365 Week 48

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Story Chapter 51 ~ A Christmas One.

(Artist: Andrew Bannecker)

As a kid, as with now I went to see  Santa every year. The Santa of choice was always the one at the DIC department store on Princess Street in Dunedin.

Why?

Because of the Pixies of course.

This is one of my most enduring memories of Christmas as a child. You had to go down a wide set of stairs to the basement of the store. Often there was a long queue because he was such a popular Santa. You lined up. Paid the money and waited sneaking a glance at the other children as they each took their turn on Santa's Knee. 

The smell was predominately of the saw dust which for some reason was liberally sprinkled over the floor. (Maybe to mop up the accidents of over excited children?)

But to be honest though he should have been Santa was never the main attraction, he was always just a happy stop on the way to see the pixies. There was a brief chat about Christmas Wishes and then a small treat (I don't recall ever having my picture taken). And then it was on to see the pixies.

Much time was taken to study every little Tableau. To see the workings of the Mill, the butcher and the ferris wheel. To note the donkey being beaten to pull the mill stone and the band. There was music- I don't remember it- but I am sure I believed at the time it was delightful. 

Then I was most likely dragged away from the pixies along a long hallway with larger tableau's depicting various nursery rhymes and fairy tales behind class windows. We came out up another set of stairs into a world totally lacking all the magic of the one we had just left behind, knowing that it would be another full year before we entered that world again.

I think this photo taken circa 1991 with my school friends Tara and Berri would have been my last visit to Santa at DIC.

DIC has long since closed and is now the home of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.

But when we visited Dunedin in 2006 for Christmas we were lucky to catch a display of the Pixies at the Otago Early Settlers Museum.

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This year's letter.....

If you didn't get a Christmas card then this is what you missed out on....

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Single Photo Saturday

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Sweet!

One of my favourite parts of Christmas Day~ Pavlova!

What about you? Do you like sweet stuff on Christmas day or are you too stuffed by the time dessert comes around?

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Flora on Friday

 

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Will Month 72

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A few words about Christmas

Some jokes and some quotes to bring some Christmas Cheer to your day....

 

 

 

 

 

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Christmas Crafting for the young, not so young and oldish

Christmas Holidays start for in a couple of days for us so I've come up with some options for some fun and easy things to do with my kids in the next week or so....

1. Paper Snow flakes Check out this amazing image with lots of ideas.

http://littlemoonbaberainbow.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/christmas-crafts.html

2. Ice block stick Reindeer and Christmas Trees.

3. Button Wreaths

4.  Clothes peg reindeer

5.  Paper Plate reindeer

6. Hand Print and finger paint Christmas tree

7.  Paper plate cancle

8.  Stars

9.  Candy Cane reindeer

10.  Toilet Roll characters

11.  Ice Cream Snowmen!! (Perfect for WA)

http://nurturestore.co.uk/snowman-ice-cream

12.  Pom-pom trees.

http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/christmas/pom-pom-christmas-tree.asp

13.  Salt Dough Candle Holders

http://nurturestore.co.uk/diwali-activity-craft-ideas-salt-dough-candle-holders

 

14.  Decorated Paper Trees
 

http://littlemoonbaberainbow.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/christmas-crafts.html

15.  Home made Advent Calendar- we may do this one to countdown the last few days to Christmas

http://www.redtedart.com/2012/11/21/advent-calendar-ideas-2/

16.  Hand printed Wrapping Paper

http://littlemoonbaberainbow.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/christmas-crafts.html

17. Make a Snowy little town

http://nurturestore.co.uk/let-it-snow-christmas-craft#more-12782

 18. Play Dough Angels

http://nurturestore.co.uk/christmas-angel-play-dough#more-13273

 19. Bead Canes- no instructions these are pretty simple.

20. Magazine trees

http://clairespapercraft.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/upcycleing-gold-christmas-tree.html

21. Super simple paper balls

http://rustsunshine.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/12-days-of-christmas-ornaments-day-1.html

 22. Rocking Christmas Trees

http://bonnindesigns.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/paper-christmas-tree-tutorial.html

  
23. Not so simple but stunning paper balls- helps if you have a circle punch

http://blush-dolly.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/christmas-paper-baubles-how-to.html

  
24. Felt Candy canes

http://rustsunshine.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/12-days-of-christmas-ornaments-day-4.html

25. A baby could make it painted bauble

http://rustsunshine.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/12-days-of-christmas-ornaments-day-5.html

26. Monogram felt ornaments

http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-monogrammed-family-ornaments.html

 27.Sequinned Baubles- 4 'ingredients' Ribbon, Bauble, Sequins and water!!

http://madebygirl.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/diy-sequin-holiday-ornaments.html

28. Photoshop tutorial for making Silhouettes- which you can then use to make ornaments.

http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/10/head-shot/

29. Shrink Plastic Ornaments- using plastic trays (like the ones strawberries come in!)

http://rustsunshine.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/12-days-of-christmas-ornaments-day-7.html

 

30. Love these AWESOME Brown Bear, Brown Bear ornaments- Need the fabric though there must be a work around- maybe those printable iron ons?  Brown Bear, Brown Bearis one of Tama's favourite books right now.

 

 

 

http://rustsunshine.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/12-days-of-christmas-ornaments-day-6.html

 

I won't be doing any Christmas Crafting this year as I really need to get packing but my friend Paula always does some cool stuff you should click on this link to check out her CHRISTMAS CRAFT CHALLENGE.

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