Houses and Trees, Inside and Out

Outside I saw this huge dolls house in the window of an Eltham charity shop.

The shop is great for really old books, often from the 20s, 30s or 40s (and a couple recently from the 1890s) and for weird conversations with the people who work there, especially while they get to grips with the till. This time I was paying and instructing the woman serving me how to spell 'ornament', when the woman next to me at the counter said hello in a warm and affectionate manner. I couldn't recall who she was. It turns out I taught her two children in the nursery-one of them over 11 years ago. She did look familiar and I remembered the children once she started telling me about them. She gave me a hug and a kiss goodbye and it was actually really touching and pleasant to be remembered in such a nice way. I didn't buy the dolls house!

 Inside I am engaging in Christmas crafts, trying to get in the mood. I am reading 'The Woman Who Went to Bed for a Year' by Sue Townsend at the moment and really enjoying it. I have just read a part with a brilliant description of the main character Eva's last Christmas, as she tries to tell her husband Brian what he will have to do to prepare for this year's, as she is staying in bed. Very funny in a depressing way. Anyway, these little trees which will be my cards are pretty untaxing to make. I am using brusho paint which I love and this brilliant children's glitter glue with loads of stars in it which I rub on with my finger once the paint is dry.

 This little house was an ebay purchase from a while ago. I was painting a branch with white gesso and thought this would benefit from being white too. I am going to add white glitter and things in the spaces. Not sure what things yet but I am sure they will appear.

This tree is in Greenwich. It was very windy on the night I was there and it was wobbling a lot and looking pretty lopsided.