More decorations......

Hello!  Just a quick post to show you the other lovely decoration that came my way from the Handmade Ornament Swap.  Isn't it gorgeous !  And it looks fantastic on our quirky tree.

Megan from Silver Threads of Happiness made it for me, thank you so much Megan!

xxxxxxxxx

December things...

Hello. 

How is your week going?

We are getting a bit Christmassy here with our Christmas tree up and kind of decorated!

I think this time of year is my favourite, so much good will and fun anticipation, 

(even if it is super busy with end of year things)!

Our tree this year has a bit of a 'Stray-ya' feel happening, with lots of open space 

and nice airy bits,  just like our lovely country!  

I do like the spindly effect and how it brushes the roof, I had to chop out the top to get it inside, so it has lost it's pointy top. I guess I have to get lots of stars for the multiple tops now! 

I think our tree definitely looks like it was made for a hot summer Christmas, all it's branches are splayed out trying to keep cool!  Not everyone at our house likes this sparse look though.  Middle (Andre) is not at all impressed, and doesn't think it looks Christmassy at all.  I am going to put him in charge of decorating the rest of the house, and we can have Christmas decorating 'Andre Style'!

......lots of crochet bits and bobs.....

.....a little crochet decoration from the lovely Lucy's pattern collection.....

....and a sequin masterpiece from the Christmas of 2005 at the Bittern Kindergarten.....it is still as shiny and pretty as ever!

....and here is a new addition to our handmade decoration collection, this little beauty was sent to me by Tania from Ivy Nest blog as part of the Handmade Ornament Swap.  Isn't it just gorgeous! I just love it, the stitching is so fine and delicate, ( I wish I could embroider like that) and I am very partial to a bit of lovely bunting!  Thank you so much Tania, this little tree will be perfectly at home on our big tree with lots of lovely happy Christmases to come! 

Christmas Tree Decoration Tutorial....

Would you like to make a little crochet tree ornament for Christmas?

Thanks for the interest in this little make, I am happy so many people liked it!

This is how I made my tree ornament for the swap, it was very easy,

 maybe a bit fiddly to put together, but not difficult at all.

You could make these trees bigger or smaller depending on how many layers you make.

As you probably noticed the layers are the basic flower pincushion pattern,

 ( this is the one I used, a nice straight forward pattern)

 each with a different amount of rounds completed to give a range of sizes.  

I started with the bottom layer (10 rounds) and then made the second layer 2 round less (8 rounds) , 

and the third layer 2 rounds less than that one (6 rounds), and so on.  

The bottom 4 were done like this, then for the top 3 layers that are quite small, I used a smaller hook (2mm or 1.5mm I think) and finer cotton till I had a size that worked in with where I was up to on my tree.

If you want a bigger tree, you could start with a 12 round layer and go up from there, or for smaller tree start with 8 or 6 rounds.

These are the colours I used for the 'Christmassy' one.

And these are the colours for the pastel one.

You will need a long needle to sew all the layers together, and sewing cotton in colours that match in with your tree.

Once you have your layers all assembled, cut lengths of bobbly ribbon or pom pom trims, pin to each layer and hand sew in place.  I did a fair bit of playing around with colours and different ribbons in between each layer until I was happy with the combination of layers and trimmings.

  

Once all the trimmings are secure, use your long needle to sew the layers together, I found adding one layer at a time, sewing to the bottom layer, and then adding the next layer, worked well and made a nice solid tree.  

Before I added the top layer I sewed a loop of ric rac for a hanger,then sewed the top layer over it, which I think looks quite neat.

So there you have it, an easy peasey  Crochet Christmas Tree!

You could embellish these with lots of cute little things I think, you could add beads or little buttons, or do little picot edges around the rounds instead of sc.

And they would look lovely made in a fluffy, fuzzy yarn I think!

The skies the limit!

I hope you can have a bit of fun with this.

Happy hooking, bye!

A Little Christmas Crafty Tadah.....

Hello.

How's your day going?  

We're going pretty well here.

So this is what I have been up to craftily speaking, 

I have finished my little Christmas decorations for the swap! 

And with heaps of time to spare. Yay!

 They are little crochet Christmas trees, (in case it's hard to tell), and I am pretty pleased with how they turned out.  The crochet bits were straight forward and then it was fun adding the pom pom bits and trims.  I was hoping they would look a little bit over the top, in a colourful kind of way.  

They make me smile, so I think that's a win.  

I kind of made up how to put these together after having a think about how to crochet little trees.

I think they are reasonably tree-like.

I hope my swap partners like them.  

......blues and pinks and greens in this one...

....and keeping it a little more Christmassy with this one.....

Have a fun crafty day! 

xxxxx

PS. Thank you so much for all your kind words on the death of my father in law, there is a lot of comfort to be found in this great big bloggy community, and both Gary and I were touched by your sympathy, good thoughts going out to you all.

On getting stuff done.......

my front garden is in need of some serious attention!

Hello.

Well, it is nearly the end of October and Blogtoberfest, and I have to say I did not do very well at the 'post every day' bit.  Pretty damn poorly really!   I should know better that to commit to these things, but I like to be involved, even if it ends up in a half-arsed way.  

So hope I make the last post tomorrow, it would be nice to go out on a high note. 

I have noticed a few other interesting bloggy type things going on, and am tempted to join in those as well.  I might do a better job of keeping up this time! (but no promises!)

There is the Month of My Creative Spaces in November that might be just what my lack lustre creative mojo needs to get reignited.  I have not been feeling like making things recently, very unlike me, I have to say.  There has been a lot of things happening in real life that have left me feeling restless, unsettled and a tad anxious.  Life has also become super busy, with a heap of helping commitment for the school taking up a lot of time and mental energy. 

Not really conducive to quality creative output, and I feel like my crochet along has stalled due to lack of time for calm crocheting.  I really want to change that soon, I feel I am letting my little band of crochet-alongers down with such sparse posting, and am so sorry for that, I am going to try and settle tomorrow for some guilt free creative time and hook a few rows just for me.

 (and then post them for you!)

I also like to make a softie at  this time of year for the Softies for Mirabel charity here in Melbourne, I think it is a nice way to share a bit of creative love with kids who might not have much to smile about.

And I have joined the Christmas decoration swap over at Christina Lowry's lovely blog.  I have actually had an idea for this, so am trying to work up a prototype to see if it looks like I imagine in my head.  

So there is plenty to keep me busy at the moment, and I am sure I will bite off more than I can chew, but you know what they say, busy people get stuff done and something great might come out of it too!

Do you over commit to things?

Or do you know your limits?

Are you joining in the Month of Creative Spaces?

Ornament Swap start.....

Hello.

How's your weekend going?

We are having a good one, I've worked today, and tomorrow we are having a family catch up.

The boys have been mooching around doing their own thing, we visited my parents after I finished work and they had a hit of tennis and a bag of chips.  Nice cruisey, quiet weekend kind of stuff.

Last night I started a new little idea, nothing very complex, but I'm it hoping it will turn out ok.  It is hopefully going to be for a Christmas swap I have joined.

 The Handmade Ornament Swap is over at the lovely blog Christina Lowry Design, I think there is still a few days left to sign up, if you'd like to join in the fun!

I am using some of my cotton yarn that I bought from Yvestown shop, and am finding it lovely to crochet with, not splitty at all.

These are much softer colours than I usually use, but I am quite enjoying the change.

Hope you all have a fun day!