More Christmas Makes

Well I have been knitting for England this last week or so, knocking up scarves and facecloths like a good un ~ they are all gifts for Christmas or Birthdays so I feel like I am making a little progress. It's rather rude of people to have birthdays in December I think (I have 8 and a Wedding Anniversary)~ although some of the best people do; mine is 1 week before Christmas (imagine how much that annoys everyone) and my best friend's is New Years Eve.

Anyhoo, here is the finished cream scarf - it's chunky and toasty and I could keep it but I don't have time to make another, my boy was quite taken with it he gets excited at my little makes and tries everything on.

Still on the subject of makes for Christmas are these beaded snowflakes.


I made these from my stash of beads, I got some lovely crackle glaze beads and mixed em up with what I had and I think they turned out quite nice, very traditional colours. Actually I just noticed looking at them in the photo they look like skewered grapes!

I added one to the middle of my rag wreath.

I got this idea from Jacqui over at Bunny Mummy, she kindly did a tutorial and she is having a rag wreath giveaway (ends 28th Nov) so pop over and have a look ~ (thanks Jacqui) it's miles better than my feeble attempt.

I used some green gingham, some Christmas fabric I picked up earlier in the year at the charity shop (I think it was supposed to be a table cloth but it was a queer size), and some red gingham ribbon from my stash. I didn't have any garden wire but I found some size 8 jewellery wire and I used that instead. If I sneeze near it, it looses it's shape so next one will have to be stronger wire, but it will do for my first attempt I think.

In the spirit of Christmas I think I will have to do a little Christmas Giveaway, I'll have a think of what to add and will post it soon.

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

Craft Fair Fun

Friday was the Creative Crafts for Christmas Fair at Newcastle. I had the best time 6 solid hours shopping and crafting with my lovely friend.

Beautiful stalls full of wonderful fabrics:

Rows and rows of sparkly beads:


Workshop Areas where we sat and crafted:


We only did one workshop this time, box making, this was really enjoyable and I was suprised at how easy it was within the hour we made these three boxes / pouches ~ I think these will be ideal for presenting handmade Christmas Presents:

In the middle or the Arena was a Victorian Knitted Christmas Display, everything here was knitted, it was amazing:

Full size knitted Santa and Sleigh:

Full knitted fireplace, knitted coal!!:

Knitted curtains, and a knitted pot plant:

A knitted clock:

Now onto my haul, these may not look terribly exciting but I bought a few storage boxes to get my bits and bobs organised and I love this one:

I bought some card and accessories to make some of these boxes and some beautiful local jams and sauces handmade by Jean (this is the best Lemon Curd I have had):

A pile of fat quarters in some lovely fabrics:

Then a pile of beads, findings and chain, this should keep me going for a bit:

I love these, the red beads look amazing in real life, like red velvet:

Some pendants, I will keep one of these for myself:

So there you go, a full on exhausting day ~ I had planned to blog it yesterday but spent hours sorthing out my stash, clearing out and getting organised. Whilst organising I pulled out all my WIP and decided to tackle it head on, I will not start anything new I said until it is finished!!

So, I did finish one cushion I have been dying to do, and then started making rings from my new beads, they are just all new and shiny I couldn't resist!! I will show you later in the week my poor blog will choke with all the photos today!

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

Creative Crafts for Christmas

Well, for those of you in or near the North East this coming week we have the 19th Anniversary of the Creative Crafts for Christmas at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle 14th - 16th October 2010.

My friend and I went to the Pins and Needles event back in March and had such a wonderful day; it flew by. We were there from 10am till 4pm and they has to almost chuck us out.
It's a great event there were loads of stalls selling items for crafting at really good prices (mainly) everything from quilting, beading, knitting, egg blowing (this looked amazing!).

In addition to this there were workshops held all day and we booked ourselves on the beadwork charm bracelet workshop, this was a good giggle sat with lots of other likeminded ladies, this is what got us both hooked on jewellery making! In addition to that we did a workshop on how to make Kusudama Balls (japanese Medicine Balls), just because they looked amazing!
Here was my effort, this now lives in my teenage son's room hanging from the curtain rail:

This year my friend and I both fancy the box making workshop, which might come in handy to box up our handmade gifts this christmas.

I will take the opportunity to stock up on what I need, I have a growing shopping list ready. I prefer buying things like charms and beads in person rather than online as you get to feel them and see them for yourself.
Our tickets arrived a couple of weeks ago and I have booked the day of work and am really looking forward to this coming Friday, I get to have a full day with my lovely friend too. The next big craft show is on when my friend's baby is due so we will have to make the most of this one!

I'll show you what I buy / make when I get back!

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~