Our break in the forest...

We had a great time at Center Parcs, Winfell Forest, last week. Stayed in a wooden lodge amongst the trees and the wildlife! It was the perfect place to chill...lazy mornings followed by coffee at Starbucks :) Eating out in the evenings with swimming and wondering about in between! We had to wrap up warm because it was quite chilly, but what do you expect in January!
We are already planning our next trip...when our little family of 3 will have become 4 :)

Here are a few photos from our forest break....

Grace & Archie Canvasses

I made these two canvasses for my niece & nephew Grace & Archie as part of their Christmas presents. I used felt and stitching for their names and a little detail and mounted them up on patterned paper and card....I will have to make one for Joshua!

Daisy Elephant

This is a cute little sock elephant I was asked to make for a baby girl called Daisy. I personalised the elephant by stitching on a 'D' and a tiny daisy to the side of her.

Christmas Decoration

This is a little Christmas decoration I made as part of a 'Secret Santa' present I put together!!

Pretty Patchwork Cushions

Here are the two lovely completed patchwork cushions all hand-stitched. I filled them with a scented filling and added buttons and a bow embellishment. I'm so very proud of them!

Work in progress...

I have been totally inspired by the TV programme 'Kirstie's Homemade Home' and wanted to start making a patchwork cushion as soon as i'd seen how to do it on Tuesday evening. I'm currently making two...maybe for gifts...maybe to sell...although I quite fancy keeping one for myself ;)

I'm also trying out another sock owl in neutral colours made in a slightly different way to the two other ones i've made previously.

I'm making a reindeer too although he doesn't have a head yet so thought he'd look a little scary if I posted a picture of him!!

I shall post again with the finished products.

Lots of new things!

Just thought i'd add a quick update with my new makes both completed and work in progress! Here are the things i've finished...

Two hanging hearts, the finished pink snowlady and a robin tree ornanment (the top is open, like a pocket, for a christmassy treat to be put inside!)

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween! Here's my spooky, scary pumpkin carving attempt!!

Messy Fun!!

I decided to introduce Joshua to finger painting today!! I made sure to cover all surfaces!
I look forward to doing lots more crafty things and baking with him!
I made some yummy banana flapjack this afternoon too for Joshua. He enjoyed it...I kept getting lots of "ummm, yum yum"'s from him so it must be good!!

Spotty Sock Bunny

This is the second sock bunny i've made. Complete with pink tutu and long pointy ears!...

Christmas doodles

These are a few sketches I did last night of possible Christmassy bits I may have a go at creating. I'm liking the idea of the robin, penguin and reindeer the best. The robin and reindeer would have long felt or ribbon legs with bells on the end! Perfect to dangle off a shelf!

I do have a couple of other ideas for Christmas softies too which I may have to try out first...

Sock Animals!!

After making lots and lots of sock mice I then fancied trying out some other animals!

So, i've had a go at making a stripy zebra, a funky sock croc, two owls and two bunnys. However I can't reveal the second bunny just yet as she hasn't been received by her new friend Lola!! ;) Photo/ photos to follow soon!

I feel like a bit of a 'sock freak' now...I always have to check out the socks in shops (we're off to The Trafford Centre tomorrow! You know where i'll be!!) There's so many funky patterns, the possibilities of new animals are endless!

Pretty Pink Snowlady!

Here's my latest project! I'm making a snowman from a sock! A pretty pink snowlady!!

I'm going to add some buttons to her front, stitch on some eyes, maybe add some stitched detail to her hat and scarf and add a little bell to the top of her hat.

I'll post a pic once she's done!

New camera

I got myself a new camera last weekend and these are a few shots I took, out and about, whilst learning how to use it.

I fell in love with the 'film grain' effect which these have all been taken with.

Teeny weeny cottage pin cushion

I decided to make myself a cute pin cushion a while back and made this! Beats using the boring plastic pin box!!

It was a little fiddly to do. I made myself a tiny template, which helped. I love the result!

I've since noticed that Cath Kidston have done a cottage pin cushion...also very cute!!

Storage jars

When Joshua was younger and eating food from baby jars I managed to collect together loads and loads of the baby jars. I kept them in a cupboard thinking i'd come back to them one day and make something with them!

These two jars were my first attempts from creating something with them...handy for storing my tea-bags in at work!

I've still loads and loads of the tiny jars left and will hopefully get them used by making more little pretty storage jars...I have a few ideas up my sleeve for them ;)

Two 'new baby' gifts...

I made these two felt hanging bits for two of the ladies at work who were having babies.

The elephant was made for baby Lola and the butterfly hanging was made to match in with baby Amelie's nursery :)

Some fabric flowers...

I need to make some of these into brooches or hair clips...