Many Thanks

Hi There,

Holy Moly!!!  1006 people have viewed this little crafty cupboard blog.

I would NEVER have thought when I started this blogging journey that anyone would be interesting in my ramblings.  Lets be honest they do go on a little sometimes.  

But I love it!  

I love just writing whatever thoughts come into my head.  

I love sharing with other like minded people my crafty creations.  

I love learning new things through other blogs.  

It is a magical world out there.

So to you all who have 'popped in' I hope you have enjoyed what you have read and do come back again...I will put the jug on next time.

Lxx

Christmas is here!

Hi There,

Christmas is well and truly here at our place. Bunting is up, lights are up, santa bowl is full of chocolates, Christmas music has been resurrected.  Ahhhhhh!  Life is (at the moment) good.

A tradition with my little family of four is to put the Christmas tree up 12 days before Christmas but this year I thought we could put it up early as we need to enjoy it before we go away.

So...Today 1st December was the day.

I love getting out the nice, neat, perfect artificial tree and ladening it with all our decorations.  Growing up we always had a real tree which I loved as they had a lovely smell and Christmas wasn't Christmas without the real tree.  But now, as an adult I am not much of a fan as they create a heck of a mess as they droop and die and then you have the dilemma of what to do with it at the end of the festivities.  So I am an advocate for the artificial tree...GO THE FAKE TREE!! 

As for decorations...the more the merrier!  Our tree is very eclectic. We have homemade crafty decorations by me, LOADS of paper and crafty decorations by the littlies and decorations Hubby and I bought 12 years ago when we set up house. Including a horrendous flashing star which Hubby picked back then as it was "pretty cool".  

Yes it still goes!

Another tradition we started when the oldest littlie arrived nine years ago was to buy a Christmas decoration of their choice every year and write the date on it.  So the idea is,  if they ever leave home they will have their own decorations to put on their own tree.  It has been a wonderful thing to do as the littlies love ripping open the bubble wrap to see their decorations again.  It makes me feel good.

Homemade Mr Claus

One of my favourite bought decorations

Christmas decorations made from a pattern at Attic24.  Yet another one of her fantastic designs.  I just love all her bright, beautiful creations.  These are super easy and fast to make.  Have a go!

Homemade Christmas quilt - NEVER AGAIN!

Homemade advent calendar

So that's Christmas life in our little world.

Merry 1st of December everyone.

Lxx

New found Summer/Christmas drink

Nina or Dottie?

Hi There,

Oh look...Another new member to the family.

Meet Nina.  Or is it Dottie.  My littlest lovely has taken to the name Nina where as I think she looks more like a Dottie.

Once the last stitch is done she no longer belongs to me...Sigh...My littlest lovely takes her under her wing and they are off exploring and having adventures.  So I guess she should get to name her new friend.

So here she is Nina...

Colours don't look very bright in photo

Created from the Dilly Dot Dolls from Annaboos House.  She is the bigger sister to the littler ones I made earlier.  Being slightly bigger she wasn't as fiddly to make however her dress was bigger so that seemed to take ages.  I think I also added too much hair and then one side of her head looked a bit odd.  My eldest lovely thought she looked a little alien...EEK!  We can't have a pretty girl looking like an alien so more hair was added.  It is better but not 100% right.  However the littlest lovely LOVES it so thats that.  No changing.  Happy kids, happy Mum.

Another angle taken by Oldest Assistant 

And another

She is so cute! All Summery bright.  I may have to make one for myself (after the christmas imp and reindeer and winter dolls and...) Who's needs work to fill your days when there is LOADS of crocheting to be had!

Oh well, happy crafting this week everyone,

Lxx

Introducing...

Hi There,

INDY THE IMP

He's comes across as a quiet little fellow but when you aren't looking he is up to no good.  He loves to eat all the food in the cupboard, hassle the cat and sing nursery rhymes at the top of his voice.  Very cheeky!  Just the way the oldest lovely likes it. They have become quite good friends.

He was created from AnnaBoos House.  The creations that Sarah comes up with are just beautiful, cute and heaps of fun.  I am completely hooked on her blog.  So much so I had to make these this week...

DILLY DOT DOLLS

Princess Butternut

Princess Pea

Princess Coco

Awww.... Cutie cutie!!  Alas they won't be together long as Princess Coco and Princess Butternut will be packed off safely to new homes come Christmas.  Quite sad really as they look so good together.  But I guess that gives me an excuse to make more.

But before that, I am about to make these for me for Christmas. Yes for me! Doesn't happen often, I can't wait!

Aren't they cute?  In New Zealand it isn't exactly Wintery snow season but that won't stop me from making them.  Maybe I make them and bring them out in Winter?  Oh super!  Sorted!

Sarah's patterns are very easy and so clear to follow.  It is very hard to make a mistake.  So simple and the results are exactly like the pictures.  Sarah is also happy to answer questions you might have. What I also love is that there was room for the designs to be adapted. I added my own creative flare to them.  Princess Pea's hair was my own creation along with her longer lacy trimmed dress.   Such a great feeling to create something so quickly and my own spin to it. 

While writing this blog I see she has made this little guy.  I already have him downloaded ready to be made.  SQUEALS!!!

So over the next few days, time will be spent making these new characters.  Darn it! I just wish I didn't have to work... Sigh!

L xx

The Three C's

Hi There,

I am sitting at the local park while my two little lovelies scream around, playing some made up game while I sit here thinking...What makes me happy? Moments like these...Fresh air, little lovelies happily playing and the Three C's (they need capitals as they are very important, you see). The Three C's: A cuppa, chocolate and crochet. Simple really. I will go anywhere with anyone as long as these three things are included in the trip/outing.

I must explain The Three C's more thoroughly as I am very particular (let's call it slightly posh, oh ok OCDish) I like my hot cuppa to be tea, English breakfast. Next, now listen up, very important... The tea bag must brew in the hot water for a bit THEN the tea bag MUST come out BEFORE milk (trim) goes in. Then you have a delicious hot cuppa. Not too hard to remember?  Some people do think I am mad but if you a big tea drinker like me you would agree there is a certain way it should be made.  I am sure you have your own little 'tea ritual' that you go through for an exceptional cuppa?

Mmmmmm...chocolate. A good day is a day with chocolate.  The darker the better. However, I have been known to devour a whole bar of dairy milk. My ultimate favourite is Whittakers dark cacao chocolate. Oh so good! Especially with tea. Bliss!!

And to finish it all off while I slurp and scoff I like to crochet. As you know it is a little of an obsession. A lovely healthy obsession though. However, Hubby would still disagree that my obsession is getting out of hand even though he was caught snuggling under one of my crochet blankets last night.

So while the little lovelies are still happy to play I should really get on and crochet. I have slurped and scoffed...now some time in hooky heaven.

A teaser to what is coming...

Lovely...
Lxx

Sunday Update

Hi There,

I hope you all had a lovely weekend wherever you were.  We did here in the craft cupboard.  I was actually allowed some time in there and boy did I make the most of it!  I blew the dust of the sewing machines and whipped up something super quick (with NO unpicking!) I was most impressed.  My little lovelie who watched in fascination was also impressed.  I think she is desperate to have a go on the machine - one day.  Her feet need to be able to touch the ground while sitting first.

The sewing I was doing was part of a larger project that is almost finished. I can't wait to show you, hopefully this Friday.  So so close to the big revel.  SQUEALS!!

I also started another 'little' project that I think will be ready for its little moment in the spotlight soon.  I know it is very naughty to start another project without finishing the first but this project had been niggling me all week to be made so I just had to do it! Very much worth it.

This weekend it was nice to spend time with my littlest lovelie.  She loves to make things.  She found a pile of my colourful yarn off cuts and she decided she wanted to glue them all together into a ball.  After a little more discussion we came up with the idea to make a christmas wreath.  Yes, a big leap from a glue ball to christmas wreath but it was worth it.

Of coarse no crafty project is not complete without first taking a trip to Spotlight.  I LOVE IT.  We wandered around with a very loose list of what we needed and came home with a large bag of goodies.

We then seated ourselves at the table and went for it.  I tried to do very little, allowing my littlie to take control and make something that was hers.  And here it is...

She is a very clever girl.  It will take pride of place on the front door once the christmas season arrives.

The weather was not too bad this weekend either, so I managed a bit of time out in the garden.  Bliss!  The tropical impatients finally got planted.  I hope they survive and the Summer heat doesn't kill them off.   They look so pretty with their dark green foliage and brightly coloured flowers.  I got a surprise while I was out there...

Gladioli.   The first one of the season.  I fell in love with these flowers a few years ago as they last forever in a vase and you can get 20+ flowers on a stem.  Great value!  As this is the first one it stays in the garden, the rest once they 'pop' get picked.  I love them in vases.

RANDOM NOTE: After our power cut on Thursday night where my candle collection was starting to look horrible I decided to indulge and buy myself some yummy smelling candles.  I found a peach blossom and lily one and another that smells like gingerbread (brings back memories of my christmas gingerbread houses I make every year)  They are soooo good.  They would smell even better if my littlie would stop blowing them out.

And so, no Sunday would not be complete without some crochet time.  So I will be off now to immerse myself in some great Sunday night TV, a herbie tea and hook and yarn time.

Take care,
Lxx

A weekend in photos

Hi There,
My weekend consisted of...
Lots of sleeping in and napping on the couch.

Ooodles of crocheting.  I have never been so productive!

Baking (well a little lie, these were done on Thursday for little lovelies Halloween school day, but I had to share).

 Gardening bliss!

Overall...A wonderful relaxing weekend!
Lxx