Happy Holidays xxx

It's a wrap........

It takes ages, but I love wrapping up presents and making them look purdy!

Ambassador you are spoiling us..........

This is one of the gorgeous handmade Christmas gifts I received this year from my friend Val. They are little knitted coats for Ferrero Rocher (F R) chocolates. The good thing is, once they all have their jackets on, you can only fit one layer of chocs in the F R box so you have to eat the top layer! I have have knitted one myself, (2nd pic) and although I did go wrong, I am still pleased with the result. It's a great way to give someone a box of chocs with a handmade twist or you could just give one as a small gift. Here is the pattern. Happy knitmas!

Needle size 10 English or 3.25 metric.
Double knitting wool in brown and white

Cast on 22stitches
Stocking stitch 8 rows brown.
Change to white wool.
Knit 3 rows .
Wrong side facing, knit 2tog 11 times (11 stitches)
Knit 1 row
Knit 2tog 5 times K1 (6 stitches)
Knit 1 row
Knit 2tog 3 times (3 stitches)
Knit 3tog
Put wool through remaining loop
Sew up

Add fake holly and berries or make them from felt and attach
Thanks Val and Norma for the pattern!

Spring!

I am obsessed with this colour palette at the moment. Looking forward to Spring I guess!

Smile

I am trying to remember to smile even though there is so much to do at this time of year!

Mo!

Earlier this year I bought some stick on moustaches at the pound shop. Since then I have been collecting images and seem to be haunted by facial hair. Then in November my husband grew a "Mo" for the charity "Movember" - http://uk.movember.com/?home. That was it, I had to design a range of cards and prints featuring lots of moustached friends. Apparently Shakespeare said "he that hath no beard is less than a man" My man looked okay with a mo but I'm glad Movember is over!

Vintage and Handmade Fair

I have a stall at the Vintage and Handmade fair on Saturday 11th Dec at The Madcap Theatre, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, 10-3pm. I will be selling my own items and some vintage stuff too. Pop along if you have time, there will be lots of good pressie ideas and there will be mulled wine and mince pies for sale too!

Pincushions from pockets

 I had to cut the pockets out of a knitted dress because they kept popping out when I wore it. I stuffed the pockets and made them into pincushions!

Miss Strict

I bought this lovely lady by Random Granny, to remind me to work hard as it's only two weeks till the children break up for the Christmas hols, eek! I have her perched menacingly on my computer.

Brooch filled with lavender from Random Granny.
http://www.coriandr.com/item/2306 

Treasure?

I found my old tea set in the loft recently. I love the the tatty box and was so excited to see what was inside. I could remember the box but not it's contents. Would the tea set be in there and what else might I find. Thankfully lurking in 1970's newspaper was a teapot, cups, saucers and a milk jug but disappointingly it doesn't look like the gorgeous box at all. I was hoping for a bright retro set that I could put on display, not the forgotten traditional set I'd found. It's nice and I do like it but the promise of the box made me hope for something more. Overall I think I did find treasure as I have a great box and pretty nice tea set and some great 1979 newspaper wrapping too !

Nisse

I went to a local craft fair on Sunday and bought this little thing called a Nisse. He represents an elf from Danish folklore and is usually helpful but can also be mischievous and can play jokes during the holiday season. On Christmas Eve in Denmark, many families leave a bowl of rice pudding or porridge for him so that he is friendly to them and keeps his jokes within limits. I think he is great and will keep him in my kitchen in the hope of good luck this Christmas!

Paperclip Cards

Designs recently created for Paperclip Cards, hopefully you'll find them in a card shop near you!
Copyright Paperclip Cards.
http://www.paperclipcards.co.uk/paperclip-cards.html#/images/lovely.jpg