I was taking stock of my crafting plans for Christmas and had Kidlet try on the old socks- they still fit! It’s still 100 days away and she might get a growing spurt before then, but I think I might get away with it for one last year-
So next in the thinking cap is the gifts for the group leaders/librarians. (Think teacher gifts style). I settled on beeswax candles rolled by kidlet and am leaning towards maybe homemade vanilla extract or some other kitchen-y item(s).
We have a little under 11 weeks until December first!
I signed up for the Studio Tour that the local arts council does in November every year and was trying to think of some ‘small’ items to whip up to sell… First I had the brilliant idea of doing christmas tree garland out of fabric yo-yos from stash scraps… But then I did the math on how many yo-yos it would take, how much time, and charging a living wage would mean a ten foot one would be like $150. So much for “small” items. So instead I decided to make little yo-yo ornaments.
Thinking of using jean tacks (as pictured above) as well as some vintage buttons I have for the centers. And I haven’t decided how to afix the ribbon. I think if I tack it at the center on the back, the ornament will lean forward when hanging free.
@Whistlefish are you still on track making handmade gifts for the whole family?
I was busy doing some stuff and then I suddenly noticed it’s November!!! November will be a stressful work month for me. I wanted to get some DIY stuff done before that. The only Christmas crafting I’ve done over the past couple of months is finishing some free kits and small cross stitch ornaments. I haven’t even finished all of them.
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AIMR
(Linda -In the year 2025, I am happy to be alive! :us:)
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My brother is going to do some Christmas “shopping” with the stuff I have already made. He says he could use some knit hats and pouches. He also wants me to make some sports themed fleece blankets for his daughters and some friends. He really doesn’t have a lot of money but a big heart, so I am trying to help him out.
I just priced the fabric for the blankets. It will be over $50! They are $30 on Amazon for the same size. I am going to tell him that I will give him some cash to just buy those. Some things aren’t worth it. I have some smaller quilts he can have for the kids to use that aren’t precious and already done.
Most of my Christmas crafting will probably be decor and a few stocking stuffers like crochet jar openers and a new apron for my best friend. I’ll also make some prints of my art work and have them framed for all of my godchildren (I have 14 of them! but am close to only about 6).
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I totally forgot that I need to make something to wear to a Christmas party! I better get on that right away! I already have the fabric.
I don’t think we actually had a September, I blinked and we got to Halloween way too quickly.
I think we have settled on rolled beeswax taper candles made by kidlet. I’m debating including some kind of holder for them in case someone doesn’t have something to put them in to light, but not sure.
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AIMR
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The thrift stores have so many options for candle holders! I have purchased the cutest simple holders for my handrolled candles for very cheap! You can even decorate some of them with little wreaths, bows, etc. My favorite are those little twig wreaths…they fit right on the holders! Candle rings
Good thing I can use them as gifts myself because turnout was abysmal (I don’t anticipate any more coming today than yesterday). But apparently, I got my answer about whether people visit new studios on the tour or just go to the same ones they always do. And/or it’s one of those events that you still have to have a large established clientele to pull in yourself with marketing (which I don’t because that’s exhausting). This an established event so I thought it would be worth the registration cost to not have to do marketing but now I know it’s not worth it for me.
I did get a very clean house and excuse to work on a personal dress project that has been sitting for months, though!
I’m so sorry the turnout was bad they missed out because you had some lovely stuff for sale. I guess with those studio tour things, people are more likely to go somewhere they already know, or close to home. In my city, we have a design tour where there’s actually a fun route from each location to the next, throughout the city (like a pub crawl but for art) and even then you see the “big names” still attract a lot more visitors than recent graduates and more niche artists.
@AIMR what are you making for your Christmas party? Letting your brother shop your stuff is very generous! He must be very impressed by your crafting if he wants to share it with other people!
I think aprons are a great gift (for those who wear them). It’s practical and useful and everytime you put it on, it reminds you of the person who made it. Plus store bought ones are usually boring. Last year I got apron fabric panels (kid size) that were on sale, you remind me that I could make them this year.
@AntBee I would think most people have candle holders, but I agree, if you want to include them I’d thrift them, or even better, go through your own cupboards to see if you have any you want to pass on.
Mr. Imma has officially given me permission to put up the Christmas tree whenever I’m ready. We bought a fake tree last year so we can leave it for as long as we like. But I don’t feel ready for Christmas yet. I love fairy lights but the weather is still too warm. We’ve had lots of rain but we haven’t even had to turn on the central heating yet.
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We are going over to friends that we get together with for years. I swear I have worn the same top and pants for the last 10 years! I have a beautiful panne velvet in my stash that I got in Japan that I think would make a lovely tunic. I can still wear the black velvet pants with it. I just have to find a suitable pattern.
I’ve lost a little steam, but I haven’t abandoned it. Hahaha. So far I’ve got:
2 cross stitch tins for nieces
1 cross stitch chicken for bff
1 Sasquatch cross stitch for fil
1 family portrait cross stitch for sil/bil
1 stuffy blanket set for niece
1 casserole trivet for mil that still needs quilted/bound
1 cross stitch bible saying for mom
Still to make: lots. Can you tell I’m on a cross stitch binge? Non Christmas crafting: I even fit in a cross stitch for myself, one for Halloween, and one for hubs, and I’m maybe a 5th of the way through a big Xmas one for myself. I think today I’ll make a game plan for the week and I’ll check in more frequently. I’m on a Xmas kick this year. Got my tree up yesterday and about to finish a second Xmas audiobook.
My DH’s family is doing a “games and prizes” Christmas party this year instead of a gift exchange. Very low-stress, so that’s awesome.
I’d like to finish up the quilts for my grand nephews, and something special for my grand niece (who already has a quilt from me), for Christmas. I was also hoping to make flannel jammies for my boys since I didn’t get to it last year.
I used this pattern to make some trousers for DS2’s Halloween costume, and they were stupid-easy. I omitted the cuffs and the waistband and just extended the front and back pieces so I could make a fold-over waist with elastic. I even added pockets. Took me just a few hours to throw together.
Yes, you can do it @Whistlefish! Making pants isn’t especially hard, making them fit to a body is. But loose fitting pants without a fly are very do-able! @tendstowardschaos ‘s pattern looks like a great, versatile pattern to make matching pairs for the whole family.
I was looking through the pantry and I found some star anise that I had left over from making batches of Speculaas cream liqueur last year. I put it on my list to make again this year. It’s super easy (dump spices in wodka, steep, add cream, keeps for a month) and some people love it. We don’t but it’s a great gift for others. Pour into a glass bottle from the dollar store, add a nice label or ribbon and it looks quite fancy. I usually get the wodka from the Polish grocery store and the cheapest ones are around €10. One bottle of wodka makes two bottles of liqueur.
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@Whistlefish Your frog cross stitch is incredible! Such TINY stitches!
It reminded me that I still have two more small panels to complete from the kit my sister gave me that I want to give back to her!
I made a cat gingerbread ornament for my brother. I saw one come through on Pinterest and thought it was something small that he could hang on his tree since he really doesn’t need or want anything.
So much for “small” items. So instead I decided to make little yo-yo ornaments.
they missed out because you had some lovely stuff for sale. I guess with those studio tour things, people are more likely to go somewhere they already know, or close to home. In my city, we have a design tour where there’s actually a fun route from each location to the next, throughout the city (like a pub crawl but for art) and even then you see the “big names” still attract a lot more visitors than recent graduates and more niche artists.
