Blossom Cottage

Christmas Project

I have some great friends, recently Erica made herself a strip in cross stitch displaying 24 days leading up to Xmas..I loved it and tah dah, she has presented me with a strip as well.  Last night she visited and showed me how to backstitch along the tape in gold thread... then the strips will be cut and placed on red fabric, edged in cream..  Erica's was all finished, she chose a lovely dark blue fabric with green xmas trees, however I have gone for a different look which will hopefully come up as beautiful as her advent calendar is...  so stay tuned, over the next few months I will show you how I am progressing in advancing the quilting, etc.. 

Christmas Day Over

Well Christmas Day is all over for another year!  It was a lovely day for all of us. Sharing my Christmas Day head piece - the gypsy look!

I usually try to find something to entertain my niece and nephew on Christmas Day.. a few years ago it was a huge pair of sunglasses from a $2 store which were a hit.

Everyone had a turn of trying it on and having their photos taken.. see www.melissagoodsell.typepad.com for more photos. 

Favourite Christmas Decorations

Sharing some of my Christmas decorations.  I've loaded some of the favourites on flickr.  I don't have a lot of decorations, I usually choose robust ones which won't date.  My family were horrified when I replaced our old green tree with the blingy tinsel tree - I think its pretty and different, its also easy to pack away!  Near the lantern is a black and white angel which my 4 year old grand-daughter Georgia made for me.

Stacked Christmas Tree

I made this lovely little stacked Christmas tree.  Its simple to make, the gold ribbon gives a bit of glitz and I added a gold star to the top.

For instructions go to http://thesmallobject.com/stenopad/wordpress/?p=822

Twelve Ideas for Christmas

I've been working on this simple project for a couple of weeks.. it consists of a drawstring bag, labelled (Twelve Ideas for Christmas) and inside a set of twelve small cards.  Each card contains a hint or recipe on the reverse side and the final card is a booklet with a paper insert to write down addresses of annual Christmas card recipients.  The cards and bag are small, so it can be put away with the Christmas decorations or kept in with recipe books. In my case a messy drawer full of favourites and a shelf full of rarely used books.

Christmas Decorations

I found these lovely cards and decorations yesterday in the city and couldn't resist buying them.

Georgia and Oscar's Christmas Craft Day with Nanna

Well its been a hectic afternoon, between 2 swims in the pool, craft and afternoon tea outside.  Paper Christmas trees, stuck to pencils.. angels, with paper doily wings and reindeers with jointed legs.  Think I'll be picking up glitter for weeks!  Then we went outside and did a painting for Oscar and Georgia's families for Christmas.  We used a small artboard and acyrlic paints - so hoping the families enjoy them.  Oscar's is on the left and Georgia's on the right.

Sewing Projects This Week

This little table centre mat I made last night, its two pieces of calico - about 9 inches square, the christmas fabric I placed in the centre. The gold ribbon for a christmas look.  I sewed it right sides together, just leaving a small gap to turn it out - this gap I hand stitched.

Bonnie's Christmas Apron - it will fit a 1 year - 2 year old.  My friend Pam bought me this lovely Christmas fabric this week.  Kama loved it, so I decided to sew Bonnie an apron.  It is an old pattern.  The material is cut in a long strip and the sides and bottom are hemmed, the top is hemmed wide enough to thread ribbon through.  The arm holes are cut in a half moon shape and bias trim or ribbon or lace can be used.  Add a pocket trim.

If you would like the exact measurements or pattern please email me. 

Tags

These tags are made so easily.  Because they generally get discarded I decided to make some up myself this year.  I bought the stickers at our $2 store and the good thing is that when the lovely cardboard design is removed, you can also use the sticker behind it.  The gold string was on a $2 roll from the same shop.

Required - Paper or Card (I used coloured paper), stickers, glitterglue, gold cord ribbon and holepunch.

Cut the paper or card into tag size, place a sticker, stamp or card motif in the centre.  Add some glitter glue to the corners, holepunch a hole for the ribbon or cord.  Write on the back with a nice pen - I will do my writing in a gold pen.

Knit Up A Small Christmas Project

Knitted Christmas Bell

This is an old pattern I found when having a clean out recently.  It knits up really quickly and I love the fact that you use 8 ply wool.  It could be adapted to smaller needles and finer yarn if you want smaller bells. 

Measurements Height 6cm; width 5cm

MATERIALS - small amount of 8 ply yarn, one pair 4mm (no.8) knitting needles; 4mm (no.8) crochet hook, knitters needle for sewing up, ribbon and sequins or trim if desired.

BELL- Using yarn and 4mm needles, cast on 14 stitches

1st row.  Sl 1, K9, P4

2nd row  Knit

Repeat 1st and 2nd rows 14 times then 1st row once.  Cast off but do not finish off or break yarn.

Using a 4mm crochet hook and beginning with loop of last stitch, make 12ch, sl st in first chain.  Fasten off, leaving sufficient yarn for sewing up.

TO MAKE UP. Thread yarn in needle and run through side edge and draw up.  Sew cast-on and cast-off edges together.  Stitch on ribbon and sequins or trim if desired.