This year I do not feel Christmassy at all however, I have managed to homemake and handmake many things using crafting techniques that I didn't even know I could do.
Firstly sewing... I own a sewing machine and can just about thread it but never seem to get it to work properly so end up abandoning it and putting it back. I can sew a button on but that's it. Couldn't hem a pair of trousers or run up a pair of curtains!!! I leave all that to my Mam and sooo wish I had learnt to sew when I lived at home with her.
However, I had seen Kirstie Allsop make Christmas decorations last year by hand and it popped into my head that I'd like to give it a go so I told my Mam my idea and she promptly posted me a load of felt, stuffing, ribbon, beads and bows to get me started. THe parcel arrived and I was away...
I copied templates from the internet and created a folder in my pictures to save them and I Started to cut out templates using greaseproof paper to trace the shapes. My first attempt was a gingerbread man. He's not the best looking and I learnt so many things with him but I really enjoyed doing it and it inspired me to create more. I hung each up on the wall and each time I created something I hung it up to compare to the previous and to admire. THe blue tree was made completely by Liam (age 4) he chose exactly what he wanted, it was made for his Dad and he knew it had to be plain blue, stuffed fat and with a single gold star. He was very sure about what he wanted. The snowman was my second attempt and I was never really taken with him. I love the hearts, this was what I intended to make and it was Kirstie's influence, I have since recreated many hearts. The middle snowman was Holly's design (age 6). She's very artistic and everything she makes glitters and sparkles she loves overly decorated bright things and anything that shines.
I'd like to think they improved as I went along. I loved making them and have made loads since I started.
