The 'C' word

Hello everyone

Yes I dared to mention the C word in October. Well as Strictly has started it means the countdown has begun. Did you watch it last night? Jay's jive was a-maz-ing!!!

The Travelling box ladies and I are having a small Christmas version of the travelling box that made its merry way to Cornwall this week. We decided that we would only take four items or less as Christmas can be a rather busy time for crafters. As the box was starting from scratch I made 10 things to get the box on its way. It's been a couple of years since I enjoyed crafting  for Christmas as it's always seemed a bit of a rush.

So here are my makes. First up is a little biscornu from a pattern I designed myself

Here's the back. Just a simple border so I could pop on a Christmassy button. 

Next up are a couple of snowman designs, the stitched one is a freebie I found on Pinterest.

 the wooden one uses buttons and a heart from button-it and coloured using gelly roll pens. The little wreath is made up from 1" hexagons. I made a few of these last year too. 

On a quilting theme I made this little coaster using 1" hexagons again. It has a  tree design in the middle. It's pictured with a granny square mug cosy. As you all know granny squares are about the extent of my crocheting ability 

I love this little nativity scene.

 

Next up is a little tree made of buttons 

I made a little stocking for each of the ladies and filled them with a little chocolate. 

Lastly is the biscobell. I found the make up instructions on Pinterest and designed the stitching myself. If only you could have seen me trying to photograph

it. 

It's stitched inside too...

I'm so proud of this. 

This eek is a crazy busy stitching week. I have a small 4" x 6" sampler to do for my in laws ruby wedding anniversary on Saturday and I want to get Steph's birthday present stitched. Busy busy! 

Have a great week all xx

Travelling Christmas Box returns home!

Hi Everyone,

Well the box has made it back home and contained all these lovely things. I've really enjoyed doing this swap and thank you to Steph, Steph, Laura and Lori for joining in with me.

Steph S made the Green Scarfed Snowman and snowballs and Lori made the Christmas Pud, Laura made the rest. I was fortunate to have bits from Steph O when the box visited me somewhere in the middle. The Snowmen and snowballs are now in my ami basket, the snowman stitching on the hanger is now hung from my fireplace and the rest adorn my tree.

I can't believe my christmas tree has 40 handmade decorations on it, not to mention the ones round the room. I love how personal it is. I put up Mum's tree yesterday and that had about 20 decorations I'd made for her on it. I've got 3 more to take over to her this weekend too, possibly 4 if I can get it finished. As usual I'll be crafting right up to Christmas Eve for this Christmas.


Merry Christmas friends. I hope it is a joyful one for you all. xx

Christmas travelling box - my makes

So here are my makes for the Travelling Christmas box. Laura received the box this week so I can reveal my makes.

I mentioned earlier in the week about finally getting my sewing machine out - I made a small-ish cushion for the box, this was actually the second attempt as the first was rather large! I got rather carried away with the first. My plan is to finish off the large one as a cushion, before Christmas. (*disclaimer - I didn't say which Christmas!!)

I beaded it round the centre panel and added a few sequins and some beads to the corner. Apologies for the photo as it was late at night so I had to use the flash.

Next I made this tiny humbug from a Kincavel Crosses design. I thought the fabric was 16 ct, which I thought would do as I didnt have any 14ct, turns out to have been 18ct so the finished humbug was way,way smaller than planned! Oh well, small is beautiful as they say.

I made two little felt and stitched decs too from an old issue of Cross stitcher. They were nice quick stitches to do! It was one of those weeks where it took me longer to make them up than to actually stitch the designs.

Lastly I made the little tree. It almost got left out as I'd popped my makes on top of the box ready to put in and it got knocked off, and disapeared under the table. Anyhoo, here it is, the star sequins were a bit of a last minute addition as it looked like an apple tree from a Mr Men book without them! Not the best picture again as I turned off the flash as it was reflecting on the sequins.

So there are the makes for the box, It'll be back with me shortly, I can't wait to see what Laura has put in.

I noticed from my last post I hadn't linked Steph in for her gorgeous brooch, so here is her blog. I chose this page as it has some very, very cute charts and also the link to her Folksy page for the wild women.

So I hope my friends you all have a fabulous weekend. Mine will be spent watching the last Grand Prix of the season. Monday I go into mourning for 4 months until the start of the next season. Lots of craft plans for the weekend, Firstly to start making these stockings for my friend. I want to give them to her in 10 days. It's going to be a push to get them done. I should have made them in January when she asked me (slap on wrist for leaving it this long). Best I get the fabric cut today! I've never made a stocking before so it will be a little bit of trial and error (hopefully not too much error as I really don't have the time!!!

Well on with the housework (otherwise known as delay tactics for stockings!) Until next time. xx

Christmas travelling box picks

Hello, Hello, only me!

I posted the box to Laura today, so I thought you like to see my picks from it. There were some beautiful bits in it from my very talented friends but we chose these bits. I say we as my children did the picking. I only took 3 things as the box will be back to me after its visit to Laura. Apologies now for the pic's the weather is awful and it just never seems to get light enough to take photos, that is when I'm at home in the day.

Thomas picked the two decorations - one for him and one for Lottie. They were made by Steph O.

Steph also made my next pick of this stunning biscornu. I am obsessed by these funny litttle things and I don't actually have a Christmas one so I thought it was a great addition to my biscornu family.

This is the bottom, fab isn't it.

My last pick was one of Lori's fabulous felties. She really is a genius with felt. So Santa will now be a new addition to our Christmas tree.

 

As soon as Laura gets the box, I can show you what I made to add to the box. It's a busy week here craft wise, I need to start on some christmas stockings, paint 2 masks and alter a curtain. Oh and mend a dress for my friend. I finally managed to have 5 mins on my sewing machine on Sunday. It certainly had been a while. Once this lot is over I can make my bits for my Christmas giveaway!

Have a good week friends!

Travelling Craft box...the Christmas one!

Hi everyone,

So here is what has kept me occupied for a few weeks, It's now arrived with it's first recipient Steph, you can visit her blog here - check out the green men, they are amazing!

The travelling box has been so much fun to do that we decided to do a Christmas version, so I kicked it off and here is what I made for the box. It did feel a little odd crafting for Christmas in September/October but I'm really happy with what I made.

Here's a  little snowman gadget case - It might get cold and the phone get a little chilly! it could be filled with sweets though.

Next up is a bracelet, I love the colours and the little holly leaves were so sweet. You can see the matching earrings in the 'group' photo!

I stitched 4 bits and here is the first and also the first thing I stitched - a little Mouseloft kit - the perfect size for a coaster.

I didn't want it all to be just Christmassy so I made this little kilt pin brooch with a more wintery feel. There are matching earrings too. 

Next up is this snowflake feltie decoration. I found the design on pinterest, with a basic tutorial so I thought I'd give it a go. The good thing about this is that it also falls into one of my 101/1001 challenges which was to make 5 things I'd pinned from pinterest. 1 down 4 to go. I have showed a few friends this and now I have at least 5 more to make now. The original design didnt have sequins on but I was glad I added them.

Ok, we're about half way through now... Christmas Tree feltie with jingly bells, 3 more of these to make too!

This biscornu is a card design from a recent Cross Stitcher. The original chart had 'Neon' colours, so I changed them to give it a modern twist, colour wise. I tried a beaded tassel at the end which I quite like how it looks.

A little french knitted robin, I love this one and it is probably one of my favourites in the box. I'll be making a fair few of these. It's a great thing to sit knitting on the bus using the dolly that my Grandad made me, and out of the 4 I have, my absolute favourite to use along with my funky green crochet hook!

So, probably the trickiest thing to make - the Noel cube from Kincavel Krosses. I wanted to make this last year but didnt get round to it. I was one of the first things on my list to make. I ended up simplifying the border round it and adding beads to it. I think it's my own colour scheme too (although red and green is hardly a scheme!) I've only put on the one view as you can see 2 other sides in the group pics. It was a bit of a fiddle to sew up, more so than the biscofleur I made back in the summer.

So below is most of the box contents including both pairs of earrings I mentioned earlier.

Below is the box all ready to go complete with the last thing I made for the box, the heart wreath sachet. Such a pretty design and it's backed in holly fabric, but not the one I've used as a background above. (I have several different holly fabric designs - who knew there could be so many!) I also put in a little fabric panel decoration for each person and a little bar of chocolate each...well it's Christmas!!!!

Phew! That's the lot! I've had a couple of craft-free days whilst I plan my next move (I am a craft ninja!) I'll keep you posted on the box's travels as it moves round the UK from the South West to the North East and places inbetween.

Time for a cuppa and a biscuit or 3! Thanks for reading. xxx