Creative Christmas

Some hand made Christmas dolls - Annies and angels, with Santa.

The commercial Santa just happened to sit in on the photo too, he used to be my desk ornament when I had a desk job.

(I know the dish is empty, they ate the yummies when I wasn't looking!)

A new project, hoping it will be finished quickly.

Using the pattern Evening Lace from 'Knitted Gifts" edited by Ann Budd, the yarn is Candy by Cleckheaton, an old wool blend boucle yarn that was generously gifted to me.

And...

I was gifted this teapor complete with her gorgeous cosy from one of my craft group friends. It wasn't wrapped  so there was no need to save it for next week.

In all my favourite colours -Sweet.

The pattern is Hanky Panky from 'Really Wild Tea Cosies' by Loani Prior.

Hope it's cool in your corner of the world.

More packages and some Decorating

I collected this package of goodies - Yes, this is what I was greeted with when I opened the box.

I'm not sure I want to disturb them they are so festively arranged.

These are my Christmas Angel swap gifts from Sandi (no blog).

(I am saving them for Christmas, so far I just smile every time I see that gorgeous arrangement)

I have of course still been opening a little, or not so little package from Gai each day, in the Advent Swap and that has been very fun. This week a pack of Christmas cards (must write some of those out), a ham bag, a thread catcher and some embroidery floss, three silver baubles - they remind me of the old disco mirror ball. Thanks Gai.

(I got a little confused, the Santa nd reindeer ornaments are from the first week - I am missing a cute Santa candle holder with candle - Oops!)

I have been doing a little knitting this week and am onto the foot of the second brown sock. 

These are simple anklet socks with a lace pattern in the fold down and rib for the remainder of the sock.

(They're not quite the same, so I may have to keep them for me after all.)

I made a space today for a little decorating and put up my tree.

The little guy is from my Advent swap goodies this week and does a little song and dance (wobble) routine - He sings 'Santa Baby'. Perfect really.

Santa got hung too, I have no clue who the designer was on this one. I brought the design printed on fabric sometime in the nineties, stitched in back stitch.. I dated it 2000, obviously a long term project. Ha ha.

He says - Believe in the Magic of Christmas.

Hope your weekend includes time for celebrating and stitching.

A Crafty swap and 321...

Not blast off - but I did finish.

It does seem that I may be a little consumed by this red thread colour though.

There are four cards with the 321 number on, two of which I emptied in completing the house project, and there are two brand new skeins waiting to be wound.

(guess I wont run out any time soon!)

Sure I finished by the deadline, but I may need to work this little number again, it is lovely.

Well I think so - anyway.

Thanks Bronwyn for generously sharing this pretty design.

(There is more than one skein of that green, 471 in my possession too!)

Decisions, decisions - green with red or

red with green?

A little leftover piece of ric rac just the right length.

All ready for the NCB Christmas swap Wednesday.

Gratefully received by Cathie.

Lots of fun creative gifts exchanged.

What did I receive?

My gift came  from the talented Ms Curly Pops - a set of her new gift tags, see those scissor pics apparently I need to do some cutting, Cool pack it includes the string for the holes too.

There is also a beady necklace in the top of the pic, that too was part of my gift.

Ooh pretty, thanks Cam.

I made some good progress last night on the second brown sock - back to needles and yarn for me.

Now it is time for me to get back to the reorganisation and maybe even hang a few decorations about if I don't get distracted by another project.

Have a wonderful Thursday and stay cool.

Advent swap so far...

and some progress.

Lots of lovely Christmas goodies received from Gai so far in Fees Advent swap.

Love the little countdown board and I have been changing the number every morning.

(there's still time to finish some things)

New emery boards in pretty colours, just the right size for carrying in my bag.

A very cute Angel mug - into circulation already with the other Christmas mugs perfect for a refreshing coffee break.

The cutest little Santa snow globe ornament which lights up and changes colour too.

Love the Santa amd Rudolph hanging ornaments and the door hanger - sure is feeling like Christmas around here.

Just in case I get any of said things finished for presents I'm all set with seasonal tape and Christmas tags.

You can see what Gai has received from me this week over here.

Today a little house has been added to my current project.

So this is how I used the little Ginger Tea stitchery so generously shared by Michelle.

A little tea bag folder.

Time for a cuppa!

Wishing you a relaxing Sunny Sunday,

A little birdie

Just a little stitching on Friday night.

(Sorry about the upside down pic!)

I really need to be going a little faster.

Another Christmas design from Bronwyn at Red Brolly, she shared this one last year.

Hope you're Friday Night was more productive.

Summer...

in my mailbox.

Today I received my OASS summer swap package from Carol.

Yippee! Do you see all those goodies there and Carol really did her homework - the stalking kind of course.

She created this fabulous art canvas with the saying 'Keep calm and let's go to the beach'. Perfect for someone like me who walks to the beach daily for a little reflection. I probably should be more sun smart and acquire a hat like that one on the canvas.

This gorgeous tote has an appliqued sunflower - I really admire those who can do the little button hole stitch that Carol has achieved on those petals - Beautiful.

And this little bag is for my knitting needles - the brightly striped part at the top opens and there are lots of little pockets to keep needles in their pairs - I have wanted one of these for some time and even picked out a pattern but had not made it. Now I don't need to, thanks Carol.

Carol also included a set of wine glass charms with a beach theme, Caramello Chocolate and a little cross stitch patchwork kit with everything in it - including the little stand and the backing fabric, too cute. I think this will be a fantastic summer project.

Thanks Carol for all my presents and thanks to Cheryll for hosting this fun swap.

Feels like Christmas here already with all these gifts coming in the mail.

Hope your week is full of fun mail too.

Happy dancing

All the way back from the Post Office!

(I may have been disappointed if the contents turned out to be something different!)

Thanks Australian Homespun - I won a fat quarter bundle of Helen Stubbings new range 'Life is Beautiful'. 21 fat quarters and a half metre panel.

Yippee - the colours are gorgeous and the designs pretty.

I'll be gazing at this pile of loveliness and just enjoying them all bundled up together - they will get their own space on the fabric shelf just as soon as I get around to cleaning that space.

Thank you Homespun.

The first three days of the Advent swap have revealed some useful lovelies, I'll show them at the end of the week.

 Hope your week has gotten off to a Happy start too.