Just some of this years creations

 Butterfly canvas done together with Lucy for her bedroom wall

 

It's been a busy year with my two jobs but I always seem to manage to fit in some time along the way for sewing and craft projects.

The butterfly canvas above was made using paint chart samples from Bunnings, old sheet music and some old atlas paper.  I cut the shapes using a butterfly paper punch and stuck them on using a hot glue gun. If I am near a Bunnings store I always pop in to replenish my stash as they are so useful.  They are great for decorating this and I particularly love to make gift tags for Christmas with them.

 

Ipad bag made for my Mums new gadget

 

The ipad bag evolved with some great recycling of a denim dress.  I used the middle section of the dress incorporating the waistband and the buttons down the front and just added a pretty top with a floral green cotton.  The straps were easy as I used the tie belt that came with the dress.  

 Owl made for a friends daughter who simply loves owls to bits

 

Another of my owls, made with recycled denim for the body front, cute cottons for the front and wings, chenille for the back and felt for the eyes

Knitted slouch hat

 

I don't knit often, but was successful in making a slouch hat which I gave to my Mum (it suited her better than me)

 Winter pj's for the kids

Pj's are always a great quick thing to make, I usually buy the tops from target to go with them.  I have started adding large hems on the legs so I can let them down the following year and get at least two seasons from them. 

Cushion for my daughters little friend who adores horses

 

I enjoyed this little project for my daughters friends 8th birthday.  Made with recycled denim for the front and the love heart was done with left overs from Lucys pj's pants.  I quilted the love heart to add interest and hand embroidered her name with embroidery cotton. Another original handmade gift, gotta love it as it costs next to nothing and no one else has one.

Appliqued Towels for christmas for Allie, Liam, Aidan and Nicholas

 

The towels were christmas gifts for my niece and nephew and our neighbours two boys.  I was pretty happy with the result - the towels are really lush and quite large.  I bought the towels from Pillow Talk and used the cotton fabrics from my stash for the applique. 

 

A burlap, lace and pine cone wreath for our front door

 

And lastly here is my new christmas wreath, I used a foam ring that I had in my Christmas stash - probably purchased from a $2 store if I remember correctly.  I wrapped it with strips of hessian and hot glued the pine cones onto it.  I then simply wrapped some old vintage lace around the remainder of the ring and tied a lace ribbon on top to hang. 

 

 

So another year is almost over - only hours left in fact

 

Happy New Year to everyone out there in craft land!

 

See you next year

xox

Some of this years handmade gifts !

Canvas embroidered by me for my husbands office

Drawing is done by Lucy

Pencil case for my niece

reverse side of pencil case

pillow for my niece reverse side of the same pillow for my niece

large cushion for my nephew

He wanted something to put on the floor in his bedroom so he could lay and read

pillow for Nonna Julie

the kids did a drawing of Nonna and her beloved cat Seiko (who died a few months ago aged 18 years)

a close up of Seiko

This gift bought a few tears when opened by Nonna

Cushion for Lucy I copied from her self portrait she drew when she was four years old cushion for Oliver I copied from his self portrait drawn when he was four years old also

And finally my handmade gift tags

Belle and Boo christmas scenes sewn with silver thread onto cardboard

These were a last minute thought, quickly thrown together, I will do more of these next year

And next year I will start my preparation for christmas much earlier and I WILL MAKE THAT ADVENT CALENDAR I HAVE WANTED TO DO FOR TWO YEARS NOW !!!!!!!!!