December 2014

It came in a flash and went out just as quickly: now we are on the eve of a new year and new stuff to do!  I really wanted to maximize what little spare time I felt I had in December to do seasonal things, and avoid feeling stressed at what should be a happy time of year.   I think I rather like posting at the end of the month because I get a better feeling of accomplishment.
I started the month with a finished family room!  This project had been in process for a while, and even longer in my head.  Now this is probably my favourite room in the house:

I have to confess I am not so great about sending Christmas cards.  I always want to make my own, yet can't seem to find the time to sit down and make them.  I keep hoping I will do it and then it becomes so late I either send out those ones from the Diabetes association to arrive after the holiday or none at all.  Guilt, guilt, guilt.  This year I was on top of the game:  home made cards for (almost) everybody and mailed before December 12!  My secret?  I made these cards last year, too late to send then, but just waiting for my messages this year.

My only gaffe was in not sending one to our friends in Australia; I miss the international mail deadline every year, so have decided to send one to them at another time of year.  That way I can write a nice long and newsy letter.  Promise!

Eighteen little snowmen were created; most of them as favours for a tea I had for the volunteers I work with:

 I got a fair bit of other crafting done as well, making it a very satisfying month:

An enjoyable little stitching project from a British craft magazine.

Hearts made from the left-overs of my thrifted sweater pillow:

A new bauble wreath to brighten the front door:  this time made with unbreakable baubles:

Two of eight clothes-pin snowflakes made on a craft morning with a neighbour.  I hung these in my front window and they looked really pretty from outside.  I may even keep them up for January.

The only cross stitch ornament I made this holiday:  gifted to friends who had visited Paris this summer. Stitched over one on 28 ct. fabric this nearly did my eyes in!

More pillows made from thrifted fabrics:  this time a navy cabled sweater and wool kilt.

In the lazy afterglow of the big day I have been making away as well.  My Favourite Girl convinced me this fabric would be perfect for my crafting space so I used it to re-cover my swivel chair.  She's a smart girl, that one!

 I made these chubby little bugs from a Tilda book borrowed from the library.  I think it's Tilda's Spring Ideas.  My Favourite Girl said they look like Teletubbies with wings and I think she's right:

And there you have it:  December.  Now the decorations are packed away; the cookies almost eaten; the tree will come down tomorrow ('cause we're a little superstitious in our family about that) and we can embrace a new year.

Wishing you a New Year filled with health, happiness, creativity and all things good!

March Makes

I finished off a few more works in progress the last part of March.  I still have a fair pile of WIP's mind you, but I'm happy to have something to show.

These needlebooks were a long time coming.  I have been working on these forever!  I have since added a running stitch down the side of the spine, but this picture is much better.  It also took me forever to decide which one I wanted to keep: in the end I opted for the purple and yellow one because they are my favourite colours.

Next up is a little hedgehog from Helen's Bustle and Sew newsletter.  I have been subscribing for a couple of years now, but this is the first thing I have made.  He is made from a thrifted sweater and wool sport coat that I felted.  His eyes are agate beads.

And finally I crocheted the Windowpane scarf  - a free pattern available on Ravelry - with some pretty Malabrigo yarn.  I have never crocheted with such a fine yarn so it was a bit of a challenge at first.  It wasn't so bad and now I have two more scarves in the works using lace-weight fibres.

I have done no cross stitch this year for Easter at all.  This time last year I remember I was stitching up a storm.  I think the fact that March has been so cold and Easter is early this year is the reason I have no  real excitement for the holiday.  Usually it's my favourite time of year but this year I don't even have the decorations up yet!  I did put a wreath on the door a couple of weeks ago, but it fell off and broke and since then nothing has replaced it. If Time would just slow down a little bit I would really appreciate it:)

Next week I'm celebrating a birthday:  one of those "Big ___-0" ones.  I'm excited!  Birthdays are like my New Year and I get all ambitious and eager for things to come.  Hopefully by then Spring will have decided to arrive and then there will be extra good feelings all around.

Have a wonderful Easter - I hope the Easter Bunny is good to you:)