Show And Tell

Now all the wrappers have been torn off

 I can show you some of the gifts I made this this year

 Elsa Hat

 Anna Hat

 I did a couple of personalised clocks for some of the boys

 tractor hat and scarf set

 monogrammed mobile phone hipster bags with lip balm holders for some of the girls

 baby fleece hat and cardigan

 A couple of sets of these cushions for loved up couples

 lace ballerina mobile

 That silk fabric I bought I made a tie from

 was so pleased with how it came out

 Toffee vodka

 Scottish tablet

 hooded fleece blanket

 yet another fleece hat

Chocolate Christmas pudding treats

Now its all over with I have to get thinking about the next time, with 13 grandchildren there never seems to be enough time to get everything made :-)

A Bit Of Stitching Time

Among everything that has been going on the past few days 

I have found some time to do more stitching with my new machine

I saw this idea and fancied giving it a try

its a design stitched on to organza then glued onto candles

These are not real candles although they are wax, they have a flickering imitation flame bulb.

I must admit they do look very effective, 

I plan to arrange some greenery around the candles.

Now there is a design I have sitting on my computer for some time

I really wanted to get it done

Today I got my Rooster Dangler stitched out

I used scraps from the scrap box to make him 

He adds  nice splash of colour to the kitchen 

I might make a few of these to add to my stall next year 

I have a few other sewing projects in the pipe line

 hopefully I will find some time over the holidays

A New Addition

For a while I have been talking about having a second embroidery machine

the idea being I can run two  side by side and increase productivity 

They are a considered purchase 

Well I found a real bargain last week on offer

placed an order and my new machine arrived yesterday 

I did do a check round on prices before buying and it was the best offer around £1,000 off

and some extras like dual foot control and extension table worth £300 thrown in

I had to unpack it to get it back out of the house and into the cabin 

the box was too big for me carry on my own

 I got it set up and tried it out

 It works like a dream

It is a big machine and takes up almost twice the space as my other machine

also the embroidery area is twice that of my other machine

giving me more scope on projects

I know the machine will pay for itself 

so I have no guilt at all spending so much money on a second machine

my other reason for needing a second machine is servicing, my original machine that is only 6 years old has been worked hard this past year, it is in need of a major service, it was serviced last year like a car these machine need servicing after doing so many thousands of stitches, I exceeded my stitch range back in summer, I do clean it and maintain it every week but it still needs a service and that means going away for a few weeks as I know parts have to be replaced this time, nothing major just general wear and tear, it would be like losing an arm for those few weeks,  having a second machine will fill that gap and take the pressure of my older machine.

They are both Brother machines just different models, the newer one having lots of new features.

while I was setting up and trying out the new machine I got a project finished on my other machine

My Christmas table runner it was all done in the hoop with the applique

It has been on my list of things I want to do for some time.

 

Not much stitching will get done this week end  as we have other plans, then my list is clear and I have six weeks of stitching planned over the holiday's,

I also have a friend coming to stay for a few days, I am really looking forward to seeing her

She got her machine a year ago and has not tried it out yet, she is bringing it with her so we can get her going on it :-)

Crafting For Me

Now my order book is closed and all orders are completed, the last of them goes in the post tomorrow, Saturday I have my last craft fair of the year.

I can turn my thoughts to other crafts for a while 

Today I made something for me 

I was so impressed with the fleece welly socks I got for my birthday last month, I decided to make myself a pair.

I have loads of fleece so I didn't need to buy anything in.

Of course I showed them to a friend and now she wants some, no pressure I will have them done next week for her.

Last Friday we had another pottery session, this time it was to add some colour and surface decoration to our fired pieces.

 All the pieces after there first firing, there are some great pieces there.

 My tea light holder and money bag

 A tile I practised some of the colours on

 In theory this should come out orange on the outside and yellow on the inside, we shall see

 Bovey Belle praying for divine creativity

 Her prayers have been answered I think, some lovely design work

 another great BB piece

 I didn't get a finished photo of this but BB painted little flowers on it.

My money bag, brown on the outside and red on the inside and the cord should come out yellow.

The pieces have all gone off to be dipped in a glaze and a final firing.

We get them back this week end I am looking forward to seeing how they come out :-)

More Makes

I have made up another batch of Country Christmas Angels

 I love these country angels, I might make up some more for a bunting. and I have an idea of something i can do with them next year.

I made these little huggable guys today, I was thinking about them last night in bed, 

I then remembered I have a box of click and seal tin cans, so I thought I would put the huggy Koalas into the cans, print off some labels and add them to my stall.

Went to get the cans today, they were not in my craft store room, they were not in the attic,

that only means one thing they are still in storage, Martin has been instructed to bring them back on friday, I will be pushing it a bit as the craft fair is on Saturday, 

I will get some more made this week in readiness then keep fingers crossed that Martin remembers to bring them and they fit in the cans.

I have also been making some PVC peg bags, but forgot to take a picture of them.

and just as a fun item I have been doing these

BIG PANTS

A Little Foxy

I saw this cushion on a lovely blog That Black Chick a few weeks ago, I was so taken by the simplistic design I kept thinking about it and today I got a chance to make it.

I have to get a cushion pad to fit it, the spare ones I had are too small

I found the fabric with the tees on in my stash, 

I used some dark gold faux leather for the applique 

buttons came from my stash.

It just has a simple envelope opening at the back, 

The instructions were really easy to follow and there is a PDF to print out for the templates.

I also made some chicken doorstops and vinyl peg bags today, will show you another day.

The Great Welsh Clay Challange

The other evening I watched the The Great Pottery Throw Down and really enjoyed it, afterwards I was thinking it would be fun to have a go at pottery.

Next day, ping e-mail from the lady who sends out the local event news to everyone, there was a play with clay session in the village hall this evening £12.

I phoned up and booked myself a place and let Bovey Belle know about it as well.

We both arrived and before long we were starting on our pinched pots

 BB getting stuck into pinching her pot

 I had something different in mind for mine

 my first pot become a money bag

 BB had a bowl and a salt pig done by the time I finished my little bag

 my next piece was a tea light holder

 I had a lemon shape in mind don't know why

 I made some legs for this one

 BB made another bowl that she was going to put ball feet on

 and she decorated the inside of her salt pig

 my two clay pots

 think I should reserve a spot in the Tate.

We had a lovely evening, our clay work now goes off to be fired and when it comes back we will get to add some colour and glaze to complete them, we have both signed up for the next session were we will make a decorative tile.

And More New Lines

 I have made up some pink pig fleece hats in toddler and child size

 My sister wanted a poppy brooch, the top one I made with Organza didn't really like how it turned out, I then made a couple out of felt, much preferred them, I have stitched brooch pins on the backs of them, Martin has take the one for my sister to deliver to her today. The other two can go on the stall.

Chicken doorstops, I have a couple of these upstairs and when a friend who came to stay saw them she asked if I could make three for her she picked out a neutral fabric, I finally  got round to making them today, Martin can take them back and deliver them next week, I have some of the fabric left so will make another couple to go on the stall, to add some weight to them I fill a plastic bag with unscented cat litter and add that to door stops. Clean cheap and is better than adding grains.

I have also been working on some cheeky country angel's, I have a few different designs in this range to do.