Crafty Mermaid

The winter can be really long without Christmas to break it up.  So an English friend of mine decided to have mid winter Christmas last weekend.  I decided to make simple felt Christmas presents to give to my friends and the other guests.  First up an owl... Then a Christmas tree... A whale for BM... And a Christmas stocking... And finally a scottie dog ala Creative Breathing.  Unfortunately the photo doesn't do the dog justice - it worked out really well from a pattern on the Creative Breathing blog - run by a very talented lady. 

Can you tell that I'm working through my photos on my phone? :D This is the Chinese silk dress I ordered in Shanghai .  Unfortunately, despite being made to measure, it doesn't really fit and is very unflattering on.  Hopefully, my wonderous sewing guru will help me turn it around.

I've been sorting through my photographs from Ireland last year and found these. I'm pretty sure I didn't blog them and as it snowed in Wellington last week - it felt appropriate! My rented home needed a bit of festive cheer so I created crepe paper bunting for my window and just enjoyed the snow...

A long completed cross stitch, waiting for a happy couple to adorn a special card. A less pleasant expression but one I have already planned as an embellishment for a gift for a friend of mine who will love it! A quick doodle - maybe for a future card...

The haul from my most recent Craft 2.0 show at the Dowse in Lower Hutt. Some nice bits and bobs that will be making their way into larger pressies at some point!

Some rather colourful earrings to compensate for the cold winter weather. Bought these in a sale for $2 each!

I made up some rather nice (if I do say so myself!) cushion covers from some Ikea fabric I brought back with me from Ireland last year. Love how they turned out. I needed something to celebrate being able to use the living room again after two weeks of paint fumes from the new floorboards. More on that in a later post, but our house has seen a pest control guy, joiner, floorboard guy and a plasterer over the last few weeks! Eeek! The cross-stitched cushion was a Marks and Spencer purchase at some point and I still really love it.  I hope BM doesn't mind the house being taken over by my creations!

Originally a Chubb Magnet - now covered with some cycle tape - inspired by this project

On my January trip to Shanghai, I stopped off to get some clothes made in the Shanghai South Bund fabric market (inspired by Miss Celia's Pants ).  Unfortunately I can't find the photographs I took of the market - what an interesting place!  I happily lost myself there for a few hours and even wandered down the back alleys behind the market.  I ended up buying some lovely fabric and buttons. Unfortunately my clothes weren't all as great as expected.  I got a Chinese style silk dress but it really doesn't fit me - I don't think they were able to handle making dresses for large breasts! I'll give stall no. 189 and Bowang Dressmakers a miss the next time. The second set of clothes - two pairs of trousers made from a pair I owed - also didn't work out.  The fabric for the two pairs that turned up at my hotel (unfortunately while I was out exploring) didn't match my fabric choices in the shop (a lot cheaper and much shiner!).  Definitely going to give sta...

A tag from the purchase of a wonderful print by Andrea Joseph .  Too beautiful to not reuse! I really love how this one turned out.  I had the sticker from a book of quotes from years ago. And a halloween selection!

Its snowing in Wellington - so cute! Doesn't seem to be landing though... Figures crossed for a cold night and we might just get a proper dusting.

A simple card with beautiful handmade paper - I'm loving the simple cards at the moment. I love how this one looks - the colours are even better in person!

I loved these stickers and couldn't bring myself to making the cards more complicated than this!

I may have changed the text on this one slightly! But I do think it improves it. I'm thinking a tote bag at some point. I actually finished this kit a few years ago but haven't gotten around to using it as a card. I think it might be better suited to another purpose, but I'm not sure of what yet. A nice easy kit and could make a cute tote bag too (I may end up making too many of them!). A Christmas present from last year from a wonderful Aunt. These are supposed to be Christmas decorations but might end up being cards instead.