Advent of the season

OK, so having kids who love chocolate calenders is normal, who doesn't love a treat every morning? but the average, hum drum, character calenders are starting to make me feel like all the excitement and joy is getting sucked dry. the kids only notice whats on the front for 2 seconds and then move on to the chocolates. so whats the alternatives? and is there really time to look at anything else now??
so firstly, to those reading this after Christmas 2014, well done! you are far more organized than i am. unless you are just like me, gathering ideas that may well be lost in the chaos. oops.
for all the rest of us looking at others preparation with envy, don't despair. There is still a few nights to save the day. so i have a small collection of fun calenders. Hopefully these will spark your creative imagination,  and without too much effort to make. plus a few for those who like other peoples handmade efforts ;)

starting with this match box garland  I just love the details!

 Just in case details give you a headache, or you are a guy (not a real man, because they love details) these frugal living tags are simple but certainly do the trick














If you happen to have 100 craft sticks lying around this advent puts them to good use!

 this DIY burlap and tags advent is a traditional choice


















 I love this little french advent with white packages and neon pink string. Perfection.

These free german printables are super cute and will win the heart of most!














Not to be confused as one of your five a day, this gingerbread advent is pretty awesome...nom! nom! nom!/

 Find the free prinables for 25 gifts christ gives to us. A great way to teach (with scriptures) and remember its not all chocolate

what would you put on your numbers? maybe someone you can call? a special treat stuck to the back? or even just a positive word? Its versatile and cute.

 This quick and simple grinch advent, just has to be done! Every child needs to feel the benefits of your heart growing three times bigger.

These Treats come in all shapes, sizes, and actions. and since it all started with a family, why not make family time the main focus every day?

So thats where all the socks went....simple easy and fun. I love it

 Be warned. Adorable viewing below.

 yes, foxes, clouds and mountains in one advent. I need this in my life right now.....








These three have won my heart. i don't know how or where but my home will make space for these. even if they are not used as advents. I think they are awesome enough to be used year round.

 But you don't have to be sucked in by the cuteness alone, and rather than focusing on treats

 how about getting up and doing something positive each day? You can even print these and use them with any of the advents shown.

   This might take the most effort but its worth focusing on the real reason for the treats and season.

 Cheers
Angie xx

Next Big Thing/Mini trend i probably missed?

Ok. I realise I am not the most fashion conscious person on the planet and i tend to go with whatever i love regardless but it just happens that both worlds seem to have collided of late.

   so what could it be? well, FOXES, of course!

As I await the arrival of our own Fox number 5, I have been looking around at various cutie things. I am also trying to prepare for that jolly (crazy) event known as Christmas. As I don't really believe my kids will accept a baby brother as their main gift I have been trying to get everything prepared well in advance. I have alas become somewhat side tracked by my new found joy in Pinterest. Where I have been gathering my Foxy findings. Here are a few of my favourites....

Find these foxy earrings and necklace at Accessorize

The lovely Carrie Lewis does it again with this Fox necklace found here

Asda are getting in on it with this girls jumper dress which my daughter is pretty chuffed with!

You can have a lovely Donna Wilson cushion to show off on your couch from here

some lovely printable Fox bookmarks Here

have a fox join you for tea?? As found Here

A beautiful fox print as found on tumblr.com

Have a made to order crochet Fox from etsy found here

 

here

and these too!

decorate your tree with loads of these

and fill your home with these thanks to this tutorial

some other things to do your self include this Lego Fox,

 

and a bit of Foxy origami??

and these are just some lovely things to look at that i couldn't actually locate but are great inspiration.

cheers Angie xx

cupcake crochet blanket

Last year was pretty insane. the first half i was laid up with my broken cocyx. a brief holiday swanning round lancashire and yorkshire. then crafting like mad getting things like this amazing (if i do say so myself) cupcake crochet blanket finished for my friends' daughters birthday. i was so chuffed she comissioned me to make it. I didn't have time to share it last year but i thought you might like a peek now.

my friend aimie chose the colours she wanted. 

I always get excited about using beautiful wool!

I made each cupcake seperately from a pattern by twinkie chan found here 

then when i thought i'd made enough i laid them out,

to see how they looked.

 

then realised i definately needed more....

after what seemed like forever,

my labour of love was complete.

and here it is on the lucky ladies bed!!!

Its a one of a kind special throw just for Ingrid. 

happy birthday

cheers angie xxx

crochet Christmas puddings

 

Alot has been going on in the fox household over the last few months which i will be sure to share very soon. including weddings in london, manchester contemporary craft fair, time exploring Edinburgh and a rather amazing crochet cupcake throw. all exciting stuff i know.
but right now i thought you might like to try a
 quick crochet pattern i put together for christmas puddings. totally inspired by &made's christmas puddings and twinkie chans cupcake garland on rock and roll brides blog.

you'll need

a small amount of double knit  wool in dark brown, cream and red
a small peice of green felt
a tapestry needle
sharpe needle and thread.

in brown
Ch 3 and sl st to first ch to form loop.
Row 1: Ch 2 (acts as your first dc), work 8 more dc into loop. Turn. (9 sts)
Row 2: (Ch 3, tr) in same st, (2 tr) each in next 8 dc. Turn. (18 sts)
Row 3: (Ch 2, dc) in same st, 1 dc in next st. [(2 dc), 1 dc] 8 times. Don’t break off  leave 6inches for sewing together


using twinkie chans cupcake topping -
in cream
ch 3 and sl st to first ch to form loop.
Row 1: Ch 3 (acts as your first dc), work 5 more dc into loop. Turn. (6 sts)
Row 2: (Ch 3, dc) in same st, (2 dc) each in next 5 dc. Turn. (12 sts)
Row 3: (Ch 3, dc) in same st, 1 dc in next st. [(2 dc), 1 dc] 5 times. (18 sts). Don’t break off.
Rotate your completed half-circle clockwise. On the straight edge of this half-circle, you will be working a row of 4 scallops. Imagine breaking the straight edge into 4 quadrants. (Fig.1)

Row 1: Ch 1, (4 dc) into first 1/8, sl st into 2/8. (4 dc) into 3/8, sl st into 4/8. (4 dc) into 5/8, sl st into 6/8. (4 dc) into 7/8, sl st into 2nd ch of the main piece. leave 6inches for sewing.

 turn the icing/frosting right way up and lay over the brown pudding body, using your six inches extra wool and a tapestry needle weave/sew together as pictured.

cut out 2 'holly leaves' from your green felt,

using sharpe needle and thread sew to top of icing/frosting


make a berry to be sewn over leaves
berry in red wool,
Round 1: Ch 2. Work 6 sc into 1 st ch. Sl st to first sc to join.
Round 2: Ch 1,  sc to end. Sl st to first sc to join. cast off leaving 6inches and turn inside out.
stitch over holly leaves. using end wool as needed

to make a christmas tree decoration chain 10 in any colour you like and weave into back of christmas pudding.

or make loads and attach to a chain. i left the space of about 3inches inbetween each pudding but its entirely up to you and what your using it for, where you want to hang it??? for a miniture garland follow instructions but use a 4ply wool and a 2.5 hook. they would look great on cards, as a brooch, or where ever takes your fancy.

merry christmas
xxx

quilting inspiration

When i was a fresh newly wed in '96 i had dreams of making my very own patchwork quilt. we had very close friends who were real all american quilters and were ready to help, and later push, me to get my quilt done. it has served us well for the last 15years, it is indeed still a lovely quilt (photos will follow soon). but lately i have found myself yearning for something new and beautiful. something that i will not find toy cars in the corners of, thanks to a few frayed seams that the kids love 'posting' into.  That won't therefore nearly knock me out when i shake it out to make the bed! 

so i find myself searching for the perfect quilt, one that will still be loved in 15years. As i take this journey (its not over yet, i don't like to rush) i have found these snipets of inspiration...

    I realise this is not a quilt but jen talbot's  bird silohette  is certainly inspiring and definately the way forward!

made from cut out bird silouettes from various paper scources.

the beauty is in the detail.

 

 see kate sew 

has caught my eye with this fresh bird quilt too

  

.

also made up of a variety of fabric sillouettes.

i love the oranges...

 

this

pottery barn kids quilt 

may be a bit cutesy but i love the trees

 and check out the two birds in the corner.

it just needs the right colours...

 

 Anthropologie are of course leading the way with their   heir loom throw

i really want to be crocheting fun like this. 

 and their  oh to deam duvet  set

is almost worth begging the money out of my husband.

 this is one of my favourites i think...

 

of course i'm not sure it would look quite so lovely in my bedroom with all the washing waiting to be put away??

so moving on...

jenn bell's jellyfish adds something new to the whole mix.

this modern leaf cushion  made from upcycling t-shirts is also brill.

there i so much more out there i will have to keep looking till inspiration hits and sticks.

I can't keep changing my mind you know!!!

cheers angie xx