More Christmas Fun

I finished off this sneaky gift.  It is for a very good friend.   We are having our own little Christmas party, myself & 2 others.  I love these 2 girls.  (she loved her runner!)  

Day 16

Day 17

Day 18

Day 19

End Of Year Gifts

Continuing on with handmade gifts for the end of year things, I made a few fun things.

First the tote bag for the boys piano teacher. ( Seems he was rather taken aback & pleased.)  It's probably a nice change from chocolate!  lol  It is cool though.  I love this fabric.  

A gorgeous cowl I knitted although this was finished some time ago.  It was a good thing I started early in the year on this.  But it looked lovely, & the colours suited BJ's teacher.  Hope she wears it! 

This is the one I had planned ages ago.  I was at work when we ordered this Dr Seuss fabric & I waited for it to come so I could do this for DJ's teachers.  It was perfect for them as they spent the first half of the year reading these books too.  (It seems both teachers were rapt with theirs.  I think I need to stock up on the fabric so I can continue to make them for future teachers. )

It's All About Handmade

So I find myself as the organiser of the craft stall at next year's school fair.  Can't say I was surprised.  lol  

As a result I have been op shopping & sewing up a storm...  I have a good bag full of finished object already so I am really pleased about that.  

Peg bag aprons, all from op shop fabric & a really nice table cloth.  Yay!  Such fun.  

Keyring fobs, just for something a bit different & I got the keyring bits a couple of years ago & still hadn't used them.  Perfect!

Another birthday party for both boys this week too.  I was so excited to find this dinosaur panel.  For a 10 year old it is a lot better than the cartoon type designs that start to look too babyish.  So I cut it up & voila, one awesome pillow.  (he was rapt with it too thank goodness!)  

& that is Pillow present #20...  Not too bad for 20 gifts over the last 2 years. 

Pillow Puppies

Somewhere in the middle of quilt making I made a new pillow.  This was the perfect theme!  I have lots of dog fabric & this one is one of my favourites.

She loved it.  I think her mum loved it more...

Pillow Present # 19

Pillows Pillows...

Pillow presents are still going along this year.  They have been well loved & received which is really good.  This Harry pillow was going to be hung on the wall he loved it so much!  Rather nice to hear isn't it?  

I felt in the mood for some more stitching after the stocking was complete so I got stuck into some new Mill Hill ornaments for my tree.

 

My buddy Snowy.  She likes to be scratched on her neck.  

Pillow present # 18

Pillows Are Back!

It's been a little while since I have made a pillow.  It was quite nice to hit the sewing machine again though.  

We may get a couple of parties through the year that didn't get the pillow present last year.  That's a nice thought as I really don't know what to buy other kids these days. 

Pillow Present # 17 

Party Pillow

Another party!

Another pillow!

It's got to the point where I can now ask the mum's of the little kids what the children are really into cos yeah, you know your child will get a pillow!  This particular mum has been at about all the parties we've been too. Spiderman was this choice!  Cool too as I hadn't done one of those! 

Pillow present # 16

Thoughtful Ideas

The other day BJ asked me if he could make a dinosaur for a friend at school who broke his leg at school last week.  I said he could of course.  

So today was it.  It was such a cold day today!  We stayed in for the day & BJ got started.  Cutting out, pinning together & machine sewing.  Then the stuffing!  He can have that job any day!  

I did help with attaching the legs to the body.  That is a rotten job too.   But he's done it! 

I really hope this boy appreciates it. 

Late But Done!

These socks I did manage to finish today.

I have hardly done any knitting in the last week so these are now late.

But I did get them finished & in the mail all in the one day...

Hopefully someone likes them!

Sock #17 - 2017

Pillow Time

Another party! 

Another pillow!

Grandma Lyn came to play games with the boys.  I got to whip this one up. 

Pillow present #15

Gift Socks

A couple of birthdays still to come before the end of the year.  This is one pair of socks off the list.

I love this yarn.  It's Opal.  I haven't used that brand before so it was nice to try a new one & the colours are pretty.  Hope the person likes them as much as I do.

Socks #15 2017

Ladybug Present

A pillow that is not quite the usual theme.  Ladybugs was the go for this one according to the mum.  Yay, something cute.  I did a fabric swap with a friend too which was cool.  She had cute ladybugs, I had some cool stuff that she could use for an eye-spy quilt.

Pillow present # 14

Party Time

Thank goodness these are quick to sew up now.  Trying to juggle more work & the rest of time is tricky right now.

Pillow present #13

New Techniques

I saw a blog recently with some cool ideas in something called "A Year of Techniques".

The first one was making striped socks in single rows & using a clever way of removing the "jog" on the change of colour.  You know!  That little step that the change creates with knitting in the round.

This is great as I used left overs from 2 yarns I have used before.  What a great way to use them up.  I am pleased with how they came out & hopefully they fit my friend!

Socks # 12 - 2017

Sewing Again

Suddenly birthday season has come about again.  

A party for DJ to attend on the weekend.  He chose Star Wars fabric for his little friend.  I really like this one.  

BJ has been asked for a play date for a birthday friend.  Not a party so no presents but hey, what's a birthday without a little present.  This is today.  So I spent an hour doing both the pillows at once.  Quite an efficient use of time I suppose.  

Pillow Presents 11 & 12

Hook In Hand

It's been ages since I have picked up a crochet hook.  Can't remember the last time I did actually.  Last year I think though as I can't recall anything but knitting & sewing this year so far.

After knitting the big thick blanket for my nephew I still wanted to do a light cotton one.  I ordered in the greys in the Heirloom 8ply cotton at work.  Yes, I did.  lol  I do most of the yarn ordering which is fun.

It took a little while to decide on a pattern & although I went with this one it still isn't quite what I had in mind even though I love it.  Meet Me At Mike's have a really good tutorial on this one if you want to give the Larksfoot design a go.  I do enjoy doing it & try to do a couple of stripes a day.  It won't be huge though & should be done shortly, with time to spare before the next visitor goes to visit Diesel & can deliver it.  

Secret Party Business

Some bias tape making.  

Bias tape turned into lanyards, thanks to hunting down plastic card holders.  I didn't want to have to fork out more for the ready made lanyards or belt clips which weren't cheap.  At least not for a kids party...  lol  So well, after looking at options I just sewed the lanyard to the card holder.  Done.

I was really excited to find this website with Pokemon Trainer Cards.   Personalised & printed & glued to a thick card makes a really fun treat for the kids I think.  I hope DJ loves them.  He hasn't seen these yet.  I have to try to keep something as a surprise I think.  

Little Bit Of Play

I've been around about!  Just been knitting stuff.  Lots of stuff.  

But I did squeeze in a couple more pillows today.  My little neighbour girls have birthdays coming up, so I saved myself time & did them both at the same time.  Not quite what I had in mind but they look pretty & cute for little ones as they are.  

Pillow Presents 9 & 10

Quick Gifts

I had another quick present to make.  I had trouble finding soccer themed fabric though.  

This was the closest I could come up with!  (bargain fabric too!  Under $10 for this one!)

Pillow Present #9

Pretty Presents

I've been unwell, but somehow have managed this one for a party that I miss out on going to.  Oh well.  At least Miss Penelope newly 3 liked it.  

Pillow Present #8