Friday, 1 January 2010

What a wonderful Christmas ...

Warning; Image heavy post!!!!

Happy New Year everyone and I apologise for my lack of posting lately. I was very busy for Christmas with making gifts, finishing off orders and trying to prepare for the festive period.

This Christmas we were lucky enough to be invited over for a family Christmas with Tony's parents, his sister and her husband. While this meant that someone else was doing the cooking (wonderful it was too) it also meant that treats had to be made to share. With our wedding in June still burning a hole in our wallets, we were on a tight budget - meaning even more homemade gifts and treats. I have to say that it prolonged the festive season for me and I had great delight on Christmas day watching the reactions of gifty recipients;

I thought I would start a new tradition of personalised napkins for all the members of our family, when times when we are together.

I've recently got back into scrapbooking (with the help of some new friends) and decided to make my dear husband (recently overworked) a little book of 'some' of the reasons why I love him.





I made my sister-in-law a sewing organiser and journal cover with some fabulous french fabric (appropriate since she and her husband have recently bought a french farmhouse).




These little albums are such a great idea for keeping a few memorable photo's of the festive season. I made one each for my parents-in-law and sister-in-law.


My mother-in-law received a needle case and scissor case in the same fabric I used for a sewing organiser I made her for Mother's Day. She also received a journal with homemade cover.

I made this cushion cover also for my Mother-in-law with the fabric left over from the quilt I made her for all the help she offered for our wedding plans last June. This one's a pattern from the very talented Camille Roskelly of Simplify.


I made this wall hanging for my father-in-law. My parents-in-law have recently bought a caravan and it has been a stand-in joke about our Jack Russell Henri going on holiday with them - as much as they love him they emphatically DO NOT want to take him in their beautiful, clean and neat caravan. I therefore couldn't help but include Henri in this little stitchery which I adapted from a card we bought them last year.

6 comments:

Fee said...

Lots of gorgeous goodies there Caroline - I love traditions and the napkins are a lovely idea.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Wow busy busy! You've made some very beautiful things there and I'm sure they were well received. Glad to hear you had a good Christmas.

Lynda said...

Home made gifts are the best - especially when they're as gorgeous as these!

Julie said...

Is it any wonder you were so busy! These are truly beautiful and very thoughtful gifts.

Liz said...

Hi Caroline, thank you for your comment on Katys quilt. I would love to know whos pattern was used for your angel stitchery as I had a lovely cushion from my BQL secret santa swap and it is the same pattern. I would love to stitch a sister for the other sofa for next christmas. Liz X

Sarah said...

Wow - you made some fantastic gifts - thank you so much for sharing them.
Have you slept recently LOL