2013 Handmade Christmas Low-Down

December really is the silly season!

My silly Christmas face!
My silly Christmas face!

 It’s not every day that I would rock out in a felty-jingly-sparkly antler headband with a plastic Christmas crown on my head and make funny pouty faces at my computer…

But this Christmas, I did.

(And I am not ashamed of it!)

 Along with that, this Christmas I also followed on the tradition of my Handmade Christmas pledge.

 The majority of gifts given this year were handmade, a few were not. (Hey, I’m only human!)

 First off, I made six Lil’ Santa Stockings personalised with hand embroidered names for my four nephews, one for a good friend’s son and another for my 30 year old brother!

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I filled each one with an array of ‘boy’ things such bouncy balls, lollipops, stickers/tattoos, a boxes of chalk, Pez and other fun stuff personalised for each boy/man!

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They all went down a treat and I couldn’t be happier!

 Moving on…

For two of my close couple-friends I made some very cute Wine Bags.

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I bought them each a bottle of some organically produced Shiraz (with a very pretty and simplistic label!) and popped it in the bag. I also placed a handmade Hessian Bird Ornament around the neck of the bottles as an extra little gift.

 For my oldest brother and sister in-law, I gave them four Christmas Tree frames made from popsicle sticks, each with a photo taken of their sons this year.

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I thought they would become sweet mementos to place on the Christmas tree each year.

 Each of these gifts featured in my 12 Days of Christmas Crafts Series I posted on YouTube (and my blog) in the 12 days leading up to Christmas.

If you want to see how each of them have been made and want to get into some early inspiration for Christmas 2014, follow these links…

Lil’ Santa Stocking

Festive Bottle Gift Bag

Hessian Bird Tree Ornament

Christmas Tree Photo Frame

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 So, my family and I enjoyed a lovely Christmas together this year, remembering and giving thanks to the Lord for his wonderful gift of Jesus to us.

(After all, that is the real meaning to Christmas – presents and Handmade Gifts just doesn’t cut it!)

Our celebrations don’t just end on Christmas Day as it was my second eldest brother Graham’s 30th birthday!

(Happy Birthday Bro!)

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And now today, we celebrate the coming in of a New Year!

(Yeesh, I think I need a holiday off from all this celebrating!)

And one last thing…

Not only is this my last post for 2013 but it also happens to be my 100th blog post published!!

Wowzers!!

ONE HUNDRED blog posts where I’ve rambled, whinged, experimented, taken chances, celebrated, shared and grown within my self and my own creativeness!

That sure does put a happy spin on my end of year reflections and celebrations!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS!! xx

 See you in 2014 for lots more quilty fun!

Day 12 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

Happy Christmas Eve!!

And with that comes the very last day of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts!

(There’s mixed emotions floating around here…)

Like I said yesterday, this craft is the simplest of the lot and will literally take you 5 minutes or so to complete! (Go on, give it a go right now!)

So with that said and all videos uploaded, I would like to take this moment to wish you all a very Happy Christmas (and prosperous New Year!) and to also give my deepest thanks and appreciation for all the support and lovely, kind words you’ve all sent to me over the past year!

It truly does mean a lot!

Happy Sewing Friends!! xx

Day 11 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

Wow-Oh-Wow!

It’s Day 11 already! And in 2 days time it’ll be Christmas!

Todays festive project is what I made and gave to some very special friends of mine.

I filled each bag with a bottle of some organically produced Shiraz (I bought it because the label looked pretty!) and hung a little Hessian Bird Tree Ornament from the neck of the bottles.

The final product will be in my Handmade Christmas Low-Down blog post that I’ll write and publish after Christmas!

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So tomorrow comes with the last Christmas Craft episode of this little series!

I can’t wait to share it with you – it’s one of the most simplest projects yet!

Until then…

Happy Sewing Friends!! xx

Day 9 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

On this awfully hot and humid summer’s day in Sydney Australia, I present to you Day 9 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts!

I think this is such a fun and creative activity to do with kids.

Together you can go hunting for sticks and twigs in the backyard, then sort through them and finally make some really awesome down-to-earth tree hanging-thingys.

A word of warning, if you are thinking of doing this with your kids, perhaps use PVA or strong Craft Glue instead of Hot Glue – just to save little fingers from getting burnt! However it does mean the trees will take longer to dry…

So have fun, go crazy, be creative!!

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Tomorrow is not only predicted to be another heatwave-of-a-day (40C+, YEESH!), but it’s also my nephew Noah’s 2nd birthday aaaannnnddd I’ll have Day 10 (!!) uploaded promptly in the morning!

Get out your tub of scrap fabrics cos this is a fun one!

Happy Seasonal Sewing Friends! xx

 

Day 8 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

Happy Day 8 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts!!

I simply can not believe there are only 5 DAYS until Christmas! (Yeesh, this year has just flown by!)

Today’s craft has been specially made and modelled by my darling dog Lucy!

Lucy’s simple patience while I filmed her shocked me a wee bit, as she’s usually quite camera shy and tends to either look down or walk away! (Boo!)

See here as an example…

Me & my Lucy!
Me & my Lucy!

But this day she just sat there and let me do my thing! (Thanks Lucy-Juicey!)

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Day 9 is all about recycling/upcycling/reclaiming fallen sticks and twigs and making them into something very creative!

Get you’re Hot Glue Guns ready!!

Happy Festive Crafting/Sewing Friends!! xx

Day 7 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

Deck the halls with boughs of plastic tinsel! Fa-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la!

Day 7 is upon us! And I only realised this morning that we’re already half way through this little series! (Time flies when you’re having fun!)

Donning my honesty hat, I must admit the only thing I didn’t like about this tinsel wreath is that it was messy to make!

I had bits of tinsel everywhere allover my sewing room and little specks of red glitter from the ribbon in some of the most awkward of body places!

But apart from that, it was a hoot to make and it now hangs in place at my front door!

Tomorrow, my beautiful dog Lucy takes centre stage, modelling a sweet canine/feline project for Day 8 of Christmas Crafts!

Until then…

Happy Festive Sewing Friends!! xx

Day 6 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

Get out your cookie cutters, Christmas paper and scissors and join me in making this speedy 3D Paper Star Garland!

I love how effective this simple little project turned out! I have mine hanging joyfully on my bedroom door!

Coming your way tomorrow on Day 7, I’ll show you the how-to to making a very speedy, very simple door wreath!

Happy Sewing Friends!! xx

Day 5 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

‘O, Christmas Tree! O, Christmas Tree! How lovely are your branches…’

Looking for an easy little project to do with the kids over Christmas? Well look no further!

This has to be one of the most sweetest, quickest and easiest festive crafts to get stuck into!

If you don’t like the whole photo frame idea, leave the photo step out and hang it up as is!

It’ll still look really Christmassy on the tree!

Day 6 is coming your way tomorrow – another super-dooper quick and easy project! Whoo!

Happy Festive Sewing Friends! xx

Day 4 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

Ohh, this is one of my favourite Handmade Christmas items I’ve made this year…

Although it may look a little complicated to make (I didn’t make it seem easy by rushing through each step in the video! My bad!), I found myself on to making the next lil’ stocking with 10 minutes or so! Once I found my groove I was off producing, like a little factory!

Give making one a go by printing out my dodgy amateur pattern from my Flickr page.

I made each one a little more personal by free-hand embroidering each name onto the cuff. (A lovely little touch if may say so myself!)

See you tomorrow for Day 5! (You’ll be humming ‘O, Christmas Tree’ all day long!)

Happy Seasonal Sewing Friends!! xx

Day 3 of 12 Days of Christmas Crafts

And so, Day 3 is upon us!

Here is a super simple, super effective Christmas Card that can be easily made within 10 minutes!

Enjoy!!

Happy Festive Sewing/Making Friends!! xx