Twelve Days Of Creative Christmas

WELCOME FRIENDS!

Twelve Days of Creative Christmas begins today!
Let's CELEBRATE!
"Tis The Season To Eat Chocolate
Fa la la la la la la la!"
Come One Come All..
Gather around my Christmas table!
Greetings to...
 Candy Canes, Chocolate, Christmas Mice, Christmas Dishes
and YOU...
my special guest!

LET THE MAGIC BEGIN!
A CHRISTMAS TABLETOP!
ON THE MENU:

Candy Canes and Peppermint Candy(Dinner Napkins)!
(1) Red and White Stocking to hold your silverware

(1) glass jar filled with candy kisses with a "Tis The Season" Tag

and finally..
Christmas Mice to keep you company!
We are ready for a Festive Christmas Dinner!
Let's pretend a Delicious Christmas Dinner will be served shortly!
Christmas Dishes are certainly one of my weaknesses!
I've inherited my Mother's love for Dishes!

My inspiration started with this Fabric "Tis The Season To Eat Chocolate fa la la la la la la la"!
I'm happy to say, I finally have a table cloth that fits my table of 10!
I can never find one large enough that fits my table the way I want it to fit.
I made my table cloth from three coordinating fabrics, trimmed with
Red Ric Rac, Candy Cane Stripes and a Chocolate Brown Border.

Wishing your Family many joyous Christmas Dinners together!
Come back and visit soon!
Tomorrow, I will feature more from
"Tis The Season"
Christmas Gifts for the Kitchen!

Share the Twelve Days Of Christmas with someone you Love
 or someone that you feel could
use some Christmas Cheer!

For the next 12 Days of Creative Christmas,
I will leave you with a idea to share for
Twelve Days of Christmas.
Here is the FIRST one!
On the First Day of Christmas
Your secret mouse brings to you
Six Festive Christmas Place mats for you
to use each night!!
Love,
Your secret Santa Mouse

My daughter's Inspiration:
If You Take A Mouse To The Movies!
(Christmas Edition)
What a fun day!
Look who's hiding behind the chair with two little mice!

Loopy flowers

Here's a step by step way of making the flower brooch I showed in my last post as requested:

What you'll need:
A square of felt
Scissors
Needle and thread to match
Brooch back
Pins

Step 1:
Cut strips of felt about 1cm thick, or as desired but be aware the thicker the strips the thicker the 'petals', I use nine strips for each flower.
Unlike me, use large scissors so that your lines are a bit straighter, but I don't mind wobbly petals.

Step 2:
Loop all of the strips four times and pin to secure




Step 3:
Stitch each pinned piece to keep the loops from slipping and then stitch all of the groups of petals together to make your flower shape.  Try grouping them together before stitching to get an idea of what works where as it needs to be a general roundish shape to look most flower-like.

Step 4:
Once all the loops have been stitched together, cut a circle of felt big enough to cover all of the raw edges and to make a flat base to stitch the brooch pin to
I've used a different colour here for it to show up better on the photo but it's probably best to use the same colour felt so it all blends in.

Step 5:
Attach your brooch pin and if you're lucky enough to have read this post and have received your order, you can also attach your labels too!


Step 6:
Stand back and admire your handiwork.  All you need to do now is find something gorgeous you want to accessorize your new flower with and await lovely compliments!

Visit a NH Christmas Tree Farm and Find the Perfect Tree

The crispness of fall may still be in the air, but Christmas is just around the corner! Now is the perfect time to plan your trip to a New Hampshire Christmas tree farm and find the perfect tree for your family. 

With nearly 200 Christmas Tree farms, New Hampshire offers something for all tree shoppers – whether you want to meander the fields to select and cut your own tree or choose one from the lot, spend an hour or a make shopping for your Christmas tree a weekend excursion.
Some New Hampshire Christmas tree farms offer craft fairs, weekend lodging deals with area inns, and gift shops where you’ll find beautiful holiday wreaths, pretty tree ornaments, and unique gifts.
Check our New Hampshire Christmas tree farm map to find a tree farm near your home. Or make it a destination shopping experience – pick a farm a bit down the road and stay awhile.

Making a start

So I've got the first of the mini quilts top done...



I've got some basting spray I'm keen on trying out, but I dont have a table or even floor space big and flat enough!  Does anyone have any advice to give me on the best way to do it?

The world is a stage, but the play is badly cast.

My Name Necklace

"My name is more important than myself." said Pierre Cardin.

Our names are the signifiers of our identity and our "personal brand". That`s why ones name is excellent jewellery and celebrities love name necklaces.



I wanted a name necklace ever since I saw it on Carrie in Sex and the City and now I finally got mine.



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I got the Carrie style necklace in sterling silver from www.MyNameNecklace.com and I`m super happy with it. They are fast, service is very friendly, free shipping worldwide and you can pay through PayPal or credit card. Great site - highly recommended.

I think a name necklace makes a great, personal christmas gift as well.



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Hello from Scotland!

Hi Everyone!  My name's Debi and I blog over at My Happy Sewing Place.  I LOVE sewing outfits from vintage patterns, especially from the years 1939-1941 (and a few other decades as well).  Here's some of the photos of what I have been getting up to:

 I'm really excited about this blog as I'll be very busy with work in the lead up to the holidays so I can use a bit of a support group to get things movin' :-)

I'll be working on a Raggedy Ann doll for my niece from the 1940 McCall 820 pattern:

I can't wait to get started!!

Lavender ladies tutorial

Wow, look at all these great handmade gifts already! I thought I would share with you a simple, quick gift to make.


These sweet little lavender ladies are a modern take on the old fashioned lavender bags that go into your underwear drawer or under your pillow. They make perfect gifts for friends, teachers, colleagues or ‘secret santa’ (Kris Kringle) gifts.

To make a lavender lady, you will need:
Fabric of your choice (approx 2 x 20cm square)
Felt to make the face
Embroidery thread
Needle for embroidery
Sewing machine or needle and thread
Pins
Dried lavender (you will find it in craft shops or health food shops)
Stuffing




To begin, fold your fabric over with the wrong side showing. You don’t need a pattern, just draw two overlapping circles straight onto the fabric (use chalk or pencil though, I used a marker so that you could see it in the photo). For my lavender lady the big circle’s diameter is 12cm and the smaller circle’s diameter is 8cm. It doesn’t need to be perfect though! Cut out your little lady and put aside.


Next, cut out a little round face from the felt. Again, just draw the circle straight onto the felt and cut it out. Mine is 4.5cm in diameter. Stitch on some little eyes and a mouth using embroidery thread. If you are making a few lavender ladies, try stitching different expressions on them.


Stitch the face straight onto the head of the body.




Now, lie the two body pieces right sides together and pin them securely. See those two pins at the bottom? They are very important! This is the gap you are going to leave so that you can stuff the body. Stitch the two body pieces together using a sewing machine or hand sewing. Don’t stitch across the gap.




Turn your lavender lady inside out. Looking cute, isn’t she? Start to stuff your lavender lady, alternating between stuffing and spoonfuls of lavender. All up, I put about 5 tablespoons of lavender in mine.


Once she is all stuffed, hand sew the opening at the bottom together.


And there you have it – a very sweet little lavender lady. I tied a little ribbon around her neck to make her look a bit more festive.

A Colourful Christmas

(Clockwise from top: Spice Cubes, Turquoise Holiday Trees, Tiny Dot in Petal, Turquoise Jingle Jangle, Orange Little Flakes from Michael Miller's Christmas Spice collection. Tiny Dots from Patty Young's Andalucia collection.)

I know, Hallowe'en isn't even over and yet I'm planning my Christmas decorating! What can I say? Christmas is my favourite holiday of the year and any excuse to start early is just fine with me.

Pink, orange, and turquoise may seem like an unusual holiday theme, but it works perfectly for me. I am planning on making new pillow covers for the living room, a skirt for our tree, and a table runner for our dining room. For the front porch and the dining room table, I'm making glitter pomegranates and oranges, as well as a glitter sign for our front door.

I'd really like to try my hand at these snow globes and this beautiful glitter house by Red Heads Craft More Fun:

(Image from Red Heads Craft More Fun. Tutorial here.)

My dilemma: Martha Stewart or Cathie Filian glitter? Which do you prefer? Input on your favourite glitter is welcomed! :)

the "it" list... October 29, 2010!

theitlist

Today's list has a decidedly fall feel. Take some time today or this weekend to peruse these awesome blogs! The list is hoppin' this week!

  • good life for less has the perfect fall outfit from the perfect summer dress. Check it out!
  • adella avenue kicks off a great new series that pits East vs. West. And whether you live on either coast or some where in between you'll love it. This week she chooses fall shoes suitable for each coasts' weather!
  • merci blah blah goes all spooky on us with spooky library decor. It's making me rethink my own Halloween decorations. I just love all these spooky but inspired rooms!
  • jewelscapes definitely inspires with this fall outfit popping with yellow! I just love this look... yellow is so alluring this time of year! And you know she always has each outfit perfectly accessorized!
  • closet confections fakes it 'til she makes it... why spend three grand on a coat when you can get a perfect alternative from Forever 21. I love this coat on her!
  • good tots! pulls together 3 great maternity looks all using one pair of jeans. If you are expecting a baby or know someone that is, you will love these looks!
  • you can call my chris has a fun series called "fight the frump" - this week she features bold tights. They are a great way to not only avoid looking frumpy... but to look down right festive!
  • really cute stuff has your hard-to-buy-for Christmas list in the bag. These monogrammed notecards are super classy and practical. They are perfect for teachers, co-workers and long lost friends.
  • rose a la mode is seriously rocking winter shorts. I am so inspired to try this look, she has it perfected!
  • dressing mommy is giving away a gorgeous pair of JessLC paisley earrings. Go.... go enter NOW!
  • karina, ink whips up an adorable fall place setting using apples and other fall goodies. She makes it look effortless - I'd love some of these on my fall table!
  • fashionably southern gives lace a try... and likes it! She tracks down some great lace tops - some of which I am completely in love with for fall!
  • sweetie pie pumpkin noodle celebrates vanity this week... get a sneak peek into the stylish vanities of fellow bloggers and inspiration galore for creating your own vanity spot at home!
  • one hundred inspirations gets you this great fall outfit that Reese Witherspoon is wearing for only about $100. This is definitely a look to snag!
~~~

Interested in learning more about the "it" list or being featured on it? Click here for details!

La Inglesita on her 15 bags mission

Hi everyone, I'm Maria and I love designing and sewing clothes for my children that I blog here. This year I planned to give handmade gifts to my girlfriends so this blog is just what I need. As a good fabric addict does, I have accumulated yards of beautiful fabrics over the year. Now it's the perfect moment to get them out of my stash and use them. I'm going to make 15 (yes, fifteen, 1 and 5 ) of the Charlie bag, following this tutorial by verypurpleperson
I will start in a couple of weeks so if any of you has made it I'll be very glad to receive advice.
Thank you in advance for all your ideas and happy making!

Challenge #69 - Color Challenge - Purple and Silver


Hello CSAYL Friends! Well, this is the last week of October and next week will officially be the start of the Holidays. It's amazing that in less than 2 months, it'll be Christmas! Well it's time you get going and start creating your Christmas cards.

This week we have an interesting color combo challenge for you! Thanks to Jacqui, she came up with this great color combination: Purple and Silver! Wow, what a wonderful color combination!



Here's how to play along with us: just insert the link to your card below (click on the blue "add your link" button). If you are unable to link it, please comment this post with the link to your card. If you upload your cards on SCS or PCP, please add the keyword: CSAYL and the title "CSAYL69".

We can't wait to see what you come up with. Hope you'll play along this week!!

Check out the awesome cards created by the design team:





Michelle - Creative Journey