Better Late Than Never

Ooopsie!!!  It’s almost the end of January, and I haven’t made my new year’s resolutions yet.  I guess it’s not too late (as it’s still January).  And I’m sure a wise man once said “BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!”

Deciding to ONLY set fun, crafty resolutions last year was a brilliant idea – no worrying, no guilt, no disappointments, no shame, no stress! 

So, there’ll be no dull diet plans or excruciating exercise itineraries for me in 2013.....  just lots of crafty capers and arty adventures - AGAIN!!!

How did I do with last year’s resolutions?  Here’s a quick review:

1.  Learn to crochet. Well, I did!  I’m still just a newbie, but I’ve completed a few crochet projects now – and you can tell what they’re meant to be.  So, tick!

2.  Make more things for myself (including some clothes).  I’ve knitted myself a few bits and bobs to wear, and I’ve made myself some jewellery.  But I haven’t sewn myself any clothes (which was what I intended last January).  So, yes and no to this one.

3.  Make more (and hopefully buy less) greetings cards.  Tick!  I have made more cards (especially Christmas cards) and bought less. I could still do better, though.

4.  Have a go at knitting things that are not just sewn-up rectangles.  Yes!  I’ve knitted a few things using circular needles, and a few things that aren’t rectangles or squares.

5.  Experiment with making more home accessories.  Tick!  Lots of cushions, a few papercrafty things to hang on the wall, baby quilts, different kinds of Christmas decorations.....  I would have liked to have experimented with more new patterns and ideas, though.  

6.  Improve my photography skills.  I think I have.  I feel more confident in using my camera now.

7.  Post more tutorials on my blog.  Sadly, no.  Sorry!  I only posted one last year.  That’s shameful, I know!  Must do better!!! 

Bearing my review of 2012, and thinking of what else I’d like to achieve, I came up with my CRAFTY RESOLUTIONS FOR 2013:

1)  Post more tutorials on my blog!

2)  Make some clothes for myself (sewing).

3)  Learn to follow a proper crochet pattern.

4)  Make more greetings cards – for different occasions.

5)  Expand the range of things I make to sell (including adding more home accessories).

6)  Venture into the kitchen to do some baking.

7)  Try out some crafts that I’ve never tried before.

If you have any suggestions for number 7, I’d love to hear from you!

Let’s see how this year’s resolutions go.....

I’m off to make a start right now.....

Carly

x

P.S.  Who else is IN LOVE with their Mollie calendar?

Gifted Goodies

In my last post, I told you all about our trip to Schloss Burg with our visitors.  We had such a great weekend with them!

And look what my LOVELY friend left behind for me.....

Some Cath Kidston cowboys fabric:

Some Cath Kidston fabric-covered buttons:

Some teeny-tiny red and pink buttons:

I’m super-excited about all the new project ideas my cute new goodies have given me!

Would you have guessed it that my friend is also a keen crafter???  I bet you could tell!  AND she’s a blogger, too!  Please pay her a visit and say hello.....

Thank you, thank you, thank you for my pressies – and for braving Duesseldorf in January to come and stay with us!!!  xxx

Until next time.....

Carly

x

Schloss Burg

Last weekend, we had friends visiting from England.  Usually, visitors come to see us in either in the summer or during the Christmas markets.  And we have our regular visitor-itineraries all planned out for these times of year.  But, it was quite a challenge to think of somewhere to go on a very cold and wintery Saturday in January.....

In the end, we decided on Schloss Burg.  I LOVED being there in the snow (despite the chilling winds as we walked around the outside of the castle).  It was so picturesque, and we only saw a handful of other people there all day long!  

We found a cafe and had some lunch (potato soup, followed by hot chocolate and a waffle), had a (quick) walk around outside, and then spent a couple of hours exploring the maze of rooms and staircases inside the castle.

Luckily, I remembered to take my camera along.....

Isn’t it BEAUTIFUL?!?  We’ve visited Schloss Burg lots and lots of times, and would recommend it to anyone visiting the area.  When the weather’s fine, there’s a chairlift going up to the castle – which is a fun adventure!  But I’ve decided that I like it best in the snow!!! 

If you’ve been getting snow in your part of the world, I hope you’re enjoying it and managing to stay safe and warm!

Hugs to you,

Carly

x      

Cushion Commission

Aaaages ago, a friend asked me to make her a set of six patchwork cushions to go in her living room.  Of course, I leapt at the chance!  I completed them some time before Christmas - and remembered to take some photos - but I completely forgot to do a show-and tell!  So here they are, being modelled by our beloved IKEA sofa:

I thought they looked great in our living room, and secretly didn’t want to let them go to their new home.  I often get attached to my projects and don’t want to part with them.  Does anyone else ever have this issue???

Until next time.....

Carly

x

P.S.  As a complete aside to the rest of this post..... IT'S SNOWING here!  YIPPEEEEE!!!

Crafty Gift-Giving

As promised in my last post, I’m going to do a show-and-tell of some of the Christmas presents I made for people this year.

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to make quite as many gifts as I did last year (being in hospital for the last two weeks before going home for the holidays threw lots of spanners into the Christmas-planning-works).  It was a good job I’d started on most of my planned gift-making projects super-early!

Here are the ones I managed to finish on time.....

[a hot water bottle cover for my mom]

[a make-up case and brooch for my brother-in-law's girlfriend]

[a make-up case for my mother-in-law]

[a bag for my friend]

[a button necklace and matching bracelet for my sister]

I made a few more things that I didn't manage to photograph:

• I made another make-up bag (for my sister).....
• ..... and ANOTHER for my cousin's wife
• I made a phone case with a neck-strap for my nan (she likes to carry her phone around the house with her)
• I decorated a plain notebook for my mom (I cut up pretty spotty and stripy papers to make a little house and garden on the cover)
• I made a beaded Christmas tree bauble for my nan

Simon contributed to the Christmas crafting cause this year too!  He made all the men in our families jars of DELICIOUS apple chutney and tomato relish.

Do you remember my post from aaages ago about my sister's first sewing project?  Well, I decided to set her up for future projects by getting her these for Christmas:  

[a little bundle of fabrics and other essential bits and bobs]

[my all-time favourite sewing project book]

[the world's cutest, pinkest sewing machine]

She was SO excited on Christmas day, when she opened the sewing machine.  I can't WAIT for her to get started on some projects. And.....  I can't wait to have a go on her machine!!!  ;-)

Have a fantastic weekend!

Carly

x

Santa, you know me so well!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  I hope you all had a happy Christmas, and that you celebrated the start on 2013 in style!  We had a wonderful Christmas with my family (being spoilt, eating lots, and playing games), managed to meet up with lots of UK-based friends, and had a fantastic New Year's Eve (with my parents and some friends) at a hotel in Cheltenham.  

Santa Claus is SUCH a clever fellow!  How DID he know what I was hoping to find in my stocking this year?!?  And he's SO generous too!  I think I must have been very, very good last year!!!

I thought I'd do a little show-and-tell of some of the crafty pressies I received.....

[look out, books - here comes the scalpel...]

[a little bobbin corking dolly]

[a bit of CK, of course]

[another papercutting book]

[my new 'Mollie' subscription - with freebee book]

[a new camera lens - to snap some birdies and other creatures]

[a lovely, colourful, small-project crafty book]

[and last but not least... some cute fabrics]

I'm CAN'T WAIT to get started on some new crafty projects.....  Thank you SO much for all my wonderful Christmas gifts, dear family and friends!!!  

Next time, I'll do a show-and-tell of some of the pressies I MADE for people this Christmas.  So, see you soon.....

Carly

x