The Bag Lady and things

I was going to take a photo of the bits for the train advent calenders.  I see they are still available at The Warehouse though $15 and not $3 that I paid in January. 

I can't get much in the drawers but I've put letters of the alphabet onto magnets spelling words

Happy Xmas Holidays Cameron
Merry Xmas George, Olivia, Alex

they'll have a letter in each drawer so they can put them on the fridge and guess the words

I've bought balloons, little bouncy balls, Xmas bells, stickers which all fit in the drawers and I'll make up some vouchers!!  I'll also put some $1 coins in (thank you Carolyn)

and I'll put some Lucky Dip Vouchers in too as I got tennis balls, glow in the dark stars, magnetic xmas ornaments, Le Snak, and a few choclate things.

I was going to take a photo but my battery has gone flat.  So better charge it up.  Tomorrow night is our work xmas do... not many go but hey, it's a free meal and a chance to get to know a few more staff.

And Friday I"m heading off to Napier.  Sadly my wonderful Uncle has been told he now has Ca Liver.  (He had a successful op 14 months ago for Bowel Cancer.   He can't have any treatment.  It is so so sad. Friday is the anniversary of my Auntie's death last year and I don't want Uncle to be alone so I'm taking the day off and going to spend a couple of days with him and visit my grandchildren, deliver the trains etc. 

so you may not see me for a few days but I'll take photos as soon as my battery lights up. 

PS I sent my bag photos to a few colleagues at work and one of them put the photos on the news that goes around the country.   I've been called The Bag Lady today.  Cute huh.

25 days till Christmas SOONER than I'd like!

And once again I'm running late.  I bought two of these trains after Christmas last year and want to put things in them for my grandchildren.  A friend is taking them to the kids on Friday but sadly the little drawers are smaller than I thought so nothing I've bought fits.  That's okay I'll put lucky numbers in the drawers and then wrap each pressy seperately.  But do you have any ideas?  The drawers are about 1.5 inches square. 

I am going to make a few vouchers like: "This voucher entitles you to an afternoon with Mum (or Dad) on your own doing an activity of your choice to the value of $10 OR This voucher is for a family picnic at a place of your choice ie beach, front yard, park?? What do you young Mum's think?  I'm not into chocolates everyday.. would rather do something different but I only have 4 days!

This is the needle holder I made out of the pattern for my oldest grandson's hands.  I made this in a hurry yesterday morning while finishing my bag for the challenge.  I want to do a bit more work on it yet.  Maybe put a couple of bits of hat elastic in to hold a Quick Unpick .. Any other ideas?