I'm Dreaming Of A Crimplene Xmas

As the lady working behind the counter of the Co-Op bank put it so succinctly this morning as we surveyed the scowling, pinched faces in the queue behind me, "Christmas spirit, my arse". 

I'm usually away at this time of year and I'm amazed by the outrageous behaviour and lack of manners at this, the season of goodwill for all men.

I queued in Marks and Spencer for a box of chocolates to give my favourite charity shop volunteers whilst enduring a legion of disgruntled pensioners huffing and puffing about having to wait whilst over the road in Poundland people abandoned their loaded baskets in the aisles as they couldn't be bothered to join the long queue snaking around the store. The Big Issue seller was told in no uncertain terms to "Feck off, mate, charity begins at home", charming, huh? If buying a gift for a loved one stresses you out that much, why bother? 

There's no last minute rush for me, there's only a handful of people I have to buy for these days. I shop all year round at car boots, charity shops and jumble sales with suitable recipients in mind. There's designer clothing with the labels attached, books still cling wrapped, current high street jewellery carded & unused and even shrink-wrapped DVDs and CDs. My presents are wrapped in plain brown paper hand inked with a wooden printing block I bought in India and tied up with household string.

Intending never to spend another Christmas at home we gave our Xmas decorations away to charity years ago. After Emma sent me my fabulous customised fairy I just had to create a worthy abode. Jon was sent out to prune one of the many fir trees in our garden and we popped the branches in an old clay flowerpot  wrapped in an old hessian sack salvaged from a spice bazaar in Tamil Nadu (especially for burlap-loving Lakota) and secured with a length of vintage woven braid.

 I cut out the printed circle designs from a length of 1960s crimplene with pinking shears, hand-stitched two   together and stuffed them with the innards of an old cushion.

The giant sequins were unpicked from a top I bought from a jumble sale and hand sewn to a piece of wool forming an alternative to tinsel.

Of course, not having to faff around hunting for presents means that unlike the majority of the population of our town I can peruse the empty charity shops with even less competition than normal. This white 1960s Grecian-style maxi dress was today's find.

I'm off to catch up with some blog reading before I hit the pub.
Have a wonderful weekend and see you soon.