Under the Christmas Tree...

 

Under our Christmas tree: presents and a cat sleeping on a bed not intended for her. We have a new arrival expected after Christmas, who was the intended recipient of this bed lovingly made from an old duvet and some Ikea fabric. However (and I think I knew this would happen) our cat has claimed it as her own, so I shall be making another one shortly, I am powerless to deny her. Especially as the new arrival will rock her world.

We are all feeling a bit screamy with excitement about the new arrival and I don't want to say too much for fear of jinxing it, but here is a hint: she also has 4 paws, but floppy ears.

I hope your Christmas preparations are going swimmingly, and as I'm not sure when I will next get the chance to blog, I wish you a happy, happy Christmas full of love, food, presents and maybe a little snoozing on the sofa. (That's what I have wished for anyway).

Kate
xx

A collection of craft

Christmas wreath

Here's a collection of Christmas craft you might like to try over the holidays. First up is my latest post for the Boden blog on how to make a Christmas wreath. This was great fun, I made it using Lotta Jansdotter fabric and some felt flowers.

paper garland

I also want to make a festive version of this paper garland (again from Boden) to hang around our tree using some plain silver card.

cut and and colour nativity figures

I found these brilliant cut and and colour nativity figures via Jessica Jones' How About Orange blog. You may recognise the name, Jessica is the designer behind the popular Outside Oslo collection. Her blog is a great resource for craft, design, all sorts of brilliant stuff, well worth following. You can print up a colour version or a black and white one for colouring in, which is what I did. Both my kids loved playing with these and did raise a few smiles from me when they were re-inacting the story. Made trickier by the fact my perfectionist daughter decided her first Mary wasn't coloured in well enough, leaving her with 2 Marys in her nativity scene.

woven paper ball garland

Another paper garland, and again from How About Orange, how cool are these woven balls? I really want to make these.

how to make paper snowflakes

Last Christmas (and I feel a little sad to think that this time last year we were stuck in because of the snow) we were gripped by making paper snowflakes. If you want templates for normal snowflakes, have a look at here.

Fimo Christmas decorations

I've been meaning to make these decorations from the Poppy Talk blog since before last Christmas and we finally got round to it a few weeks back. 

Fimo (a modelling clay that you can harden in the oven) is pretty expensive, but as you roll it quite thin, you can a lot of decorations from a block. We used pearlised and glitter Fimo and then pushed stamps into them before baking them. Very easy and fun.

 from Anna Maria Horner

And finally, how amazing are these decorations made from old lightbulbs from Anna Maria Horner's blog?

Christmas presents at M is for make

fabric wrapping ideas from Martha Stewart

So after my last post with sewing book ideas, here are some more Christmas present suggestions from M is for make.

Perfect for someone wanting to venture into dressmaking for the first time are the beginner patterns from Colette patterns. These have been hugely popular and from my own experience I have found the instructions wonderfully easy to follow, allowing me to tackle things like buttonholes without having a complete panic. (I usually like to incorporate a complete panic into all my sewing projects).

For a more advanced dressmaker, then a Japanese pattern book would make a great present. I enjoy just looking through these, the photography is simple and beautiful. Once you have ventured into the world of Japanese pattern books, there is no going back.

Sweet Dress Book 

Clothes patterns AND Siamese cats - what could be better?

If you want to buy fabric as a gift but are unsure what to get, try a coordinated bundle like the Enchanted Wood bundle, the fat 16th bundles make perfect bite-sized presents.

Enchanted Wood bundle

And don't forget there are some amazing bargains in the SALE section at M is for make. There are some beautiful fabrics and patterns here as I make space for some up and coming collections at the end of this year.

So how is your Christmas shopping going?

Christmas book ideas

Just incase you were searching for ideas of what to buy the keen sewer in your life, I have collected together some lovely books from Amazon that I think would make magnificent presents.

A must buy is The Colette Sewing Handbook by Sarai Mitnick. In the book, Sarai (the creator of Colette Patterns) covers sewing techniques; planning and fitting; working with patterns, fabrics and linings; and, finishing techniques. It includes 5 beautiful projects with tissue paper patterns.

Oliver + S Little Things to Sew features 20 accessories and other small sewing projects to make for children from Oliver + S creator Liesl Gibson. I adore the Little Red Riding Hood cape and penguin backpack.

Pip Lincolne from the hugely popular blog Meet Me at Mike's has brought out a new book; Make Hey! while the sun shines. It is a mix of all different kinds of craft; sewing, knitting, crochet as well as recipes. It is beautiful to look at - yes I do judge a book by it's cover.

Perfect for someone who dreams of one day designing their own fabric, Kim Kight (from one of my favourite blogs; True Up) has written A Field Guide to Fabric Design. The book covers design and colour basics to creating repeat patterns, screen-printing tips, and eventually selling your own designs.

Print and Pattern 2 is full of heavenly prints and patterns (as you might expect) a perfect gift for those who like me follow the Print and Pattern blog. I am expecting this book for Christmas!

Any finally, this glorious book Decorate co-written by Decor8 blogger Holly Becker. I think this book might just find it's way onto my Christmas list too.

Hope you found these helpful, next up some present ideas from M is for make!

Books for Christmas

Simple Sewing, Kokka and Kiyohara fabrics

I think books are a great present for anyone who loves sewing and crafting and there are so many amazing ones to chose from. Here is a selection of books that I have given or been given and a few I wouldn't mind adding to my bookshelf too.

Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing (above) is beautifully laid out with straight-forward projects that you would actually want to make, (rather than just look at). I have this book and have made loads from it including several doorstops, a draft excluder and door tidy.

Meet Me at Mike's and the new and nearly available Sew La Tea Do are by Pip Lincolne from the brilliant blog Meet me at Mike's who has without doubt the best about page ever. These would make very cool gifts. I love any book that is spiral bound, and this book is not just about sewing, it shows you a number of different crafts.

Meet Me at Mike's and Sew La Tea Do

If you or someone you know loves all things Japanese and Zakka, then have a look at Zakka Sewing. You will be pleased to hear that the instructions are IN ENGLISH! I bought this book a few years ago, and still enjoy looking through the gorgeous projects and planning what I will make. I even have some felt for the teacosy on the cover (despite the fact I don't ever use a teapot).

Zakka Sewing and Denyse Schmidt fabrics

Anna Maria Horner has several books out. As you would expect they are beautiful, Seams to Me  would make a lovely present for someone new to sewing or Handmade Beginnings would be perfect for a new mum.

Seams to Me, Handmade Beginnings and voiles

If you fancy designing your own fabric by printing at home, then I recommend Printing by Hand book (which I mentioned before here). It comes with some beautiful stencils to use and covers stamping, screenprinting, stenciling.

Or if you plan to have a go at printing your own fabrics through Spoonflower, then here are some great reference books.

I use Pattern and Palette Sourcebook all the time, I can't recommend it enough if you struggle to find colours that go together.

Pattern and Palette

I have mentioned this book before too (I was given it for Christmas last year!), if you are a fan of 1950's fabrics and Lucienne Day you will love The Fifties by the V & A.

The Fifties

The Petit Pattern series of books has been on my Amazon wishlist, FOREVER. They are quite pricey but maybe worth the investment if you are a fan of a particular style. The  Scandinavian and Japanese ones are my favourites of course.

Scandinavian and Japanese petit pattern

And finally if you or a friend are thinking of doing your crafty thing for a living then I also recommend Craft, Inc (there is a brand new sequel Creative, Inc too). They are written for the American market, but the advice and ideas are relevant elsewhere in the world. Also it's a really pretty book, I'm a sucker for the curved edges on the pages.

Craft, Inc and Creative, Inc

Honestly I could probably carry on all day suggesting books, I have had to stop myself from suggesting a hundred pretty kids books and coffee table books. But if there are any good sewing books you would recommend, please do share with a comment.