Christmas Decorations

I think I'm hitting my Christmas stride a bit early this year... I've bought most of the presents I need to, I've got advent calendars in, I've eaten more Christmas pudding than I dare to admit, and now I'm thinking about the Christmas decorations I want to make! I know, it's early... But I'd rather embrace the Christmas spirit than let the festivities pass me by!

You may remember at the end of last year I made a list of Christmas decs I didn't have time to make? Let's refresh:

3D Snowflakes

From Ing-Things

Crochet Christmas Trees

From Annaboo's House

Beaded Snowflakes

 From Christmas Projects [also, 3D ones]

My list also mentions crocheted robins, Christmas puddings, snowmen heads and Father Christmas heads (err, that sounded creepier than I meant!), and maybe even a nativity scene... Though something tells me that might not happen in time! Although I think I'm looking at this pattern if I do :)

 From It's a Creative World

I've also found some more ideas, though! 

 Twiggy Christmas Trees

From Michele Made Me

Felt Christmas Tree

From Julia Crossland Art

I've decided to add to this list as I find new things...

Gingerbread Cookie Garland

From Glorious Treats

Impressed Clay Ornaments

From GardenMama

Crochet Owl Ornaments

From Hopscotch Lane

Paper Baubles

From The Guardian

Crochet Granny Star

From Petals to Picots

Crochet Christmas Trees

 From little woollie (which also make me think of piles of granny circles stacked into a tree...)

Crochet Star

 From ATERGcrochet

Crochet Bauble

From ATERGcrochet

Kusudama

From Folding Trees

I am also excited by this collection of origami stars!

So, what's on your To Make list for the Christmas season?! I'd love to know :) I'm currently working on a rather special stocking for my husband, which I'll share as soon as I can!

Tried and Tested Tip Number 19 [Thread Storage]

Do you have storage issues with all your sewing threads? Whilst I used to keep most of my threads in a couple of clear glass jars, there were some which always seem to be missing, and I would always want the one at the bottom!

So at the weekend, I asked my Dad for one of his spare type cases. It is a bit rough around the edges, but I love that charm to it, and knowing that it has been well used!

I love having all my threads accessible, and so easy to see what I want...

And it fits my lovely sparkly threads!

No more hunting for my spools either!

Oh, and it provides somewhere to keep my Dad's woodblock type safe!

OK, I realise not everyone has a Dad with spare type cases in the garage... But thankfully there is a place called eBay, populated with people who do have spare type cases! So if you're looking for somewhere to store your threads, bobbins, thimbles... or mini rolls of tape, buttons and odd woodblock letters, I really recommend having a hunt around. I think my nephew even has one for his lego figures! Shades of brown not your colour? Make it into a project, and paint it to fit your room!

Mr Sock Owl

Well would you believe it - another little sock owl has just fluttered his way in to existence!

This one? As a thank you to someone who has helped me a lot over the past few years. I think this owl will have a snug little home on the back seat of his car...

... just watching the world go by :)

See my previous sock owls and a link to the tutorial here!

The Younger Years VII

I loved making paintings like this as a child. Loading up one half of a piece of paper with splotches of paint, folding it whilst it was still wet, feeling the paint splurge out, and then peeling it back to see the pattern. (And often shouting, "butterfly"!)

I created this one when I was 3 years old. It's interesting to stare at it for a while and wait as my brain creates images from areas of shadows (there's a gummy bear stood in the middle, right?!) What I do find interesting though, is the texture created in the paint as it has splurged [technical term!] That would be really interesting to recreate when working on a textural based piece of art.

I assume I created this at a similar age. What I find interesting is that it hasn't been one simple layer of paint before folding, but that some paint has dried and other areas have transferred. My brain initially perceives it as a simple paint and fold, but the green splodges deny that.

It's totally a butterfly, though.