• three framed felt decorations
    Christmas - competition - crafts - gingerbread - handmade - sewing - swap

    Felt Christmas decorations

    November 26, 2012 - By 

    I’ve been enjoying spending time sewing felt Christmas decorations. I’ve signed up for a couple of Christmas craft swaps which has meant some happy hours looking through my favourite craft books. Felt Christmas decorations I decided to try something different so made these three felt decorations and framed them in small embroidery hoops. Each hoop is only 3 inches so they are the perfect size for hanging on a tree. Hopefully you can tell they are a candy cane, gum drop sweeties and a gingerbread couple. The pattern was from one of my favourite craft books Fa la la la…

  • crafts - handmade - swap

    Swapping like a mad person

    September 14, 2012 - By 

    Over the summer I was busy swapping like a mad person, trying to give me something to think about other than nappies and wiping noses. I took part in two fab craft swaps around the theme of the Jubilee. First up was God Save the Queen swap! hosted by Hookin’ with Laa Laa. We had to send things relating to Britain and Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. Items were plentiful and I sent a union flag notebook, Diamond Jubilee keyring, napkins and cross stitch, as well as some spectacular Jubilee sunglasses to my partner Crafty Mum. Hales sent me some lovely gifts including a…

  • crafts - handmade - swap

    Handmade heart garland

    July 11, 2012 - By 

    I love seeing pictures of bunting on Pinterest. I’ve always wanted to make some but being a bit short of time I thought I would start off with a garland. I made this in several stages over a couple of nights which made it the perfect craft. I cut two different shaped heart templates from paper then cut a load of hearts from my felt stash. Finally I sewed right through the centre of each heart on my trust old Singer until I had  a string of colourful felt hearts. It was made for Nicola who was my partner in the…

  • Cath Kidston - handmade - swap - vintage

    A Valentine themed Swap

    February 15, 2012 - By 

    Mary Rebecca hosted a really cool Valentine’s Day Swap 2012 which I signed up for as I love all things red and heart shaped. My partner Jennifer has a really cool tumblr blog at Vintage Enydot. She sent me an amazing box of goodies including yummy limited edition love hearts and some fab cupcake cases, which I can’t wait to use. We’re off to visit family this week and I’m looking forward to stocking up at my favourite cake shop so I can whip up something special. I loved putting together a parcel for her. Aside from some chocolate and…

  • Christmas - handmade - swap

    An Advent swap

    January 1, 2012 - By 

    Signing up for festive swaps seemed like a good idea in the months before Christmas and my favourite was the Advent swap, organised by Hookin’ with Laalaa. The idea was simple – to buy, make, gift or thrift 24 small gifts for your partner to open each day of the advent. These could be very inexpensive, or even free (think skincare samples or teabags!). The parcel was also to include a larger gift for your partner to open on Christmas Day. The swap was fun to collect for and I ended up with lots of little gifts which I put…

  • Christmas - Day Zero - gingerbread house - handmade - sewing - swap

    Day Zero – Month 15 (December)

    December 27, 2011 - By 

    On the 19 September 2010 I started a Day Zero list: a place to record your goals, discover new challenges, and gain motivation to achieve them. I have a list of 100 things I want to do over 1001 days. The list is due to be competed by 16 June 2013. This has been a rubbish month for me personally. I think I underestimated how much time I would have with a toddler and new baby to look after so I haven’t managed to complete a single action on my Day Zero list. Aside from changing lots of nappies and…

  • Christmas - handmade - swap - vintage

    Faith, Hope and Charity Swapping

    December 21, 2011 - By 

    I can’t resist a swap, especially when it’s a thrifted Christmassy one so signed up straight away to Lakota’s Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping Christmas swap. The challenge was to send a minimum of 3 items: one item to be sourced from a charity shop, one handmade item and one Christmas decoration of some sort. My partner was the lovely Hope from Pixie’s Ponderings. The parcels were beautifully packaged (almost too good to open!) but one evening last week I couldn’t resist looking at them any longer and did open them. Hope sent me vintage pot holders, a vintage crochet…

  • Christmas - Gingerbread house finds - swap - vintage

    Gingerbread house finds

    October 16, 2011 - By 

    I love preparing for Christmas and get excited when I see Christmas products creeping into shops. I know we haven’t had Halloween or Bonfire Night yet but I can’t help picking up Christmas presents, finishing off handmade gifts and signing up to Christmas swaps (Very Berry Xmas Ornament Scrappy Swap, Festive Faith, Hope and Charity Swapping, and an Advent Swap). Which is why I couldn’t resist this little handful of vintage Christmas goodies on my latest thrifting trip. I found a lovely retro Christmassy box containing vintage Christmas cards and gift tags. Some are a bit sinister (check out that…

  • baby products - crafts - handmade - swap

    Handmade heavenlies

    October 7, 2011 - By 

    I’ve been busy participating in lots of fun swaps lately and received the most amazing swap parcel as part of the International Craft Swap from Gina. I asked her to make Edward a personalised muslin as he loves a small muslin square to hold whilst he goes to sleep. She completely surpassed what I expected and made him a beautiful quilt which features a giraffe (his favourite animal) and his name. As soon as he saw it he realised it was for him and he’s been snuggling under it on the sofa and wrapping it around himself – very cute.…