Embroidered Shawl

A new commissioned piece of 1880's kit made in time for the last game! 

It's black satin dupion (slub side out), trimmed with a  gold lace and with goldwork embroidery.

 The design was drawn by Vivian and I used back stitch to fill it in.  I would like to state for the record that I despise gold thread.  It snaps and it's horrible and scratchy and fiddly.  I used an entire skein on this shawl and I'm quite frankly glad to see the back of it!

I will say though, that I think it looks lovely!

A Selection of Drawstring Bags

I made various people various bags!

 This is my attempt on a gothic-feel reitcule.  I made it with an NPC in mind but of course the recipient can use it for whatever!  I simply stitched a load of black ribbons up the side of a rectangle then turned it into a bag.

This is another simple drawstring bag, this time intended to be a dice bag!  The embroidery is done with silk thread and it's lined in cotton.

This wasn't made with a purpose in mind, I just wanted to make a pretty fox  bag!

Embroidered Handkerchiefs

A couple of little in character fripperies made for a friend's NPC's!

I think the orange embroidery worked better!  Full credit for the monogram designs goes to the lovely Caroline who drew these up for me because I fail at designing my own elegant swirls!

A Practical Gift

One of my friends requested something practical for Christmas and I know also suffers from a lack of space, so I hope this wall hanging of pockets helps her out!

Please excuse the poor photo - it was late and I was tired...

A set of pockets and some pretty decoration!

Notebook Covers

Two of my most regular table top group (you know, the group where we have sessions more than once a year...) are also table top GMs for other groups.  As a conequence they both need to make notes and write down plots regularly, so what better to gift them than an embroidered notebook cover stating their intentions on the front?

Regrettably I apparently only photographed one but you get the idea!

A little Pouch

Katy is very fond of the Avengers movies so when I found this fabric at the Knitting and Stitching Show I couldn't resist running up this little pouch for her!

 I'm also very much loving these lace zips!  I have a set in all different colours and I'm waiting for the right moment to make a few pouches for myself!

Edible Gifts

I made a lot of food based presents this year.  My parents and in-laws all got hampers and various craft night friends also got foodie gifts!

I've shown you all my various jams and mincemeats already, so I won't show them again, but I made lavender sugar and a crumble mix both pictured here.  The lavender sugar has been a hit from those I've heard from about it, no reaction so far to the crumble mix!

Crafting over the Holidays

Whilst I've mostly spent the last two weeks spending time with family and friends I did also squeeze a little crafting in!

Firstly, my amazing husband got me pompom makers for Christmas!  These things are genius!  Perfectly round fluffy pompoms every time and even the biggest one takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish.

So, whilst we watched Call the Midwife I put this little snowman together!

He still needs arms, but I wasn't in the mood to go twig hunting and I lack pipe cleaners!  Other than that I am very much in love with him.

I have also made a table mat to be a centre piece of future Christmas tables.  I embroidered the centre during our last table top session, then on Boxing Day I made the dresden plate block.  The day before New Year's Eve I managed to quilt it all and on New Year's Day I finally bound the edges!

The binding is not the neatest, but I'm still quite pleased with it and it does look nice on the table!  A make to be enjoyed for years to come I hope.

My last holiday make has been edible and lots of fun!

Wonderful husband also got me a chocolate mould so many chocolate buttons have been consumed!  I hope you've all had a lovely couple of weeks!  From here on in the next few weeks are likely to be what I spent December sewing, as I'm mostly going to be spending my free time spring cleaning my house with a view to doing it up a little!