The Most Gorgeous Advent Calendar

 

Ooh, I'm totally in love with my most recent sewing project, this gorgeous Advent Calendar!
Do you like it too?
The kids are super in love with it, even before I put the lollies in it!

I asked Joe if he wanted me to embroider his birthday onto the fifteenth but he declined, stating that this was for Christmas not his birthday. His little sister still needs help figuring out when her big bro's birthday is, so we have popped a pompom hair clip (that she made) onto Joe's birthday.

I made it from a kit that I purchased years ago but cannot find any information for it but it's basically just a big square of fabric with lots of little squares for the days and it's been screen printed BUT you could embroider, applique felt dates or if you had one of these nifty machines then you could add even prettier dates onto it.

The fabric is what makes it extra special, so if you are wanting that special touch then try some of this gorgeous fabric. For the backing/binding/tabs, I used leftover fabric from this quilt that I made.

So there's still time to hit your stash & quickly sew one up and also, it would make the perfect gift too.

   
I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. 

So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

         

    

Tubbie tub tub

Cuteness alert!
I just finished this little tub. It's super cute and dinky as I made the smallest size. I plan on using it for bits & bobs next to my crafty space.

The pattern is this one... and you should totally get it as it's such a fun and super easy pattern.

The pattern doesn't actually have a handle but I had a small offcut that I finished with binding and was going to use as a bookmark until Delaney saw it and said "No Mumma, look you made a handle" .. and yep, she was totally right, it was meant to be a handle, so it now does!

I also quilted the base as I was on a roll with the quilting!

   

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. 

So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

   

The best gift idea: The Juniper Basket

 

 I'm just a little bit in love with what my 6yo daughter & I just finished sewing today!

The basket was such an easy sew (really simple, just rectangles) and we adapted it to fit our needs by skipping the front pocket and adding a cute motif to the front instead.

Delaney drew the picture herself, see image above and then sat & chose what fabrics she wanted to for the person (her teacher). I then traced the image onto the fabric and she wrote directly onto the fabric using a frixion pen which I sewed directly over. In case you're not fluent in 5/6 yo handwriting, I'll translate for you....

It says::::   To Miss Pearson from Delaney 2019

My lil girl is totally in smitten with the basket she made and I sure hope that her teacher will love it too and as always, my kids have requested a basket each and I think I'll make myself a couple as well.

Pattern: The Juniper Basket I made the smaller size
Fabrics: outer & scraps from my stash and the top & handles was this linen.

So tell me , if you were a Primary School teacher, teaching Prep, 

would you like this bag or is .. bad, too much or you'd really rather just a Tea hamper?!

   

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. 

So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

      

The Makers Holiday Gift Guide

It's that busy time of year for us Makers, the time where we click our knitting needles faster, put the pedal to the floor on our sewing machine, hear the snip snip of scissors and the glide of glue even more. It's time to start your gift making for the upcoming gift season!  ..and yes, I say gift season rather than just Christmas as it's also birthday time in our house and the end of the school year, so I'll be making 'Teachers Gifts' and then also, of course, Christmas gifts.           (aff links below)

So, what can we make that's easy, fun and will be loved by the recipients?  Here are some of the patterns that I've purchased & some more ideas to inspire you.

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As a Teachers Gift, I'll be making this cute Juniper Basket by Sotak as I know that Delaney's teacher loves to craft.

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This is a fun Origami style Bento Bag pattern by Indigo Bird Design, it's great value for money and it'd be a useful gift for everyone plus it looks super easy to make.

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I'm going to make the kids some of these Tubs by Rosie Taylor Crafts as I think they are super cute and it'll be great for their crafty stuff or even barbie dolls!

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If you like a bit of a challenge, then this Honeycomb Basket pattern from Love From Beth looks super fab and the designer also has a great hamper basket pattern too which would be great if you're planning on baking some goods to give as well.

If you love to make stuff and have someone that's a bit sweary that it is hard to buy for then you've got to check out this pattern ... I'm not going to add a piccie of it here because it really is a sweary thing and I don't want the more delicate readers to be insulted by the words!

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If you have a shark lover in your house or even a teenage boy that's hard to buy for then you might like to make this fun Shark Cushion by SpinaYarnStudio.

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This Mouse Book Shop by Noiland is on my making list as it's absolutely adorable and I know both my kids will love it.

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If you have crafty friends or family and you don't know what to make for them, then you can't go past these Tiny Tin Rooms by Tea Rose Company. They are possibly the sweetest things that you'll ever see!

If you're after more ideas then have you checked out the Etsy Gift Guides? Amongst the guides, my favourite one is the Personalised guide as I think it's always super special if you can add that extra touch to gifts.

I hope you have fun making and giving as it's my favourite time of year.   
Share in the comments the links to your favourite pattern or maker as I'd love to see what interests you!

   
I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. 

So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

   

   

Sewing Thread Organiser

I have been slowly trying to organise my sewing space and the one thing that was too big & cumbersome was my plastic thread holder. I really hated it, it didn't even fit the new thread that I'd started to use (this type) so I changed to a basket but that was just a big mess.
So I was delighted to come across a pattern that offered a much prettier way to store my threads, don't you think?!

It was a fun thing to sew, I changed the pattern ever-so-slightly to remove the sections that you could pull your threads through instead I opted for full pouches because I wanted to store the threads for my sewing machine rather than for embroidery (where you only need a bit of thread not the entire spool).

The needle organiser that I made (see it here) fits perfectly into the bottom pocket, so no more hunting for my sewing needles!

Joe, upon seeing all of my thread, was a little jealous, so I gave him some of the colours that I bought, many years ago, that I never used. He's now he's a happy kid!

How do you store your threads?  Box, bag, out on display?

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. 

So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie

      

The Awesome Beatrice Cowl

I'm seriously in love with newest finished project.

This was a long term project, I'd pick it up every now & then when I needed a 'smaller' project to take places (such as in the car or to the kids sports stuff).

I'm so glad I made as the yarn is gorgeous and matches the stitches perfectly. 

The pattern is from the world's most gorgeous knitting book and you can it the book either here or here. 

I also knit this jumper from the same book, the patterns are just awesome! 

That gorgeous yarn, you can get from here & it's the Lemon Quartz shade.

I wasn't sure if the yellow would suit me but this pop of colour over the top of my clothes just cheers me up!  Whatchya think of it?

I utilise affiliate links throughout my blog as a way to help me keep crafting. If you click on an aff link, I receive a very small amount from it at NO cost to you. 

So please help me to keep CraftyRie up and running by clicking on my aff links! Many thanks, Rie