Advent Swap and a Merry Christmas

Well we are creeping ever closer to Christmas and I'm starting to get in the mood now, just in time it's only 1 day away!

I'm just popping in to show the last couple of Advent gifts received from my friend Lynda in the Advent Swap, it's a bit sad that it's almost over, it has been a real delight, thanks Lynda for all the wonderful and thoughtful gifts you have sent and for organising this in the first place.  I hope you liked what I sent you too!

Day 22

Day 23

Day 24

Now I have given it, I can show you these little things that I made for Lynda as an Advent swap for days 23 and 24.

Tapestry pouch I made filled with skincare and makeup samples.

Quilted Christmas hanger I made last month at Just Quilting, this was a little labour of love, I may have to make myself one too.

Right I'm off to get organised for tomorrow, I would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy happy new year!

image from Two Crazy Crafters

Festive Hugs, see you in the new year.

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~ 

Kandi's Christmas Giveaway ~ NOW CLOSED

Hey lovelies! As I am getting all excited for Christmas and in the spirit of the season I thought it was time to share, so here we go my Christmas Giveaway!

There will be more than those few bits I have shown here but I love surprises so I want to send some to you, it will mainly be my bits that I have handmade with a few added extras.

Simple Rules:

To enter the giveaway you don't have to follow me but I do need to be able to contact you. If you don't have a blog please leave a valid email address.

Just leave a comment on this post and I will add you to the list.

If you have your own blog and if you wish, please add me to your sidebar and link to this giveaway and I will add you again. Please let me know if you do and I will add you twice.

I will draw the winner in one weeks time on the 8th December and I will post out as soon as I can (snow permitting!), hopefully just in time for Christmas.

Good Luck x

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

Completed Scarf and Christmas Excitement

Well, I finished my scarf here it is, it's not easy to photograph a long scarf but here we go:

I am a good way through the cream one and it's lovely, there is fluff on everything I wear whilst knitting it.

I think this might make a nice pressie for my Niece who is 19, lovely Linda from Hookin' with LaaLaa pointed out that there are similar scarves to this currenly in Accessorize for about £20.

I ordered some new labels to sew into my handmade makes, I don't want all of my family to know about my blog, not sure why really, but it's my little place and many of them are not 'into' the same things I am and I am not ready to expose myself to them all yet, does that make sense or am I coming across as a bit of a paranoid nutter?

Anyhoo the labels I have are Kandipandi ones so these ones are mainly for family makes, this is them; they are from Woven Labels UK and I have spent a couple of hours this morning sewing them into my little makes that I plan to give for Christmas.

I'm getting right into the swing of Christmas now.
I have booked a day off work just to go into town to do my shopping and see Fenwicks Christmas Window Display, this is a North East thing you can see last year's photos here, they really go all out and you can hardly get near for little kids faces pressed up against the glass, magical!

Still on the subject of Christmas the fabulous Annie the Felt Fairy put me onto these little beauties in Wilkinson, I'm not a dog person as such (I'm badly allergic to em :( ) but I do love doggie bits and bobs:

80p each - you can't fall out with the price. They are rather CK esque without the CK price. They had some other nice bits in too I picked these up:

And whilst scouring the Charity Shops I got some of my Christmas Cards, I had bought a load in the Barnardos sale last January but I can't fine em anywhere, I am convinced that they will turn up now I have bought these.

I was scouring the charity shops for something bright to wear next friday at work, its a charity day for Brake - from their site 'Brake exists to stop the 6 deaths and 62 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. '
Unfortunatley in the business in which I work; several of our colleagues have been injured or killed so we are doing our bit. The shameful thing is when I opened my wardrobe I had nothing bright to wear so went on the hunt, I have not found anything yet, I will have to think of something by Friday.

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

Winter Nights

I had a relaxing hour on Sunday just reading my new magazines with a cuppa (one of my favourite things to do) ~ please ignore the chunky chocolate cookies they are a figment of your imagination!

There were lots of lovely things to see, I scan them quickly at first then pour over them in depth at my leisure for the next few weeks or so, they travel round the house with me.

On scanning the knitting magazine I came across a couple of bits that jumped out at me. I have been buying this magazine monthly now for a few months, I am a novice knitter but want to do more and this magazine has been a great help, there is always at least one thing every month that I need to knit.

I thought this was quite quirky a knitted wreath :
But this was something that I was drawn to immediately:

How cost and toasty and soft does that look? With the weather the way it is I wanted one of these to wear all the time until Summer comes again.

It’s quite a simple pattern, even for me, it does involve cable knitting and if you are not scared of that then it’s a doddle.

I couldn’t help it so I ordered the wool immediately and it arrived today ~ yey ~ just look how lovely and soft it is.
The thing is, I couldn’t wait until the wool arrived so I knitted this on smaller needles with the wool I used for the wrist warmers, (as one keen eyed knitter noticed it was Sirdar Crofter Chunky). It’s not quite finished so here is a sneaky peak.

I can’t wait to make my chunky cream one; I will get right to it as soon as I finish some Christmas makes (it’s 5 weeks on Saturday ~ flippin heck!).

On the subject of Christmas, this arrived yesterday

ohhh there are lots of lovelies I want from here but mostly these:

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Christmas is Coming...

It's getting near to that time of year again, I love Autumn and look forward to Halloween as it means Christmas is next! I have been getting into it a little earlier than is sane and have cracked these beauties out...

Apple and Cinnamon Candles:

And these give me the background smell of christmas for a little inspiration for some christmas makes:
A little felt beaded Christmas Tree:

Some wire beaded snowflakes in Christmas colours, I think I will hang these on fine ribbons and hang about the house, I have a few more to make:

Since attending the Craft Fair I have been 'into' my beads again and have made some big blingy rings from some chinese doughnut crystals, I love these beads:

I had left over beads and made some earrings to match.I quite like the look of the red velvet and opal stones and they also remind me of Christmas, I think I might keep these for myself and I have just started a matching bracelet in the same colours.

Have you got the Christmas bug yet or is it far too early, and am I insane?

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Making Gifts for Christmas

As we are coming up to Christmas I really must get my list organised for what to make for whom and get cracking. I am quite protective of my little blog and not many people in the real world know about it, only my hubbie, boys and best friend. This has the added bonus of me being able to show the things I am making for people for christmas as it won't spoil any suprises.

First up is a pink and brown bracelet I made with matching earrings, which I managed to drop and smash on the hearth as I was taking their photo, I will fix them though.

Not sure who this will be for but I will add it to the box of pressies.
Whilst I had the beads out I made myself this, it's a bit Cath Kidston esque I have had the charms for ages and was looking for a reason to use them:

It is hard making for my family and my hubbies family as apart from our Mothers and my best friend most of our family do not really appreciate hand made items and would prefer a faceless, thoughtless gift set from the supermarket, well tough, I am sticking by my handmade pledge and if I have to add some bought items to it I will but I hope to give everyone at least one handmade item, whether I make it myself or buy it handmade by someone else.

What are you making for Christmas?

Oooohh on another note, what a week, I have had two blog wins, I can hardly believe it. I won this from the beautiful Daisychain - look what arrived:

Amazing Barry M Crackle Glaze:

Beautiful handmade earrings - I love these lots.

My nails before the crackle glaze - In Barry M Pink, this was Thursday night - I had painted these last Sunday I ♥ Barry M. (Please ignore the cuticles and dry skin I have been decorating).

And this is after - it is amazing, I love it.

Thanks lovely lady xx

One other thing, I should wait until I recieve it but I have won Jackie's giveaway at Sew Special Bears the beautiful Cherish!

I am so pleased I can't tell you - have a look at her amazing creations she is a very talented & generous lady! I will post pics when she arrives. Thanks again honey xx

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