New Year, New Materials, New Inspiration

I was spoiled this Christmas for amazing books and craft supplies. My list of books included Van Gogh, Hockney, Munch and Henry Moore's Sheep Sketchbook art reference books, Clare Youngs' Scandinavian Needlecraft and Rachel Allen "Bake". I have already baked the St. Stephen's Day "Christmas Pudding" muffins from the Rachel Allen book which were delicious!

I also got a set of Permaset Aqua fabric inks which I am so excited about! I have wanted to have a go at printing my own fabric for a while and now I am one step closer to being able to do it. I think I will try block printing first but I really want to get myself set up to do screenprinting.

Last but not least I got a free motion embroidery / quilting foot that I am dying to use! I have wanted to have a go at free motion machine embroidery for a while now and when it was featured on the latest series of Kirstie's Homemade Home that was it... I had to have one!! It will also come in very handy when I finally finish my first patchwork quilt.

While I was at my Mum's house for Christmas, I found my old kaleidoscope from when I was a kid. I'm not sure that I fully appreciated this toy as a child but I am absolutely mesmerised by it now! Everytime you turn it a brand new, never before seen pattern emerges in front of your eyes... This is my new favourite source of inspiration for pattern design. I also discovered I can take pictures through the eyepiece!!! I might make this into a feature... "Kaleidoscope Pattern of the Week".

From Kaleidoscope

No excuses for lack of crafts this year!! Plenty of materials and inspiration sources to keep me busy. I think I might start a pattern design inspriation sketch book (another New Years Resolution!)

Christmas Craft Time

I know, I know... I haven't blogged for six months, what am I playing at? I know I am rubbish at keeping up with this, so I am making a new years resolution to start blogging again on a regular basis and try to finally get some loveliness stocked in my Etsy shop!

Christmas is a great excuse for making time for crafts and I was busying myself for months with presents for various friends and relatives before the big day. Here is a sneak peek of a few...

I sewed up some of these patchwork Christmas robins using this bird pattern from the clever people at Spool Sewing in Philadelphia.

From Xmas Crafts 2010

I love wrapping presents... It's is possibly my favourite pastime ever! Hand printed gift wrap is a great way to make a gift even more special. I printed this aeroplane gift wrap using brown parcel paper, a stamp I cut from foam and poster paint. Easy squeezy! (Look out for more block and screen printing in the New Year!)

From Xmas Crafts 2010

I have been a fan of Amigurumi ever since I stumbled upon Beth Doherty's stunning creations over at Gourmet Amigurumi. I have made various creatures for friends and family over the years (always by trial and error and not from patterns) and here is the latest, a little Christmassy crochet bear. His name is Wilfred and I am rather pleased with how he has turned out.

From Xmas Crafts 2010

This Dahlia flower pattern cushion was a bit of an experiment since I wasn't sure how fiddly it would be to complete but I love the finished product. It's a brilliant way to use up tiny fabric scraps and this will definitely become a regular on my sewing table. This is a very special present for my Grandmother since she has not been well this year and I wanted to make her something to thank her for being such an inspiration to me in all things craft; teaching and encouraging me to do knitting, crochet, embroidery and patchwork. My fabric stash wouldn't be half as big if it weren't for her!

From Xmas Crafts 2010

Last but not least, most of my lucky friends and family received yummy homemade food hampers for Christmas this year so me and my man have been frantically making gift boxes, baskets and bags for all the tasty treats to go in! Putting together personalised hampers was so much fun because you can create themed hampers for people who love Italian or Indian foods, buy weird and interesting foods that would otherwise be overlooked and also make things like Christmas cakes or homemade fudge. Best of all, no matter how much you seem to put in them, they will always cost less and have a lot more personality and meaning than if you bought a prepackaged, mass produced hamper.

From Xmas Crafts 2010

I got some amazing art and craft based gifts for Christmas this year but I will post more on those later, when I've had a chance to play with them!!!