::in the days before christmas...::

...we were all still crafting away, finishing gifts and starting new ones...I just wanted to share some images with you all of what took place....


::Japanese cushion covers for my Mother-in-Law completed::




::Some interesting fabric people/creatures/animals (????) created by the little people::



:: I'm not sure if you remember the quilt I made for my brother last year, but this year I thought I'd make a cushion to accompany it, so that's what this is, a zig-zag quilted cushion::




:: Wang-Didly-John-Tac...well that's the name Jack gave this to this fabric person/creature??? He even has a rhyme to accompany him:)




::This would be the makings of a fabric-mosaiced-christmas-card made for Mr. E/Dad::

So that's it, the pre/post christmas crafty wrap...not sure what to make of it all, seems a bit chaotic to be honest, but that's part of Christmas, right?

:: merry christmas ::

Image found here : http://thebookofsecrets.tumblr.com/

Warm wishes to you all for a wonderfully merry christmas...

Tam xo

:: sunday song ::

Love Love Love it...Have you heard it? Do listen....duets don't come much better than this....promise....

If this isn't enough for you, check the live version here.

x Tam

:: sticking & stamping ::

The kidlets and I have been at it again...collecting colour cards from the local hardware to cut into shapes:


Stamping away in the spirit of Christmas:


And just generally having fun creating our own Christmas Cards/Tags to adorn the gifts this year:


We like 'em, we hope the recipients do to...

:: friday flickr favourites::

1. handmade pencilcase, 2. Yarn Christmas trees, 3. Camera Case, 4. Multi Granny Squares, 5. patterns, 6. Christmas Mobile, 7. Lovebirds unbleached linen tea towel, 8. dqs7 quilt, 9. Home Sweet Home

:: four pairs of busy hands ::

Have you ever made these? Orange Clover Pomanders. From memory I made them when I was in Primary School, about Grade 3 I think. I thought it would be a bit of fun for the kidlets to have a go at them and at the same time create some yummy Christmassy fragrance around the house.


I'm sure there are plenty of different techniques you can use, and no doubt google would be able to help out as well but here's what we did:

SUPPLIES:
Oranges
Cloves
Darning Needle

HOW:
Simply use the darning needle to poke holes in your orange pushing a clove into each hole as you go, make the holes about a 1/8 -1/4 of an inch apart so the cloves are nice and snug.

It is not necessary to cover the whole orange, however this will produce the strongest fragrance. You are certainly not limited to any design, that's part of the fun...you might even like to spell out the words 'Merry Christmas' and place them on a long dish which could make a beautiful table centrepiece at Christmas.

I gave my kids complete creative licence here and think they look great...they certainly smell amazing!!



Enjoy, x Tam.

:: sunday stash ::

Doesn't get much better does it? I loooooove this Aunty Cookie Alphabet fabric panel...you can go shopping if you love it just as much by clicking here.

Purpose? I'm thinking in a bubba#5 baby quilt or a cushion...

This will be the last Sunday Stash post for 2009...we'll start up again on the 24th of January 2010...just enough time for you all to replenish your stash!

Are you stashing this week? Add you linky link below if you are!

:: saturday song ::

What can I say? I'm a George Michael fan from way back....

:: friday flickr favourites::

1. hand dyed ricrac, 2. A curiosidade matou o gato, 3. A Corner for Creating, 4. nature of dots detail 1, 5. Granny squares in progress..., 6. embroidered butterfly garden, 7. YIP 365.153 :: Twinkle mini pillow, 8. Cats & Dogs Stack, 9. building an edge from fragments

Are you sharing the flickr love this Friday and promoting the talents of your fellow crafters? Add your link below if you are...

:: my creative space ::

Orange peels..true they are...they're part of the Green Tea and Sweet Pea BOM for month 6...I'm trying out Kellie's method using Stitch n' Wash fusible instead of the traditional needle turn method of applique...here's one out of the 7 that need to be made this month:


And here is the second of the two Tulip Blocks from month 5, hand pieced and completed...


Finally, my snowflake christmassy cross stitch is also completed, framed and ready to be gifted:


Pop over to Kirsty's to peek at more creative spaces...there's lot's of inspiration to feast your eyes on...off you go...