christmas cards are amazing. I've finished nothing and I have so many things I need to get started. I keep saying I will when it finally cools off around here.

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  18. The sheep are lovely, and I love all your Christmas cards!

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  19. I finished sending out our anniversary celebration invitations. Now I have to do some decor work. Your cards are nice. Glad you've got your cottage like you want it. Nice weekend here. Just got back from my friend's memorial service an hour ago. Sigh but a good service to remember her by.Now I'm savoring my mug of tea! Hugs!

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  20. I finished a baby blanket and the blanket for our friend in the Veterans Home this week along with several dishcloths.

    Your fireplace is so pretty. It will be very needed in the winter ahead. Your cards. Oh. My. Goodness. They are works of art and will be so appreciated by their recipients. Where do you find the time to do all of this?
    Blessings,
    Betys

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  21. So many beautiful cards, you've certainly had a very busy and productive week. I love Christmas and like to start shopping in September so I can break it up a bit. Your fireplace looks lovely, just the place to be in this chilly weather xx

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  22. The cards are so lovely!
    Your fireplace looks all ready for chilly evenings.
    September is just way too early for Christmas displays in stores. So far I've only seen Thanksgiving and Halloween things but who knows when that will change!!

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  23. My finishes for this week have included worting through files and tossing u needed paperwork and doing the same for files on the computer. I also sorted through our candles and deterimed that no new ones are needed for at least a couple of years. Your handmade cards are lovely. I have at least started on my card list which needs serious trimming down.

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  24. And yes, it is too early for Christmas stuff, yet many stores have it out or will have it displayed by the end of this month.

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  25. Gorgeous cards, I am useless with glue but am able to buy some wonderful ones from a friend. Your visitors are a familiar sight, although round here they are often halfway up a mountain.

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  26. love your cards. I have only just started to think about Christmas and currently I am a less is more type of girl. !

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  27. Your cards are lovely and the fireplace is wonderful. I don't like to see 'christmassy' things in the shops too early, I know we need to buy cards, presents and start to think about making cakes and puddings but I can't bear the tinsel and music etc in the shops before 1st December it somehow takes the magic out of it especially for chidren:)

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  28. Lovely fireplace, just in time for Autumn! I am going to make Christmas cards again (I did last year) but I can't put my knitting down at present to get on with them!

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  29. I don't like seeing Christmas in the shops too early, but seeing your homemade cards is a joy, as are the sheep!

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  30. I'll be honest, I haven't had time to finish any handiwork. We've been working on outdoor jobs and then took the weekend off (sort of)

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  31. Love your Christmas cards. I've made some like that in the past and it's a good reminder for me to get started. Saw a bunch of Christmas stuff at Hobby Lobby the other day. Usually it annoys me, but I must've been in a festive mood, because it just made me happy.
    Love the sheep. Do the farmers all mark them with different colors so you know who they belong to?

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  32. Beautiful Christmas cards !!!!!!!
    Your start in advance to be ready at time ! Good for you !
    Have a lovely week next to your neighbor sheeps ;)
    Hug
    Anna

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  33. Oh my goodness those cards are beautiful. I love how you've combined the papers and the fabrics. You are very creative. I hope someday that I actually find the time to make individual cards. Your fireplace looks quite warm and wonderful. I hope you can see those sheep while looking at the fireplace. What a picture postcard that would be.

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  34. Do you never stop ?? I feel like a lazy old woman, lol ! Your fireplace looks gorgeous ! When I see Christmas things I go away it's far too early. I am not into Christmas cards either and my friends neither we use emails !! Love the sheep ! what a nice view ! When I think that 40 years ago we had cows and sheep behind our garden ! Now big houses, a shame !

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  35. The cards are really cute and I loooove your fireplace :)

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  36. Great accomplishment for you. Neat fireplace and so many pretty cards. I too would love to watch the visitors.

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  37. Your cards are so pretty, and gifts in themselves. Love those sheep with their blue accents.
    I've started a few things and finished none of them yet. But we enjoyed the company of a three-year-old grandson on Saturday for the night, and a birthday part for son and son-in-law on Sunday afternoon, so I don't feel too bad about not finishing much. I did make some basil pesto for the freezer, and roasted a tray of tomatoes for soup in the dead of winter.

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  38. Your cards are lovely, well done!
    Love your fire place.
    Enjoy your neighbours!

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  39. You are so creative i wish i had the patience xxx

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  40. goodness you've been a busy elf! I wish I was getting things done but I have a full house and can't keep up with the dishes :)

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  41. I love visiting here and seeing all the beautiful things you make. It is very rewarding to see my old scraps turned into something new! Thank you for the mention. x

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  42. You are always so productive, Lorraine! I don't know how you do it. Now you have mentioned Christmas and been totally organised. My family has birthdays right up until the week before Christmas so it feels like there is no time for forward planning at all and it somehow all comes together at the last minute. Somehow, I cannot imagine you being a 'last-minute' kind of gal.

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  43. What yummy and cozy photos! I say this every time I comment, but you are so talented!

    Madison
    http://breakfastatmadisons.com

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  44. Oh My Dear, such beautiful Christmas cards, and I haven't even started Halloween. You are the busiest, most productive person I know. You're an inspiration for all of us.

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