July Progress

What nicer way is there to spend the cold evenings? Watching our athletes give there best while knitting or crocheting knee rugs and keeping my lap warm at the same time. I'm about 3/4's of the way with this first half of my knitted circular rug.

Christmas gifts and using up my wool kit stash ... win win. You know when you see a project and it begs to come and live at your house? The least I can do is give them the oportunity to be loved.

It's A Start

To work on A Merry Christmas Garden, first I needed to find it.  Last year I wrote lists of UFOs and their safe places so if I could find that list? Happy ending...list found and project found.

Bonus ... I had already made a start on Block 3

A little hand stitching at night is in order.

Home Made of a Different Kind

My daughter and SIL made this little bundle of joy ... he arrived on the 7th November weighting 7lb8oz or 3140g and 51cm at 7.49pm.

Flynn Robert

So I haven't had time for sewing while visiting, cuddling and playing with his big brother who is almost 3.  I do however hope to have a make or 2 to share in December.

September Finish

One small wash cloth ready for a mighty job. This micro fibre yarn is so absorbent, your dishes will wash themselves.

This is my favourite colour so far ... great stocking fillers.

It's A Start

My good intentions of having a make for this month were just a little too late. I've made a start on my plan for dishcloths for added gifts ... if only my eyes would stay open long enough at the end of the day.

Our daughter's wedding earlier this month was a beautiful day shared with family and friends ...

I intended to post sooner but was distracted by this little charmer ...

So back to the knitting tonight while watching some football and hopefully I can pop back by the end of the month to share a finish.

Happy Christmas Crafting

Quiet In The Workshop

Helloooo .... yes it's me .... chief elf :o)  My sincere apologies for being such a slack chief around the Christmas workshop lately .... just time being gobbled up by all the 'life' stuff I'm afraid .... and that 4 letter word 'work' .... and DD's wedding coming up in less that 2 weeks now!  Any crafty time has been wedding decorations and one other monthly sewing target.

2015

However I am remaining positive and am sure Christmas gift making will return with still a few months yet to add to my stash ... it's never too late to get ahead, right?

Thank you to those lovely elves who continue to make and share your Christmas goodies here with everyone .... lots of gorgeous, sweet, clever and cheeky inspiration.

Happy Christmas Sewing .... looking forward to your August posts.

I Made a Start

Once again I don't have a finish to share for October. Boy oh boy is it hard to find the time and motivation to put thread to needle. I did make a start at the beginning of the month and thought I would have a sure thing ...

in need of some holy leaves around the border ... maybe a November share?

Then last night when I went to do my post the internet decided to go on holiday so here I am the morning after. As for the crazy winds that we've been getting day after day, they too play havoc with my internet signal and my sanity!

Did you notice a new page at the top of our blog?  I thought it might be nice to share our favourite Christmas Recipes with each other. Do you have a special recipe, a family favourite, a never fail or the best ever yummy treat recipe? Feel free to add your recipe to this page with or without a picture and be sure to add your name ... I'm hoping we would all love to try some new dishes. I'm not sure how group blogs go as far as posting on a different page so let me know if you have trouble or email your recipe to me and I can add it for you.

Happy Christmas Baking

Green for Go September

Nothing like a looming 25th of the month to make me get the sewing machine out.  These 2 hand towels ...

are joining the red set which have been finished off with buttons and button holes thanks to Mum's button stash ... I'm still looking but I did manage to find two pink buttons for these.

While in town shopping yesterday I noticed lots and lots of Halloween happening in the shops, and here and there a sprinkling of Christmas peaking out from the shelves ... getting close.

Almost There for August

I'm so close to a finish but that will need a trip into town so I'll post anyway.  Where oh where can my button stash be ... oh where oh where can it be? I'm sure once I buy some more buttons they will turn up when I'm looking for something totally unrelated.

My (almost) finish for August are these 2 hand towels minus their button and button holes.

How is everyone else going this month?  There's still time to be prepared for a less stressed Christmas with 3 more months to make and create.

Happy Christmas sewing.

A Handy Finish

Yesterday I got busy ... found my tea towel stash ... dug out a fat 1/4 ... and got sewing. I've been wanting to make some of these hand towels for ages so off to the lovely Cheryll's for a tutorial and finished stitching the buttons on last night just in time.

Into the gift box ready for Christmas with more of these to follow I'm sure :o)

April ~ 1 Block and a Gift

My goodness you girls are quick off the mark this month ... I see lots of busy, happy Elves with gorgeous projects.

I've managed to finish my first block of  'A Merry Christmas Garden' ...

a lot of work but I'm happy with my attempt at needle turn applique.

Two days before our local show I decided I needed to enter a pincushion so out came the 2.5" squares ...

pretty chuffed that it got a 2nd place and now it's going into the Xmas gift stash.

Happy Christmas sewing to all xx

M.E.I.A.

Missing Elf In Action  ~  that's me!

Lovely to see all the March goodies popping up on the blog. Keep up the great work every-elf as you merrily sew along towards your Christmas filled with handmade gifts and decorations.

I will have to take a PASS this month as we're in full scale drought management here in our little part of the world. Seems strange to type that as I listen to a gentle shower on the roof but we are going to need "drought breaking rains" for it to do any good. Any sewing has been put on the back burner and blog hopping is scarce so it's lovely to pop in here to visit our little group and check out all the gorgeous makes everyone has been busy creating.

Merry Christmas Crafting

February Fun Begins

As the 25th rolls around I'm already thinking where did the time go? I don't have a finished project to share this month but I have been working away on my long term project.  I'm attempting needle turn applique after several years since my first attempt when I decided I didn't like it and preferred blanket stitch.

This time I am armed with new and improved knowledge and wash away freezer paper. I'm happy to slowly stitch away at this one and change my mind on needle turn ... fingers crossed.

Looking forward to seeing how busy everyone has been in the workshop this month.

Happy Christmas Sewing

January Ornaments

Good Morning, Good Morning ... I'm so excited to pop in here this morning and see all the elves up and posting their lovely creations for our very first month in the new workshop.  Thank you all so much for your heart warming comments about 1 Xmas Item A Month and for joining me in this wonderful venture to enjoy a little bit of Christmas Cheer all through the year. I feel blessed that a small idea between a few bloggy friends a couple of years ago has grown to hosting our very own Elf Workshop where we can share, admire, encourage and enjoy great friendships. xx

So what did I finally get around to making? I thought it time to finish off a couple of ornaments that have been cut out since 2009, oooops!  These are from Marg Low Designs and were a kit in an online stitching day I had signed up for.  The bigger of the 2 will have to wait for a nice button or something to adorn the centre.

Now I'm going to have to find somewhere to store my finishes .... let me think .... somewhere safe and clean where I won't forget where I put them!

I've also signed up for Gail Pan Designs "A Merry Christmas Garden" BOM so that will be a progressive project through the year and I'll share (all going well) some progress each month too.

Merry Christmas Sewing in 2014 everyone.   >^..^<

Grand Opening

Will you be ready for Christmas 2014?

It's never too early to start ... is it?  If you found yourself wishing for more time to make handmade goodies for Christmas ... (I still did) ...  then this may be the group for you.

Come along and join our band of crafty elves as we make at least 1 item each month to be put away ready for Christmas 2014.  The item can be for yourself to decorate or be used ... or a gift for giving.

The rules are simple:

1       a:    Make an item which you will use as a decoration in your home at Christmas or
        
         b:    Make an item to be given as a gift at Christmas or

         c:    Choose one large project for the year and post your progress each month.
 
2       Post a picture of your item/s on this blog between the 25th and end of the month. 

3       No stress allowed  :o)  Skipped a month? No problem ... it's never to late to join in.

I know I thoroughly enjoyed sewing along with all the elves last year and would love to have you all join in for another year of merriment in the Xmas workshop. New elves are most welcome.

So, this is the part I hope I can get right. Leave a message or email telling me you would like to be a 1 Xmas Item Elf and I shall send you an invite to participate on this blog. This way you're not waiting on me to post your pictures. Also you can keep an item a secret by only posting with no picture. As you sign up a link to your own blog will be added on the sidebar.

Happy Christmas Sewing. 

May your year be filled with finishes!