Whisper it...crafts for Chr...

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Whisper it...crafts for Chr...
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Downsizer Forum Index -> Make Your Own/DIY

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sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 05 10:53 am Post subject:

farmwoody wrote:

I simply refuse to 'buy' presents. Being Pagan myself, giving something that I've made involves thinking of the person that I'm making it for and stitching/weaving/cooking etc loving energy into the making process.

Oops got a bit spiritual there, sorry!

I'd agree with that sentiment entirely, I do still buy a few things but I try to make most of our gifts and hope to eventually make all of them. Means so much more all round. Your list sounds fab by the way, you're clearly much more organised with your time than I am

farmwoody

Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 98

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 05 11:14 am Post subject:

Hi Sally, its so nice to talk to you, I always look forward to reading your postings and had a feeling that, like so many others here, we're coming from the same place.
I buy some pressies too but only for my very close family and only if I know that they REALLY want something specific. I hope that makes sense? You compliment me greatly by calling me organised, I'm definately not, I promise

, I've been making, teaching and selling my craft work for 20 years, its fundamental to my smallholding lifestyle and I simply cannot imagine NOT doing it.
However yet another year is passing by where I havent learnt more about basketry and hurdle making! (Something I've been promising to do for the last ............years

This year I've really made an effort to increase my knowledge of recycled crafts and have been teaching day courses through my craft workshops (Spotty Pig workshops). The crocheted rag rugs have been a great success, definately the favourite out of all the methods. I'm still struggling with plastic bag crafts, being a bit of a perfectionist, I find the usual knitting/ weaving a little amateurish looking?
I think I've tried just about everything in the craft line but I always gravitate back to fabric crafts. I love trying new things and being a bit of a butterfly brain, I need to 'flit about' between crafts.
What do you make?

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sat Aug 13, 05 12:05 pm Post subject:

farmwoody wrote:

I think I've tried just about everything in the craft line but I always gravitate back to fabric crafts. I love trying new things and being a bit of a butterfly brain, I need to 'flit about' between crafts.
What do you make?

Like you, I've tried most things, but recently its been soap, pomanders/aromatics, food/wine type creations, felting and costume/historical type sewing that I've done the most of. Also do a bit of bone carving and jewellery work, but I'll try anything, especially if I've seen something I fancy but don't want to buy it

farmwoody

Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 98

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 05 8:30 am Post subject:

I know what you mean Sally, I've stopped going to craft fayres cos I just wander around thinking 'Hhmmm, I can do that'!
Back on track, was it Bugs who wanted a childs project? How handy are you with a sewing machine? I have a patchwork advent calender with pockets that I made for my boys yonks ago (they're 19 and 17 now!!). Every year it comes out anf gets hung up and even now they both expect to find a sweetie in the appropriate pocket every morning.
Its a very simple design and can be machine sewn for quickness. If your interested I can write up some instructions and dig it out for photos?

barefoot_boo

Joined: 06 Aug 2005
Posts: 399
Location: Wiltshire

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 9:03 am Post subject:

farmwoody wrote:

...Its a very simple design and can be machine sewn for quickness. If your interested I can write up some instructions and dig it out for photos?

Sewing is yet another skill that I've not yet aquired, but I'm keen to learn. If it really IS simple, I'd love to have a go at this so I'd like some instructions please if its not too much trouble.

Bugs - another idea you might like to try is a suitably festive seasonal mobile. Very quick and easy to make and with the potential to be brought out (and maybe updated?) year after year. The sort of mobile I'm talking about is more of a pretty childs decoration rather than one of those gimmicky squeaky flashy lights things aimed at tiny babies.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 9:22 am Post subject:
I collected 3 turkey poults on Friday. Does that count?

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 10:17 am Post subject:

I have an Advent Calendar I made when we first moved here: dead easy, a small picture of something seasonal for each day, which I wrap in an folded envelope and then paper-clip to a length of ribbon which stretches across the inglnook. Each envelope has a number written on the front, done after folding and all mixed together so no-one knows which picture is in which envelope. Pictures include Jesus in a manger for the 24th, and in no particular order: holly, mistletoe, candle, lantern, bauble, fir tree, gifts of the Magi, ice skate, bell, sheep, pudding... I look forward to preparing and hanging it each November 30th. Of course, the rest of the decorations don't go up until the weekend before Christmas.

I use the word Christmas because I'm a Christian, although I have a lot of sympathy with Pagans, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Seikhs... It's just that I choose to use Dec. 25th as his birthday, as I use Easter as his crucifiction and resurrection. Mind you, mid-winter seems as good a reason as any other for a party!

I started some raspberry brandy yesterday, having most of a bottle of brandy left from cake-making for Llanfyllin show; Looking good: just a big jar filled with raspberries, with a few spoons of vanilla sugar and swamped in brandy. Looking forward to winter drinkies now... And the child's hat and scarf (first prize in their class) made for the show are to be part of the old chap's Godson's Christmas present. But what can I do with the embroidered apron?

bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 10:23 am Post subject:
the issue of people stocking (excuse pun ) for christmas at supermarkets when they are only shut for 48hrs. have you thought that they may be like me and hate shopping at supermarkets and that they want some time off from supermarkets. I tend to do 4 huge shops in supermarkets a year for all of the cupboard stuff and some of that is done online

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 10:38 am Post subject:
I used to stock up in supermarkets, because christmas was such a nice break, and we used to celebrate christmas, and then 'hermit' untill new year. I loved it - we have too many people to visit now, and I hardly ever shop at all, unless we're hosting. Jema - any chance of your sloe gin recipe? I'm going to give that a go this year. And I'd love the advent calendar destructions too, please.

Loopy Lou

Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 263
Location: Northamptonshire

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 11:48 am Post subject:
This is the first year I have been into giving downsizing a proper go - so far I have decided that some of my family who will appreciate a home-made gift will get a Rice Buddy. Not a big gift, or a difficult one to make, but I like to give gifts that mean something, not give because it's the done thing to do. I am also planning on pickling some of our eggs, so that may be an idea too.

bernie-woman

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 7824
Location: shropshire

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 11:50 am Post subject:

Loopy Lou wrote:

This is the first year I have been into giving downsizing a proper go - so far I have decided that some of my family who will appreciate a home-made gift will get a Rice Buddy. Not a big gift, or a difficult one to make, but I like to give gifts that mean something, not give because it's the done thing to do. I am also planning on pickling some of our eggs, so that may be an idea too.

What is a rice buddy??

Loopy Lou

Joined: 02 Apr 2005
Posts: 263
Location: Northamptonshire

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 11:55 am Post subject:

A Rice Buddy is used either like a hot water bottle or an ice pack - I made one each for my children yesterday as a test run, - kind of like a little pillow but filled with rice, heat in the microwave for a couple of minutes and it warms you up!! You can store them in the freezer too and use as an ice-pack. Use 100% cotton material, and normal rice, not the quick cook stuff. I plan to make pocket size ones for those chilly dog walks.

You can buy them in the shops, but I think they have wheat based something or other in, usually tartan material, or you can but them as teddy bears.

I do hope my explanation makes sense!!

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 12:25 pm Post subject:

Oh - I've been meaning to make those for ages but couldn't get any wheat! I'll add that to the list then.

I had a flash of inspiration when I saw Nettie's post for waterproof fabric in another thread - I could make boot bags (for muddy walking boots) for my family (everyone goes home from my house with muddy boots, and we don't have carrier bags anymore, so they'd be useful!) I could customize them with names and things too. Can't be that hard to make, and we've got skiboot bags somewhere to pinch a design for.

farmwoody

Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 98

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 05 5:58 pm Post subject:
Okey dokey give me a few days to find it and photograph it!!! I'll type up some instructions, might as well post it as a how to on upperwoodfarm as well, two birds with one stone

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