Happy Christmas one and all!!

Well I'm well and truly ready to potter about seeing family and friends celebrating Christmas and new year for the next week or so! I cannot wait!!

Today is my last day of work until the 4th of January.

I'd like to wish you all a fantastic Christmas and all the very best

for a happy and healthy 2011!

A big thank you to all those who have visited and commented on my blog over the past year, it really is lovely to have support from all you fellow bloggers!

Take care travelling everyone, relax and enjoy this festive spell!!

xxx

3 days to go!

I'm feeling festive...the christmas food is here, we're going to collect the meat from the butchers today and I've even had chocolate for breakfast!

So it must be Christmas!

Above is a design I created as part of a set that is for sale in America on Christmas cards.

A festive weekend!

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend...I can't quite believe Christmas is so nearly here!

I had a lovely evening Friday present wrapping and making our home look even more festive!

Then it was over to my in-laws on Saturday for an early Christmas do!

It was great....the Christmas eating has begun!

I hope you're all enjoying gearing up for Christmas!

Here's my christmas tree post from last year....click here

Wrap up warm....

Here's some wintery folk I designed a while back for christmas cards.

Its going to be a cold weekend....but I'm hoping the weather forecast is a bit of an exaggeration!

Either way this weekend is going to be a good one!

Early christmas celebrations with family tomorrow and hopefully going

to see nephew number 4 and his three big brothers in Oxford!!

Baby Danny arrived last week and really can't wait to meet him

so this snow better not get in our way!

Take care over the weekend everyone!

Christmas card...in store

Its always great to get samples through the post....these cards that I created

for The Art Group landed on my doorstep this week and I'm really

very pleased with how they're turned out.

They can be found for sale in WH Smiths and 40p of each sale goes to the

Save the Children charity.

Marrakech snapshots

We had a super time in Marrakech, it really was a great to go somewhere so different.

The whole city is full of nooks and crannies waiting to be explored and often adorned in beautiful mosaics and wood carvings.

In between the shopping (or should I say constant haggling!), stork spotting

(shown in the pic above in their massive nests on the city walls) and wandering about in the sun

we found some time to relax on the roof terrace of our lovely Riad with the sound

of the hustle and regular calls for prayer across the city.

I've never really ventured out of the Mcdonalds and Starbucks filled western world so it was a super experience to be sharing the streets with snake charmers, loaded donkeys, piles of herbs and spices, stalls full to the brim of lanterns and shiny teapots!

I now need a good recipe for mint tea...I drank so much when I was there and love it!

So tips are very welcome!

A lovely mini-break....pure escapism! I even tried belly dancing!!!

Thanks Marrakech!

All copyright of the photographs belong to Beth Gunnell Design Limited

lets get festive!

I'm so excited about Christmas and as a bonus I can now share with you some of my christmas designs without being out of season!

I'm starting to feel festive...I've written 56 christmas cards in the last two days!

Now time to get present wrapping!

no more cold....off to see the sun!

It feels like such a long time ago when we booked this mini-break....

its so exciting now its finally here!

We're off to eat, haggle, relax and enjoy the sun for a few days in Marrakech!

I will try and bring some warmth back for you all in the freezing UK!

Take care all!

Christmas gift guide

Here's some finds that I've discovered during my internet shopping browsing

that may help make your gift buying a little easier this year!

1. the best bird box I think I have ever seen from Smith and Gift

2. Lilsonnysky is one of my favourite blogs, Lisa has had some super work for sale in her etsy shop this year including these christmas cards...see here for more.

3. I've not got an excuse to buy these yet...I'm waiting for my nephews to grow a little more!

See here for more details

4. I've put my order in for a couple of these calendars from the talented Rob Ryan,

make a great gift and only £5. Available here or maybe here.

5. I really love the simple yet very effective designs from Orla Kiely...

these little storage jars would make a great gift with some goodies inside...available here

6. I'm planning on sending some festive flowers this year....I love these orchids.

Available with delivery included for £17.99 from Bunches

7. I've had my eye on this Donna Wilson plate for a while and I've dropped a few hints!

Maybe Santa will read this! You can buy it online here Santa! Thank you! ;)

8. This is such a great gift idea for all ages I reckon....you can have an old Ladybird fairytale books personalised to have your chosen names in it! So you could become Cinderella!

Available from Gift Republic

Here's my christmas gift guide from 2009

Have fun christmas shopping everyone!

I love pub food....

I've recently had the pleasure of working with the Angel Inn pub

in Misson (Bawtry, South Yorkshire, see here)....

and though you may think I'm a little bias....it is true to say you'd find it hard to

beat them for great pub food! It really is delicious!

Here's a Christmas Flyer I created for them recently.

Super photos taken by the photographer, Alex Leay

Let it snow!

I love the snow! So I was happy to see even more today!

(I know, I know! this is easy for me to say....sat in my warm house working from home!)

Everything looks so pretty, the sun even came out earlier for a little while which made

the view from my window look even more beautiful!

I had a lovely walk to Tesco express this morning in my wellies!

Gary our cat is loving too...he's been either playing in it or watching it so far today.

enjoy the weather but take care walking and driving everyone!