Need sleep

After I'd finished on here last night I was still wide awake so I thought I'd get the last lot of bags cut and pinned ready for sewing today. Then, I was awake at 5.50am with my head whirring, so I've had another busy day today. The above bag is for my nephew's pressie.

Three of these (drawstring).

For my niece (who likes cows) - drawstring.



For my nephew (this matches the playmat and toy bag I made him earlier in the year).

Four of these.

Tomorrow I have to pick up our new kitten from my brother's so I had to get the cloak finished and the stockings made too (think I must have neglected the family today!!). The stockings are quilted and lined, with tags and bells added.

Now I really do need to go to bed, but my head is still whirring :-)

Stockings and Wreaths

This is the stocking I made for my ds3 last year. My mum had already cut it out...I added the bits on the front and then stitched it all together.

This is the one I have nearly finished for my new nephew (born yesterday). Just need to make the fabric tag that goes on the top.

I made this wreath 3 years ago. It is a florists ring which is wrapped in green ribbon. I then made loads of bows out of christmassy ribbon and pinned then on the ring with ball headed pins (is that the right name for them?????). I then added some small green and red bells. Voila!

Christmas Stocking and advent calendar

Well, today I've done a bit more on the Christmas Stocking that I'm making for my nephew who is due in December. It's actually been a joint collaboration - the stocking is actually one my Mum had cut out ready to make. My sister has sewn the embellishments on the front and I'm sewing it all together. I've got most of it done now - just the hardest bit left as I've got to do it all by hand because the sewing machine is broken. I finished the back-stitch along the top of both pieces, then pinned the two pieces together and running stitched them ready to sew when I'm brave enough for the super thickness of it.

After I'd done that I thought I'd get the advent calendar as well. Oh, so fiddly. I had it out the bag for 10 mins then put it back again. Can't do that with a 2 year old trying to help.

Craftiness

I was thinking about where I get my craftiness from the other day. I always remember my Mum knitting or sewing (she had a sewing pile in the corner of the room where she would put all the clothes that needed repairing). She used to knit jumpers and cardigans, and she also used to knit the scarecrows that Jean Greenhowe made. We all have our scarecrows still.

She made my wedding dress for me and the bouquet that I carried. Later on she discovered cardmaking and parchment work - she was fantastic at parchment work. Such wonderful, delicate pieces. Oh, and there was the cross-stitching that she did. She had her work framed and displayed in the house. She always used to say if she didn't spend her money on crafting bits she'd be rich :-). I think she was richer for spending the money on the crafts she enjoyed so much.

She also made fabric christmas stockings and advent calendars for the grandchildren. In fact, she was so good at the stockings she used to make them every year for other people who ordered them from her. Such special things, even more so now.

My Nan is also very crafty. She has bad arthritis in her hands so she can't knit, but she certainly makes up for it with her sewing. She makes the most gorgeous pictures that are sewn, quilted, crewelled, beaded. Absolutely amazing things. In the bedroom, I have a picture that she made for my Mum. Wonderful.

I have such love, respect and admiration for these 2 ladies - one who is watching from afar xx