Christmas Countdown

I love the countdown to Christmas , the last couple of years we've had a small cheap advent calender that was a string of little felt trees with a pouch for a chocolate at the front, but it was really only small enough for 1 chocolate. With 2 children last year we managed to squash 2 in each tree but it's seen better days and is falling apart now.

I thought I could make one, okay I thought about it weeks ago, had a plan and promptly forgot about it. 

I remembered yesterday when I couldn't find any chocolate advent calenders in town. 

So last night I made this.

 I used an old picture frame (I seem to have a few old fashioned frames knocking around) and strung 4 lines of string at the back. Then sat for the long hall making 24 small bags with numbers patches on the front. I just used a fabric pen to write the numbers on (eventually I may embroider over them so it looks better) and picked a selection of 4 styles of fabric which were in my stash. I wanted to make bags big enough to fit small lego toys, sweets and crafty treats in them. The little Christmas pegs were ones we'd made last year to hold up cards ( I'll show you how another time) and I've still to fill a lot of the bags but I think it works well.

I was worried this morning when Maisie asked if she had a Moshie Monsters advent calender, but when they saw this set up they were really excited and began working out who'd open the first bag. Lucas got to pull out the first treats(Mint chocolate trees) and with that the countdown begins :-)

How did your countdown begin?

Amanda.x.

Review: Cath Kidston SEW.

I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of Cath Kidston's new mini craft book SEW to review.

As with the other books in this range, it's well set out for those who are just being introduction to the craft, or as in my case, those who are just looking for new inspiration.  Its removable book cover contains templates, patterns and beautiful needle book, and the book is brimming with classic Kidston photography.

The layout of the patterns within each section make even the hardest looking project easy to manage, and as long as you follow the guide step by step all the projects in here are very doable, and you don't need a huge outlay to produce them.

My favourite in the book is this Areoplane blanket, but maybe it's the mega cute needlefelt bird or boy Granny blanket in the background that's swaying me.

Thank you for reading

Amanda.x.

Reconstructing clothes. T-shirt to Halterneck.

I have had this T-shirt for years, it was a souvenir from my holiday in Florida which I bought as I loved its colour & motif but every Summer I take it out only to remember the reason I never wear it is it too restrictive at the neck and arms making you feel even hotter. But not this year, rather than it going to waste I'd have a go at transforming it into something more wearable.

I hope this guide helps if you want to try as well, its my first how to so feedback would be great.

The pictures are a bit dark I'm afraid as the camera didn't pick up great detail from this colour t-shirt.

Take one t-shirt to be re-fashioned one that is a snug fit works best, otherwise you may need to take in the sides.  Be brave take a deep breath & cut off the sleeves.Then remove the trim on the bottom inch of the t-shirt in one piece & keep, this will form the neck tie later on meaning you don't have to stitch one.                     

Lie the piece flat, if you wish you can draw a straight line across the body of the t-shirt under the neck opening, then cut along it.  Or like me you can just dive in and cut by guess work.

Then turning the piece so the back is facing draw a line connecting arm hole to arm hole, and cut across the back or just cut away.

The t-shirt should be looking like the below picture now, if you want to neaten the seams around the bottom now is a good time to do it, but I kept mine raw & they just roll up a bit at the bottom.

Now we need to make the halter neck  piece of the t-shirt, lay the shirt front down and turn over the top front neckline by roughly one inch, stitch across this in a matching thread or use a contrasting one for a detailed effect, leaving openings at each end this creates the drawstring for the top.

Take your trim from the bottom of the t-shirt & cut once so you have one long piece, then thread this through the seam.I did this by clipping a hair clip to one end & feeding it through, or you could use a knitting needle to push it through.  When pulled though to an even length tie a knot in each end of cord & runch front up.

Then wear, sorry its a bit of a bad picture of me but hopefully you get the idea. I made this during an episode of Doctor Who so it's a quick make to do & I love the fact that I get to wear my t-shirt now.

Loving the Summer sunshine

Amanda.x.

An actual crafting post

I haven't actually wrote about any projects I'm working on for ages, mostly because my time as been eaten up by one particular item.

I think this back shot looks really interesting, I love seeing the insides of handmade items, and am usually the person in a shop turning things upside down or inside out.

This was an idea for a cushion front, I wanted the colours to be country kitchen inspired.

Its taking a lot more time than expected sewing all those squares but the texture is beautiful and undulating, I can't stop touching it, now all I have to do is choose the backing fabric. Red linen or vintage style flowers.

What do you think?

Amanda.x.

wordless wednesday

Shh, we're concentrating.

Amanda.x.