We're just drawing to the end of that slightly strange period between Christmas and New Year that people often don't quite know what to do with. Here we've been simply enjoying time as a family of three. After nearly a week of get-togethers with extended family we're making the most of the simple things for a while. Amongst playing with the lovely toys hat Father Christmas brought for LMC (more on those later!) there's been plenty of Christmas TV to catch up on, trips to some local (free) attractions and also making the most of the adorable Jemima Puddleduck ... read more
Archives for December 2011
Needle cases
This was a quick little project that made use of some bits from my stash whilst creating a lovely gift for someone. These needle cases are very quick and easy to make, yet look really good. The outer fabric is upholstery swatches that my mum picked up somewhere years ago and then inside I used constrasting felt colours inside. To make them I took two pieces of the upholstery material, put them right sides together and sewed round all apart from one inch. I turned it back out to the right sides and went right round the edges with a running stitch. After cutting two pieces of felt to size I ... read more
One step closer to being finished
This isn't the first time that I've shown this particular piece of cross-stitch on my blog. In fact, it's nearly three years ago since I actually finished the sewing part this twelve days of Christmas wall hanging. Since then I'm sorry to say that it's remained in the hoop in which I stitched it. It's moved house with us and last Christmas it didn't get a look in thanks to the demands of a six month old Little Miss C. Finally things changed today though. It's out of its hoop and I've even managed to buy a the bell pull mounts for it. There are less ... read more
A sneak preview
This is one of those projects that I can't say much about yet as the recipient will probably come on here and read this blog before Christmas. There will be more details, but all I can say at the moment is that I'm using Debbie Bliss Donegal Luxary Tweed Aran in colourway 360029 and I'm following a free download pattern that I found on Ravelry. Once I can reveal all I promise that I will link to the patter and provide a more detailed photograph that shows exactly what it is that I'm knitting. I'm loving the pattern though as there's a relatively simple repeat that gives ... read more
Lion hand puppet
I haven't forgotten about my craft advent plans here on the blog, but whilst I've been caught up in the party season finding time to sit and write blog posts has been ditched in favour of doing things that will provide content for blog posts. The crafting has continued at a furious pace and I am hoping that by December 25th, you will have had a total of 25 crafty blog posts, even if they're not at a constant rate of one a day. Today's craft "show and tell" is something that Little Miss C and I made together this afternoon - a lion hand puppet. I have to admit up ... read more
Full of festive cheer
Tonight I'm planning a night on the sofa. It may not be the most exciting way to spend a Saturday night, but I'm in the middle of a "six Christmas parties in five days" marathon and I'm shattered! The final one is tomorrow and as much as I've enjoyed them all it has been a bit full on. The picture above shows where I was on Thursday night though - the Houses of Parliament in central London. On behalf of the Watercress Wildlife Association (where Mr C and I are volunteers) I attended a reception that was hosted by our local MP, Anne Main, to thank ... read more
Still on the needles
Today's crafty insight isn't something new and isn't anything festive, but is instead an update on the intrictae scarf that I started knitting several months ago now. It's grown in length considerably and following some help from the lovely members of my knitting group I'm now doing quite well actually following the pattern and not getting to the end of a row and suddenly discovered that I have lost or gained stitches! It's not all been plain sailing though and if you look carefully you might spot an error that's crept in there that I'd decided to leave as ... read more
Lizzie of Langley Street – Carol Rivers
This is so totally not the kind of book that I usually pick up in bookshops or even charity shops. I normally pass over the section entitled "romantic fiction" or similar and imagine it to be full of Mills and Boon style books which are just not my cup of tea at all. My mum passed on this book and a couple of others recently having picked them up from a hospital book stall. I thought I'd give them a go and I'm so glad I did. Lizzie of Langley Street is in a way a typical gritty East-End saga set after the first world war. There's a strong lead female character - daughter ... read more
Festive bird rope
Another Christmas decoration today, but one that's quite different from what I've shown you the last two days - a felt bird rope. This took quite a while to make, mainly because each of the birds and hearts consists of four layers of red felt that are sewn together by hand. Just cuting them all out took a while. The birds' eyes are tiny black plastic beads and I managed to source some lovely red wooden beads from The Bead Shop that form the main part of the rope. The original design came from the book Christmas Stitchery which is packed full of some lovely ideas for ... read more
Designs and Such Christmas Tree
I was delighted to recently be asked to review something from new local St Albans company Designs and Such. They are an online craft store that sell both craft kits and also one-of-a-kind handmade items which would make lovely gifts. Being a crafter myself it seemed logical to test out one of their kits and I was sent the Trio of Feltivity kit to make for Christmas. I should add here that time constraints mean that I've only completed one of the trio so far - the chirstmas tree - but watch out for the other two completed projects later in this advent craft month here on ... read more