Just before Christmas I was lucky enough to take part in a workshop with Julie Arkell. If you haven’t heard of her, where have you been! She’s a London-based contemporary artist who is well known for her papier mache dolls and I was really excited to find she was running a workshop at Sally Bourne Interiors. I spent all day with Julie and a group of like-minded women and it was fantastic. I don’t think I’ve ever spent a whole day sewing but it was amazing, lovely to sit around a table, sew and chat. Julie’s recent work reflects vintage…
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As part of my Day Zero challenge I’m aiming to take part in at least one swap a month. So in the run up to Christmas I signed up for a couple of Christmas swaps. First up was the Blogger’s Secret Santa organised by Leanne where I received a copy of Cath Kidston’s Sew! from Helen. It’s full of beautiful projects to make (some of which will probably end up as birthday and Christmas presents). I sent a Moleskine recipe journal to Domestic Goddesque. Then I joined up for the Secret Christmas Ornament Swap organised by Denise and I received…
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Christmas is my favourite time of year and yesterday we took some time out to make a gingerbread house with my youngest niece. It’s become a bit of a tradition and this year we tried a kit from Dr Oetker, which included the gingerbread, icing and sweets. It was really simple to put together. Daddy assembled the house and placed strategic dollops of icing and my niece decorated with marshmallows, jellies and smarties. The finished gingerbread house – the perfect holiday craft and it only took 30 minutes!
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I love this little felt gingerbread house I recently made. It’s just a couple of inches high so looks great on our mantle. It’s made from a pattern in the softies kit. It’s a really simple little project that only took me an evening but will look great as a Christmas ornament on our mantlepiece or hanging on our Christmas tree. I’m getting stuck into my Christmas craft list which is just as well, only 9 weeks left!
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Ages ago I came across a cute tutorial to make these elf clogs and it has taken my years to actually make them. However this weekend we were off to visit an aunt and I always make her something for Christmas. So I thought it was time I tackled this little project. Then I was having so much fun I made a couple of them, stuffed them with chocolate and hand delivered them to my aunt. I hope she likes them 🙂
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Yay, the first issue of Sew Hip! landed on the doormat today and it’s great. There are loads of patterns to choose from so hopefully there will be some sewing time over the weekend.
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I thought my crafting mojo had well and truly left me over the last few months what with wedding preparations and my toe injury. As Lottie commented, sick leave = crafting time but I haven’t felt like making anything, until today. I read about the free Black Apple Doll months ago but thought I would attempt it. The pattern can be found here and this is how it turned out: not bad for a first attempt! I also received some lovely goodies from Belle and Boo today. I couldn’t resist purchasing some of their lovely stickers, magnets and paper goods.…
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In The Garden fabric panel, originally uploaded by Jennifer Young. How could I resist this lovely fabric panel in Aunty Cookie’s etsy shop? While I was browsing I also picked up some lovely Chatterbox Cookies red linen trim and patches for applique. They look so good I’m almost afraid to use them.
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I received some lovely late birthday presents yesterday. The quilt books had been on my Amazon wishlist for a while. I joined round 3 of the doll quilt swap and am looking for inspiration. I can’t wait to make something from the softies kit, the pattern cards are so beautifully put together. I love the gingerbread house which reminds me of the lovely fabric house sewing tutorial I keep meaning to attempt. I must wait until I have made a start on the dolls quilt before I begin anything else…