The 10 mns Christmas Stocking

Time is a tricky friend, isn't it? I'm quite ready to believe someone is actually making the clock ticking faster comes December. So much to do, so much to do, and really no time to panic ... or start any lengthy projects.
We need easy, fast, effective.
So, here is a quick tutorial on the most easy, fast and cute looking Christmas Stocking you'll ever make.

Make one, make twenty; they are made in a flash with no tricky parts.

All you need is fabric and twine.

I've found this lovely fabric on the market for $2 a metre. The beautiful neon pink twine is from Pulp. The colours are perfect match to my Christmas Angel and the Spaghetti feathers the kids have made.
You can check them out here.
(For a maximum Woa effect, choose a fabric that compliment the rest of your Christmas theme.)

For template, I've used one of the stockings I bought last year from Typo.(I was disappointed they did not make any this year).
I'm sure you all have an old stocking somewhere you can use as a guide, and if ever you don't, why don't you try drawing it yourself? It's real easy; just make sure to put a bit of curve on the sole and above the heel.
This stocking is only about 30 cm tall x about 15 cm wide. It's only intended for small treats and will be given to all my guests at Christmas. But regardless of the size this is how to:

With fabric folded in two, trace and cut around template. You should have two pieces looking like this.
If you are making more than one, I'd suggest you do all of your cutting first, then move onto the sewing part.

Flip the pieces over (wrong side facing) and press a small dart (2.1/2") on each inside top corner. (On the heel side of the boot. The Typo Stocking has it's tie poking out at the front=toe side, I prefer having it hanging from the back=heel side.

With right sides together, start stitching just below the dart and all around the boot, leaving the top raw edge open.

Zig zag stitch or overlock top edge. (Do not stitch sides together or "close" the boot, just stitch all along top edge. Obvious for most, but just in case.)

Fold and press a small gutter (about 3/4 ") and stitch just above the overlocking (or zigzag) stitch line.

Time to turn stocking inside out and thread twine through the gutter, leaving enough out to knot and hang.

Et voila! All Done!

Super easy, super fast!

Since these are not intended for retail, I didn't bother overlocking the whole thing or make a proper hem at the top. I did try however to make name tags; with Hessian (Burlap) and felt.

But I wasn't so keen on the final result and since it (considerably) lengthen the execution, I gave up, enjoying the look of the"bare"stockings.

I let you be the judge.

With.

Without.

Christmas Angel

Ready or not, in one week we'll be jumping into December. We'll be soon busy-busier-looking after everybody's needs, wants and wishes ... To remind me to remain cheerful (eek, I forget sometimes!),I've made this decoupage Christmas Angel with the colours, illos, patterns and words I love.

I've hung it in my kitchen and every time I look at it, I think: "Yep, it's all going to be all right".

While I was doing this, the kids were busy making the spaghetti feathers as seen on Made.

Christmas list -Part Two = Lego Minifigure Gift Boxes... Again!

For Louis, Christmas means pretty much one thing: LEGO. More Lego and Lego again. I must say, I'm quite excited myself when a new box arrives in our house; I enjoy helping him build the sets. But now, Louis has taken Lego to a new level by doing short animation movie. He now builds is own scenery but always needs more minifigures.

I bought this charming trio on ebay; cheaper and quicker than trying to figure out which one is in the packet (minifigure series packets). I know they are the ones he wanted, but it kind of loses it appeals without the original packaging.

So I started doodling, wondering how I could wrap them in a fun, attractive way.

Matchboxes(medium size) seemed to be the ideal companion to my (very basic) Lego doodles. it was just a matter of cutting to size and varnish (Mod Podge). You would have noticed, I cut a bit short on one; I've decided to ignore it!

Inside, I crunched up some black tissue paper.

Et Voila!

I think it still looks cool!

Since Louis is keen on customising his own minifigure characters, I have another surprise for him: 

A book telling you all about Minifugures and how to design your own. I have had trouble getting here in Australia, but I've managed to order it from Amazon US(they do ship books internationally, shame they don't do the same for toys!)

Christmas list - Part One = The Furby Bag ... Oh dear.

This week-end my children have put together their Christmas wish lists ... Although I can't say I'm surprised, I had somehow hoped it might have changed along the way. It didn't.
For Mia it looked a lot like this:

or this:

She is crazy about the odd (and well, let's be honest, rather ugly) animal. She would be devastated if Santa wasn't bringing one. I could imagine her walking around everywhere with the hybrid Owl/Mogwai/Chicken and then I knew what I had to do!

A Furby Carry Bag! Heart-shaped and monogrammed.

Lined with neon stars,

and detailed with neon hearts.

And because you can apparently "teach" your Furby, I thought I'd better put together a few rewards and what's best than lovely, interchangeable rosettes!

They're easy and fun to make. Variation = endless!
Perhaps an evening Rosette for special occasions? In the making. I'm thinking maybe a headband?

I have sewn a small velcro tab on the front of the bag, as well as on the back of each Rosette.

So she'll be able to change as she pleases.

And to keep the spare ones safe, I made a cute little pouch.

I have had my sewing machine for 12 years (Janome Memory Craft 3500) and somehow I've hardly use all the fun stitches it's packed with. This was the perfect project to play around. I love the combo neon pink/canvas.

Et Voila!

I think that now, I can handle the thought of Furby! But mostly I know that Mia will LOVE it.
If you need a tutorial on how to make a heart shaped bag click here.

Turning blue for Halloween .... A short witch story.

It all started with a little ghost meringue on my coffee ... "Don't forget," he said, "that today is Halloween, and prepare you must be, for the Mighty Blue Witch is coming ...".

Little ghostly Lollipops shrieked in fright ... "HOOooooooo HOOooooo" they went on and on,

Until finally, the Mighty Blue Witch arrived. She made them stop, with just a blink of an eye!

She sure looked mighty in her blue outfit,

and matching blue eyes.

"Time to join forces!", she declared. She spun once, and then twice and the Orange Witch appeared in a trice!

She summoned two more ghouls, to help her collect lollies, treats, and the rest.

And once she had enough of them all, she made them disappeared and went back home to rest.

The End.

Unlike last year big effort, I didn't spend hours crafting a new costume. And it was just as well because sometimes, cheap and quick is just what is needed to please. So we put what we already had together, added a few touches here and there, and invested in a new hat, complete with moon, star and hair. ($4 at Coles). I guess, it's a bit like cubby houses; sometimes the ones you made out of cardboard are just as satisfying as the double-decked tree house dad has spent the whole summer to build.