Handmade for Christmas

If you haven't already you have to go and check out a fabulous shop in Wellington......

Made.it at 103 Victoria Street sells nothing but wonderful handmade goodies from crafters and designers around NZ.

It is just like Craft2.0 but open all the time!

They also hold exhibitions - you can check out their facebook page to keep updated on upcoming events.....

I have a some Christmas decorations as well as a few other felt goodies there for sale there so go have have a peek!

Beached Whale? Oh no that's me!!!!

5 days to go and 19 kilos gained.

Needless to say the enthusiasm for Christmas crafting is waning a little!!

Can't decide whether to put up the Christmas tree now or after bubs is born....hmmmmm

Christmas orders closing soon.....

I know I know you have barely begun to think about Christmas and here am I closing off orders for Christmas decorations!

I have an excuse though as I will be popping out baby number 2 at the end of November and I might be a wee bit busy not to mention sleep deprived to be making decorations. Or if I get a 'sleeper' this time I will keep them listed.

Last orders for all the felt Xmas decorations will be 1st November on both the Felt and Etsy sites.

This excludes the pdf patterns as I am sure I can manage to squeeze in some emails!

I am hurriedly stitching (with care and attention of course!) to stock pile the popular ones like the gingerbread men so get in quick!

2 reasons there is not much crafting or blogging happening...

Reason One:

I am enormous...

and it takes me all day just to do pick up Oliver's toys!

Reason Two:

I have a toddler who wants to be outside all the time...

I did finish my retro bambi long stitch kit and it is so cute....

It did also inspire me to make a bambi Christmas ornament...



I have also decided in a 'nesting fit' to replaster, wallpaper and paint half the rooms in our house before bubs arrives....that is a whole other blog post!

Still on the Christmas theme......

In case the festive mood has struck you there is a free pattern and tutotorial on my blog to make this cute felt Gingerbread Man ornament.....

Find all the instructions here

It's time to start stitching for Christmas......

I know a lot of people don't like to mention the 'C' word before November but I love Christmas and love designing Xmasy things.

Here is a cute Gingerbread House cross stitch/tapestry pattern I have added to my stores....

"Chrsitmas Gingerbread House"

Stitching this will definitely get you in the festive mood!

I am on a mission....

...to make plastic canvas cool again or cool for the first time!

I have been having a great time experimenting with plastic canvas and have found it a perfect material for making brooches.

Here are my lastest creations....

Yes I know more hedgehogs, mushrooms and Little Red Riding Hood - is it a theme or a rut?

I am most excited about the plastic canvas flying duck wall art project I have just started but give me a few months to get that project done!

I have a confession to make.....

I am more than slightly addicted to Trade Me....and ebay and etsy...you get the picture!

I love trawling through the listings searching for retro bargains especially old tapestry patterns.

These are a couple of recent Trade Me finds that a got for $1 each......

I love the owl pattern but my favourite page in the magazine is this one......

'Ideal for your Man's study'...hilarious!

This is another vintage find and has some great retro designs inside...

The duck and the bee inspired some quick stitching projects...

I love a good doily!!

I am saving the best purchase for last though. This one I found on etsy.....

Vintage bambi longstitch kit complete with green plastic frame - I can't wait to rip this one open and get started!

What great items have you found online lately???

New stitching patterns

A couple of new cute cross stitch/tapestry designs......

"Hedgehog & Mushroom Sampler"

and time it is time to start stitching for Christmas...

"Christmas Gingerbread Man"

I am going to stitch the small design onto plastic canvas and make hanging decorations for the tree.
Plastic canvas - how retro!!!

Patterns to stitch!

"Two Little Babushkas"

I have jsut added a cross stitch & tapestry page to my blog to help me keep track of what patterns I have available!

Find them all listed here

"Mushroom Babushka"

I am working on some super cute Christmas patterns, little gingerbread men and xmas puddings ideal for deorations or adding festive touches to tea towels and table cloths etc and they should be available soon.

21 weeks pregnant, quite large already and its a ......

GIRL!!!!!!!

I look tired already!!

Felt cupcakes + paper doll buttons going fast!

I am having another drastic clearout - it must be early nesting or something!

These bargains are on trade me.......

Felt cupcakes for pretend play, pincushions or just because they are pretty!

Paper doll face buttons and hairties & Bambi too...

Click here to grab a bargain.



New addition to Christmas page...

Here she is the new addition to my felt Christmas decoration family...

Miss Festive Babushka

I will add her to my Felt and Etsy stores now (ish!)

Handmade birthday present

Yes I am still here - I thought I should take a wee break from crafting and concentrate on cleaning my house....BORING! I had withdraw symptoms after day one and the craft kept creeping into my day.

I am trying to finish old projects and getting all my items photographed and listed - more about that tomorrow.

Here is a bit of craftiness I snuck in for a very good cause....Miss Harriet's first birthday....

A wee cuddly doll and a cupcake card!

It is so nice to be able to make a present and make it that wee bit special. I loved making the card, I used to do a lot of papercraft and scrapbooking and I remembered how much fun it was to cut up little bits of paper and make a mess!

Fabric covered display boards

A couple of super cute padded display boards added to my SALE.....

$5 and $10 Softie Doll SALE

I am getting really serious about clearing out my craft room.

Just added to my SALE STORE (under my old name Wallflower Design) a bunch of super cute softie dolls at either $5 or $10....

Here is a sneak peak....

Just $5!

$10

$10

Head over here to grab a cute doll now!

Peg Dolls

Head on over to Small Acorns and take a look at some of the peg dolls - so cute.
If I wasn't voting for my own Miss Ridinghood doll (are you allowed to vote for yourself?) I would be going for Wills and Kate - look at those outfits - fabulous!

Stitching Frenzy

I have sent hubby, toddler and Mother-in-law out for the day with strict instructions not to return until much later! I am now set up in front of the fire frantically stitiching (but still with great care and attention) to get everything finished for Craft 2.0 this Saturday.

I have been working on the 'The Cutest Gingerbread Houses in the World'

And here they all complete....

Super cute all  in a row!

Next I am onto the giant Paddington Brooches....

I have a few on the go at once that way I don't have to keep changing my colour thread all the time.

I am down to the fiddly bits - adding the collar & coat details, the suitcase and the feet.

And then....

He should look a little like this!

I love how every individual bear ends up with a slightly different expression each time.

Better get back to it. Still have to print all my backing cards, price signs and packaging!

Back ache & a peg doll!

Dear blog

What a week or so it has been...I put my back out a few days ago which wasn't helped by:

a}being 16 weeks pregnant
b}chasing a toddler around who suddenly started having tantrums
c}hubby being away on work
d}the imminent arrival of the mother-in-law

I didn't do myself any favours by cleaning and vacuuming the house from top to bottom for the M-I-L but it had to be done.

Needless to say NO CRAFTING HAS BEEN DONE!!

But now hubby is back and M-I-L is here so I have built in babysitters, caterers, wood bringer inners, fire lighters, cleaners and I get to relax (!) and try and mend my back before Craft 2.0 this Saturday (EEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!!!!!)

So yesterday I finally got to sit down and finish my peg doll for the Small Acorns competition.

And here she is.......

Ms Ridinghood

Ms Ridinghood is wearing a fetching vinatge blue striped dress gathered at the waist with lace and a super cute mushroom detail. She has lovely bespoke/distressed red and white striped stockings and black shoes. She is sporting a lovely warm red coat with stitching detail and gorgeous floral pockets.



And believe it or not there is actually a wooden peg under there!

You can read all about the Small Acorns competition here. I can't wait to see what gorgeous creations everybody else comes up with.

And now I have 4 days to finish creating for Craft 2.0.

Coffee and chocolate is definitely required!!

Short & Sweet

A new Babushka cross stitch/tapestry pattern available now....
Find it here!

'Two Little Cupcake Babushkas'

Toys for Boys (+ girls!)

I finally made my son a toy! He loves playing with my felt creations especially the pincushions so I thought it was about time I made him something he was actually allowed to play with...

It is bright and colourful and he carries it around and throws it all over the place. It features a duck, a mushroom, a ladybird, a hedgehog, an apple and a cupcake and when he feels like it he will point them out when asked!

It was a labour of love but I have decide to list it for sale too (not his one of course!)

You can find it in my felt store ($NZ) or my etsy store ($US).

I have just started working on a felt book to match - a bigger version of my needlebooks.

There is nothing like making new patterns and starting new projects when you REALLY should be doing other things like making stuff for Craft 2.0! Well it is 3 weeks away I have plenty of time (NOT!)

Mr Hedgehog needlebook

I have just added this cute wee guy to my needlebook collection...

Isn't he sweet!

He is available right now (I am organised for once!) in my New Zealand felt store. Or if you are an international shopper you can get yours here.

I will also have him for sale at Craft2.0 in July.