A Handmade Christmas Giveaway!

Are you going to have a handmade Christmas this year?

More and more people are now realizing that handmade items 

offer so much more than the usual shop bought presents.

To get you started on your handmade pressie's

you can enter Christina's Handmade Christmas Giveaway..

pop over to her blog to enter here ... and you could win ALL 13 prizes!

(including Tristan the koala!)xx

Handmade Christmas

Here's a few Christmas pressies 

I've been gradually collecting over the last month or so::

Special Edition Vintage Patchwork Dachshund from Alice Apple.

Some gorgeous polka dot crochet hooks for the big girl from Leonie
(in exchange for some Koala brooches)!

And also from Leonie - this beautiful dress for the little one.

With these very clever home made tags -

Leonie will be opening an Etsy store very soon!!

A couple of glass cases from Ms Curlypops.

(new glasses from Zenni Optical)

These cases are for Miss 11, but I use one for my phone too!

These two prints for the girls are from Ellen Giggenbach.

Love this watercolour for the Englishman. 

From Art Pause.

Okay, so this last one isn't handmade - but I had to show anyway!

Its a little Kewpie doll  from Candy Stripe Cloud

A purple swim hat angel for our little swimmer who loves purple!

She's very tiny.

I hope you have a brilliant Christmas and New Year.

We will be moving into our own place -

so will be taking a break from the blog for a little bit!

See you in the New Year!

XXXX Jennie.

Doll

Crochet frill.

Vintage fabric. 

On her way to give a load of hugs.ooxx

Early pressie gorgeousness!

The girls were surprised and thrilled today to get some beautiful handmade gifts!

This chenille bunny in the little one's favourite colours, has been christened Flopsy.

(she likes one ear down - oops, should have done that for the photoshoot!)

And guess what this is -  for our crochet girl!

How about that?

THE perfect gift for her (and for my hooks too!)

They also got a christmas decoration each -

so pretty with the christmas lights shining through them.

Thank you so much Selina -

also for the fabulous teatowels and trim. 

We love love love everything!xx

Buying Handmade

Here's a few handmade purchases we have made recently!

This is Marvin - made by the lovely Jess at Teddy Bears Wednesday.

Each character Jess makes has a little background info. This is Marvin's:

He is a supreme tap dancer.

He likes collecting umbrellas

 and those little olives you get in martinis.

And Romeo likes belly dancing and pickled cucumbers.

He used to be a tram conductor, 

but well we know what happened to them...

(there's more of Jess' creations over here)

This absolutely stunning sunglass pouch from Cam at Curlypops.

Currently being used by Miss 5 - who has always loved her sunnies!

A two piece swim suit by Bec at Beccasaurus.

Such a wonderful practical style - tshirt and shorts,

in gorgeous colours and design.

(Miss 5 is enjoying her swim lessons in these!)

And finally this custom made coat by Wendy at Little Tree Kids.

It is made with wool rug and embroidered doilies - 

so beautiful and suits Miss 10 so well.

Romeo and Marvin have been hidden away for Christmas day now.

Thank you lovely ladies for all the wonderful handmade goodness!xx

Fur cuffs and all!

Someone I know loves bunny rabbits.

And I haven't made an animal doll for aaaages!

So to say Merry Christmas and a great big thank you -

 for welcoming me to Queensland ...

Here's a bunny girl for you Selina!

(I hope Barry can contain himself!).XXX

Mini Granny Cuff

These look like grannyish jellyfish multiplying!

So these granny squares are

made from embroidery thread with a 3mm hook.

They measure about 1 1/2 inches square.

After stitching them together, and only one coat of fabric stiffener -

they were firm but still had movement.

 (thought I'd have to add more than that!)

Added a couple of snap fasteners.

Just as well it was only one coat of fabric stiffener - otherwise it

 would have been a nightmare to sew through!

And its a mini granny square cuff for my crochet girl for Xmas!

(So hard to photograph this).

I found an arm to model it, the only thing is - she wants one now as well!

 You can just see the snap fasteners holding it together in this shot.

I've still got one granny left, that can be made into a brooch too - yay!xx

****

PS. I haven't shown you what my crochet girl (Miss 10)

made for her teachers birthday last week:

It wasn't small - about the size of the palm of your hand.

I hope she makes some really big ones sometime!x

Last minute gifts

There were some last minute gifts needed around here this week.

So some large zipper pouches were the go!

This one is for a school friend of Miss 10 who is moving back to NZ.

(they are very much alike, as they were both born in the UK too!)

This one is for the little ones Prep (kindy) teacher, 

who is retiring at the end of this term

and going to travel around Europe.

And this retro koala was sent with one of the custom order dolls.

Another gift for someone going overseas -

the perfect travel gift I think!x

A little handmade gift

The girls school are celebrating World Teachers Day today.

And even though Miss 10 has had a really busy week of homework, 

spelling and a project to finish - she still managed to make a necklace

for her new teacher.

She crocheted some navy and also a mix of aqua blues.

I gave her a strip of pretty fabric and 

after bunching them together - just zig zagged across!

I hope these buttons dried in time!

Happy World Teachers Day Miss French!x

For a friend.

She likes the hook.

Skirts over jeans.

And vintage sheets.

She's off on an exciting journey

with her gorgeous family soon.

Hope you guys have a fabulous trip Kate!xx

In the post

Here's a few things we've received in the post recently!

A vintage Singer sewing machine printed notebook from Chantal.

Thanks for the gorgeous camera card too!

Some tools to have a go at printing,

and also some brilliant baking things from Cathie -

the girls have already cut out sandwiches

with the bunny shapes!

(Thank you for sending us the best welcome package ever!)

My brooch(es) from the lovely Leonie -

as part of the Flowerpress Brooch Swap -

thank you so much for the zipper purse too!!

And the fantabulous Mr Walter, who we won in Cathie's raffle.

 Made by the clever clever Jess at Teddy Bears Wednesday.

Here's a bit about him -

Walter is a retired bellhop. Every day at about 5pm he likes to head to his local and have a few pints at the bar. He also loves steak & kidney pie with mushy peas. Every friday night he meets up with his mates and they go ten pin bowling, where they have a few.

He loves his rituals and routines (and beer)!

The girls are looking forward to seeing their Dad this weekend -

hes been away in Sydney on a course (again).

Have a lovely weekend friends.xx