The Reindeer with the Very Merry Nose

Every workshop has one maker who never quite behaves, and in mine it is the reindeer. The moment I finish a reindeer ribbon bauble he ends up hanging somewhere he should not be — usually at eye level, usually smiling at me while I am trying to work. This week's journal belongs to him.

He is woven from rich brown and cream ribbon into a proper round bauble, with a sparkly red nose, twinkling googly eyes and gold glitter antlers that catch the fairy lights beautifully. There is a sprig of holly and berries on top for good manners, and a ribbon hanger so he is tree-ready the moment he arrives.

Because he is folded from ribbon rather than crocheted, he is wonderfully sturdy — no squashing in the decoration box, no reshaping next December. At £9 he is one of the friendlier ways to add something handmade to the tree, and a happy little stocking filler for anyone who loves Christmas characters.

No two are exactly alike. The ribbons are cut, folded and woven by hand here in my Devon craft room, so each reindeer has his own slightly different expression — one of the small joys of buying handmade. When the batch has flown off to new trees, more can be made to order.

You can find him here in the online shop. Thank you, as ever, for reading the journal — and may your week be full of sparkly noses!