Wednesday 23 November 2011

Christmas is coming!



Apologies in advance, it's been a while since I blogged so have a feeling this could be a bit of a mammoth post! I hope you're sitting comfortably with a glass of something nice...

Well I've been promising it for ages now so better start with a little blanket update! Though actually not been doing much on it lately... a mixture of lack of time and a lack of motivation if I'm honest. When I started it, I was going great guns and within a couple of weeks it was about half the size it is now. At the moment I am lucky if I manage a stripe a day, but then that is OK - I'm at about 100 stripes now I think and I was only aiming for about 120 so not long to go! I kind of don't want to finish it, I have enjoyed making it so much, so maybe that is why I am eeking it out... At least I don't have the horrible sewing together bit with this one!!

Anyway so what do you think? This photo is just over 2/3 of it laid out...






It is so bright and cheerful, just as a granny blanket should be I think, and is lovely and warm to snuggle up under. As it is a work in progress, it is currently living on the sofa, so it's in easy reach in the evenings! I do love cosy evenings, with my dressing gown on and all the lamps lit. It's definitely one of my favourite things about these dark cold winter months.


Continuing on the crochet theme, a few weeks ago, I also started making some Christmassy red and white crochet bunting using Jacquie's fab pattern, though actually this is as far as I got! Karl was a bit mean about it - he can't see the point of any bunting and I think crocheted bunting was just a step too far for him to comprehend!!! I took it to heart and put my lonely triangle away in a drawer but at the weekend I dug it out and I've decided to finish it whether he likes it or not! What do men know about these things anyway?! The plan is to alternate the red and white combinations for each flag and then string them all onto some stripey string to finish. Hopefully it will look nice and festive!

So apart from the crochet, have been working hard on lots of Xmas orders coming in for various things - mainly mirrors and badges I have to say. I actually got a new 25mm die for my badge maker last week and so spent a day or so testing it out making some really teeny weeny badges. The Christmas ones I've got in my shops already...


I'm selling them in packs so they can be split up for stocking fillers and little gifts and so far have gone down really well! I also started making little floral and pretty patterned ones too, but not got around to photographing them yet, hopefully will do soon though :) Anyway so that was quite exciting last week - I do love the thrill of designing and making a new product, and these are just so cute, I totally love making them!!

Have also been on a pudding mission this week, making up more pudding badge cards and pudding magnets for my Not on the High Street and Etsy shops...




Thank you to all you lovely bloggers who have ordered things from me in the last few weeks by the way, I really truly appreciate it! I actually need to start my Christmas shopping soon - Christmas is creeping up so quickly this year as the weeks whizz by. I did have a little trip to Bath on Friday to meet up with a friend for a few hours but all I came back with were some little decorative bits for me! Not really the spirit of Christmas shopping but still... I did get some lovely things actually - especially from M&S, they have some gorgeous red and white decorations in, but I will save them for another post.

Anyway this week I've also been working on a spring magazine commission. It won't be published for months yet though the Christmas projects I did for Crafts Beautiful way back in the summer are finally in the current issues! First up from the November issue is a Christmas card project I designed which is great for using up all your little bits of ribbons...


I really enjoyed doing this one, and it actually turned out better than I had imagined. I love the photography shoot for this project, I think the styling shows them off really well.

The December issue is actually out now too and I have three different projects in this one!! One of them is for these little hanging decorations including a snowman, star, tree, stocking and gingerbread house. Do you like them? The gingerbread house was definitely my fave to make! It will be coming out to decorate my own tree in a couple weeks, can't wait!


For more crafting ideas go to www.crafts-beautiful.com
  
I think I'll save the other two projects from this issue for my next post too, so that's nearly it from me today! Oh just before I go actually, wanted to show you a bit of festive embroidery I did at the weekend... 


If you couldn't tell, it's a little pair of festive mittens! (Karl's first words when he saw it were 'Why've you done a pair of boxing gloves?' Cheeky thing! Trouble is,  am not entirely sure he was joking!) It was really simple to make, just a little felt and embroidery thread, framed in a little hoop. Don't look too closely at my stitching though, I was watching a film at the time and somehow the snowflakes ended up being kind of wonky... oh well, it's only for me so doesn't matter too much I guess!

Anyway, I hope you are having a good week whatever you have been doing... thanks for your lovely comments and for stopping by as always, and I will be back soon with some more festive makes! Jenny xxx

19 comments:

Dottie said...

Wow, you have been busy! Love your little badges :o) Am following your blog now

Dottie x

Caroline Lovis (Redneedle) said...

Oooooh lots of goodies here Jenny. Lovely blanket, totally gorgeous. I didn't think men got bunting either but then hubby came home from work saying a guy at work wanted some of my bunting! Must be difficult trying to get your head around Spring!

K @ Aurora Blythe said...

Love all the lovelies you've been making! And I have been making felt ornaments for our tree this year so my eye was caught by the magazine clipping of the felt gingerbread house. I want to try that!

somewhere on the avenue said...

Men and bunting dont always mix, they dont know what they are missing! Blanket looks really good, fabulous colours xx

Beki said...

I love the pudding badges and as for the bunting, I hope you get it finished. It will look lovely (what do men know) and I just wish I could crochet as I love crocheted bunting.

B xxx

Helen Philipps said...

Lots of gorgeous festive things in your post, Jenny! I love all your makes, the lovely magazine projects are so colourful and creative. And your amazing stripy blanket!! It looks so perfectly rainbow bright, how lovely that will be to keep you cosy all winter. Have a great week.
Helen x

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Hello Jenny...Oh my goodness you have been so busy!
Your crochet blanket is looking fab and I love the bright and cheery rainbow colours...I would love to have crochet blankets all around my house in the Winter....unfortunately I still can't crochet so I can only dream!
Congratulations on you latest magazine feature which looks wonderful too...
I'm loving the fact that I will be adding 2 of your pretty mirrors to my girls' Xmas gift bags!
Susan x
P.S I love your crochet bunting too...It's a girl thing!

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Your crochet blanket is gorgeous Jenny and I think your crochet bunting is a great idea ~ men don't know about these things!! ;)
I love the holly made with the ribbons, it really is lovely. In fact it's all beautiful, you're very clever.
Vivienne x

Andrea said...

Hi Jenny,
A lovely festive post! I love your projects in CB, fab! Your blanket is looking lovely and snuggley!
The bunting will look great when done and your little mitten embroidery is really pretty.
So glad you are nice and busy, the badges are brill and I will be making a purchase soon!
Have a fantastic rest of the week and weekend,
Andrea x

magie said...

I think the red and white bunting will look fab for Christmas :) I love the colours of your blanket and the mittens are adorable..

Maria - A Playful Stitch said...

Wow, a brilliant post, packed with gorgeousness!! All the things you've made are amazing! The blanket is looking so colourful and cuddley too - perfect for snuggling under - I love it!
Maria x

Tina said...

Your crochet blanket looks so awesome!!
xx

my4lilgirls said...

Wow what a mega big & fabulous post. Love your blanket, isn't the granny stripe such a relaxer to hook. Love the fab ornaments & i agree that gingerbread house is real pretty & cute. Must put an order in for compact mirrors my girls love them, so do I!!!!!!
Hugs Karen x

Polly Dolly said...

You are so clever Jenny. I love the blanket, it's so different with the stripes instead of squares. I agree with you the gingerbread house is my favourite xx

Julia said...

I just need you to know that Im swooning over your granny stripe blanket - yes I am, I'm loving your colour choices and think the whole thing absolutely zings with lovelyness! I bet you're over the moon with it!

Love Julia

ps - enjoyed and like all of your Christmassy stuff too. Hugs x x x

Poppy said...

As aways I'm loving all of it! You are just too clever.... ;)

Lou xxx

PS. those mittens are gorgeous!

Kathy said...

Wow, some beautiful eye candy there! Love those pudding badges and cards, so cute. Have a lovely weekend:)

Tracy Evans Textiles said...

Hi Jenny, gosh you're always doing something, what a busy bunny you are. I love your blanket, and I'm desperate to have a go at crochet but don't know how to. Will have to recruit my mum into some teaching. Life is so busy with shows this time of year I'm bearing having time to draw breath. Looking forward to a little Christmas break, that's for sure. Keep going with your lovely stuff, I'm very inspired xxxxx

home made gorgeous said...

Hi Jenny, your crochet is looking fabulous I love your colour combinations, and well done on the Crafts Beautiful articles they look amazing, I will keeping my eye out for this in the shops! Your little mittens look so cute (and definitely not wonky!) Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Sarah

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