Olivetta the Owl

I just had to take a photo and post this picture of my niece's Christmas present.  I saw a picture of a similar owl on a website somewhere ages ago and loved it but there was no information on where the pattern came from so I had to make my own.  I have just finished stitching her and she is off to Melbourne with my husband on Saturday.   I hope my niece likes her. I think I will have to make another one!  She is simple but she makes me smile!

No sewing but lots achieved all the same....

Well as I said in my last post I was settling down to an afternoon of bliss!  and it was too!  I didn't get any actual sewing done but I wasn't really expecting to.   What I have done is lost of preparation.  First I worked on these ornaments.  They will end up stuffed with a hanger from the top and a few will be embellished with buttons.  Most of the designs came from a book called "Peppermint and Holly Berries" by Art to Heart.  Once again, I love their books.

The candy canes, Christmas puddings and Christmas tree are my designs- we will see what they look like when they are completed!

This is going to be a Christmas gift for my three.four year old niece.  I have cut out the fabric but you have to wait till I have finished it before I show you any more.  I hope it works coz so far I quite like it!  I say a photo of a similar toy on another blog but they didn't way where the patter came from etc so I have made up my own with a few variations.

 The rest of these are gifts for friends - tea towels and one hand towel.  I wasn't sure how the hand towel would work but now I know I am happy with the results I will probably do more!

Tomorrow's job is some sewing.  I want to try and get the ornaments to the stage where I can sit and stuff them and do the last bits of hand stitching and embellishment at night in front of the TV and the Christmas Tree with my husband.  

I have to start doing some cooking too.  One batch of cookies every day - choc chip with red and green M&Ms today - shortbread tomorrow and the next day.  I have to make pavlovas next week - at least two for Monday and Wednesday.  I should make three but I don't think I can cope with three in three days - a bit much. 

How is your Christmas sewing and cooking going? 

Happy stitching,

Jan-Maree

and now to sew

Hurray!!!!  been to the pool, done a bit of shopping, wrapped a few more pressies, folded a bit of washing and put more in the machine and had my lunch - fed the Guitar Hero too - and now to sew!!!    check in tonight to see what gets done - an afternoon of Bliss ahead!!!!  Yay!

Tonights little bits of whimsy - thankyou "Art to Heart"

 Aprons and pot holders done so now I have moved on.  Tonight I did these ornaments.  I can't take credit for the designs as they are from two of the gorgeous Art to Heart Books.  http://shop.arttoheart.com/ I don't know how to insert all the fancy links but this should get you there.  

Quite a lot of work in them but I love the results so I think I will be making more.  These are gifts for some girlfriends that I am lunching with next week and I also need some to send down to my sister-in-law for Christmas.

I also got some tea towels ready to applique and I will probably get on with those tomorrow and then i will concentrate on ornaments until I get enough done.  Once i get all the gifts done I am definitely making some for me.  I want to design some ornaments that incorporate buttons as I have a huge (obscene) collection of buttons, some new, some vintage and some just plain old. 

And now to bed so I can live to create another day - and yes, if you read my last post I did feed the family, and if I am lucky there will be enough to feed them again another night - so that will save me some more sewing time!!!  There is more than one way to skin a cat ...hee hee

I need a maid!

I have decided that there just isn't enough time in the day!  I obviously need a maid - I just want to sit here and sew but my inconsiderate family wants to eat - honestly!  Where are their priorities!

All done...

Now you might be sick of hearing about these pot holders and aprons and if that is the case then I am sorry but I just have to celebrate the fact that they are all finally completed!  They seem to have take a really long time to complete them but I guess I have done a lot of other bits and pieces in between times.  I am particularly ready to move onto something else though.  Not because I didn't enjoy doing them but because I am just ready - I want to finish my Christmas sewing coz I want to get onto to some gifts I have to make for January and then some fun stuff!

The first set is for my sister, the red set is for my nephew's girlfriend - her favourite colour is red.  I think it is my favourite too.

.This set is for, no prizes there, Joel.  He is my nephew and a real sweetheart.  If my sons turn out half as nice as him I will be delighted.
While I think of it if anyone can tell my why my photos sometime change orientation during the uploading process I would appreciate it.  All these photos were taken facing the same way and now I have some sideways and some right way up and I can't work out how to fix it.  Most annoying.  I hope you are not getting a stiff neck!
I had to find a pot holder design that wasn't too girly and as Joel helps out on his step dad's sheep farm regularly I figured the sheep was good and I loved the cow  so thought they made a great pair.





This set is for my niece - she just likes colours.  I can relate to that too.

This set is for, you guessed it, JACK.  He is my niece's boyfriend.

Everyone's potholders are plain on the back, except for Jack, as I have been reliably informed that he is learning to cook - so I figured "L" plates would be appropriate.  The two siblings live together with their respective partners so I suspect poor old Jack is about to receive a good bit of ribbing from the others.

At last one set down and five to go ......

At last, I have finished one of the apron and potholder sets that I seem to have been working on for ages.  This set is for my niece Joanna who is living in London.  The rest of the sets are for her family who all live in and near Perth.  I will be running to the post office tomorrow with Joanna's in the hope that she receives them in time for Christmas.  I have no idea how long parcels are taking to get to England from Sydney these days - any ideas anyone?

 I haven't yet worked out why some of these photos turn themselves on their sides but I am too tired to night to continue that battle but at least you can see the shape of the apron which doesn't show up in the first photo.

Tomorrow will be a trip to the post office, a quick one to the shops and a few other chores plus, hopefully, a few more pot holders finished!

Good Night!