Crocheting Gifts

I just wanted to pop in quickly today to share a couple of recent makes with you.

Makes of the wooly kind...

Two little hobby horses, one for my son and one for our god-daughter.

(It would seem I got abit carried away with the stuffing in the little brown horse.)

I found the pattern for free, here.

Crocheting the pattern itself was easy peasy, put the whole thing together, not so much.

Here's a little ear warmer I made for my Mum.

I crocheted a simple DC band and added the flower from a design in Cute and Easy Crochet by Nicki Trench.

The last few days have been boring, to say the least. We have so much snow here it's unbelievable. I've hardly left the house since Wednesday. I have been trying to find little projects to occupy myself (and avoid housework.)

Today I picked up the hexie cushion I started ages ago.

Who knows, perhaps I'll even finish it :-)

Lots of Love

Katie

xxx

Better late than never ... Christmas swaps

I know I know...

Were well into January and I'm only now posting about Christmas.

I have been meaning to share these swap goodies with you.

Like I said ... better late than never.

Firstly, A little Christmas swap with my friend Lynda...

From Lynda:

Goodies Include: Lovely books and magazines, socks, sweet treats, sticky notes, some Cath Kidston goodies, a Hope and Greenwood advent calendar, an awesome Christmassy tea towel, some lovely stitched gifts made by Lynda and lots of bath treats.

All of which were wrapped beautifully in Christmas papers.

(I know, spoilt rotten again, aren't I!?)

This is what I sent to Lynda:

 I made: a little hexie stocking, some felt star decorations, reindeer cake toppers, a toadstool sewing set (scissor fob, needle case and pin cushion), some Christmas spice sugar scrub and a beaded heart decoration.

I also sent: some Yankee candles, a birdy scarf, diary, magazines, mug, labels and tape, Christmas socks, napkins, sweeties, a knitting pattern and ladybird book.

I really enjoyed this swap with Lynda, shes so kind and sweet.

Stocking Swap

Before Christmas I entered a Stocking swap hosted by The Undomesticated Scientist.

This was another great swap. I was paired up with Lisa Wiggins. At the moment, Lisa doesn't have a blog for me to link too (but I'm going to work on that!).

Lisa really is so talented, she makes the most beautiful things, you all really deserve to see the goodies she creates.

This is what I received from Lisa:

She made me: The most wonderful personalised stocking, a cute owl, an awesome card, bath bombs and soap, a russian doll key ring, a brooch, a tree decoration, a drawstring bag and pencil case (in this great Russian doll fabric!) and some homemade brownies and fudges!!!! The best I've ever tasted in fact.

I have asked Lisa to write us a little post with here recipes, so watch this space.

(Like I said, she's very talented isn't she!? And she had been very busy too, making all these wonderful goodies. I am so lucky!) 

I also received: a personalised tree decoration, some Yankee candles and votive, gingerbread men, mulled wine spices, fabrics and buttons, some Cath Kidston and a chocolate orange!

I'm sorry the fudge and brownies did not survive long enough to make it to the photo shoot!

But luckily for you, I did manage to take this picture (before they got scoffed!)

I sent Lisa:

A crocheted stocking, pig, owl and robin tree decoration (all made by me).

Some nuts and chocolates, candles, glitter pens, a Cath Kidston makeup purse, button soaps, an owl hand warmer, handmade card, a dried fruit hanging decoration and some crafting goodies.

I was so disorganised before sending this swap, that I forgot to take a picture.

Thank you Lisa very much for taking this photo and sending it to me!

last but by no means least...

The Advent Swap

This wonderful swap was hosted by Lynda at Hookin with Laalaa.

(unfortunately I can't link to Lynda at this time)

As you may know, this swap included 24 little presents (one for each day of Advent) and one larger present to be opened on Christmas morning).

I had intended to add pictures of the goodies to Flickr. I think I managed to do the first few days, before finding myself "snowed under" with Christmas preparations.

So instead I thought I would do a quick round-up.

I was paired up with the wonderful Judith. Judith is also not a blogger, but with out this swap we never would have met and I'm so glad I have. She also makes the most wonderful things.

To Judith:

I shan't list all the goodies I sent and received, we would be here all week!

I thought I would just give you a little detail about the handmade items I sent.

These Included: Some star decorated (like the ones I sent Lynda), A heart garland and beaded heart decoration, handmade reindeer cake toppers in a handmade envelope and a crocheted lavendar owl.

Whilst thinking about how I would number the parcels (and rummaging about in my "fit to burst" craftroom) I came across some tiny envelopes with matching cards. Just what I needed! I stamped numbers 1 - 25 on the mini envelopes and stamped a different Chrsitmassy image on the inside of each little card and coloured them in. These really remind me of a picture advent calendar we had as kids, I was so pleased with them.

From Judith:

Lucky Lucky me.

Each day I opened a parcel, I was just blown away by Judith's generosity and talent.

Amongst the items I received was:

A magazine, painted dolly pegs, drawer liners, a tea towel, yarns, soap, bath products, candles, diary, a mug.

I also was lucky enough to receive a hand knitted washcloth (by Judith), some of her lovely cross stitch, a wonderful handmade card and (perhaps my favourite thing ever!) a hook roll, made by Judith to hold all my crochet hooks.

All in all, three wonderful swaps. I can't thank Lynda, Lisa and Judith enough for their kindness.

Thank you for reading and well done if you made it to the end!!!

Happy new year.

Love Katie

xxxx

Doggy draught excluder

This week has been a funny one.

My son has been poorly. He's been off nursery and I've been off work.

A lot of messy nappies have been changed (Charlie's not mine! lol) and a lot of films have been watched.

At the weekend my Husband put up some curtains at the front and back doors, Red ones.

We've been meaning to do it for a while, but once they were up, I felt the doors needed a little "dressing".

I plan to whip up some tiebacks from red gingham to complement the curtains.

Then I thought ... Draught Excluder!

We live in an old house, which is very draughty to say the least.

I love the grey, red, white colour combination.

The red gingham would match the tiebacks, the crocheted collar would match the curtains.

Hay presto!

An old pair of tights and a few buttons later I had myself a draught excluder ...

... and I'm quite pleased with him.

The body and ears were from the legs of the tights and the tail from the gusset!

(I've currently got the waist band on my head, as a hair band!)

I whipped up a little bow for the collar to finish it off.

And that's that.

Curtains + draught excluder = Happy Katie!

I've still got a little "leg" left over, I thought I might make a flower for my new head gear!

Happy weekend, Girlies.

Love Katie

xxx

Makes for Birthdays

Recently a lot of my makes have been for presents.

Most are for Christmas and swaps (So no peeking yet I'm afraid!), but it won't be long before I can show you some will it?!

But here are a few little ones I've made for Birthday presents, for some of my favourite girls...

... For my sister-in-law, Bec.

British Bunting, Needle felted Lavender Union Jacks and a Russian Doll Birthday card.

Toffee Apple Cake for Bec.

... For my sweet friend, Jodie.

Fingerless Mitts.

... And for my Big Sister, Tina.

(I hope she doesn't read this yet!)

A cosy scarf.

I've not tried making a scarf before, so this was a first attempt.

The pattern was from here, Cute and Easy Crochet.

Any anyone else tried making this scarf?

my finished scarf does not look like the one pictured in the book!

Have I made a boo boo?

I hope you've all been having a super week.

Be back soon.

Love Katie

xxx

Market Day

Today I had a stall at a local Craft Market.

It was a fun day (albeit a wet and windy one!)

... A few stall photos ...

... A few recent Craft Fair makes ... 

  ... Christmas Decs ...

... Keyrings ...

... Brooches ...

... Spectacle Cords ...

... As well as my crochet goodies, I took a few of Dad's Makes along to sell.

My favourites are his "Norfolk Produce" crates and Shaker Pegs (like these one pictured above in my bathroom!!)

I brought this tatty letter holder recently at the Scrap Box. With a lick of paint and abit of TLC I transformed it into a greetings card stand.

Did you spot it?

Over the next week I hope to find the time to catch up with all of your lovely blogs. Time seems to escape me.

I haven't forgotten about any of you!!!

Thanks for sticking with me.

Lots of Love

Katie

xxx

Goodies from a friend ...

A few weeks back I received a wonderful parcel in the post.

It was goodies from a sweet friend, Helen.

This is her blog. Visit, read and follow!! - Because It's well worth it. I love her.

We were both feeling a little "down in the dumps" and needed cheering up.

 Helen is so generous and kind. She wanted to send me a gift, but I wanted to send her a gift too. So it turned into a little "just because" swap.

Above are the wonderful treats I received from Helen.

They came beautifully wrapped (but I tore them open in excitement before taking a snap!)

There was a wonderful collection of handmade goodies (don't you love Helen's Christmas makes?!)

She'd made a lovely bag, which was full of gorgeous decorative treats, as well as smellies, candles, bunting, magazines, cake stands, craft kits and embroidery patterns!

Jealous?!?! I thought so.

This is what I sent to Helen.

I made crocheted goodies, a candle, cupcake flags, fridge magnets, brooches and a necklace with a presentation box for the jewellery.

I also sent a mug, umbrella, Cath Kidston notes and badges, a giant pincushion, cross stitch kit and handmade card (not pictured).

Thanks again Helen for my wonderful treats.

I adore each and every little thing.

Have a great week, Ladies and thanks for reading.

Love Katie

xxx

It's Curtains ...

Good morning Ladies.

I have been meaning to show you this curtain refashion for a little while.

For one reason or another things here have been a bit hectic and I have so much to tell you about.

All in good time.

For now, It's curtains ...

As you know I'm not a whiz on a sewing machine. In truth they make me a bit nervous!!

But I faced my fear to give these curtains a face lift.

I have two windows in the dining room, before they were hung with some green curtains that had been passed on to us from a family member. They never really suited the room and made it feel quite dark.

I didn't want to get rid of perfectly good curtains, but they weren't suitable.

One morning while tidying in Charlie's room I had a brain wave. Charlie's room also has two windows, the curtains where light which meant he needed blackout lining to avoid very early morning during the summer!

Blooming things!! These liners were so heavy and bulky they just looked awful.

So killing two birds with one stone the dark green curtains retired to Charlie's room and block the light perfectly (no more blackout liners!) and the light curtains from Charlie's room would look much better in the dining room.

But there was a problem ... the light curtains were better, but they had pencil pleated tops.

I don't like them. So thought I would TRY converting them to tab tops.

I used my sewing machine to make the tabs for all four curtains. All 64 of them!

They were turned right side out and pressed (again).

Then I chopped off the pencil pleat from each curtain, turned it under and attached the tabs at regular intervals. Then more pressing and whizzed each one through the sewing machine once more.

Sounds simple right?! Well it was, but it did take me ALL day to finish them all.

I was chuffed with my attempt at converting the curtains and like the contrast between the creamy yellow curtains and the pink gingham tab tops.

But they needed a little more pink to bring them all together.

So I turned my thought to the tiebacks. I knew in the depths of a vacuum storage bag they would be tiebacks for these curtains. I hunted them out and went to work demolishing some crocheted tiebacks I had made for the original green curtains.

For each set of curtains the tiebacks were slightly different.

I simply sewed the flowers to the ready made tiebacks.

The room feels brighter, I spent nothing and I'm getting over my sewing machine fear!!

Can't be bad hey?

Sorry for the waffling Ladies.

Until next time.

Love Katie

xxx

P.s I brought this little embroidered hankie from a vintage fair. I really love it and I was lucky to pick up a teeny embroidery frame on a charity shop trip for 20p! Bargain.

This now hangs from a length of ribbon hung from a tieback hook next to my "new" curtains.

Jar of Love swap goodies.

Hello Ladies.

Just a quick one today. Lots of pictures I'm aware and not a lot of words.

I should have posted this before now so sorry about the delay.

Anyway ...

Because of the odd number of entrants to the swap I had two partners.

Marina at Evelyn-May and Beki @ Ramblings of an Everyday Mummy

Here is what I sent Marina ....

I tried to make both jars equal, so each had 26 items inside. I had read that Marina liked toadstools so had made her these little toadstool earrings and bag charm. There was a few Cath Kidston goodies in there: a keyring, soap, buttons. I made a tiny heart hanger with birdie embroidery and crocheted a pot cover to decorate the jar.

This is Beki's jar ...

Again a little more Cath Kidston. I made some button earrings and a ring too. The little cupcake charm I made out of Fimo. I notice she liked Hello Kitty so when I saw these magnets I thought they would be perfect. Again I crocheted her a pot cover for the jar.

This is what I received from Marina.

A pretty jar, wonderfully wrapped and finished with a pretty bow.

There was cupcake cases, fabric, perfume, hankies, teddy, socks, necklace, cookie cutter, lace, glitter, beads and chocolate inside (the choccy didn't live long enough to make it in the photo) !!!

Thank you Marina!!!

I am yet to receive a parcel from Beki, but if I do. I will be sure to share it with you.

Have a great weekend.

Love Katie

xxx