Homemade Christmas

It's a good thing I started making Christmas decorations as we haven't a clue where we packed the real decorations during the move. It looks a little amateurish (new word!) but kind of sweet. Below are some photos. I've attempted threading popcorn together to replace our missing lights and tinsel. 

One of my first stockings

From Paper-and-string's Reindeer kit

I've probably overkilled it on the stocking front

I managed to get a few hours to myself this week and hit the charity shops in search of cheap fabric. I found a gorgeous scarf which I'll attempt to make into a cushion. I also bought a pink zip for the patchwork cushion cover I made the other week. Will need to Google how to sew a zip in! This is where I need my Mum living in the same city/country/hemisphere so she can teach me. 

Too cute to stick pins into!

My latest projects have been some cute bunting (just waiting to get the bunting tape to put it all together). Nothing like an easy project like that to get the confidence up! I also made a new pin cushion which I might give to my sister as a bonus present as she's started cross stitching. Creative bunch!

Practice practice practice...

Baby Cube Number Two - done!

I'm well chuffed with this baby cube. It's so satisfying to have something sweet to look at after hand sewing it all. Shame I have to post it to a friend overseas who has just had a wee boy.

F for Fred

Stitching not perfect but I'm getting there!

I'm wishing now I inserted a wee bell or something that makes a rattling sound. Still, next attempt huh! (I need more friends to have babies).

As well as attempting more Christmas felt decorations for our tree I'm going to have a play with some ideas from this book I borrowed from the library yesterday. It's nice to get ideas from other sources... so many clever ladies out there with wonderful creations.

Let's hope I do them justice.

TCx

Slow and steady

Side 1

In between looking after the teething monster and packing up the house for the move in two weeks I find calm in sitting down and sewing little what-nots. This week the postman bought me stuffing (hooray!) so I can finally stop using all my cotton wool balls from the bathroom to fill my decorations with. I also got two of the Moda Charm Pack - Lollipop which I've been in love with for weeks now. My plan is (once I get better and more confident) is to attempt this project: Lollipop Quilt (Although I haven't got a clue what 'fusible webbing' means!) I think it's gorgeous... every charm pack I get makes me happy!

Side 2

With stuffing in hand I managed to finish my first baby cube (see right) but the end stitching is a bit wonky. Still, practice makes perfect... and my husband's cousin was good enough to have a baby girl the other week so my first baby cube will have an owner soon (with a note for the baby not to examine the stitching too closely).

I'm also making good progress on my friend's blue baby cube... I imagine once I get set up in the new house with a sewing machine these things will be a LOT quicker to make!

I managed to photograph my favourite xmas stocking (so far) too. I thought I'd sent it off to Mum and Dad before shooting it but hadn't sealed the package so grabbed it for a photo.

Santa stop here!

The things I get excited about now!

Training wheels are a bit wonky

Hmm... I need to tighten the bolts on my crafty training wheels a wee bit.  I've had loads of fun creating these Christmas stockings for my tree this year, and have sewn on some names to the top of some of them. My hand-sewing is a bit wonky to say the least but it's still early days I guess.

Bit wobbly, but Santa won't look too close

I watched how to do a 'blanket stitch' on You Tube which I attempted on a few stockings. Who would have thought learning a stitch would be fun?! In this past week I've also learned new words like: charm pack, brads and fat quarter. Whatta geek!

I received some gorgeous wooden painted buttons in the post today and also my first Moda Charm Pack. God knows what I'm going to do with them. I imagine for the next few weeks (until we move house) I'll just sit here and look at how pretty they are.

I have some questions for any 'pros' reading and wanting to help a newbie.
1 - Where on earth can I find small black 'brads' like the ones on the reindeer I made from the kit?
2 - What do you stuff your felt creations with?
3 - How can I make my stitches look better?

TCx