Simple Crafty Life

This year I managed to create more handmade gifts at Christmas time, and over the year for various birthdays. The idea is for me to replace a gift I would normally have purchased (using a budgeted amount) with a personalised hand made item. I have a lot of nieces and nephews to buy for, and although it can be easier to go into a shop and just plop down some cash, I find I want to avoid gifting gifts made from plastic, or with batteries, or that just add to a meaningless pile of junk that goes in a drawer, or a pile under the bed.

So, sounds great in principle, but the first year I tried this, it was harder than it sounds! At least, for me. I spent the last week before Christmas madly sewing and stuffing toys, but I managed to give one softie to every niece and nephew on my list!

This year I started earlier, and avoided (some!) of the craziness. These are some of the projects I completed for various people. All of these I am very pleased with, and I think they were well received. Evie loves her lap quilt! And I totally desire Izzy’s pincushion and needle book. It was quite hard to give that one away!

Isobel’s door quilt

Isobel’s pincushion and needle book

Inside Isobel’s needle book, showing scissor keeper and pockets for doodads

Supercape and cuffs for my nephew, Daniel

Lap quilt for Evie

William’s bird cape and mask

My eldest niece, Kimmy, scored this bag