Christmas! – This Year I’m Getting In Early

  

What’s not to love about Christmas I say?  For me it’s not just one day, it’s the whole month of December to enjoy.  I always have the decorations up by the 1st of December.  In order for me to do that, I usually start mid November, slowly going through my Christmas boxes, sorting out what to use and what not to use this year.  Some years I prefer everything to be white and gold, other years lots of red.  Having grown up in Sweden I still love many of the Swedish traditions and try to teach our children to enjoy and cherish these too.

Last night I baked a Gingerbread Cake, using my Great Grandmother’s recipe.  She passed  away a few years ago and I just love baking her recipes. It really makes me feel so happy inside as the memories of her pop into my head and fills my heart with love.

Some of the things I cherish at Christmas time are:

• Hanging paper stars in the windows
• A Real Christmas Tree – the smell is divine
• 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th of Advent
• Paper Advent Calenders
• Watching the daily Advent Calendar on Swedish Tv online
• Cloves pushed into the skin of oranges which fills the house with a Christmas smell
• White Fairy Light (no coloured lights here)
• The Baking – Gingerbreads, Toffees, Biscuits, Saffron Breads, Wholemeal Tea Cakes, Rocky Road and Daim just to name a few
• Mulled Wine – topped with sultanas and almonds
• The Cooking  – so much goes in here
• Edam Cheese
• St Lucia & Saffron Breads (13th December)
• Candles everywhere – even if its stinking hot
• Christmas Music

Carnaval Dog Jackets

So yesterday I was in the mood for making some new jackets for my two dogs, Yoshi & Sunshine.  I think the next one I make for Yoshi (the greyhound) will need to be a little bigger, but it still fits okay for little walks!  Both jackets have a ring holder for keys and plastic bag pouch.

Cotton + Steel Carnaval Bag

My first bag for 2015. The thoughts behind this bag was for it to be perfectly imperfect, lots of colour, inspiration and bend the rules!  I can't wait to start using it!  Now I'm hoping to make some matching dog jackets for my favourite pooches in the same theme

Welcome 2015

It's nearly a new year, which hopefully will bring lots of new beginnings!  2014 has been a pretty good year me, where as 2013 & 2012 were both filled with stress, worry & sadness.  Although I hated those two years, I know in hindsight they made me grow and learn things about myself & others.

I'm hoping 2015 will continue on from 2014, where I will focus on my family, my work, health, fitness, my hobbies & creativity. I'm thinking along the lines ''What You Focus on You Develop'' - just like photography, which happens to be one area where I want to explore more of.  Here is a kickstart of my new chapter.

Another Day Another Bag or Two

Last night I made another Ginger Blossom 241 Tote which I've just listed in my Etsy Shop.  I used Ginger Blossom fabrics for the outside of the bag and Amy Butler for the inside.  Hopefully I will make another one tonight.

Elephant 241 Tote

I just had to make another one of these bags using Noodlehead's 241 Tote.  My daughter Mia claimed it as soon as she got home after school...  Lucky I cut up two lots, so I will have to start again for mine now.

Noodlehead 241 Tote - in Ginger Blossom Fabrics

Today I made this bag using Noodlehead's 241 Pattern.  Once again I mainly used Sandi Hendersen's Ginger Blossom fabrics.  I can't wait to use this bag and I will make some more of these over the weekend as it was so easy to make!  A great pattern that I definitely can recommend!

Laundry Bags in Ginger Blossom Fabrics

 I have loved these Ginger Blossom fabrics by Sandi Hendersen ever since I first saw them. This week I decided they are not meant to just lie around for 10 years and be forgotten amongst my huge fabric stash. So yesterday I whipped up 3 large size Laundry bags which can be used for so many other things - Toys, Sewing Supplies, Lingerie, pyjamas etc! Now for sale in my Etsy Store

Eiffel Tower messenger bag

I decided to make another Kennedy Bag, this one I used Michael Miller's Eiffel Towers in hot pink with Aqua Ta Dots fabrics. Once again I didn't have all the accessories so I modified it a little. I changed the corners to a round shape (simply because it was easier...)

Bird Messenger Bag - Kennedy Bag pattern

I love finding new (free) patterns online.  I made this bag using The Kennedy Bag pattern by Sara Lawson from her Sew Sweetness Blog that I stumbled across.  I didn't have all the accessories needed to make it, so I left a few details out, but still feel very happy with it.  The pattern was great to read and easy to follow!  I think I will make a few more.