Christmas shopping

There's a lot to be said for on line shopping: no queues, no sudden changes in temperature (cold outside and boiling hot inside the shops), no parking hassles, etc, etc. I do admit I'm a great fan. But there are just a few shops out there which can still make the real thing a wonderful experience and I honestly don't think you can beat the experience of arms full of carrier bags, especially when they contain gifts which have been wrapped for you in the shop to produce such wonderful eye candy.

It's tempting when they ask if it's a gift which you want wrapping, to say yes, just so you can experience the joy of unwrapping it.

These were my purchases on Friday and I assure you, it doesn't matter if you spend £5 or £50, they wrap everything with the same attention to detail.

Just so you can experience this, especially if you're rubbish at present wrapping, the shop to go to is Forme in Winchester.

Making Merry Open Studios

 

From Friday 19th - Sunday 28th November Winchester is awash with local artists and crafts people's Open Studios which are a great place to go for more unusual Christmas presents and inspiration. I spent a day in Winchester last year visiting just a few of the studios and had a wonderful time seeing lovely things and wandering around places I've never visited before. Some of the work is in proper studios and others in people's own homes, it makes a great change from trudging around the shops.

Some of the studios I definitely want to visit are:

Eileen White, Claire Vine & Sarah Green
   
282 Textile Artists
Jenny Mitchell
Jan Griffiths and Dee McNamara
The Studio
Badger Press
Do check the website link as not all of the studios are open every day.

As well as the Open Studios there's also

The Making Merry City Space Exhibition
at Winchester Discovery Centre, Jewry Street, Winchester.
Saturday 13 November - Sunday 2nd January

and

Dazzle - Art Deco Fashions from the Roaring 20s
in The Gallery of The Winchester Discovery Centre

I'll certainly need more than 1 day this year!

Is there anything good about all this rain?

Yes for Alex there is, it means she can wear her lovely wellies.