What I sewed for Christmas

Just a quick post Christmas report on a few things I put together for the present splurge that occurred.

Somebody really, really, really wanted vouchers (honest!), so I thought it would be nice to have a little holder for them:

I thought the little holder needed a little bag to go with it.

This was created using my overlocker - it took more time to cut out than it did to sew.  As I was having fun on it I whipped up a couple of these for my sister.

As I had the fabric out I returned to the sewing machine and made another pair of oven gloves, this time for G.

(Unfortunately I forgot to photograph Mr. T's awesome apron - if I do say so myself)

I then went into production overdrive and made these ever useful* box bags - which contained an emergency "Pub in a Bag" kit for Dads and BiLs stuck in the house with too many kids.  (Although swap the beer for a miniature bottle of Gin and a slimline tonic, the pork scratchings for some olives and you have an emergency "Bar in a Bag" for the Mums and Sisters)

*useful because they take CDs (some people still use and accumulate them), gadgets, cables and random bits and bobs.

I may have sewn some voile panels for a bay window but they are not that interesting, nor are they easy to photograph.  I will leave you with a revisit to a more interesting "net curtain"

That is the end of the end of holidays report.

A summer wrap in winter

I had an old copy of Sew Hip and had been meaning to try out the Möbius wrap project.

Whilst shopping I couldn't resist the rich jewel tones of the Kaffe Fassett so "whipped" this up last weekend. I didn't have quite enough strips to make the longer length I wanted so augmented with toning fabric from my local fabric shop. Happily they had a few bolts of Kaffe Fassett prints in the shop which fitted in just fine.

This is me using it as a scarf - the main way I have been wearing it.

If the cold weather carries on for much longer though I may have to consider swapping it for one of my velvet creations, but now I come to think of it maybe its time for a new velvet wrap......

I know what I said...

...but if you are mentioning the-x-word and looking for things to do with little hands before you-know-when-mas then you shouldn't miss this online magazine

I might use my not so little hands for some of the projects....

Non-Christmas sewing

In purchasing something Christmas related the other day, I got sidetracked by a yummy strip roll pack of Kaffe Fassett fabrics in jewel tones on the same site. So instead of stirring things up for Christmas* this weekend I have pootled about making something for myself. Its not quite finished yet but here is a sneak peek:

Just realised I am talking about Christmas - which is a bit early for me. Now I am not going to mention it until well after the first week of December.
(*pudding & mincemeat already made - last year!)

A lovely Handm@de day

Yesterday, I finally did something I have been meaning to do - go to a Handm@de craft fair.  I am so lucky to be near the one in Winchester and it was great to see such a range of designer/makers.

I had been a long time admirer of Turned Light's beautiful lampwork beads and pendants and was delighted to get to chat to Kathryn and purchase some of her wares. I conceded that I was never going to get around to making something for someone(who should have had been given something for her birthday years ago) so paid a visit to Raspberry.

I was really impressed with some of the lovely silver jewellery for sale, from both Daiychain Jewellery and Quercus Silver. One of the most original vendors who I will need to visit in the New Year (once I have bought the right dress) is Soobird - who makes the most amazing and inventive fascinators.  Other people exhibiting who caught my eye were Smashing Chintz, Esther Coombs, Glowbox, Grey Duckling & Lucy Gilchrist.

Some pre-Christmas gift sewing

October is, I realise now, a dress rehearsal for Christmas. 7 birthdays.....
This year there were one or two gifts that I could not find in the shops - oven gloves to coordinate with a Birthday girl's new kitchen:

A beanbag at a price I was prepared to pay (58 quid for a bean bag! - for that amount you could buy a proper chair!!!)

For the oven gloves I adapted a pattern from this handy book which is a lot better than its predecessor which did not live up to its name (make != embellish).  The bean bag was a slightly adapted version of this pattern, instead of the velcro closing I inserted an overlapped zip.

Some needed sunshine

This week I needed a bit of sunshine in my life. So I bought myself some flowers:

and made (& shared) a large chocolate cake: