A little Christmas Crafting

Well hello there! I hope you all had a very merry Christmas. I spent a week at my parents house, eating far too much yummy food and doing far too little of anything else, which was lovely. I am now back at home and have over a week until I have to go back to work (yey!). I have many plans for the time off, including the obligatory pre-New Year tidying, and hopefully some sewing too. The time before Christmas passed by in such a blur of business that it is great to have some more sedate days coming up! My poor blog was a little neglected over December so I have lots to catch up on. First up - Christmas crafting!

I made the decision not to craft many presents this year, mainly due to lack of time. Most of my nearest and dearest received hand baked goodies, which I unfortunately forgot to photograph, but included fruity biscotti, orange and pistachio stollen, chocolate covered fudge, mango chutney and chilli jam. I managed to get most of the baking and making done in one rather manic afternoon, which worked well and took the pressure off a little. This meant I had plenty of time left to make the three stitched gifts I had in mind...

Apron for a small person

Meer-Santa!

Simple lined bag for my Nana

I was lucky enough to receive some lovely crafty gifts myself, including a lovely package from the Sewist's Secret Santa that I organised. Before I forget, I would like to say thank you so much to everyone who took part and especially those who have sent me such lovely emails telling me how much they enjoyed shopping for their Santees. I can't believe how many people signed up - we had almost 30 in the end. It is great to see everyones gifts popping up all over the blogosphere - so many people did fantastically well with the £5 budget! I hope everyone has received their gift by now - if not please let me know and I will chase it up. So what did I get I hear you cry? This lovely knitting bundle...

 

 

I was really touched by the thought that had gone into my gift. My Santa included a note saying that she had been inspired by the polka dot lining on my minoru jacket to put together a little knitting bundle for me to make co-ordinating accessories. The kit included polka dot buttons, yarn and five patterns, one of which you can see in the picture above. I think this is the pattern I will start off with - although I keep changing my mind! So thank you Santa - I love my gift :) And what did I send?? Ah...that would be telling!

 

I also took part in another swap organised by Vicki from VickiKateMakes...more on this next time. Also I've been lucky enough to be nominated for some blog awards lately - thanks so much to those who nominated me - more on these also coming soon :)

 

Finally, if you are looking for some inspired new projects or want to be in with a chance to win yourself a late Christmas present, pop over to Mellie's Workroom where Mellie is starting her stash-busting resolution early by hosting a giveaway! There are three gorgeous lots on offer...I have my eye on at least one of them!

 

K xx

 

Merry Christmas!

Hello Everyone!

I may have been a bit quiet on the blog front recently, but I can assure you that behind the scenes I have been beavering away making Christmas goodies! More on that in soon, but this morning I am off to my parent's house for Christmas (the land of no laptop OR sewing machine....although I will be taking my knitting!) so this is just a quick post to wish you all a very Happy Christmas!

Hopefully most people who took part in the Sewist's Secret Santa should have received their gifts by now...I am so excited to open mine, and to see what everyone else got! Any problems please let me know.

Other than that - have a good one and see you on the other side!

K xx

Sewist's Secret Santa Update!

Hello Everyone!

Wow what a busy few weeks I have had. I have been on weekends away to Wales and Berlin, been ridiculously busy at work, and even managed to finish a few makes (more details coming soon!). It's been lovely, but I am looking forward to spending this weekend at home and getting stuck in to my Christmas shopping/gift making.

How are you all getting on buying your gifts for the Sewist's Secret Santa? Several people have emailed me to say they have posted theirs, which is fabulous. I do hope that gifts will soon start dropping on to doormats around the globe. It's all so exciting!

A few people have asked me whether their gifts can be handmade, thrifted or shopped from their stash. Absolutely! The only restriction is the £5 limit, but if you want to make gifts using stash items and count them as free, then that's fine too. I have also been asked if you can let your Sant-ee know who the gift came from. My answer is - I think it's more exciting to keep it secret, but if you are busting to tell, then go ahead.

I'm shopping for my Sant-ee tomorrow...I can't wait! Has anyone else got festive plans for the weekend?

K xx

Owl Awesomness

Oh my goodness! I got home this evening after a yummy meal out for my boyfriend's birthday, to find the latest issue of Mollie Makes on my doorstep. I tore it open....and just LOOK what is on the front cover!

OWLS!

And look what there is inside....

MORE OWLS!

It's as if Mollie Makes knew I was toying with the idea of cancelling my subscription and made an issue especially for me. I cannot wait to make these wrist warmers. I think I have enough wool in my stash, although sadly I lack the relevant dpns so I am going to have to be just a little bit patient.

Sorry for the poor quality iPhone photos in this post...I was just so excited to share my excitement.

If you have not yet sent me your details for the Sewist's Secret Santa but want to take part (and you are most welcome, it's not too late!), please could you do this ASAP (for a second I almost forgot I wasn't at work and wrote "at the earliest opportunity", which is what I mean, but in a slightly less formal way!). Especially if you are from outside the UK. I am off to Wales for a long weekend but I am conscious that the last date for posting internationally is creeping up on us, so if I have a chance I will try and draw some of the Santees (my new favourite non-word) which require international posting before I go, to give you two shopping weekends, because I'm nice like that :)

K xx

Sunday Crafty Musings

Hello Everyone!

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend. I can't believe it's Sunday afternoon already. On the plus side, this week is a 4 day working week for me. It is my boyfriend's birthday this week and we are off to Wales for a long weekend. I'm thinking winter walks, pubs with roaring log fires and mulled wine. Perfect!

Today I was all ready to have an afternoon of making something and was geared up to start on a dress when I realised I still had to pre-wash my fabric. D'oh. Sadly I'm not one of those people who washes new fabric straight away - I wish I was this organised. However, I have now put a whole load of fabric in the wash so that should keep me going for...well, probably about a year the rate I'm going at the moment!

Instead I did a really quick project. I have spoken about my love of owls here before, and some time ago I picked up this awesome fabric, which I have been saving for the right project.

Some time ago a friend told me about someone who had made an iPhone case using a clear shell and a piece of fabric cut to the right shape. I think this is brilliant idea and look what I made today...

So cute. It literally took about 20 minutes to make (in fact it took me more time to decide which of the many different owls on the fabric to feature!) and I love the fact that there is the potential to change the fabric around any time I like. The clear case I ordered from ebay for a few pounds. In order to give it a bit of structure, and hopefully to minimise fraying, I glued it to a piece of paper cut to size. Simples :)

It other news, if you want to take part in the Sewist's Secret Santa, don't forget to send me your details this week (see here for the plan!). I have managed to find a Santa hat to draw the names from and it's already starting to fill up...exciting!!

Right, off for a Sunday evening of knitting, X Factor and Homeland. Happy days!

K xx

Sewist's Secret Santa - The Plan!

Wow! I can't believe how many people are keen to join in with the Sewist's Secret Santa. There are almost 30 of us so far - how exciting! If you haven't yet signed up but would like to join in...you still have time. Just about. Soooooo, here's how it's going to work and what you need to do next:

1) Send me an email to kraftykatblog(at)gmail(dot)com by Friday 23rd November at the very latest with the following information - your name, a link to your blog (if you have one), your postal address and also whether you are happy to post internationally. Also, if you would like to provide a short snippet of information for me to send on to your Santa please do - for example, "I'm a sewist and a knitter, I love spots and lace and big prints". 

2) I will play Santa and pick everyone's Secret Santa out of a (probably metaphorical) hat. I decided it was easiest to do it this way, and it allows me to split between people happy to post internationally and those who would prefer not to. This will not be a straightforward pairwise swap, otherwise everyone will know who their Santa is, and that just defeats the object!

3) I will send everyone an email telling them who they will be buying for, along with their address/blog link/information.

4) Present buying! This bit is completely up to you, however please try and keep within the £5 limit (or equivalent internationally).

5) Pop your gift in the post. Don't forget this is supposed to be a Secret Santa, so it's most fun if you don't let on who the present is from. Please keep an eye on the last dates for posting before Christmas...check here for last Royal Mail posting dates.

6) Receive your present and pop it under the tree, or open immediately if you must, however please wait until after Christmas to share on your blog. And feel free to speculate about who your Santa might be....!!

I can't wait, this is going to be so much fun! I am aware that last postage dates are creeping up on us so I will try and get the emails sent out as soon as possible. Any problems/questions please let me know....happy present buying everyone :)

K xx

Sewist's (and other crafters!) Secret Santa

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. Mine has been a rare weekend at home, and I have relished the chance to lie in, catch up with friends and potter about the house. I actually feel like I have been quite productive, which is a great feeling.

It's that time of year when the C-word is all around. I saw this years John Lewis Christmas advert for the first time yesterday, and yet again it made me well up a bit! See it here if you haven't already. Not sure it tops last years, but it's definitely a good'un. Generally I try and resist getting sucked in until December, but this year I already have the uneasy feeling of being unprepared. There's nothing wrong with making plans, right? I am aware that this year I am likely to be busier than usual in the run up to the day itself, so anything to prevent last minute stress has to be a good thing.

So I got thinking! I love giving presents, and I love surprises. And of course I love sewing. And what better way to combine all these that a Secret Santa?! I will call this the "Sewist's Secret Santa" because I love alliteration, but it really is open to anyone...sewists, knitters, bakers, quilters...!I was thinking that anyone who wants to take part will be assigned another person to buy a sewing-related gift for, up to a maximum value of £5 (or the current equivalent for those outside the UK). This should be enough to buy a bit of fabric, or some cute notions or trimmings, or whatever you can find! Thanks to Sabs for the suggestion that everyone writes a little snippet about themselves to be passed on to their secret Santa to give them a few helpful hints - great idea! I will pop everyone's names in a hat to pick who they buy for, and in the tradition of a secret Santa we will keep it secret so that only I know who everyone's Santa is...although if you wish to take a guess afterwards that's up to you!

The plan is still in the early stages so any thoughts on the logistics please do let me know.

So who's in?! This is open to absolutely everyone who would like to take part, whether or not you have a blog and wherever you are based in the UK or internationally (we can sort out later who is happy to post internationally). Postage dates will vary depending on who joins in, but the earliest last posting date the Royal Mail gives me by airmail is 5th December, so we still have plenty of time. Pop me a comment below by Friday (16th November) if you would like to take part, and then we can start working out the logistics! Ooooh it's all so exciting, I can't wait to get shopping!

K xxx