Christmas Swap Time - Part 3

I think it must have been a super busy year for the postman this Christmas, as I also finally received my parcel from my Secret Santa Swapper!  But it was well worth the wait.  Danielle sent me such a thoughtful package especially for me (and my little fur babies!)  Included were:

Adorable Bandanas & Leads for Daisy and Hugo (that she handmade and embroidered herself!).
Shiny silver tree ornaments.
Wind in the Willows (to add to my reading list)
Scrummy Peppermint candy swivel sticks to have in a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate (so cool).
Festive flavoured tea.
And a beautiful hair clip with a little bit of sparkle too ;)

Thanks SO much Danielle for your lovely gifts!

Daisy in her Bandana...

Hugo in his (so cute)

Daisy LOVES to have her picture taken!

Hugo's a little bit impatient ;)

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Foxy Swap - Part 3

YAY - they finally came - albeit a smidge late, my decorations arrived!  They are so cute, I LOVE them all!  (but I think a have a teeny crush on the adorable Santa....sooo cute).  I can't wait for next Christmas so they can hang proudly on my little tree.  Check 'em out >>>

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Merry Christmas Everyone! xxx

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My Weekend

I had the best weekend filled with some of my favourite things....

Sewing up a storm making lots of Christmas pressies.
Wrapping up all of those pressies
Baking batches of gingerbread men....so cute
Coffee with my Nanna and Sister
Hanging out with my fur babies and decorating the house

- LOVE it

what did you get-up to this weekend?




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All that Glitters *

One of my favourite traditions of the Christmas season is decorating the tree and today I helped my sister with hers.  Simple, but oh so pretty.... love it.



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Pomander Balls

I've always wanted to make Pomander balls and this Christmas I'm finally going to make some!

 

Pomanders go back to the 15th century.  A pomander, from the French pomme d'ambre, i.e. apple of amber, is a ball made of perfumes.  They were worn hung from a neck-chain or belt, where they served as a protection against infection in times of pestilence or merely as a useful article to modify bad smells....

If you fancy having a go at making some yourself this festive season see the method below.


To make 2 balls, you will need:
2 oranges (or try apples, lemons, or lime)
Toothpick or pin to ease the cloves into the orange
Whole cloves, at least 1/4 cup, depending upon your design
Spice mixture (see recipe below)
1.5m of Ribbon

For the spice mixture:
3 Tbs. ground cinnamon
3 Tbs. ground cloves
3 Tbs. ground nutmeg
3 Tbs. ground ginger
3 Tbs. orris root powder (the dried and ground root of certain iris used as a fixative)


Directions
Making a Pomander Ball is easy, but can take some time! Simply stick a clove directly into an orange (or any of the other fruits listed above). You may want to use a toothpick or pin to make the first punctures so that the cloves are easier to insert. You don't have to fill the entire ball - try a pattern or design if you feel inspired.

Once the ball is completely studded with cloves, roll it in the spice mixture and set it aside for a couple of weeks in a cool dry spot so that it will dry. Once dried, tie a ribbon around the ball for hanging. Multiple pomander balls also look beautiful displayed together in a large decorative bowl.




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Christmas Swap Time - Part 2

After this weekend I am officially in a festive mood!  I finished making the Apron for my Secret Santa Swap partner.  I really enjoyed making this apron and gathering up an array of fun, tasty, Christmassy "tuck-in's"  I hope my partner likes her goodies......

Now......what other Christmas type activities can i get get up to??  Ah....I LOVE this time of year! 

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Foxy Swap ;) - Part 2

I had so much fun this weekend making my decorations for the Small Fox 3rd Annual Ornament Swap!

I made some "Love" & "Dove" tree decoration, using felt,  LD fabric, and of course a little bit of glitter to give them that Christmassy sparkle....>>>

on the tree...

 all packed-up 

and ready 

to go....yay! 

xxx

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Foxy Swap ;)

 

SMALL FOX 3rd Annual Ormament Swap....YAY to the max!!    I had so much fun taking part in this swap last year that I just had to do it again this year!  Thanks so much to the lovely Sarah for organising and coordinating it all.  I'll pop up some pictures of my creations soon...x

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Christmas Swap Time

Yay......I can't wait to do this swap! 

1. At LEAST One Handmade Item
2. Something to Read (book, magazine, poem)
3. Something for the Tree (garland, ornament, topper, skirt)
4. Holiday Goody (candy, cocoa, tea, coffee, chocolate)
5. Challenge: Include one gift for each letter needed to spell out a word from the season (SNOW, JOY, FAITH, LOVE, HOPE, GIFT, TREE, JESUS, STAR, SANTA, etc). We did this last year and it was SO MUCH FUN! Of course, the perfect gift for an "A" is an APRON.

Shawnee has requested that participants answer her questionnaire to help out out swap partner.....so here are my answers...

Shawnee's Secret Santa Swap Questionnaire

1.  What are your hobbies?

Sewing, Cooking,

2.  What are your favourite colours? –

Pink, Lilac, White, Taupe, Aqua, Melon, Aubergine

3.  Do you collect anything?

 Not really

4.  Are you allergic to any fibres or animals?

 No

5.  Do you have any pets?

Yes!  two gorgeous fluffy doggies, Daisy & Hugo.

6.  Coffee, Tea, or Chocolate?

All of these!

7.  What do you like to read?

Classics

8.  Do you prefer Cookies or Candies as a sweet?

Candies

9.  What is your favourite holiday treat?

 mmm so many - probably gingerbread

10.  Describe your favourite holiday tradition.

Sitting around the tree and opening our gifts

11.  Did you believe in Santa as a child?

Yes!

12.  When do you open presents?

We have a European background so half of our family’s pressies are opened on Christmas Eve and the other half on Christmas Day.

13.  Do you put up a tree and when?  If not, how do you celebrate?

I love putting up our tree - it's HUGE.  We decorate the tree and house on the 1st December so we can get the most enjoyment out of all our effort!

14.  Does your tree have a theme?

Yes, each year we have a different theme - this year I'm thinking maybe red & white

15.  What has been your favourite gift to give?  to receive?

My favourite gift to give is something that's hard to find or something special from overseas. I love receiving gifts that someone has put a lot of thought and love into especially for me.

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Frosted Flurries Apron Swap - Part 3

Hey - Check out the super glamorous Apron I received from Jen in the Frosted Flurries Apron Swap!  I love the way she has incorporated the snowflake into the design - really clever!  She also included some exceptionally thoughtful gifts for me using her word of choice - TINSEL.  She discovered that I am on a creative journey and sent me all sorts of goodies to get me inspired and motivated - like a bunch of beads and trinkets to make earrings and a really cute snowman making kit!  Jen also sent me some very delicious sounding recipe cards with seasonal treats well loved by her & her family .....yum....I can't wait to try them out!  Also in my parcel was the most snuggly scarf I have ever seen and some cookie cutters and a book to keep photos in as a record of my creative adventures!

THANK YOU so very much Jen.....such an amazing thoughtful package - I feel totally spoilt!  Love x

Thimbleprim's Ornament Swap - Part 3

 

These are the super cute ornaments I received from the Thimbleprims Studio Ornament Swap.  How sweet are they....and so loveingly made.  I can't decide which one I like best.......but ....the I do love the crazy beard on the far left santa....heee heee  x.

Foxy!

small fox

I'm really excited about this swap!  I heard about how great this swap was a long time ago and I've been waiting and waiting for registration to pop up for this years so I could join in!  I have to make 10 ornaments that will be sent to Ms Small Fox and she will then redistribute them and I will receive 10 different ornaments back....such a fun idea!

I'm not sure what I'll make yet, but there is lots of inspiration on flickr from last years swap! Check it out - they are so creative and special, I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with this time around.

Fundamentally Ornamental

turtle dove

christmas tree

gingerbread man

These are the little biscuit cutter felt ornaments that I made for the Thimbleprims Studio Christmas Ornament Swap....yay!  So cute, even if I do say so myself!

They are really easy to make.  All you need is:  some biscuit cutters, sheets of felt, embroidery thread, some bead/sequins to decorate and stuffing.

1) Trace around your cutter on the felt x 2 and cut out.
2) Lay the 2 cut out pieces on top of each other and sew around the edge in blanket stitch using ebroidery thread.  Leaving a small opening to suff.
3) Stuff your ornament and sew-up the opening.
4) Decorate with what ever takes your fancy!
5) Add some ribbon to hang on your Chrissy tree!

Christmas Ornament Swapsies

twinkle.....

...twinkle

I am so excited about this swap because I absolutely love Christmas time!  And what better way to get into the spirit (albeit a little early) and assist me on my way to finding my creative mojo, eh? 

You can join in too - pop over to thimbleprims studio for more info.  Make as many or as few ornaments as you like, whatever you fancy really, and get the same amount in return.....love it!