New Product - Updated

UPDATED: Finished and loaded up this new pencil roll this morning adding the girly purple fabric to the pencil slots and the ties. Stay tuned for the next one with boys camo fabric.

I have been wanting to start a line of items for kids and here is the first piece.

The new pencil roll is made from medium weight denim fabric embroidered with your child's name or nickname in the colours of your choice. The one above has been made up to be given to my young cousin Casey for our Handmade Christmas. The roll has 12 slots for pencils and comes with a set of 12 pencils. Check out the shop for all the details.

Handmade Christmas Pledge Weekly Update

So last week my camera died before I was able to take a photo of the Crocheted Cupcake that I made as one of the presents for our handmade Christmas. So here it is,

So this week I wanted to share my progress on making our handmade Decorations.

I found a really easy pattern for Snowflakes somewhere on the net. It's a really great place to find patterns that are free to use for personal use. The easiest way to find these patterns is to use google, eg "Free Christmas Crochet Patterns". I am going to be making strings of snowflakes to hang around the top of my living room.

These wonderful Crochet Light Bulbs will also be strung up around the top of my living room.  I got this great pattern from jeanherman and only for $3.00USD.

My son in the past made Decorations for the family as his Christmas Present to the family, well this year he will be reviving this tradition and to help him out I found a great pattern from CrochetSal for Elf bags, after I have finished making these up my son is going to use them to put his handmade decorations in. Photos will be loaded up next weekly update when I have completed a full set.

As I have mentioned before we will also be using handmade gift wrapping. When I spotted the pattern for Reindeer Gift Bags from carriesclutter. With all the presents, decorations and products for the shop I have been making I have not had time to start making this one up but I really look forward to it as I haven't tried felting before.

So I have found a number of patterns on Etsy using the search "Patterns, Crochet, Christmas", as seen below in a screen capture there are some great ideas out there. Even if what you like to do is not crochet there is patterns out there for all types of craft and for only a small cost.  

For my followers I wanted to share a online craft shop that I love, Clever Patch . They have a great range of craft items and also a large collection of Christmas Craft Activities. So even if you dont need to order anything, stop by and look through the activities. I cant wait to make my order soon.

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Next post I will update everyone on the progress we have made so far, and the new and exciting projects we have found.

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Little bit of news on the shop,

We have a new product line that will be loaded up to the shop over the weekend. Something for the kids this time, so stay tuned for the pics.

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the our Handmade Christmas Pledge we will be running a giveaway.

For the first 25 followers of my blog will go into the draw to win a $20 gift voucher to our store and free postage.

Just add yourself via google friend connect to go into the draw. Go into the draw and you could win a Handmade Christmas Present or something for yourself.

Handmade Christmas Pledge Update

So it has taken me a while but I am finally getting around to updating everyone on Our Handmade Christmas Pledge. This has really taken on a life of its own in our little family, not only are our gifts going to be handmade but also our decorations.

For those of you out there that are wondering if we have set any rules to follow for our little challenge the answer is yes. They are,

• Gifts will be purchased from either Etsy or like online market place, Local markets, and Oxfam or like stores or handmade by myself.
• The only items that can be purchased from stores not listed above are supplies (except for the 25% exception for my son(see last post for details)).
• All gift wrapping, cards and ribbons are to be either purchased from either Etsy or like online market place, Local markets, and Oxfam or like stores or to be handmade by myself.
• And any other rules that I decide should be added along the way
  

Gifts so far.....
In my last blog I mentioned that I had purchased a pattern for a crochet cupcake cushion from djonesgirlz (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5096274), It looks fantastic and I will post a photo shortly (My camera has lost battery power).

I also made another purchase this time from YellowViolet (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7266542) this beautifully made basket is so gorgeous I think I will have to get one for myself.
For one of my special family I purchased a patten from knotsewcute (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5771714) and have already made up a bath mitt and a spa cloth. I am really happy with the way these turned out and I cant wait to start the matching bath mat.

My little "man" is in love with his recliner. When we got the daybed for the lounge room my son made a plea to keep the recliner as a result it has now become his. To help complete his little area of the lounge room I have started making him a rug for the area using a pattern I purchased from RedBerryCrochet (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=62703). Its making up really fast and easy, as I have just started on this project I will post some pics next post.

And.....

Next post I will update everyone on how we are going with our handmade decorations. There are some really great ideas out there.

Plus....

Stay tuned for our competition coming very soon.

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I don't expect everyone will want to go fully handmade for Christmas but even if you try a small part it can make a huge difference to the handmade community.

Christmas 2009 Pledge

Every year I like to either make or buy some handmade presents for Christmas but this year will be different. This year in the spirit of karma, or what goes around comes around we are making a pledge that all presents to family and friends and 75% of presents for my son (it wouldn't be Christmas for him without getting his favourite books) will be handmade. We will also be buying handmade cards, and wrapping paper.

To start off this pledge I found a wonderful pattern for crochet cupcake pillows by djonesgirlz http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5096274 that will be perfect for my cousin once i make it up.

I would like to hope that other Artist would also like to make this pledge this year.