Gnomes

Over at the Year of Enchantments June was the month of Gnomes. I made my partner the two gnomes in the bottom left of the picture and the gnome banner. Gary the Gnome in the middle stayed home with me. You can read how he spent his 4th over at the Swapper Spot.

Getting There

I have been able to spend a bit more time on my Christmas Advent Calendar this week. It's a great project to work on at while watching TV. I have most of the sequins and beads on Santa done. Just a few more number pockets and then it will be almost complete. I'm also planning to put a back on the whole piece. That way I can add some stiff interfacing or stiff felt so it can hang on a wall nicely. These felt projects are fun but the kits aren't complete in my opinion. The finished projects always seem to be a bit flimsy for me.

Christmas time ?

This is the other handwork that I have been working on lately. Some days I get a heart sewn down and other days I spend more time on it.

I picked up two of these Advent Calendars at A.C. Moore's after Christmas sale earlier this year. I was thinking I would keep one and sell the other once they are finished. I actually enjoy working on these type of felt kits. They are very relaxing. Not as portable as some projects because of the beads and sequins so I keep it next to my spot on the couch and work on it every once in a bit.

The directions says that you can just glue the pieces down but I'm not comfortable with the glue lasting for years packed away with all the other holiday decorations. I hand stitched each set of numbers to the hearts and then to the circle. Also the Merry Christmas is hand stitched down. I use the sequins/beads to attach the beard, etc. This way if the kids are a bit rough, it will still hold up nicely over the years.

Felt kits can be a bit pricey but I try to wait until the after holiday sales and pick up a few at 50% off. I also love to make the felt stockings too. I like how the pieces are all printed on the felt and numbered. Makes it easy...

Never too Early for Christmas Ornaments

This past Christmas I bought Robbie several kits to make a variety of things from felt and foam. He made the dragon and the knight plus a few other fun things. He had no interest in the Christmas ornies though. Robbie has his own Christmas tree so I thought it might be nice for him to make new ornaments for it. Nope, but Daddy was interested :)

Daddy has been a bit fidgety lately because he has been out of work since September '08 for some chronic pain he has had in his abdomen. Several tests later and we think we finally found the cause. He has a ruptured disc between his shoulder blades that is pressing on his spinal cord. Sounds painful just typing it. This cause a nerve that runs from his spine to his abdomen to go haywire.

Anyway...I suggested to him that he might like to do a bit of crafting. I try to recruit anyone who will stand still long enough to glue something to be crafter :) So, he made these for Robbie's tree. I think they turned out cute.