fawn

There was a little visitor in our garden today, he was a bit shy.

I was lucky to have a chance to get up close to the wee fellow. Watching quietly as he stopped to sniff the daisies.

Something scared him off though, and he frolicked off into the wilds of the meadow. Hope he visits again soon.

If you want to crochet one too, you can find the pattern in the "Simply Crochet" magazine issue 6, or the designer has a book too. It's called Simply adorable crochet, by Maki Oomachi. This little one is crocheted out of some my handspun Alpaca, it's so super soft and even though I made it as a gift, I want to keep it!

I've also got a wee sale in my Felt shop. Use the code SALE25 to receive a 25% discount on anything in my shop! The code can be used until this Sunday evening.

disguised

I have a love for green ceramics, two shelves in my lounge can attest to that love. This ginger jar that I bought many, many years ago at the Titirangi markets was the start of the collection. It had no lid but I loved it and bought it anyway. 

Image from Valerie Ringer Monk's new book - Crown Lynn Collector's handbook, on loan from my local library.

Then I found another at a local op shop a few years later, this time with a lid. I was excited. A third one followed, this time, no lid. My count was three jars, one lid,my husband wondered how many I actually needed? "Odd numbers: I told him.

It was then that I discovered by a random internet search that what I thought were some new-ish made in China ginger jars - were actually Crown Lynn in disguise! Not made in China at all.

These jars were made in a range of colours, a plum, a royal blue and yellow too! (I'd really love a yellow one!). Knowing that they were in fact Crown Lynn didn't make me love them anymore, but I did find the idea interesting that there was a time when "Made in New Zealand" wasn't enough, and "China" seemed a more inviting prospect? I think the tide is perhaps turning? I hope that we would always be proud of something "Made in New Zealand".

Imagine my surprise at a local church fair that I arrived very late to (pretty sure all the best pieces had been snapped up already), there on the table was a lid that I was missing! For the grand sum of $0.10c I was able to complete another jar!

I'm not sure if I'll be that lucky again, but in the meantime I'll keep using the one without a lid as a vase.

feathered

Over the course of a week I managed to sew a little something for myself. I spotted this amazing fabric while on a shopping trip with my mum recently, do you like it? It's super soft, light weight viscose, it's hard to tell from the photo (I still haven't taught my kids to be willing photographers) but the top is this pattern from the Pattern Postie, view b.

While the pattern itself is easy to sew, it took a few days to cut out and sew, using pockets of child-free time. I  do vaguely remember I time when I had the chance to sew a project from start to finish in one go, vaguely. I'm mostly happy with it, so I'm hoping to make a few more for the warmer months ahead. I must admit to seldom being happy with a "sewing for me" project, always things I wished I'd changed once finished, I'm fussy like that.

Do you sew for yourself?

remembrance

The memorial garden for mr A's preschool teacher was blessed last week. I missed the ceremony due to a sick boy, but I'm told it was lovely.

Glennis, or "Mrs Stewart" was the most amazing early childhood educator, in her twenty plus years working at the preschool she touched so many lives. I was always amazed at her ability to know just what each child needed, a hug, some encouraging words or even on the odd occasion a firm word. I hate to think how busy her days were as a supervisor at preschool, interrupted many, so many times during the course of the day, yet whenever you asked her anything, she'd stop to help you out. Always with a smile. We miss her terribly.

It's so nice to have this little place of remembrance, in what was a mostly unused corner. I had an idea to make some bunting with pictures that the children had drawn, similar to the Japanese wishing tree idea. I thought it might be a great way to bring the children into the garden, I love all the little drawings that they did, each so unique for a very special lady. I left all the edges raw and sewed each picture to ribbon, backed by a slightly larger piece of botanical type of fabric. It was so fast to make and I think I'll make something similar for our garden this Summer too.

 I can't wait to see how this garden grows and watch the children play in it, it's a special place.

another green

Today in the "a handmade Christmas"  seriesI am having a chat with Clare from Green Valley Crafts.I'm sure you already know her, right? If not you should head on over to check it out, her blog is a lovely read, Clare has mad speed knitting skills, shares some great recipes, she does all this and more with two small daughters. If she lived closer I'm sure I'd be sharing a cuppa or two with her on a regular basis! 

Instead pour yourself a cuppa and enjoy this little chat........

So Clare, do you have a favourite thing to make and give at Christmas? 

It's hard to chose a favourite, but I do like to make fabric bags to pop other gifts into.  More useful than wrapping paper and less cleaning up!

image source: Green Valley Crafts

image source: Green Valley Crafts

Do you have any favourite Christmas traditions? Any that you will do when your children are older? 

 I like to make a new handmade decoration each Christmas, usually out of felt.  I add one as part of the wrapping (or gift bag - see Q.1.) onto the gifts of close friends and family.  My eldest daughter and I bake and ice biscuits, and she wraps them and makes cards and then gifts them to family, friends and teachers.  Also, we get a new Christmas themed picture book to add to our collection each year.  These books are only out in December, and then put away for the rest of the year so they are that bit more exciting and special.

Ooh I like that book idea! Have you received a handmade present in the past that really stands out in your mind? 

 My mum makes me a tiny Christmas cake all of my own every year (no one else in my house likes traditional Christmas cake!  What?!)  I love this and look forward to it all year!  Yum yum!!

I was wondering, do you have a gift making/buying philosophy for Christmas? 

 In our family, we mainly give gifts to the children.  They get a sweet selection of wants and needs, usually a mix of handmade and bought items.  Adults exchange small gifts (our max spend would be about $15-$20 per adult), and we try not to buy each other 'stuff' we don't really need.  I usually turn to our fantastic Saturday market for the adults gifts, or online (felt or etsy) and those hard-to-buy-for-blokes usually get yummy food/drink type treats.

image source: Green Valley Crafts

What is on your making list this year?

 This year I have to make my baby her Christmas stocking, that's priority number one!  I'll make a set of decorations for the year, I'm thinking this year will involve a bit of cross stitch again, like last year.  I'd also like to make my girls new outfits for Christmas day (maybe matching, maybe not!).  There will be some kind of foodie gift for the kindy teachers.  If time allows, I'll make gift bags, otherwise we'll paint/stamp some brown paper for our wrap.  I would like to make an advent calendar with pockets, but I don't think I'll have time for that this year.   Whatever happens, there will be peppermint bark (probably at least two batches, cause I usually eat at least one!)

image source: Green Valley Crafts

I think there will be several batches of peppermint bark here too! So have I missed anything? Last thoughts?

Thanks for having me Louana!  I can't wait to follow your Christmas series, and get some new ideas and hear about other people's family traditions!

No thank you Clare! It's been great gaining a little insight to your Christmas traditions, I hope you share some pics of your baby's stocking once it's done - no pressure or anything! I think I'm going to steal that Christmas book idea too. I love that you consider you mum's Christmas cake a stand out handmade gift, it goes to show that you don't need to spend a fortune to create a really good memory for someone near to you. Don't you think?

lotus

It's been a long time since I've been excited by an op shop find! Today was the exception, a Cathrineholm pot! I've long admired them and they look particularly good en mass (google Cathrineholm to see what I mean), but for now I'm just so glad to have one. A few chips on the enamel on the lid still can't dampen my enthusiasm.

Made in Norway I wonder how many made it to New Zealand? The design on the pot is "Lotus", it instantly transports you to the 1960's don't you think?

There is an amazing fan blog of Cathrineholm, you can find it here, it's quite an interesting read.

I think I'll use my new find as a fruit bowl and enjoy it on my bench each day! Have you had any exciting thrifting finds lately?

towelling

Here's a quick and easy tutorial for a towel turban! Most of the ones you can buy in the shops are made of micro fibre, I don't know about you, but it feels funny on my hands and I'd much prefer cotton towelling. I made this one from a bright vintage towel, but you could choose a plain towel perhaps? I've seen towelling for sale at my local fabric store, might be a good option if you want to make a few.

Here's how you can make one:

Cut out the pattern, I often cut out my patterns on vilene, the plain stuff, not iron-on. It tends to hold up better than paper, especially if you are using it lots.

Cut out two pieces,(1cm seam allowance included) if you are using patterned towelling make sure the right sides are together. Zigzag or overlock the edges to stop it fraying. With right sides together stitch around the edge, leaving the bottom open, I used a 1cm seam allowance. (I only have the right edge turned back is to show that the "right" sides are together)

Turn it right side out. Turn up the long edge that you left open. Slip in a hair tie or elastic at the seam of the short "tail" end of the turban. Stitch the hair tie/elastic in place, going back and forward a few times to secure it. Carry on stitching right around the bottom edge.

It should look something like this. Almost finished.

Sew a button on the middle of the front seam (opposite end from the hair tie/elastic). That's it you're done!

Try and take a "selfie", hope you do better than me! I seemed miss the turban 99% of the time!

To wear the turban, but the larger part, the one with the button at the back, twist the front up and flip it to the back. Slip the elastic over the button and you are done! (another selfie! Really need to teach my kids to take great pics!)

This one is for my daughter, for school swimming. Perfect for when she comes out of the pool, she can quickly get her wet hair up while she changes back into her uniform. I'm going to team it up with a new towel for swimming too. Ticking off another hand made Christmas present!

almighty power

The almighty power I'm referring to is the internet. It's kind of mind blowing to think about the power it has in modern life, both positive and negative.

I remember in 1993 or 1994 (being a third or fourth former student at the time), a girl in my class had "the internet" at home! Wow, I was jealous, it sounded so exotic and she was one of the special few that had such a thing at home. Fast forward a few years and WiFi is everywhere, you can connect on your phone (notice I say your phone, I'm not that fancy yet), pop into your local cafe and you'll probably find they have WiFi too! It's hard to find anyone who doesn't have some access to the internet. 

It's shaping our lives in all sorts of ways, I know for myself blogging has opened up a new world. I've made connections with people both online and in real life too.

It's those real life connections that I love, and when I was recently on Pinterest, spotting a pin from an online friend that a real life connection came into play. It was for a bakery that she wanted to visit in a town near us. It looked great, so it wasn't a hard sell to my husband that we should take a drive on the weekend.

It's a town that I'm not a stranger to, but I don't think I would have found the bakery on my own. It was a good find, everything we had was yum and a loaf of sourdough came home with us (wish we'd bought some more). We also had a chance to view this special tree with an amazing history that I'd also seen featured in a NZ botanical book.

So I have the almighty power of the internet or Pinterest (take your pick) to thank for a very pleasurable wee outing. What "in real life" internet connections have you made lately?

not your hands

So my handmade Christmas series is about making gifts for friends and loved ones this Christmas. But what if you don't have a crafty bone in your body? What if the thought of finding time to make even one present is too much for you? Well it doesn't mean you can't still have a handmade Christmas, really it doesn't.

There are thousands and thousands artisans out there, selling their wares on sites like Felt (here in NZ) and Etsy (lots of NZers sell on Etsy, you can find the things they are selling here.) I'd  really love you to go and check out those sites, especially Felt (buy local n' all). You might just be surprised at what is being produced here (ok, maybe not surprised if you are a fan of Felt already). I'm not talking about "Nana" crafts either (not that Nana's can't make some funky craft type things, but I'm sure you know the type of crafts I'm referring to) some seriously professional products that anyone would be glad to find in their stocking!

Here are a very few of my favourites after a very short look on Felt.

I love the Wood botherer's shop for quality wooden toys - I was lucky to win the ducks above recently, they feel so nice in your hand, I'm also going to purchase some more of their animals for some littles on my shopping list.

These butterfly wing earrings - love them enough said. I'm a fan of vintage NZ stamps and Kowhai so I'd love to unwrap these on Christmas morning, argh! I keep finding earrings I love, these I think I might just have to buy for myself if no one else does.

For the hard to buy for (or maybe a smarty pants brother?) maybe this cushion?

There are some interesting hanging air plants in Eco bubbles shop.

These links are just a small, teeny tiny selection of amazing things on offer,but to be honest I've had to stop browsing, my buying list is getting bigger than my making list!

I think one of the best things about buying from these sites, other than the fact you've bought some amazing presents, is that you are supporting a small business! Woo hoo! We need that, we need those small businesses! You are supporting possibly a stay at home mum or dad - how cool is that? Super cool! Go and have a browse and tick a few more names off your list! Oh and it all gets delivered to your door! Bonus.