10 weeks to go!

Where did October go? There's only 10 weeks until Christmas, the department stores have got their Christmas product on the shelves and I am not as organised as I should be!
Christmas tasks for October

• Plan the decorations
• Buy new decorations as required
• Make the card list and check addresses
• Make the gift lists, including budget
• Finalise holiday plans
• Continue making handmade gifts 
• Get some rest for November - Action Month!

I have heard of people starting to play their Christmas music and setting their  ringtones to Christmas tunes this month but I prefer to wait until November.

End of September already!

It's the end of September already and I haven't done all of the things on my September Christmas to do list! I've started making gifts, I know where I'm spending the big day but haven't thought about big gifts and Christmas purchases but I do have one party scheduled.

I am not doing as badly as the City of Perth who don't seem to have done anything! I'm thinking they are waiting until after CHOGM. They usually flick the lights (excellent night out) on the second Friday of November but haven't announced when it's happening this year and I haven't seen any of the decorations in bundles on light poles.

So far I've seen Christmas displays at DJs, Myer and Big W. Myer is definitely the place for trees, DJs for high end decorator items and Big W for lights.

Good luck with the September to do list because there's an October list coming and it's longer!

Rumblings Update

What a wonderful feeling I got when I arrived at the top of the escalator in Myer Garden City and saw their Christmas Display on Friday! Sadly there was a fence around it and a sign saying come back on the 22nd of September. I looked around and saw a man looking intently at a box of Christmas trains and thought what a fantastic scenario for a holiday movie,  two Christmas enthusiasts locked out of the Christmas display. After standing around and staring over the fence for a  few minutes I realised the man was a staff member trying to work out where to put the trains and I was sadly alone in my Christmas dream.

After being so close at Myer I thought I'd check out David Jones and was met with an even better surprise at the top of their escalator - Christmas products I could actually get to! Woo Hoo! I walked around and around and around, the display is only small but I wanted to soak it all in. Once again my only companion in the display was a staff member and I'm pretty sure she thought I was crazy.

So far these stores are the only ones I've seen rumblings in but I am off to the city tomorrow to inspect the big displays and check on how the City of Perth are doing with their lights and decorations.

Some of the Christmas owl panels on sale at Spotlight

The store that can be relied upon for lots and lots of Christmas products at this time of year, as mentioned last week, is Spotlight. They are currently running a Christmas sale so now is the time to get in and stock up on Christmas fabrics and craft supplies. 

It turns out there are even more Christmas fabric panels then I had thought so even the most novice sewer will be able to put together some gorgeous stockings, cushions, ornaments or a tree skirt.
I went in to get a panel to make Christmas owl toys, they looked so cute in the catalogue, but when I arrived in store this morning they had sold out! More than 3 months until Christmas and the one thing I really wanted was SOLD OUT ALREADY! Let this be a warning to you, it's never too early to get Christmas supplies but it can be too late.....I really can't believe it.

Homemade Gifts

One week into September, or as I like to call it "rumble month," and I've started sewing sock monkeys for Christmas, bought fabric for my Christmas dress and witnessed rumblings at Myer.

I've been sewing monkeys for birthday presents for the last few months but this week I've begun the Christmas batch and wouldn't you know it I've sewed my first dud! Thankfully I have loads of time to fix it up which is why I recommend you get started on homemade presents as soon as possible.

Making your own gifts is a great way to get yourself feeling super Christmasy and an excellent way to spread that Christmas cheer. For the last couple of years a friend of mine has given us some really great gingerbread.  I've never made gingerbread myself and am so impressed by these wonderful gifts!

A homemade gift from my friend Shelley - absolutely fantastic!

The next year Shelley made our gingerbread family - so cute

Homemade Gifts - You Can Do It!
A few years back I went to TAFE and did a chocolate making course to prepare for that year's gifts but you don't have to go that extreme. There are lots of really wonderful gifts that anyone can make and with three months to prepare you could trial a few before going into mass production.

Felts, fabrics and googly eyes
"Spotlight" starts Christmas rumblings in early August. There you'll find a great selection of Christmas fabrics, craft products and gift ideas. Don't worry if you're not a "crafty person" because you'll find lots of kits and instructions.  If you do check out the fabrics look out for the stocking panels, they are really easy to use and and excellent way to begin Christmas sewing.

Food glorious food
You can't go wrong with food - everybody eats and you don't have to be a master chef to make good Christmas food. There are two VERY simple no bake recipes on the side of this blog. Make a couple of batches and put a few of each into decorated noodle boxes or wrap in festive cellophane - DONE! You could also make simple chocolates in Chrismasy moulds or rocky road is always a winner.

Gingerbread and shortbread are traditional Christmas gifts and if you're a baker homemade is so much more impressive than store-bought......I'm very impressed by baked goods as I'm not to skilled in the kitchen....

Photogifts
While not technically "homemade" photo gifts still require a bit of extra effort and forethought and result in a wonderful personalised gift. There is a huge range of products to choose from and loads of companies that make them. So why not put together a book of photos for your mum of make a stubby holder out of a mates photo with a big fish! Christmas is also the perfect time to make a calendar and you can fill in your families birthdays and other special occasions.

Get Creative
Making your own gifts allows you to inject your personality into each gift and make something unique for each person you care about. So think about it, check out some options and get started NOW! It's not crazy to start getting festive in September. The aim is for December to be stress free.

Is that rumbling I hear?

It's the first of September, that means the first rumblings of Christmas are getting near! Shops will soon start moving fixtures and fencing off areas in preparation for their Christmas stock. Councils will start stringing up bundles of lights and clever Christmas enthusiasts will begin their Christmas preparations too.
Before you pronounce me insane and refuse to begin preparations just yet take a glance at my September Christmas To Do List.


September Christmas To Do List

• Decide if you are going to do any home made gifts and try a few practice runs
• Check who's organising your office Christmas Party and make sure they book it
• Budget for any "big spends" this Christmas like a family holiday or big lights display
• Decide what you're doing on Christmas Day to avoid arguments or misunderstandings closer to the event
• Layby any extra special, hard to find or super expensive gifts