Happy New Year

Thought I would grab the chance to post now as I don't think I'll get back here until after the New Year . What a great year this has been , I joined the Handmade Craft Forum something I would never dreamed of doing . I participated in swaps and challenges and met lots of great people online and then in "real life" . I started this blog as a way to boost my business and little did I know that I would meet even more amazing and generous people . I have been thrilled each time someone leaves a comment as I return each visit and know that it all takes time . Thankyou all for your visits and comments and I hope you continue to enjoy your visits next year as I'm really getting the hang of this blogging stuff . I really love giveaways and although I never win one same as raffles and lotto , I'd like to do a few next year . First off will be my 50th post giveaway . Yes I know it is normally a 100 post giveaway but I'm just not that normal .

As I did for Christmas I will be posting lots of "Quick and Easy" ideas for Easter and Mothers Day and so on . Keep watching for those as I've had great feedback from the previous ones so they must have helped some crafters with ideas .

The best thing about 2008 is that my family has been happy and healthy , what more could a girl want ?

This then is my wish for your year 2009 - happy , healthy families! Happy New Year !

Christmas Challenge

Priscilla at Casa Bella Chic hosted a Christmas challenge this year . A selection of images were posted on her blog and we needed to design a piece using one , some or all of the images . I'm a bit of a cheat as I paint a new Santa for one of my brothers each year and decided to put my new Santa in for the challenge .

When you get a chance pop over and check Priscillas' blog for her unique pieces .

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

Too many brothers and sisters

As usual I have left things to the last minute and have just finished the tags for my families gifts .

I have 2 brothers and 5 sisters and each year I make everyone gift tags that double as decorations . This year was very simple with an appliqued star on Christmas fabric and then lightly stuffed like a little cushion and a ribbon attatched for hanging .

Now that's done I suppose I should start thinking about gifts !!.....

My little angel.

My little angel is one of my earlier designs and has just been published in Handmade v26 no5.

It is always very exciting to see my work in print .

I have a few more pieces being published 2009 I hope you enjoy them .

Crikey I could make those !

I saw ones like these in one of those lovely kitchen/home shops the other day . I thought how lovely they were until I looked at the price . $9.95 EACH!!!! Obviously I don't get out much as this really stunned me . I wasn't so stunned that I couldn't find my way to the register at GoLo to pay for 3 tealight holders 79c each . Candles I already had and ribbon , lace and braid galore .

As is always the case for me the longest part was choosing the ribbons (yes I was playing again)

A stitch or two and there you have them , very pretty tealights !

Really effective and you don't just have to have them at Christmas . If you're really flash you could decorate the holders to match your cloth or table setting for a special celebration dinner .

Chester the Supervisor

Chester one of my Kennedy Kids range of soft toys is keeping an eye on me as I pack patterns for the The Handmade Expo

My forum friend and blogger Denihttp://misspudge.blogspot.com/ is having her first market stall . Deni is an extremely talented

crafter and sews beautifully . You'll know her stall, it will be the one with the crowd in front jostling to buy her things . Deni is also about to launch her own range of patterns I have had a preview and they are so good .

My own range of patterns will also be on her stall and if your favourite craft shop doesn't already stock them wholesale enquiries are always welcome .

Call in and visit Deni at the Ipswich Showgrounds Saturday 13 December for great Christmas Shopping .

Chookhouse Creations

More buttons!

Yes I know more buttons . Really and truly this doesn't take long . The hardest part is choosing the buttons as I have to play with them not just use them .

Decide what size you want your decorations and cut two circles of medium weight cardboard .

Use a hot glue gun and glue the circles together with a looped piece of ribbon secured inside the two for hanging .

Play with your button collection for a while and then select the colours you would like .

Again using the hot glue gun glue buttons to your cardboard on both sides .

Fill in any small gaps with beads .

Make sure you use enough glue as everyone wants to touch them .

We made a few in different colours but they have mysteriously dissapeared .

I think I need to check my daughters purple room for the mauve one , really pretty .

Squished into a post bag.

The indignities a girl must suffer . This little redhead was stuffed in a post bag with her ankles around her ears and sent off to Victoria to my Bee Sew Whimsical swap partner June .
June has released Angel and thankfully she is unharmed .Thanks for being my partner June I'm
glad you saved her .

Button up !

I love buttons can you tell?

These little decorations or

place settings can be whipped up very quickly and

you're also doing a good thing by recycling your old

spice jars .

The buttons were simply

threaded on fine wire and

matching ribbon was added

to disguise the white lid with the holes in it .

Fill the jars with buttons , beads ,lollies or even rice coloured

with food colouring . Just make sure the rice is really dry before adding to the jars .

Aren't they cute ?

Finally - pink balls!

The plan was simple , won't take a sec , fill my glass cake stand with pink balls to display in the kitchen for Christmas .

That was were it all started to go wrong .

The cupboard where the cake stand sat was dusty - remove and clean everything .

My melamine collection was looking a bit grubby - clean them all .

Wow the containers look really good now - take a photo .

Go to put everything back - windows dirty - clean them .

Rearrange and finally -3 hours later- pink balls !