Thrifty Christmas

I need something to finish off my Mother & Father in Laws Christmas present, I always make them a Christmas cake, (I make 8 cakes altogether to give as presents) but I like to give something else with it. They have had a new bathroom fitted recently so I decided to embroider a new towel and face cloth I found in my bag of bits with a holly motif. I put this on a set of plain white towels for myself last year and popped them in the bathroom on Christmas Eve and made it look quite festive.

Embroidery machine in action

The finished items

I always buy the kids a jar of sweets to pop in there stockings, they may be 18 & 19 but they still have a stocking left in their bedroom by Santa, instead of buying this year I decided to use some of the jars I save for my jam making and fill them with a mixture of there favourite sweets. I t worked out much cheaper and I had enough to do jars for my Nieces too. I was quite pleased with how they turned out and think I may use this idea for Birthday gifts next year. We have an old fashioned sweet shop in the village who sells lots of lovely sweets and chocolates, your always spoilt for choice when you go in so I can fill the jars with every ones favorites from there.

Sew

Yesterday was another day spent sewing. I have managed to finish off a few presents and try a few items from CK Sew. I made the bag a couple of weeks ago. Now I have made it I think there are a few things I would change, I do think that if you are a first time sewer the instructions aren't that clear. I don't like hand sewing so decided to quilt the hot water bottle cover by machine, bad move, the machine didn't like doing it nor did I! I have ended up and a mixture of different sized stitches and then found it quite hard to sew the whole thing together. Think this will have to be a present for Mom, as everything is beautiful to them! Next time I think I will make the hot water bottle cover out of an old woolly jumper and see how that goes. I haven't put the loop fastener on as by this time I had lost all patience with it.

Doggy Treats

Yesterday morning when I looked like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards and the house was like a tip cause I decided to make my Christmas cakes first before I got showered my friend popped round for a coffee. No one ever seems to call in when everything is spick and span only when it looks like a tip. She bought some of my bunting and one of the Christmas aprons I had made she also asked me if I could make one of these

I hadn't got a clue what it was until she said it was a dogs bandanna! I would love to hear what my Grandad would have to say about how they dress dogs up nowadays. So last night I sat down and had a go at one myself. She wanted it in Christmas fabric with her name embroidered on. It was a bit fiddly to do the name as the piece of fabric she chose was quite small and only just fitted in my embroidery hoop, but I was quite pleased with the finished item. The green one was my trial run but it looks ok so I will let my brother have it for their dog.

Busy Busy Busy

What a busy weekend we have had. On Friday evening we went to pick up Sophie from Uni to come home for the weekend. Has we were over in Birmingham and the weather wasn't raining for a change we decided to have a look at the German Market. It was so busy but we still managed to have a good look around. There were some lovely stalls selling crafty items. I bought myself a crocheted brooch and of course we had to try some of the wonderful food on offer. I wasn't so keen on the Frankfurter hot dog but I did like the fried pork in breadcrumbs that we tried.

Saturday afternoon Sophie and I went to the local Churches Christmas Fair. This was also very busy, we got there a little late so most of the good stuff had already gone. We both bought items off the jewellery stall, some were second hand some new. I had these gorgeous ear rings and brooch for £1!!

Saturday evening we went to the Cinema to see New Moon. Sophie had seen it On Thursday night at 12 O' clock but couldn't wait to go and see it again. I really enjoyed Twilight and was hoping this was going to be as good and yes it was. I won't say anything about the film as it will spoil it for those of you who haven't been yet. I need to read the books as Soph says they are better than the films.

Sunday we went Christmas Shopping to Merry Hill Centre, even Hubby came along and I can't believe that he never moaned once, this is a first for him as he hates going shopping any time of the year and always leaves it up to me. Perhaps he his mellowing with age!! We didn't get many Christmas presents but we did manage to get a light fitting for Soph's bedroom and some lovely twig lights with pink butterflies on from BHS. Hopefully by this weekend the room will be complete and I will show you a few photos.

Well a busy day ahead for me, got to try and finish off my Christmas Stocking swap, I seem to have forgot the important thing, the Christmas stocking, so off to find a pattern and have a go at one.

Oh by the way, how do you all move you photographs around once you have uploaded them to blogger. I used to drag mine around but can't seem to do that now.

Daffodils for Christmas

I can't believe that the daffodils in the pot in our front garden are so tall and are in bud. Looks like we could have daffodils in flower for Christmas if this mild weather keeps up.

Managed to get a few more things finished off today. A couple of embroidered tea towels which a friend ordered a while ago but I've only just managed to get round to completing and an embroidered Birthday card ordered by the wife of a Wolves supporter.

I hope the recipients all like their gifts.

I have even managed to cut out Soph's curtains so hopefully either later tonight or sometime tomorrow I may have them finished (at last!).

Getting Christmasy At Last

Make up brush roll for Niece

Well it's took me a while but I have finally started to make some of my Christmas presents. I seem to spend more time reading books and magazines for ideas than I do making the things. I have joined in a Christmas swap so I think that has made me get a move on as the dead line is fast approaching. Once I got the sewing machine going I couldn't stop and have made quite a few items (can't show photos of everything as the recipients may be reading!). I've also nearly finished the decorating in Sophie's room, only the curtains to make now and decided how to fit all the junk back in in a neat and orderly way! She has so many clothes still left here she'll never wear them. Looks like a few journeys to the charity shop. Oh that reminds me I had some lovely embroidered items from there last week that I will have to photograph and show you at a later date.






Christmas Doggy Bunting

Pencil Roll for my Niece


Guess which book I was taken from?

Have listed the bunting in my Folksy shop pop over and have a look if your interested.