Two Recycled Stockings

My Huffle bought a jumper for an 'Ugly Sweater' competition at work. He found an old Marks & Spencer jumper, which on him did look ugly, but really it just didn't suit him. So I was given permission to make it into a stocking for him for this Christmas.

.......and this is how it turned out.

Huffle looking proud (he even asked me to sew the M&S label back in!

Then my Mum, Moo, decided to turn her PJ's, that she got in the sale and didn't like, into a stocking for herself.

.....and this is how they turned out.

And even some beautiful stitching of her name.

So the family's Christmas stockings are all ready for Santa's visit.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

 

P.S. I saw these in the supermarket. I never knew Butterfingers was already 'something'. The cashier looked at me in surprise and asked why was I taking a photo of a chocolate bar!!!!!!!

I was tempted to use this photo as my profile picture but I realised they have Peanuts in and I don't like nuts!

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Woyww #185 - a messy panic

Well it's Wednesday, and the only reason I knew it was Wednesday this morning was because Brenda (thanks Brenda) posted a WOYWW. Whoops. I wasn't going to do it, but when I looked at my desk and saw what a mess it was in, I thought, well, you'd want to see that surely?

So..............

Now lets see if I can identify what's on the actual table.

Still a couple of imps. One finished and one still waiting for his limbs to be sewn on and a cheeky face to be added. My sock, which I have to say does look like a sock now (thank goodness). Whether I will ever start the second one - who knows - may just frame the first one! My ideas and pattern book. Cup of coffee. Sewing Machine. Moo and I spent a couple of hours on it the other evening. We had bought some PJ bottoms and we didn't like them (final sale) so we made a stocking from one for me.

I was quite pleased with the results. We got in a right mess with it. Changed the foot, tried out some monogramming (is that right?), took the whole bobbin sitting bit apart, re-threaded everything and it worked. Wahooo. I love my machine, it makes a sewist (sewer) out of a novice - fabulous.

Oh no, just noticed those damn badges are still there to be sewn on uniforms. And I haven't started the candy cane sleighs yet. Piddle! What I do know is, my desk is a bloomin' mess and I better get stuff finished and wrapped and tidy it up. MUST NOT START ANY NEW PROJECTS, MUST FINISH OLD ONES FIRST!!!!!

Right, I am going to try and check out everyone's else's desk. Apologies to those I didn't get back to or visit last week. I blame my Mum being here. Feel guilty sitting looking at the IPad for a whole day when she travelled across the World to be with us.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT TIME.

 

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Angels from across the World

Some time ago, I took part in a challenge. It was started by Jo at jozartydesigns. Everyone made two angels (in whatever medium they preferred) and sent one to Jo and one to a random blogger picked by Jo. I have already shown the beautiful one sent by Chris at PearShapedCrafting (I will show them both again at the end).

Anyway the Angel, made by Jo for me, travelled to Australia before it got to me in Canada. The parcel was addressed correctly so goodness knows how this happened. Also on her horrific journey, her head fell off. However, she is with me now, her head has been surgically attached and she is now hanging beautifully on our Christmas Tree.

So sparkly, so intricate.

Angel Manakel (Angel of Peace) and Avril Angel

Both very different, both very beautiful and both lovingly made.

 

Thank you ladies for my lovely angels.

 

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WOYWW #184 - Waiting, waiting, waiting.....

It's Wednesday. What's on your Workdesk, Wednesday? Have a look and see.

Here's mine.

Resident Lime Green Monkey holding a glass bauble that is waiting to be put on our tree. Some wool awaiting..... (Shhhhhhhh). Two little imps (black and white one finished ready for Small's Christmas present) and the Red/orangey one awaiting one more arm and a face (for Smallest's Christmas present).

Some cubs/Beavers badges awaiting sewing on uniforms. Sewing Machine with bunting awaiting binding to hang it. Smash/ideas book with Imp pattern in (originally from Annabboshouse.blogspot.com).

Sock, awaiting about ten more rows and then something else happens!? A pile of lovely Mollie Makes Magazine that my Mum bought for me - wahoooo. A cowl I knitted for myself with the wool Huffle gave me for my birthday, awaiting for me to add to my scarf drawer.

Candy canes waiting for me to make them into Jo's wonderful sledge designs.........And a huge roll of cellotape hanging from my desk, just waiting to be put away.

I am going to WAIT until it is properly Wednesday (I live in a place where the time is so different to others, a bit forwards, a bit backwards, who knows!) and wander nosily around everyone's else's desks and see what wonderfulness is going on.

See ya x

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Christmas Urns

This morning I created two Christmas Urns for outside the house. I knew what I wanted the end result to be but it was harder than I expected.

I walked up and down the garden, collecting bits of cedar, juniper, pine. Added a few baubles and then went off to my neighbours house to collect some dogwood and berries.

For my first year, it's not bad. To be honest, I got bored in the end. I can sit at my craft table for hours but poking bits of greenery into a tub - nah!

We have some lights to put up put there and then that's it!

 

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WOYWW #183 - limbs

Hello. Nearly missed it this week. Forgot my days. Anyway, it IS Wednesday, and it IS time for what's on your Workdesk. So ..............

I have temporarily moved my 'desk' to the downstairs coffee table, in front of Glee, to enable me to try and finsish some Imps I making for the boys for Christmas.

Cath Kidstone craft bag with wool, crochet hook and bits and bobs. On the table (from the top left hand corner moving round in a clockwise fashion), tea tray with Baaarnaby warming our tea. Bag of buttons and bag of stuffing. Dark Green wool for elf Korknisse. Black and White stripy wool for Small's Imp. Random knitting needle (have no idea why that is there!). Arm, head, body and legs of Small's Imp. Orangey Imp will belong to Smallest and has a head and body sewn together. A cork for Korknisse. Scissors, needle and threaded needle for embroidering eyes and mouth of Imps. A pen (?). Bits of felt for faces of Imps. Various remote controls. Orangey stripey wool. Embroidery thread - various colours as not sure which to use.

I think that's it. Short but sweet!? Hoping I can show the finished projects soon. Plus will be doing more on my sock on Friday.

 

 

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Saturday Bunting

Due to the fact that it is December today (Pinch Punch), and everyone around us already has their decorations up, and we had breakfast with Santa this morning........

I decided to get on with my Christmas Bunting. Finished one lot off......

And hung it in the Living Room......

And then made a new lot........

And hung it on the dresser in the kitchen.

Very festive. I might get Huffle to iron it nicely though. I didn't see it till I posted these pictures, but a good press could make them look a little nicer.

 

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An Angel from Manchester

I joined an 'Angel Challenge' over at Jozartdesigns a while ago. I sent my angels and one has arrived. Now I have been sent one for myself. And she flew all the way from Manchester, England.

Beautifully packaged with some extra bits to play with inside.

 

Her name is Avril and she is adorable

Gorgeously felted and sewn. So much detail. I love her. I don't think you would see her at the top of the tree so I will find a special place for her this Christmas.

 

She was made by the very talented Chris at PearShapedCrafting - Thank you, Chris, she is gorgeous. X

 

 

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WOYWW #182 - Mess and Angel No1

Hello wednesday'ers. How are you this cold November day?

My desk today........

I made some Christmas Bunting. Not in the 'LLJ' league but not bad for a start. Some presents ready to be posted. Small's Cub badges (I must sew them on his top!), a glue stick, some berries (fake) and bells. The big wooden snowflake is something that Smallest has been decorating for me. My sock is there but you can't really see it (I made a heel!). My toys are finished and sewn up and ready to post too.

I am very pleasd with myself, however, I have to stop here until a week on Friday as I don't know how to pick up stitches.

 

I think that's it! Jo received my Angel, so I can now reveal her to you. I haven't heard about the other one (its gone to a far off land) so I can't show that one yet.

I completely made it up as I went along. I started with her crochet skirt and then added the body and head. I beaded her legs and arms and added a ribbon and button for her wings. I wound a tiara type thing of beads around her head. Huffle named her Dusty because her hair looked like Dusty Springfield (just a tiny bit!). I really surprised myself by making this and entering into the challenge. It was a wonderful idea and I will definitely do it again. The boys wanted me to put her on our tree but I explained it was for someone else. I will have to try and replicate it again now!

Right, that's me done, time to go and look at everyone else's desk now.

 

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Sew-up Saturday

I had an hours worth of crafting today and managed to finish a few projects.

All ready for the postbox. I also made my first lot of Christmas bunting but I forgot to take a photo.

 

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Christmas Cake

I was a bit late getting on with the Christmas Cake. I think I was half hoping that my new oven would prematurely arrive, but it didn't, so I just got on with it.

I never got to make one last year because we had just moved across from UK to Canada, we had only just moved into our new home and our furniture and belongings (including our Christmas decorations, baking tins etc) arrived the day before Christmas Eve.

So, back to this year, I soaked the fruits in a generous amount of Brandy for two nights. Then yesterday I baked it. Now I don't like fruit cake but the mixture tasted amazing (maybe it was the Brandy!).

I will now be feeding it with more Brandy until the day when I let the kids loose and let them decorate it. They did a wonderful job a couple of years ago. Can't wait.

One of my 'Angels' (Jo's challenge) has arrived. Just waiting for the other to arrive and then I can reveal what I made and sent.

 

 

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WOYWW #181 - Christmas Tree Bottoms

Wednesday. What's on your Workdesk. 181 weeks ago, a crazy lady called Julia decided to set up a group of people who, every Wednesday, showed their desks in their current state. Who would have thought it would have got so popular. I even read that it is now famous thanks to a radio programme. WOW.

....and so, to mine...............

I have a lot of comments about my spotty tablecloth (it used to sit on our kitchen table in England so I love the things it reminds me of when I sit here).

I am in the process of finishing the bottoms on my crochet Christmas Trees. I know it's only November but it's hard to NOT be in the Cjristmas spirit when already my next door neighbour has enough lights up to light the whole of Ontario, we have already been to a Santa Parade and are going to another one on Saturday and every shop you go in has Christmas everywhere.

My finished Imp sits proudly at the back. teen Monkey is holding my new purchase from the second hand shop a gorgeous glass bauble - too heavy for the tree - but I love it.

Sock - still in the same state, butbsittingnthere to remind me I am at my knitting group this week (haven't been for weeks now due to broken thumb, poorly throat, PA day etc etc). Glue gun poised - it doesn't work too well, you have to push the glue stick in with your fingers which I just found out was very very hot!!!

My Union Jack Mug filled with Yorkshire Tea (like Tea should be!). A bag of bells which I picked up at Dollarama. A cork I was given to make another Korknisse. Standing at the back, behind the propped up IPad is a lovely card that Brenda made for me to go with a wonderful package of papers and embellishments.

Look at all that loveliness! I asked her about card making and all this arrived in the post. I am a very lucky girl. I can't wait to start playing with it all, however I may have to wait till next year now. Thank you Brenda, you are a very thoughtful person. I 'met' Brenda via WOYWW - I love blogging and all the great people I have 'met'.

.....and what a gorgeous card - very inspirational.

My friend and neighbour popped round the other day and have me a present (for being me). It was lovely.....

Handmade soap and a handmade pin cushion. Again, how lucky am I?

Right I am off to check out some truly great blogs now and find some more inspiration - No, I must finish my stuff first and get more inspiration for new things later!!!!!!

 

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Weekend Finishing

Once again, on Saturday, my lovely family decided to let me go off and craft for an hour or so. In reality, I sneaked off while they were doing more important things. Whatever, I picked up my sewing needle and attempted to sew lots of appendages.

I managed to get this finished.....

He is called Strimpy. He is an imp and I got the pattern from the lovely Annaboo again. She has them for sale and she is so good at writing patterns - so easy to follow.

I used a self striping wool and I think it worked really well. His pointy bit at the top is a bit strange so I am guessing I missed a bit in the pattern.

He's a grumpy little fella.

 

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WOYWW #180

Hey, it's WEDNESDAY. I joined this group What's on your Workdesk Wednesday well over a year ago when I lived in England. I didn't think I would still be doing it. I don't join in every Wednesday, but most of them. If you don't know what I am talking about (where have you been????) then have a look at this lady's blog. She started it, it's fun.

I only just realised it was (nearly) Wednesday, so rushed up to my desk and took a photo. Bit of a mess as I left it in a hurry a couple of days ago to get to the post box.

A different angle this week, taking in the view of my new drawers which makes my desk seem a little bigger and a bit more organised. See I am learning from all you proper crafters. We bought some shelves too. So on the drawers are my WIP's (Christmas trees, cut out bunting and cowl). There is a reason I haven't finished any of these yet and that is because I took in part in a challenge going on over at Jo's Blog. We are making angels and sending them flying all over the world. So for the last week I have been creating two angels. One has gone already (hence the dash to the post office) and the other is wrapped and ready to fly on my desk. I can't show these yet until they have been received.

Poor monkey is still disembodied and the only other thing new there is a Christmas Ideas book I got from the library. Not had much time to look a it but never mind.

I had a lot of comments last week about the loft space I use to craft in. It is a huge space, not fully finished. One comment said it looked like I had been put in quarantine (that was funny). Half of it is used for guests and has a bed, hanging rail, drawers plus an extra airbed. It is also used by the kids to set up their train track, castle, scalextric and car track. So I can't have it all, and it is a bit messy and disorganised because I want to wait until it is all drywalled (plaster boarded) before I start adding proper storage, after all it will all have to be moved out for the work to be done. (Finding someone to do the work is another story!!!).

Okay, I am off to look at everyone else's space now and get some inspiration for finishing all my unfinished stuff. See you later x

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Elves and Trees

I have been crocheting Christmas Trees (for Christmas Presents). I loved doing this. So quick, lots of little embellishing bits.

You can find the pattern for these here

And these little fellas are called Korknisse and are crocheted around a cork. You can also find the pattern for these here.

When I made these last year I actually knitted them as I wasn't confident enough to crochet them. Both are easy. The knitted ones you can make up as you go along. The only problem is, you have to drink plenty of wine to get the corks - shame!

 

Both of these patterns have come from the very talented Annabooshouse.blogspot.com. She is an amazing lady and she shares many of her patterns - a lot of them made up by herself. Very clever.

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