Garden Village Community Advent Windows

I have lived in the Garden Village since 1999, it's a wonderful little area in the midst of Gosforth that i feel has a village esk feel to it. There is a lot of debate about which streets belong to the Garden Village however in the name of community the Garden Village is an area of streets off and around Hollywood Avenue. When moving back home Sam and I discussed constantly where we would settle, whether that would be the country or the city, we chose the city and aptly decided the Garden Village was where we wished to reside. We moved in to our home in January 2016, and my new years resolution was to bring a community minded spirit to where i lived, this was when the idea of the community advent windows began. 

A friend of mine's Mum lives in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, each year they inform me of the advent window display they are putting together, i loved the concept and the idea of a new window being displayed each day of advent, the idea of a living advent window and it being a community minded activity. 

I decided that the Garden Village was perfect for the advent windows, it could be carried out as a circular trail if we got enough houses and i felt if i could involve the Garden Village Hall the trail could end there on Christmas Eve for Christmas Carol Singing (a yearly tradition). I carried out research on what i wanted the first leaflet to look like, as felt the best way to see who was interested was a good old fashioned leaflet drop, the first leaflet needed to have specific information about what the project was, what was expected from people and the importance of what it could bring to our community, however i was aware people may be cautious, thinking it would come at a cost or be linked to a specific group. 

The uptake started and with every email i got a spark of excitement, by Tuesday i had 12 people - i decided at this number i would definitely run the advent windows but it would be every other day, however over the next week the spaces started to fill up and eventually we ended up with 26 windows, i decided that 3 would open on Christmas Eve as i wanted everyone to be involved who wanted to be.  

Sammy put together the trail and produced the map, which i was so happy with, can you see the secret sleigh? To put the route together i found out what dates people could do and couldn't do and attempted to arrange the trail route the best i could around these dates.

Everyone was happy with the dates given and i asked for a description from each home of their window display and who and how it had come together. I felt it would give the windows a life and an understanding for those carrying the trail out. I decided to not advertise anywhere but the local community and our facebook page as i wanted it to be a community based trail and not opened out to all. The Garden Village committee also got involved and it was decided the houses that were no24 windows would be around the Garden Village Hall so we could all enjoy carols there after the advent trail. 

We did a 2nd leaflet drop of the maps, meaning that even if people weren't doing a window they could enjoy the advent trail.

It was incredible to see people out on the trail, we took advent day 1 and i did a picture of me walking Socks.

On day 1 there was a flock of folk outside the house, admiring the window, holding their maps and joyfully embracing the festive display. The month carried on like this, everyday a new display lit up and i shared the image with the description on facebook. 

We decided on the 24th to serve hot chocolate and mulled cider and invite everybody around to ours to do a joint trail. We couldn't believe how many people came by, i think we counted 50-60, everyone brought a cup, we served up then enjoyed a wonderful wintery Christmassy walk. The feeling was amazing, i had a few tears with the wonder that was such an incredible community and being part of a new tradition, there was so many positive words shared and everyone loved the windows, the creativity came in so many different ways and seeing everyone's individual window was amazing, but seeing everyone enjoying each other's windows on the walk was the icing on the cake. 

to see more of the windows check out Garden Village Community Advent on facebook. 

2016 – A year of unexpected.

2016, a time of crafting, reflection and thing’s not always going the way we planned, however other things came about that were unexpected and we made a year that could have been tiresome into something just as beautiful.

Jan 2016 

We had different plans for 2016, we bought a house and that became our focus, spending the money we had to decorate it the best we could, we got creative with colour, wallpaper, tiles and boldness and made a house into our home. 

March 2016

The Hens came home, then they multiplied. We always knew we wanted our hens back, it was a jolt in us moving as the rented flat wouldn't allow us to have them, so when we started to be settled i spoke to Jill, a friend who was looking after them in Rothbury, she was moving and looking to re-home them so it worked a treat, Spring came and they arrived on the back of a truck, one had sadly passed due to a sore foot but Maisy and Mavis joined us again, these two have moved all over the UK, i was pleased to see them back where they belong. We decided to purchase a few more hens, so went for two hybrid layers and another two bantams. The coop got bigger and after a few teething problems they all become a flock and enjoyed being together. Sadly we lost Maisy just before Christmas, she must have been around 6 so had good innings for a hen, Sam found her passed at the back of the coop, with her mate Mavis (aka Tina Turner) watching over her. We have a new hen coming in the next week from my Aunty, Nicola the black rock, hopefully the girls will accept her and there wont be too much bullying.

Spring/Summer 2016

We took many a walk out in the country and coast, enjoying the Northumberland air, we took trips to some old haunts but also some new.

August 2016

We then decided to take a trip to Sri Lanka, however just before going we purchased Betty, we had always decided we wanted a campervan project, however didn't expect this to happen until 2017, an opportunity presented itself though and it was too good to miss, so a few days before flying we headed to Sheffield to pick her up and bring her home.

We took our travelling toes off again mid August, not thinking we would have the opportunity to this year, we found cheap flights and decided what the hell, why not. We booked 3wks off work and decided to explore a this enchanting country (i hope to write a blog about Sri Lanka, so watch this space). Sri Lanka was beautiful, really laid back and chilled out, tasty food, the most beautiful beaches and sights that were awe inspiring, my highlights were climbing Sigiriya and all the beaches, lots of relax, book reading, life planning and silliness with my love. 

October 2016

We came back to England and decided it was time for us to become 3, it wasn't happening any other way so why not this way. The decision to get a dog did not come lightly, i have wanted a dog for years however its just never felt right, my love of pugs moved and Sammy suggested we take home a retired greyhound, it's a dog i didn't know a lot about however Socks is perfect for us. Socks loves a good walk, but also a good rest, she is affectionate and loves a cuddle and her nature is just to die for. We have made many good decisions this year, but this one was one definitely beats the rest, we visited http://www.northumberlandgreyhoundrescue.org.uk/ up in Steele, luckily for us we had already seen Socks online and she was still there when we went to meet the dogs, from the moment we saw her we knew she was our girl. A few weeks later, home she came and we haven't looked back.

At the end of October i became an Aunty, my brother and his fiancee had a baby boy called Miles, blessing us with his gorgeous smile, cute face and delicious baby smell. I got my craft on and made him a mobile, i went down the safari animal play and got creative with my miniature knitted world books. 

November 2016

Winter came with a mix of feelings, we thought we would be ending the year with different news but sadly it hasn't happened for us yet, lots of tests and appointments and investigations so some good news and bad over the winter months, i will write about this more when the time comes but for now it is filled with a mix bag of emotions.

December 2016

December came with a new project in tow, something i am going to blog further about but i had decided to bring a living advent window to my local community, lots of planning, preparation and organising and the project came together, each day a new window was reveled in the community displaying an advent/Christmas/winter theme. On the 24 December, all 24 windows were open and the full advent trail could commence. The project was great with amazing participation, here's a sneak of our window, each window would have a short description with it so people could learn the story behind the design.

 Our window was based on my snowy walks with our wonderful greyhound. 

2017

2017 starts with difficulties but i have developed a mantra 'believe in the hope' to push me through any negatives that maybe trying to flood my mind. I have an operation coming up next week and i plan to stay as positive as i can, i have incredible support around me and being in the arms of those souls keeps me going on this challenging but wonderful journey called life. 

ps - here's to more blogging, its my constant, please feel free to leave comments, i love hearing folks feedback and stories. 

Claire x