Heartmade Project ~ Denim Bracelet
Recycle some denim from an old pair of jeans, a skirt or a shirt, and make a bracelet as a gift for someone this Christmas.
Tear a strip of denim, long enough to wrap twice round your wrist, and thread it through some large wooden beads, tying a simple knot in between the beads. Start at the middle bead, adding one bead at a time to each side, and measuring the strip against your wrist as you go.
When it fits around your wrist, finish with a knot on both sides. Thread both ends of your denim strip through a bead, add one more bead at the end of each of the denim strips and secure with a final knot.
The bead through which both ends are threaded can now be pushed up and down to close the bracelet.
You don’t have to use denim and wooden beads, try some pretty floral cotton and painted beads, or silk and small glass beads.
Heartmade Recipe ~ Roasted Squash Seeds
When you use a squash for cooking, save the seeds and make a delicious, nutritious snack for yourself or a friend.
Rinse seeds well to remove most of the flesh and pat dry with a clean tea towel or some kitchen paper. Mix in a bowl with olive oil and sea salt and roast in a low oven for 20-30 minutes, or until seeds start to pop. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
I like to add black pepper to mine, you could also add a handful of herbs, some chilli or garlic. (Add any extras at the same time as the salt.)
If you are giving them as a gift, make a lid for your jar and a pretty label or gift tag.
Heartmade Tip ~ Visualising Your Perfect Christmas
Give yourself the gift of some time out every day; the chance to properly relax and to positively influence the rest of your advent and Christmas Day.
Sit somewhere quietly and relax. Close your eyes and imagine how your special day will go.
Walk yourself through it, from waking up to find stockings, perhaps (maybe imagining everyone piling back into the biggest bed to open them together!) right through Christmas lunch, the Queen’s speech, family games, etc. to your perfect Christmas evening (mine is relaxing with family, enjoying a cheesy Christmas film together over a glass of mulled wine, but you get to create your very own perfect Christmas, of course!)
Imagine your day through all five senses, imagine how peaceful and joyful you’re feeling, imagine how smooth and calm the day is, how happy and content those around you are …
Just a few minutes spent visualising every day is likely to have a calming, steadying, uplifting effect during advent, plus positively affect your Christmas day.
(Another benefit is that it will help you to remember all the little details, meaning you have less chance of forgetting something important!)
Wishing you a peaceful, positive advent! :O)
