The End of a Year...

And before I know it, the year has gone and the New Year is here and it has started without me... again Lol! So, let me catch you up on the last few weeks and then I will tell you about my new years spinning challenge in the next post ;)

I managed to get all of my Christmas presents done in the end, with a few last min touches on a couple of birthday presents which were give before we left to go on holidays. So here are a few snap shots of my last min Finished Objects for 2014...

 These are the Present Sacks that I made to use each year for presents to my family and close friends instead of buying wrapping paper all the time. A great way to reuse some fabric from the Op-shop and to save some $$ and trees in the precess, not to mention filling the recycling bin!

So these were the last of my projects for 2014 and now I am excited to start the new year...

Christmas Madness...

Normally this time of year we are celebrating the end of another year and exchanging and receiving gifts as we celebrate the holiday season. The other thing I have noticed is the time seem to start speeding up in the month before December and once we are in December it is starting to slip between our fingers as we join in the madness that generally surrounds Christmas. This next week will even more chaos as everyone, or at least those who have just realised Christmas is just over a week away, start to panic at the realisation that there are still presents to be made, baked or purchased.

I have unfortunately been joining in on some of the chaos these last two weeks, and I have a feeling that I may still join in the chaos that increases the week before Christmas. But despite this, I have been busy doing a few crafty things on the side. Here is a snap shot...

 Learning a new knitting stitch, Herring Bone stitch, and starting a shawl...

 Spinning up a storm on my new spindles using one of my new Batts...

Adding another round of squares to one of my nephews blankets...

 

And finishing my second sample of Bobbin lace, which I loved and will no doubt do again   :)

So all in all a busy couple of weeks. There were a few other projects that I have been working on, but I didn't want to include too many photo's Lol! And I'm sure there will be many more to come, as I just received some more spindles in a swap package :) And on that note I'm going to go and do some spinning :)

Happy Crafting everyone!
Hugs,
Liz :)

Handmade Christmas...

Well what can I say, other than it's getting closer to that time of the year yet again when Christmas presents need to be organised. I have been trying for the last few year to make many gifts, but often I have realise too late the Christmas is already here, and have run out of time to make them.

So, this year I have been thinking about it for the last few months or so and I have already started to make things nearly a whole two months before Christmas! That surely must be some kind of record! But then time starts to play little tricks on you ;) Where on earth did November go! Suddenly the extra month I had up my sleeve has totally DISAPPEARED! And the next Birthday madness is about to start too! Sigh... no matter, I am still going to have a go at this :)

So I have my list (and I've checked it more than twice!!) and I have somewhere around 30-40 gifts to make up and only about 25 days (give or take) till Christmas... hmmm... Well, in real honesty, there really is no option but to more forward at a fast pace to try and catch some of my time back.

First on my list of things to do is to finish sewing up the reusable gift bags I'm going to start using instead of wrapping everything up in wrapping paper. Each year we spend a ridiculous amount of money, not to mention resources, on sheets of pretty paper that normally get ripped up  in all the excitement and then fill the once empty recycling bin. So, to do my part, and to save some money and the environment at the same time, I'm going to make and decorate a reusable gift bag for everyone I'm making presents for. These bags will also double as Birthday bags, so more money and trees saved :) I know it's not the same as unwrapping a present covered in pretty paper, But each time I use the bags I'm hoping to add another embellishment to it, to make it fun like the wrapping paper in it's own way, and have people guessing what I'm going to put on them next.

So what are you making for Christmas that is crafty? Tree decorations? Table centers? I'd love to know! So please feel free to share or email me links to your favourite handmade Christmas items :)

Happy Crafting!
Liz :)

P.S. I almost forgot! I finished my first lace sample piece! So here is the photo as promised.