Decorations a go go!

OK I'm maybe asking too much of myself but I really like the idea of making my own Christmas decorations...even though I realistically don't need the extra work this is something which I know would give me immense pleasure.

I'm fed up of shop bought, loud, glitter & tinsel overloaded decorations and as much as I love a bit of "bling" sometimes I crave a little bit of visual quiet.

So could paper/felt decorations be the answer? Personally I'd say yes.
Simple non fussy and pretty decorations that you can make and enjoy at the fraction of the price plus come the end of the season you can recycle as next year you'll be able to make some fresh ones out of scraps from your December recycling box or out of any pretty wrapping paper you've kept from the previous year.

I have so many Christmas baubles and decorations at the back of the cupboard that I fear one day that it'll come to life and will start giving out advice like "the trash heap" in Fraggle Rock!

There are so many types of on line paper decoration tutorials and by far this blog has been one of the favourite ones : http://www.curbly.com/chrisjob/posts/9452-how-to-make-modern-paper-ornaments

Not just one tutorial but a whole selection of really lovely
projects...which is rare.
Have a look at the gorgeous yet simple tutorials and get making!

These paper baubles are great and I've made some similar ones with recycled high quality paper magazines.
I'm definitely going to try making the paper trees...and the paper strip decoration...and the wreath...and...Oh darn...I think I'm going to try to make them all!

Sushi anyone?

Because this Christmas I will be surrounded by 6 children all under the age of 10 I think this will be the perfect gift for them. This way we can sit down, make and keep ourselves occupied for a while...

I love this tutorial and the best thing is that it's both perfect for little girls for dolly play time as for cookery obsessed little boys. I think I'll be making some for myself too as it's too cute to resist!!!

For full instruction and pattern please visit this awesome blog : http://taoofcraft.typepad.com/taoofcraft/2010/08/felt-sushi-tutorial-and-pattern.html

Christmas fair designers. Lets take a sneaky peek...

Its with great pleasure that we welcome back to our fair James Ward aka Jimbob Ceramics! I must confess that I simply love animals in clothing so...obviously Jim has struck a cord in my little animal lovers heart.

His beautiful and quirky ceramic home wares are adorned with hand drawn illustrations. Tea pots, cake plates, mugs and stacking coffee cup sets as well as some very lovely prints...so come on, treat the animal in you to some mighty fine shopping!!!

Bliss...

After yesterday's inspirational talk by the knitting queen Debbie Bliss I threw my hand at a little bit of woolie crafting. I'm not a natural knitter or crocheter come to that...which is odd because as I child I loved sitting with my gran on the terrace crocheting dresses for my dollies. I seem to remember that I was quite good too but I think that when it comes to these types of crafts that the old saying "you never forget, it's like riding a bike" doesn't apply. Well not in my case anyway.
However I can do the basics so I picked up a crochet needle, a nice chunky size 12 hook and made a multi strand neck piece. It's actually quite cozy and soft so it also functions as a scarf thingy...not sure it would classify as a snood or scarf but "thingy" will do for now.

It was really easy to make. Crochet a few different lengths 2 row crochet strands, lay them out on a flat surface, place them in decreasing size order then attach ends with a piece of your yarn or stitch together so you're left with what could look like a multi chain open ended necklace. So you're attaching the strand onto the last strand then onto the next. You should still have two ends and not a continuous loop.
Form a small loop with the biggest strand on one end and sew a chunky bead on to the other to fasten shut. Et voila!

Now that I've reignited the passion for all things wool I'm pretty sure that my main problem is deciphering patterns. The actual process of knitting and crocheting is straight forward and simple and what I find scary are the abbreviations, terms, the variation of terms between US and UK patterns and so forth.It's like a language in itself!
I guess if explained and if my attention span wasn't so short then I would be able to master the knit!
Hum, maybe in the new year we can get a tutor in to run a knitting workshop for A.D.D. knitters.
I'm sure a lot of you would like to learn to read patterns...non?!

Christmas stress buster...

With almost two whole months to get through until the big day and I'm already starting to feel the stress!
Head pounding, palm sweating, back aching not to mention the gammy pirate leg aches and pains all due to STRESS and all that comes from trying to find those elusive bits & bobs we all crave for in order to host a splendorous and perfect Christmas. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves? Friends and family will love us regardless...even if you served a paper plate full of cheesy wotsits they'd still love you!
Seems that we're not just content with making the perfect presents, decoupaging beautiful decorations, baking scrumptious cakes, mixing gorgeous yule tide cocktails as well as printing our own gift wrap it also looks like we're ready to embark on the voyage of discovery where you WILL finding that perfect "It's a Wonderful Life" kissing under the mistletoe frock... no matter what!
So my little crafty chums let me help you a tiny bit...here are a few links to some pretty cool designer makers, fashion providers, tutorials and "gift ideas"that will surely make your life a little bit easier in the run up to the festive season.
The links feature a few of my favourite things...Some you'll be able to purchase and because I always find making relaxing I've added a few links to fab tutorials and workshops for you to MAKE your own too!
What about the " Family Guy" Clip? Ha, that's just because apart from a very large cocktail you'll also need a good pinch of humour to keep you going.... the Peter Griffith Christmas Album snippet always makes me laugh!

*Tattoo tights... all the fun of tattoos without the pain. Make your own: http://www.urbanthreads.com/pages?id=736

*Gorgeous Vintage clothing by Frillseekers. Visit them in Portobello Market or at their pop up boutique at our monthly Make do & Mend D.I.Y. craft night... http://www.frillseekersvintage.com/

*Hand made and totally lush accessories: http://the-aviary.co.uk/
For more online hand made shopping visit: http://www.etsy.com/

*Take a little tea break or go get some tasty treats to adorn your festive table. Sometimes you just don't have the time so get some gorgeous cup cakes to treat yourself, friends and family: http://www.beasofbloomsbury.com/

*Making your own truffles can be the best stress buster around...mmmm...the smell of chocolate is quite soothing! Make some to give or book a spot in the workshop as a gift: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=239057232816367

*Check for events close to where you live and buy hand made! Don't forget we're in Vestry House Museum, Walthamstow on the 3rd of December! http://ukhandmade.co.uk/

*A Classic but still a great read and a great companion to the modern household. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Do-Mend-Official-Reproductns/dp/1843172658

*Beautiful, understated Christmas decorations. A great step by step tutorial and a top blog too: http://lorajeansmagazine.blogspot.com/2008/04/paper-bag-flower-from-scratch.html

*Give your gifts a certain "Je nes sais quoi" with I Heart Zenna's gorgeous tape: http://heartzeena.bigcartel.com/product/harriet-heart-print-sticky-tape

 *Inspirational illustrations...love this printed wrapping paper by Layla Amber: http://www.layla-amber.co.uk/1/post/2010/12/my-very-own-christmas-wrapping-paper.html
Visit her on line shop for perfect little gifts: http://www.layla-amber.co.uk/shop.html

*The ultimate pre Christmas relaxer...Drink, shop and do!  OOH I also hear they're opening a Club Night downstairs in the former "Sex Shop"... wowzer now it's Drink, Shop, Do & Dance!!!
http://drinkshopdo.com/Drink,_Shop_%26_Do/Drink,_Shop_%26_Do_%E2%80%94_Do.html

Movember!!!

Ned Flanders

If you're anything like me you'll have an inexplicable fondness for facial hair.  If Freud had sat me down on his couch he'd point out that it was possibly due to my father and his and Ned Flanders shared admiration of 1970's moustachio styling!

Salvador Dali

Ah yes Moustaches...lovely hairy caterpillars that only males can grow and wear with such panache and grace!
From the thin pre war pencil tache, the handle bar, full on eighteenth century mutton chops, a Magnum P. I. bushy pleasure seeker, tamed and coiffed goth goatees, curly wirly Daliesque works of art to full on Grizzly Adams woolie face warmers. All sexy and very much wanted for this charity grow-a-thon!
I'm aware that though I have a deep seeded wish to have one grace my chops that unless I become a circus bearded lady that it won't happen... well not any time soon!

Alas because of that love we've come up with a craft kit which we'll sell throughout November at our Craft Events and we'll donate £2 of each sale to MOVEMBER. This way even if you can't grow your own you'll be able to be part of the club! So if you too love woolie face furniture come along and get your Needle Felted Moustache brooch kit and do something charitable too. Perfect for baby faced chaps and for moustache loving ladies!

However if you'd like to sponsor a chap to grow his own or would like to know more about this charity please visit the web site: http://uk.movember.com/

There are lots of great ideas on the Movember site to get your creativity going so if you'd like to be involved by throwing your own Movember event get in touch with the charity...I think they'd be very pleased!
So wax and twiddle those hairy babies and get raising some funds!


BUT before I leave you to your hairy endeavors here are a few images of some of my favourite facially hirsute gentlemen. Please note the bear is pretty cool too:

Grizzly Adams with his bear (d)

Johnny Depp

Sigmund Freud

Tom Selleck aka Magnum P.I.

Nick Cave

Brad Pitt

The Dude, The Big Lebowski

Karl Marx

Get into the Festive groove...

With Halloween "dead and buried" we quickly approach the big C word...tut, tut, tut...you get your mind out of the gutter you crafty minx, I'm referring to Christmas!!!
Only 54 days of making left before Papa Nicolas makes an appearance.
YES It really is that close!
As the night  draws in, thoughts of must have presents enter our slumber, letters to Father Christmas invade our thoughts, we "pinterest" and "bookmark" items which we love
but purposely leave on the computer desk top in a vain attempt to drop hints to partners...and so on.
While all this dreaming and scheming gets us in the festive mood it also allows us to forget a very important piece of the modern craft makers kit: the making list. Be it on a post it note, on a raggedy dog eared piece of paper torn off the back of an envelope, on a document on your computer or scrolled on to your favourite note book.
The Christmas making list is an account of ideas and projects of what you'll be making to give others. Beautiful, awesome, heart filled, hand made items which you have made to besiege your loved one with creativity and love.
As the old saying goes "Christmas, it's not all about receiving" so now is the time to sit down, organize your projects, tidy up any unfinished bits and pieces and make to give!

Top tips:
Don't bite off more then you can chew! If you can't knit don't start making those cute but intricate cashmere socks you've seen in the pattern book. Leave the knitting to the new year where you have time to learn without the potentially stressful deadline.

Be realistic... make something which your craft skills will allow you to produce in order to achieve an item your friend/family will love and want to use.

Give hand made items to the ones that will appreciate such gifts...not everyone does especially young girls like my niece for example, she definitely wont. Gah, teenagers...if it isn't H&M or Justin Bieber then it is, in her own words, "pants!" Spare the heartache, yours in particular as if they don't appreciate it today don't fret... one day they'll come around!


Most of all enjoy it and MAKE your Christmas a HAND MADE one!