Thank you and happy Christmas!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful, joy-filled Christmas day!  Enjoy the magic of this celebration, and the amazing story of our Saviour's birth!


Thank you to all who have encouraged me during this little project!  I am not sure what the future holds, but I hope that you have been inspired and blessed by the past few months of blogging along with me!




Stocking Stuffer Stall update:
The total at this stage is over $660 raised for Australian Lutheran World Service, which is a wonderful result!  Thanks to all who participated!

Christmas Angels

I couldn't believe that I had ladies fighting over these angel decorations at the Stocking Stuffer stall, and I got orders to make more!  So I thought I'd share the idea so you can make some too (although it might be a bit late for this year)!


Requirements:
Wooden 'dolly' pegs
Pipe cleaner
Paint - for body and face
Felt tip pens to draw face
Angel wings (available from craft shops)
Wire-edged ribbon
Silver cord/thin ribbon
Hot glue gun

Paint the peg body (I used a light blue) and head (I used a country cream - although the heads aren't painted in the picture above!)  Use a piece of thick cardboard to hold the peg while you paint it.

Draw a face with coloured felt-tip pens, or use a thin permanent marker
Cut a piece of wire-edged ribbon, and gather the wire on one side so that it fits around the 'waist' of the peg.  Twist it together and secure to peg with hot glue.

Glue the wings to the back of the peg, and then add a hanging loop to the back of the head.  Make a halo from sparkly pipe cleaner, thread it over the hanging loop and secure with more hot glue.

Since you've got all your equipment out, create a 'company of angels'!

Christmas Sewing

It was a few weeks ago that I finished my Christmas shopping, but I've been madly trying to find the time to finish my Christmas sewing!  These 'I spy' bags are the gift of choice this year for my young friends and relatives:

Made from polar fleece, the bags have a clear plastic window so that the children can move the contents around and find 30 objects hidden in the filling (plastic beads used for toy stuffing).  Objects are things like a coin, paper clip, buttons in various shapes, dice, marble, etc.  They are great for quiet times, as the game keeps changing - and adults like playing with them as well!


The other big project has been a couple of baby floor quilts - one for a godson and another for a brand new nephew.  You can probably recognise the bear from the bear pattern I made for the street stall!

It was a great quilt to make, but since I am mostly 'self-taught' when it comes to quilting, I still make lots of mistakes... the biggest lesson from this one is that invisible thread is really difficult to unpick!  (But I still think it made my quilting look better when you couldn't see it properly!)


Christmas is here!  I've been working towards it for so long, it seems strange that it will be over soon!  (Although my husband thinks we'll be playing carols until April because my boys enjoy them so much!)

Bailey Bear

A few days ago, I showed you some 'flat bears' that were getting ready to be made.  Well, I finished off seven out of nine bears for the Street Stall, and didn't sell one! (Not to worry, I've already sent one off to a brand-new nephew who was born on Sunday!)

I think they are just so cute, and once I got on a roll, they weren't too difficult at all to make.  The pattern is available from here, and it includes links to Wendi's amazing tutorial videos about how to do every technique to make one yourself - from cutting out the pattern to embroidering the face and sewing him up!

Aren't they cute?!

Stocking Stuffer Stall Today!

Thank you to everyone who has been reading along with the blog! We had the first street stall today - a stocking stuffer stall at my church with money going towards the African Famine appeal through Australian Lutheran World Service.


Here's some pictures of the tables set up:

I was really excited when I saw how it all looked - this is what I had imagined!  I had some girlfriends come and help out as well, and we raised about $450 today.   I am really thrilled!


Many thanks to the people who contributed ideas and donated goods to be sold as well!

Now, I get to catch up on sleep and cleaning my house.  And then onto Christmas sewing!


Blessings!

Last minute frenzy!

Yep, it's 10 o'clock at night the day before the stocking stuffer stall, and I'm still a couple of hours away from being ready.  I think.  I've made a list, I'm checking it more than twice, it's just that some jobs take soooo much longer than I planned!


I've done about a week's worth of work today, and I am so thankful to my husband for attempting to keep my munchkins out of the way as I've zoomed from sewing machine to ironing board.


Here's some wannabe teddies on their way to being finished!  I've still got to sew, turn, press, stuff and close these bears before I get to go to bed!  I'll post some more pics tomorrow and let you all know how we went!

Mod Podge Decorative Tiles

I've been making some more decorative tiles and thought I'd share a few more pictures in this tutorial.

Items needed:

• Mod Podge (available from art and craft stores, online, Spotlight, Lincraft, etc)
• Tile (or a surface to stick paper onto)
• Photo or paper to stick
• Sponge brush
• Flat container

First of all, make sure your tiles are clean and dry.  I am using 15x15cm recycled tiles that I picked up at a scrap yard.

You can print your own design or use photos for this project.  I printed in black ink on scrapbooking paper, and also printed in colour on photo paper.

Pour a small amount of Mod Podge into the flat container.  Using the sponge brush, cover the tile in a layer of Mod Podge.  This acts as the glue to stick your paper to the tile.

Carefully place your design onto the tile.  I cut mine so that there was a white border all around.

Allow to dry for about 30 minutes.  Using the sponge brush, paint another layer of Mod Podge over the top of the picture. It will appear cloudy at first, but it dries clear.This is the sealer which will protect your picture. If you would like a 'canvas' appearance, allow this coat to dry and then brush on another coat in the opposite direction.

Allow to dry completely.  Display either with a plate stand or attach a ribbon hanger to the back of the tile.

Stencilled bibs

Here's a cool, easy gift that you can make with no sewing at all!


You need:

• Freezer paper (this is available from some quilting shops or online.  It is sold like cling wrap in the USA, but not widely available in Australia)
• Fabric to paint on (I've used plastic-backed bibs from Target & K-mart)
• Fabric paints (I've used paints mixed with textile medium by Jo Sonja)
• Sponge brush/stencil brush
• Iron
• Pencil
• Craft knife & cutting board

First of all, draw or trace your design on the paper side of the freezer paper. Cut it out with a craft knife.

Then, using a warm iron, fix the freezer paper stencil onto your fabric.  Place the stencil waxy side down and cover with a cloth (to protect your iron), and then press until the paper has adhered to the cloth.


Mix your paints and using a sponge brush, paint onto the stencil.

Allow the paint to dry, and then carefully peel away the stencil to reveal your design! (This is the exciting part!)

Iron over the design to fix your fabric paint.

Kid's Apron

I'm so excited that something worked the first time I made it!  I whipped up (over several hours!) this kid's apron last night and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  My biggest challenge was turning the tie (which is one long sausage of fabric) inside out... but I finally sourced the right tool for the job and that made such a difference!  I'd like to post a tutorial, but I didn't take photos of the steps along the way, so I'll have to catch up on this one later!

Ribbon Ring

Kids love to dance, and it's so much fun to have something to dance with! Shakers or bells are great, and one thing my oldest child had fun with was some cardboard tubes with ribbons sticky-taped to them.


I was thinking about making ribbon sticks, but with two boys I know that sticks usually turn into hitting each other over the head.  So these ribbon rings are a great alternative - chunky enough for chubby hands to hold, and good fun when the music is turned up loud!

Start with a wooden curtain ring wrapped with satin ribbon (secure the ribbon with hot glue), and then tie with ribbon streamers.  Use a candle flame to singe the ends of the ribbon so that they don't fray.  Dance!

Decorated Tiles

I'm really excited about sharing today's stocking stuffer with you.  It's a decorated tile that I made using a plain 15x15cm tile, some scrapbooking paper that I ran through my printer, and the wonder-of-all-wonder products, Mod Podge!  (This is another one of those things that I've had in my craft stash for years and have never used until now!)


The longest part of making these tiles was the design process... not my strength at all.  But putting it all together doesn't take long!  Hopefully I can get a chance to make a few more this week and show you how it's done (I've just been out to our recycling centre at the tip and picked up a stack more tiles for next-to-nothing!).

Have a great start to the week!

Bottle Gift Bag Refashion

On my list of things to make for the street stall were bottle gift bags.  And then last weekend in a seconds shop, I happened across a whole stack of new calico wine bottle bags that had been screen-printed with a logo.  I thought that if I could refashion the bag I might save myself a bit of time... (insert positive thinking here.)

Anyway, after hours trying to figure out the best way to 'makeover' the bag and cover up the printed logo, this is the best I could come up with.  It's not what I had originally planned, but it does the trick.  I still might try and embellish it with something Christmassy... any ideas would be welcome!

White Chocolate & Cranberry Cookies

I had some visitors for morning tea today and to use up the time between telling my toddler that they were coming and the visitors arriving, I made these biscuits!  (2 1/2 year olds don't have much patience!)


They're really easy to make and as the recipe shows, the mix makes a great gift when packaged in a cute little jar.  You can download the recipe here.

This photo is from the taste.com.au website

Just to prove that I made them, here is a picture of the biscuits!  They're not all that pretty, but they taste good! :)

Candy Cane Reindeer

Today's idea is super-simple!  These cute candy cane reindeer are made using pipe cleaners (now known as 'chenille sticks') for antlers, two goggle-eyes and a small pom pom for a nose.  They're quick and easy to make, and they look very cute!

More ornaments!

Here's another type of tree ornament that has been in the making until today! It's like a 'double-stuffed-yo-yo', and instructions to make it can be found here.


I'm hoping for a super-productive night of sewing so that I can share some more projects - especially some gift ideas - with you over the next week!


Hope your Christmas countdown is going well!  It really is a crazy season, isn't it!?  (Especially trying to find a parking space at the shopping centre!)

Raggy tree ornament

Here's a quick idea to make a tree ornament with some scrap fabric and a styrofoam ball!  Just cut fabric into small squares (about 4x4cm) and use a skewer or embossing tool to poke into the styrofoam ball.  Keep going until the ball is covered.  Attach a ribbon and hang!


You can find another example and some more instructions here.

Felt Christmas Tree

Here are some instructions to make this cute felt Christmas Tree!

What you need:
Coloured felt
Felt scraps
Embroidery thread
Polyester stuffing
Cardboard


1. Cut the felt into a cone shape with two straight edges and one curved edge.  My tree has sides measuring 22cm.  Cut the felt scraps into small circles about 1cm in diameter.

2. Attach the felt dots onto the tree body using a small cross stitch.  Make sure you secure the threads on the wrong side of the felt.  Decorate your tree as much as you like!

3. Pin the two long sides together (inside out) and sew either by machine or hand.  Turn the tree the right way out.

4. Cut a felt circle and two cardboard circles for the base of the tree.  An easy way to do this is to fill the tree with stuffing, and then find a cup that matches the size of the base of the tree.  Trace around the cup to get the right size circle.  Whip stitch the base to the tree, inserting the cardboard to create a firm base for the tree to stand on (see picture).

5. Finish sewing up the base and you're done!

Every day is a gift

Eek!  Two weeks to go until the Stocking Stuffer Street Stall at church... which seems like long enough if I could be a full-time crafter, but isn't much when I only manage to make two things every day!


I have made a commitment that my family, and the general tidiness of the house, comes first.  But it seems that the washing is piling up, and the boys naptimes are getting shorter!  I need to put my skates on, but I can't find them under the increasing number of boxes being stored in my laundry (for ease of access to craft materials)!


One of the most difficult things I have found about being a mum is the 'interrupted' day.  It's hard to concentrate on a task (like writing a blog entry!), when your two-year-old is sitting on your one-year-old and they're both screaming!


But, as I realised a few days ago, God will provide the time I need to get done the things I need to do.  Remembering to 'keep it simple', I just need to keep going and see what can be achieved in another two weeks.  There are some exciting projects in the works!


I love these words from the song "Life means so much" by Chris Rice:

Every day is a gift you've been given

Make the most of the time every minute you're living

Teach us to count the days

Teach us to make the days count

Lead us in better ways

That somehow our souls forgot

Life means so much

Every day is a bank account

And time is our currency

So nobody's rich, nobody's poor

We get 24 hours each

So how are you gonna spend

Will you invest, or squander

Try to get ahead

Or help someone who's under

Have a great weekend!

Sock Bunny

The week really has been all about stockings, so I thought it only right to try and make one more day of it.  Last night, I researched as much as I could and then ended up making my own pattern anyway - for a sock bunny!


Earlier this year, I bought a 'mystery pack' of kids socks, and got 10 pairs of girls socks... which was lovely, except that I have boys.  It seems I continually need to learn the lesson that mystery packs will never be what I want them to be!  But, it means that I have resources at the ready for some sock bunnies, which make great baby toys, because there are no little pieces that could come off, and ears make great things to suck on!

I'm interested in your thoughts before I go ahead and make more... it's a big deal to me to cut up a perfectly good sock! :)

Stocking Pattern

This week's theme seems to be Christmas stockings, and I am delighted that today, one of my favourite bloggers has featured a free pattern and heaps of decorating ideas for stockings!

Hop on over to Wendi's site and have a look!  If you're new to crafty stuff, Wendi has posted a whole heap of instruction videos to look at (see Sewing School and Embroidery School).  They have been a big help to me - especially this cool trick to tying a knot!


Have fun!

Stockings to Stuff

I got a package in the mail yesterday from my wonderful mum!  She had sent some full-size stockings to be sold in the street stall - they are so fantastic and I am sure they'll be really popular!


When we were growing up, mum made each of us a stocking to hang on our fireplace.  I can remember the first year we had them, Santa got all mixed up about which stocking belonged to which child, and we all opened the wrong presents... after that, all the stockings got name tags!


Ahh, Christmas.  It's the most magical time of the year.

Stockings Galore!

Yesterday I showed you the felt stockings that I was making, and I've spent all day today finishing them off!  I've added a felt star with iron-on interfacing, and my little stockings are going to be sold on the stall filled with a mini bottle of bubbles! (The perfect way to keep kids amused at Christmas when they're on the edge of a meltdown!)

Hope you're having a great day!

Mini Felt Christmas Stocking

Another Christmas ornament which can be hung on the tree or attached to a present as a little 'extra'!  With this mini stocking, you can also give an extra gift - lollies, some rolled up cash, or perhaps some diamond jewellery(!).


Here's my stocking in a few simple steps:


1. Cut a template out of paper.  I folded my paper into eight and cut out eight templates at the same time.


2. Pin templates to a double thickness of felt.  (ie - two pieces, or one piece folded over)

 3. Sew around the templates as close as possible.  Remember to keep the top of the stocking open.  Remove pins.

4. Cut around the stitching leaving a small (3-5mm) seam allowance.  Turn stocking inside out.

5. Attach a ribbon at the back of the stocking, and hand-stitch a cuff to the stocking.

6. Fill with diamond jewellery (or other treats).

One that won't make it...

I just thought I'd share with you one of the projects I made that won't be making it to the Street Stall.  Although I think it's lovely, it took me five nights, two T-Shirts,  and twenty sticks of Hot-Glue to put together, and that's all too much!


If you'd like to have a go at making your own ruffle ball, check out the instructions here.

Small things

We can do no great things; only small things with great love.

   Mother Teresa

Ahh, small things. Everyday things. Mundane things.

Another load of washing. Picking up the toys and books. Taking out the rubbish.  Depending on our heart attitude, these things can make us weary and annoyed, or they can be opportunities to show love to one another.

I hope your day is full of 'small things'! Be blessed!

White Chocolate, Raspberry & Macadamia Slice

I've found it!  My 'recipe of the season'.  You know, the recipe that you'll make over and over again for Christmas gatherings, meetings, visits from relatives, those days when you've spent too much money, so you decide to go home and have coffee instead of dropping into a cafe...


This is a winner, because it keeps for a few days (and gets better with age), and freezes really well too!  And it's ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!  (And healthy - it's got fruit!)

White Chocolate Raspberry and Macadamia Slice
Ingredients:
125g butter, chopped
200g white chocolate, chopped (I used Nestle Melts)
3/4 cup caster sugar
2 eggs beaten lightly
3/4 cup plain flour
1/2 cup self raising flour
100g white chocolate, chopped (extra) (I used Nestle white Choc Bits)
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, toasted and chopped coarsely
150g fresh or frozen raspberries (don't thaw if frozen)
Icing sugar, to dust

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
2. Grease a 16cm x 26cm slice tin.  Line with baking paper.
3. Combine 200g chocolate and butter and melt in the microwave.
4. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in rest of ingredients.  Add frozen raspberries last.
5. Spread mixture in pan.  Bake in moderate oven for about 50 minutes or until firm.
6. Cool in pan (if you don't let it cool first, it will fall apart)
7. Cut and dust with icing sugar.

Keep stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Going dotty

I've been using my scrappy bits of time to cut up my scrappy bits of felt into little dots.  It's quite therapeutic during a day of sorting out squabbles and wondering why the kitchen floor needs to be washed again.  There is some small sense of accomplishment as the pile of felty confetti grows.


I'm getting these ready for a project that I'm hoping to share with you next week!  In the meantime, I'll just admire them and let them make me happy. :)


Have a great day!

Do what you can

A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to travel to Mozambique to see some of the programs that are supported by Australian Lutheran World Service.  I can remember bouncing around in the back seat of a four wheel drive as we drove into the African wilderness and thinking 'where do I begin?'. I laugh at that thought now - as if it was all up to me to change the world!


The thing that impressed me on my two-week visit was understanding a little bit more about how aid agencies work.  ALWS operates in villages and communities with a goal of 'capacity building', which means that local people are empowered to make decisions about what they need.


For example, if a group of community leaders want to build a bridge, or a school, they work out how they can provide labour and raw materials, and ask for help in sourcing concrete, heavy machinery, etc.  The community sets up a committee who will look after the project and maintain it as well.


ALWS also focuses on awareness raising programs, for things such as HIV Aids, child and maternal health and farming practices.  They also provide business programs, women's education programs, leadership development, and resources for schools - such as kitchens or latrines.


It's about sustainable development, with the aim that one day communities will be self-sufficient and able to continue without support from outside agencies.

The picture above is of a wooden sculpture that I purchased while in Mozambique.  It is a reminder to me that 'from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded' (Luke 12:48, NIV).  Not that I am 'above' those who have less, but it is my responsibility to do what I can with what I have in a way that serves God and blesses other people.  I don't have to change the world, but I need to be faithful with what I've been given. That's my motivation behind this whole Street Stall project!


As a closing thought, ALWS also provides opportunities to give to many projects through the Christmas 'Gifts of Grace' catalogue.  Have a look at it here.  It's a simple way to use what you have to change someone else's life!


Blessings!