Money for nothing, decs for free....

 

 

(With apologies to Dire Straits for the misquote)

Well, it ain't gonna win any prizes but 'tis made with mine own fair hands........and it cost nought as all the greenery came from the garden, and the cream velvet and gold ribbon cost about 10p years ago in a clearance sale after Xmas.

 

A Christmas swag as a change to a wreath

 

Eucalyptus from our 60' tree which bends over alarmingly in strong winds....
Some very prickly but lovely silvery green fir branches.....
Ivy...
Eunoymus
ans some lovely faded hydrangea heads.

Needless to say it is too "modern" for traditionalist Mr G...... (quote " I thought you were making a round wreath"..........)

 

But he likes the 3D stars.........

 

sat on the mantlepiece for the moment until I find a good place for them, or decorate the mantelpiece, whichever comes first.

 

If anyone would like to know how to make these 3D five-pointed stars I have prepared a pictorial tutorial here.


 

 

what's this??????

 

I did part up with a little hard cash for some lovely Yankee Candle Christmas Tree scented melts.... at the time of purchasing three of these I assumed they were little candles with wicks, but when we unwrapped them they were wick-free. The instructions didnt help at all as you couldnt read them! Hubby tried setting light to them thinking maybe they just burned without a wick, but daughter just scoffed at us and trotted off to do a little research.

On checking their website Bella found out that you place them in the top of a little burner and light a tea light underneath - luckily we have one of those burners, but I just like the scent and so have just put them in a jam jar.

 

And I also paid good money for this lovely pink Poinsettia......

 

the red ones seemed to be a very dark, gloomy red rather than the usual cheery bright red I buy so I opted for a pretty pink one instead.
Dumped in pot for now, but will wrap some hessian around it .

 

 

I still have a lot of decking the halls with boughs of holly to do, but have been slowed down by a nasty cold which has somewhat sapped my energy and enthusiasm.

Will just have to snuggle up under the blanket again with a good book, the dog on my lap, a cup of Earl Grey and some stollen - oh woe is me ;)

 

Tagged

 

 

As a little light relief from the mega sewing that's been going on around here for the last couple of months, it's been nice to have time today to play around with a different medium.

With some cream card, some special edged craft scissors, some free graphics from  a Free Digital Scrapbooking blog (so sorry I am not sure which one to credit), a hole punch and some jute string, I've had a bit of fun making some gift tags.

 

Tomorrow I shall have a go at making some 3D stars from card in the same design, or maybe something a bit different, like the paper ones I made last year.


Well, last weekend saw the last Xmas Fair out of the way, and I can't say I'm sorry even though I have enjoyed doing them.

Having a Facebook presence this year meant that I received lots of invites to Xmas Fairs, in fact so many that I could have done a fair every weekend through November and December, but there's no way my nerves (or my family!) would have stood that! Too old!!!!

I managed this time to take a few pics of the Fair before it started (held at Tenterden in Kent, in a function room (a blooming cold barn!) at the rear of the Woolpack Inn in the heart of this lovely town. )

 

 

Here's my stall below!

 

 

At the last minute I decided to make a few glass cases and phone cases (iPhone, Blackberry and ordinary) from some pretty Japanese linens, and I'm glad I did as they sold well and I only have a couple left.

Overall it was a great atmosphere, and pretty busy in the morning ( I think the smell of the hog roast outside drew lots of folk in!) but the afternoon dragged by with not many people coming in - it was a pretty cold day!

If I hadnt been lucky enough to have had some lovely neighbours, Kate and Claire, to chat to, it would have been a long old day.

Still, it was well worthwhile going and I came away having had a good time.

Now its full steam ahead with the Xmas preparations!!!!!!!

 

How are yours coming along????

Birds and a Kitty

 

 

 

 

Just been finishing off a few more things for this weekends Xmas Fair - lots of 60's fabric birds hung with butchers twine, and hessian tree hangers.

Still have more diary and notebook covers to make, plus a few extra Paris hearts, but then that's it I think for Saturday. The goodies that I don't sell I will put into my Etsy and Folksy shops - thank you to those of you who have already ordered Paris Hearts! If anyone else would like to buy anything they have seen on my blog posts then please email me and I will be happy to send off things after this weekends Fair.

***

Bessie our cat likes to sit in all manner of places, and under table lamps is one of  her favourites - Bella took these photos the other evening of Bessie sitting on the chest of drawers under the stairs!

 

 

 

 

The Michael Miller fabric tea cosy is now finished - I love this fabric and must find some more!

 

 

 

Some more gorgeous japanese floral linens have arrived, although I'm not sure I'll have time to make anything from them in time for Saturday.

Florals in many different background colours...............

 

 

........and these lovely roses and polka dots.

 

Hope everyone is getting into the swing of Christmas shopping and preparations now - I enjoyed reading all your comments on the last post!

I've done a lot more online shopping now, and Bella and I are Charity card shopping this afternoon then back home to put up the fake Christmas tree in the sitting room. This is our bright and cheerful family tree, with multi-coloured flashing lights and everything thrown on!

It will be decorated with all sorts of decorations; school-made, homemade, handmade and shop-bought over the years - lots of old favourites that we love to unwrap and reminisce over each year.

The real tree will go in the hall a week or so before Xmas Day - that's the one I like to decorate in whites and golds with white twinkle lights - a little more tasteful!

Enjoy all the Festive preparations!


 

Cosied Up

 

As a reaction to all the tasteful plain vintage linens, tickings and vintage pastel florals that have been a feature of my recent makes for upcoming Xmas Fairs, when it was time to knuckle down to sewing again this week I found myself being drawn to a bit of colour.

Still with a vaguely French feel about them ( I hope), I am having great fun making tea cosies (yes I know, hardly very French but hey, who makes the rules here? Moi! ......and I do have plans for some Cafetiere covers.... )

Made with scrap-bag fabrics pieced together for the front, mainly in reds, blues and creams, and with toile de jouy (the French bit) backs, they are padded and lined.

They are trimmed with cheerful red or cream bobbles and East of India ribbon, and will hopefully add a pop of colour to my stall.

 

pale blues and creams, with a lining in a vintage French fabric in pale blue and white stripes

 

with pale blue toile back and cream bobbles (or pom poms) - just loving the bobbles!

 

reds and browns with a brown gingham lining

 

with a red toile back and some gorgeous red bobbles

 

 

East of India ribbons

 

 

 

 

and my current favourite cosy, reds and pale blues..........

 

 

with the same red toile back and blue and white striped lining

 

And below, the latest tea cosy in the making - pinks, greens and blues this time........

 

........and with a wonderful retro Michael Miller Parisienne fabric for the back, which I've had in my stash a while now, just waiting for the right time.....

 

 

 

 

I have some other makes to share soon, including some bright vintage floral fabric birds, some hessian tree decorations, some new journal covers and some covered coat-hangers.

***

Everywhere I look I see Christmas preparations in hand, which seems a rather vague and distant event to me at the moment, even though Saturday will be the 1st December.

All the US blogs I've visited this week came as a bit of a shock - they all seem to show perfectly trimmed trees, tidy rooms with loads of tasteful and often handmade decorations, wreaths and vignettes, and all the final twiddly bits that I never ever get around to doing even on Christmas Eve are ALREADY DONE!!!!!

How????

I guess maybe they have the incentive of Thanksgiving to get them motivated, but even so... I am totally in awe of these ladies!  I havent even clarified my thoughts yet on decorating for Halloween.......

But Christmas? At the moment it feels like something that happens to other people, but not me.....I havent yet started planning, or making lists, have only done a vague bit of online shopping, and won't get into the swing of things until I have to - and that seems to get later and later every year.

I do resent having to buy Xmas decorations in November, yet if I don't, when I go into the shops they have already moved the Xmas stuff to the back of the shop and have wheeled out all the "January" sale stuff into prime position - I remember taking Bella last year to a well-known DIY store to choose a few new decs at the beginning of December only to find the store filled with sale furniture. Mind you, once we'd tracked down the few things left at the back of the shop they were at rock bottom prices so we got some good deals!

So are YOU ready for Christmas yet?

Are you one of these super-organised people who have it all wrapped up (literally)?

Or are you like me, still waiting to get that last minute panicky feeling that finally galvanises you into action?

That moment when you realise it is actually something that affects you, that the 12 people you've invited for lunch on Christmas Day will actually be expecting some sort of feast, a warm and tidy house with a tree and some decs, and of course even a few presents? It is not going to go away..........

I just have to feel a bit of pressure to get me going!!!

Share your Christmas preparation thoughts with us!!!!