1st Blogging Birthday Giveaway

A year ago today, I took the plunge and put my first ever blog post out into the big, wide world.  It was a bit scary.  What if nobody had visited me?  But, it was also really exciting!  And I'm very glad I did it!!!  

It doesn’t seem like a whole year ago.  In fact, I almost missed marking the occasion altogether.  I only checked the date of my first post a couple of weeks ago, when I’d read about somebody else’s blogging birthday.  As they say, time flies when you’re having fun!

And I HAVE been having fun – LOTS of it!  And that’s all thanks to you, my lovely blogging friends!  Thank you, thank you, thank you for visiting me, for being interested enough to follow me, and for all your lovely, lovely comments!!!

To say ‘thank you’ and ‘you’re amazing’ to all of you, I’m going to host a giveaway.  If you enter, you could win this little bundle of prizes:

It includes.....

a rosette pin (made by me)

a little purse.....

..... with spotty, blue fabric inside (made by me too)

a make-up/toiletry case (also made by me, of course)

‘The Wonderful Weekend Book’ (not made by me, but loved by me)

To enter, all you need to do is:

1)  Follow my blog

2)  Leave a comment under this post

Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!

I’ll leave the giveaway open for two weeks, and pick a winner out of a hat (or maybe just a little jar) on Monday 25^th June.  Of course, it’s open to everybody, no matter whereabouts in the world you are. 

Good luck!!!

Have a super week.....

Carly

x

Sewing Update

I was having a little look through my last few posts this morning, and realised that I haven’t done a ‘show and tell’ of what I’ve been up to on my sewing machine for AAAAAGES!!! 

I’ve shared crocheting, book reviews, paper crafts, bargain buys, photography, knitting, poetry, crafty gifts I’ve received, and even (shock of shocks)..... baking!  But, I haven’t shared any of my sewing with you since February.  And that’s very silly indeed, as I spend most of my time sewing and I ♥ SEWING most out of all my crafting adventures!

So, here’s just a teeny-weeny taster of what I’ve been busying myself with over the past few weeks.....

[lots of colourful little rosettes]

[a spotty carry-all bag in my latest favourite colour combo]

[another carry-all bag.....]

[... and another!]

[some little gadget cases - for iphones, cameras, etc.]

[red and navy felt flower corsage]

[orange and purple felt flower corsage]

[purple and yellow felt flower corsage]

[some make-up/toiletry bags]

[kids' apron.....]

[...that's reversible]

[and another one....]

[... also reversible]

I’ll be putting some of these in to my Etsy and Misi stores, and I’ll be saving others for some fairs and markets I hope to be doing over the summer months (my first fairs/markets ever).

Happy weekend, lovely blogging friends!

Carly

x

Carly's Handmade Christmas

Thanks for the inspiration for this post's title, Kirstie Allsopp!

I know that it's a bit late in coming, but I wanted to show you some of the Christmas presents I made for friends and family.  I guess it would have made more sense to share these with you BEFORE Christmas, but I didn’t want to risk spoiling the surprise for any of the recipients who may have sneaked a look on here!  Now that all of the gifts have been given, though, it safe to post photos.....

[a make-up bag for Mom.....]

[... and a make-up bag for Nan]

[a felt flower corsage for my sister]

[a case for Nan's new mobile phone]

[my first felting project - a brooch for Mom]

[a hat for a friend's baby - great 

free pattern from the lovely Susie F]

[Köln/Cologne - giant letters for my 

sister, who moved there in the summer]

[a carry-all bag - also for my sister]

There were quite a few MORE handmade pressies too.  But these were finished-off after we left for the UK, and I didn’t get around to photographing them.  I knitted a scarf for my granddad, a hat for my nephew, and some THINGS for my dad and Simon (they were quite funny and might give you a laugh, so I’ll get some photos and share with you another time.....).  I also made a project bag for my mother-in-law, an iphone case for my sister, some Christmas decorations.....

Phew!  That sounds like a LOT now I’ve listed them all!  I’d better get started on NEXT year’s Christmas gifts NOW.....  ;-)

I’ll be back soon, to show you some of the goodies that Santa left for ME.....

Carly

x