The jingling of bells is in the air just as much as the chill, as we welcome in the month of December! I won’t lie, I’m an absolute sucker for all things festive and have been decking the halls since early last month – much to the dismay of some of my Woolly colleagues! 😅
Although this time of year is perfect for getting on with your crafts, I’ve been a bit lax on my progress with my current WIPs. I tend to find I’m waaaay ahead of the game around September/October time and these final months roll around, and my stitching bug is nowhere to be found! But I have made a little progess, as you’ll see in the above banner in comparison to last month. I’m accepting the small win!
However, I did recently spend a recent Saturday with some friends and my partner, where we challenged ourselves to follow along with a Bob Ross tutorial!
I’ve got to say, I was bordering excitement and dread the morning of, as I’m not blessed with a wealth of patience (lol). However, I pleasantly surprised myself how chilled out I felt, but also with the outcome!
It took us a number of hours in comparison to the 27-minute tutorial, but we had a blast and all tried something new. I’ve never painted before and I’m pleased that I just went for it and did what Bob said: “let the canvas take what it wants” 😂 Cheers for that, Bob! Safe to say I’m excited to try another one, now!
Whether you’re crocheting, sewing, painting or even just chilling out, I’ve got some new picks for the month of December for you! But as always and before we begin, please be sure to check your advisories and content warnings before diving in.
📖 Audiobook – The Wake-Up Call – Beth O’Leary
There are many Beth O’Leary fans in the warehouse including myself, so I’ve been good and saved myself this little festive treat for the season!
Hotel colleagues Izzy and Lucas hate one another. Life for them would be far easier to lead if they didn’t have to work with one another day in, day out. Yet times are looking even bleaker over the festive season, as the Forest Manor Hotel is not only starving off financial ruin, the beloved hotel’s ceiling decides to fall on their heads.
Great.
With stressed owners, demanding guests and an already skeleton staff roster, Izzy and Lucas’s strained relationship is far from the glue holding the place together. But is this the year that the pair finally realise that the line between love and hate is a thinner than they once thought?
Full of laughs, heart-stopping moments and great characters, O’Leary’s festive love story really is a gift that keeps on giving. Balancing the funnies and emotion perfectly, The Wake-Up Call is a great listen for this time of year.
🎙️ Podcast – The Harrowing – REALM: Undertow
This one is a bit of a throwback for me and after it’s random disappearance from the internet, I was relieved to see it return when I fancied a relisten! Starring Joanne Froggatt, The Harrowing is a fantastic show that brings a further chill to the December air.
Following up on emergency call on the Isle of Toll Mòr, Sergeant Jackie O’Hara’s shift is far from over. Local farmer Frank Guthrie is quick to inform O’Hara of the Island’s happenings, yet as the weather brews into quite the storm, Jackie realises that she may be sticking around a little longer than she initially planned.
As her time draws on, Toll Mòr’s secrets can no longer stay hidden, as the previous tales of the supernatural may hold some truth to it after all – and it’s clear that whatever’s inhabiting the Isle won’t let Jackie leave until its true identity has been fully revealed.
Also starring Regé-Jean Page, The Harrowing is yet another masterclass in compelling narratives, sound design and performance. It’s chilling and capable of being incredibly cinematic, even in this format. Yet with it being a dark tale and one that may have upsetting moments for some, please be sure to check your content warnings and do some digging before diving into this one.
💿 Album – The Pianoman At Christmas – Jamie Cullum
I’ll fully admit, I love me some festive cheer (which you’ll see if you return to The Craft Room in a few days time!), so it’s no big shock that I’ve got a fair few Christmas LPs in my record collection. This year’s spot is reserved for one of my favourite voices, Jamie Cullum. The Pianoman At Christmas is a fantastic body of work, mixing Jamie’s original music with some truly outstanding covers. Yet it’s The Complete Edition that, I think, truly deserves your attention this month.
Jamie’s vocals and artistry are really on display here as his own tracks are peppered with both joy and sorrow, depending on which you choose to listen to first. Hang Your Lights is one of my favourites as it pours with jazz and good cheer. It’s always one I play time and time again as I’m decorating the tree!
His version of Greg Lake’s I Believe In Father Christmas has to be one of my favourite covers, and not just for Christmas. It’s Jamie at his piano, kicking off proceedings absolutely beautifully with a thought-provoking vocal arrangement. Strings are soon to fade in alongside clarinets, offering beautiful melody lines in a moment of reflection in a track that’s central to two very jazzy tracks.
I can only speak for myself, of course, but The Pianoman At Christmas has been added to my top rotation from November (yes, November 😀), alongside other greats such as Luther Vandross, Brandy and more. Jamie’s vocals and style always feels timeless, and this body of work is no different. However if you’re looking for something a little less festive, I highly recommend his other works like Twentysomething, Catching Tales and his Song Society playlists.
Another long one from me, this month – thanks for bearing with me! However you choose to celebrate this time of year, I’d like to wish you all a very happy new year in advance! Thanks for spending some time with me over this past year; I hope that there’s been a selection that you’ve enjoyed. I’m wishing you all prosperous 2026 and I’ll see you for the next round of audio picks in the new year! ✨