Christmas Tradition

A few photo's of some of the Christmas projects that I am working on...

This is - uh, will be - a cat with a fluttery dress.  I will be using the cat pattern from the Wee Wonderfuls book.

She still needs her legs attached and some clothing.

I combined two patterns from the same Wee Wonderfuls book for her.

I think that I should redo her cheeks...they have stretched out of shape after stuffing her.

The doll will sit in this backpack.  Backpack pattern from Oliver and S.

Doll seat idea and spotty fabric inspiration from Saltwater-Kids.

The eye-less elf.  The pattern is from the Scandinavian Stitches book.  The elf will be getting eyes...temporary felt eyes until we get to my mom, when the elf will miraculously have teeny weeny button eyes.

Have you ever heard of Elf on the Shelf?  I first heard of it last year, but thought that Ava was a little young for it still.  This year - we are making it our new Christmas tradition.  Anything to encourage good behaviour and kindness between sisters...!  Rather than buying the kit, I have made our own elf.  Maybe not quite as pliable as the 'real' elf, but I am sure that Flower Daddy and I will be able to conjure enough fun with it.

Zippy Bags for Grown Ups

In between all my Christmas present crafting, I have made these two little lovelies....

Well....actually there is also a third one....but she is alllllll mine!  I am going to use her for crafty storage while we are on holiday.

You could also stash your current crochet or sewing project or sketchbook and pencils or snacks or general nicknack's or knitting or toys or.....what am I missing??  There must be something else?

Anyhow, you get the idea, super useful in two super useful sizes and unique and pretty - all in one perfect little package.

I will try and sneak a few photo's of my Christmas-y gift projects tomorrow, while little eye's are otherwise diverted....a doll minus legs, an elf minus a couple of eyes and a backpack that is not yet a backpack...oh, and a cat that is cunningly disguised as a roll of felt!  There are a few other bits and pieces in the works, but you will have to wait until after Christmas to see those.

If you fancy nabbing yourself one of these pretty pouches, they can be found here.

Pretty Petal Bucket Tote

Can you see me boogy-ing behind my computer?  I really am doing a little jig...surely you can see??

Seriously, looky what I am so pleased about....

Remember my yabbering about fabric way back here....yipes!  2 months ago!  I hope that you didn't go blue in the face waiting for me.  It is so frustrating how long it sometimes takes me to do things.  There are so many ideas bouncing around between my ears.  Makes it hard sometimes to concentrate on just one thing at a time.  Never mind all the other things that keep me busy.

I have a few of these in stock, once they are gone, I will be making them to order - which I will endeavour to have in the post within 2 weeks.  I also have a plan for at least one other colour way - maybe a teal-ish sort of colour...the petals could also be leaves, don't you agree?

If you need to get your mitts on one of these lovely bucket totes...looky no further than here.

....I think that I need to make myself one - specifically for keeping my crochet together next to the couch...plenty of generous hooky storage!

Christmas is Coming

Where has this year gone?  Christmas is less than 2 months away, clocks here in the UK have just jumped back and it is suddenly all frosty in the mornings...!?

Please note that my shops will be closing for a Christmas break on Sunday, 2 December 2012.  The last date that I will post orders will be 3 December.  My shops will all reopen on Friday 11 January 2013.

I might just keep the TLF shop open with a notice on the front door, so that orders can be placed between 2 Dec-11 Jan.  I haven't quite decided yet...

We are super-excited to be off to visit family that we have not seen in a long, long, long while!

Robert Robert is here!

Finally!  Robert is in my shop and on Etsy!  That took forever...!

Rose Petals and a Movie

I took the day off work today.

Flower Daddy has been so busy paving at the weekends that I have had zero to none in the 'me-time' department.

Me-time keeps me sane.  It stops my brain from becoming overwhelmed.  It helps curb my grumps.  Me-time can mean pretty much anything...whatever is causing my brain space to overflow.  Lately it is fabric designing, printing, ink colour choosing and sewing.

When the girls are around, I just can not design or print.  Designing, for me, requires some quiet brain space.  Ava and Chloe are noisey, chatty and demanding.  I love them and their noise to bits - but Oh Man, I need regular doses of quiet time.  Printing involves paint.  Paint + two little monsters with verrrry enquiring minds and who like to be involved in and touch everything = equals beeeg mess.

So, today, I had planned on mixing some new colours and printing my new petals design.  I also wanted to print my new poppies and dandelion designs - which I still haven't found time to do {hanging my head in shame} and I had also hoped to sew.  Mixing - check!  Printing petals - check!

I am a bit frustrated that the rest didn't happen.  But, Flower Daddy was lurking around and suggested going to the movies.  We haven't been to the movies since I was pregnant with Chloe - who is just about 18mths old..!  I said no thanks, but then felt guilty.  We don't get much time to ourselves.

Anyhooo, we watched Taken 2.  It was good and nice, just us two.

Oh!  And if you neeeeed to get your mitts on some of this gorgeous linen with rose coloured petals scattered all over....looky no further than here!  I am head over heels in love with this new design.  You can expect some sewn rose petaled goodness to be coming soon!!

Robert - and Ava's rogue artwork

I finally dug Robert out from under a pile of other WiP's the other day - sewed him up - and last night stuffed and sewed him shut.

He was left on the dining room table, to remind me to find time today to photograph him so that I could list him in the shop....

..well, I was allowed a little lie-in this morning.  Which meant that Ava dug out her crayons and apparently with much excitement coloured Robot in.  Well, started to.  Until Flower Daddy realised what was going on and stopped her.

Robert has the makings of a pink heart on his chest.

...and rainbow stripes on his back...

Oh well, tonight I will stuff and sew another.  This one I will be leaving somewhere out of little fingers reach!  Tomorrow, hopefully, I will photograph him and list him in the shop.

When Chloe next sleeps I will pull out our nice fabric crayons and let Ava have a proper go at turning Robert into her own personal and very cuddly work of art.

Never a dull moment in this little house!