2nd December 2012

.....and still so much to do. Yesterday was the Christmas Fayre at school so had to send a few hours back at work. The little ones were so sweet waiting in line to see Santa who had taken time out of his busy schedule to visit for a couple of hours.
Today I'm trying to come up with some ideas for homemade presents. I'll let you know how I get on.

Recycling the Christmas Cards

I never buy gift tags. Why on earth would I spend money on something that is so simple to make and doesn't cost me a penny and just ends up in the recycling bin on Christmas Day anyway? So here are just a few of the tags for this years pressies made from last years Christmas cards.

Twas just one week 'til Christmas

We have very busy recently completing all the orders we've received on ebay so they get there before Christmas. The cards and mugs have been really popular and in the New Year we are adding lots more things. So there's plently to keep us busy. Poor Andy hardly has time for drawing and painting at the moment. He still has one commission to finish before tomorrow so it it can be given as a present.

Also the local galleries have been phoning because they have also sold several of his prints so on Tuesday we are off to stock them up with more.

All the homemade gifts went down well with my friends at work, which was a relief. I finally found a few minutes to decorate the tree yesterday and put on the homemade baubles.

I love candlelight and the nuts and sweets are looking good in the two glass dishes I purchased last week at a boot fair in the village for 50p for the two. the Spode candlestick was purchased at a previous bootfair for £1 and the East of India Christmas tree was £2 at the school Christmas Fayre last year. I love a bargain don't you?

Giveaway

So here's what I made after my trip to Hobbycraft. Sadly it's not an original idea I first saw it on The Pleated Poppy.  I have taken several photo's trying to get the best look. The lines are straight and more colourful than it shows it to be.

These are popular in USA and I put together the rules to suit my family from others that I found on various other blogs. I think if I make another one I will add some different rules. 

I've used K&Company designer paper on canvas and varnished it several times. I am going to make more and will give one away free.

If you would like one then put a comment below this post with the 8-10 rules that you would like on yours. In the event of there being more than one person wanting one I will put the names in a hat to select the winner. Closing date will be one week from today 13th Nov 2010 

Alternatively I'll be making and selling them for £20 (personalised with your rules and family name if wanted).

Hobbycraft

I love visiting my nearest Hobbycraft  but thankfully it is a 45 minute journey to get there. Everytime I go I spend quite a lot of money. any nearer and I would be penniless. Well even more penniless that I am already.
Yesterday I made the trip to purchase several things for an idea I have to make something. I let you know what its is when I have completed it.
I did get get a free magazine because I spent so much but guess it what? It's full of more ideas!!

A lazy day

The week days fly by so quickly again. It's none stop at school all day and by the time I get home and have had dinner all I want to do is relax. Saturdays we usually go somewhere but on Sunday I like to stay home and relax maybe do some crafting and recharge my batteries.

Today I have been working on my vintage Christmas gift tags which are to be sold in packs of three.

OH is has had his panoramas made into small pictures for the local galleries so I will also have some to sell at the Christmas Fairs this year along side the things I have made. The painting I've used for my banner is one of his and one of my favourites. It a view from the the green of Bearsted Green in Kent.
Unfortunately the latest commission he has is for a view of Margate. We went there yesterday and the once busy seaside town is now full of empty and derelict shops. The Dreamland amusement park closed a few years ago and hotels and B &B's empty and falling down.
Next year however the Turner Contemporary is due to open on the sea front and the town is planning it's regeneration on a big scale. Dreamland is going to be restored as a heritage amusement park with vintage rides and the wooden roller coaster is to be restored. I hope it becomes an exciting place to visit once again as it is so sad to see it now. 

Hooked

I apologize to all you clever craft people out there at my attempt . Look at Posy get cozy if want to see what I mean or go to Flikr photos and type in granny squares you will be amazed how many young faces there are on there who are showing off their work . After looking at lots of blogs I had the urge to get out my crochet hooks and have a go again. When I was in my teens I spent my evenings when not out dancing, drinking and enjoying myself, sitting in watching TV and crocheting. I was taught how to do it by a friend of my mothers who used to knit and crochet anything and everything from dresses and cardigans to bags, jumpers and soft toys.

I made shawls which were the fashionable thing to have then, cushions and bags and when I was pregnant with my eldest son I spent the months leading up to his birth making a bed cover. Then he was born and my hooks got packed away and later another baby came along but I wasn't tempted. All that time my eldest son treasured the bed cover and had it in his bedroom either on the bed or near by to sit on. Suddenly he was a teenager and the bed cover was put in a cupboard and then packed in a box and put in the attic. But even when we moved house recently he told me he wouldn't ever part with it.

Then suddenly reading the blogs I realized it wasn't an old fashioned activity and so I tried to remember how to make a granny square. Some of it came back straight away but I have wondered if I am doing it correctly. It seems strange that something that was like second nature to me so long ago I now struggle to remember. Not sure I have got it right yet.

The worst thing though was when my darling sons came into the room yesterday and saw me making the square below, wearing my reading glasses on the end of my nose to help me see close up. They both burst out laughing.

"Look at mum, she turning into a granny" youngest son said. "Quick get the Stannah Stair Lift ordered" said the eldest. I wasn't sure if I should be upset or laugh because actually I did look a little bit like a granny. It hasn't put me off. Let them laugh. I find it therapeutic and I think I may just be 'hooked' all over again.

I used some old wool I found in my sewing box for it. They are different ply wool and it may look like I haven't done 3dc in each space but I have.