Homemade Christmas Gift Giving

I love Christmas, and gift giving, and sewing. So this time of year is particularly fun for me.   Now that most of the gifts I have made for people have been distributed, I can share on my blog!  I made all of these items (except for the thrifted green gloves), there is much variety in this post to match all of the people I made these gifts for!  Enjoy!  And maybe it will inspire you for next Christmas.

I made this little babushka ornament for my sister

who is newly married and is in the process 

of collecting ornaments for a tree of her own. 

This is made by hand stitching felt and ribbon.

Mmmmmm! Homemade shortbread using my 

grannies recipe, its good for any time of the year, 

but wrapping it in wax paper and bakers twine adds

some Christmas charm!

Even a simple pair of mittens look cute

wrapped up with bakers twine and a 

candy cane.

An adorable fox using this tutorial,

she is the only one I completed this year.  

Time always gets the better of me.

An ornament for a babies first Christmas,
this pattern came from a borrowed book
 from the library called
Fa la la la felt.  Its awesome

These two special mice for two special nieces;

This is a pattern of my own which I would love
 to have in my shop by next Christmas.
(new years goal maybe?)

These are both hand stitched using synthetic felt,

not my favorite to work with, but all my REAL 

wool felt is in bright colours.

Here they are snug in their beds, with a leafy blanket.

I didn't make an annual Ikea Christmas trip to get paper, 

but found this bright wrapping paper at Michael's...who knew?

Lovely little egg cup family for assisting in the 

consumption of Egg and Soldiers.

Still trying to figure out how to permanently paint 

on china/ceramics.  Any tips?

Mouse needle book made from felt ribbon and 

embroidery thread traveled to my friend in Australia.

This mouse is more appropriately dressed than the 

bear I sent last year.

Happy New Year!  I have many new projects and ideas in store for 2013.

See you then!

time to get cracking!

It was two years ago that I made these Christmas crackers, so it's about time I share!  I made a personalized needle felted gnome for each person in my family and thought putting them in a Christmas cracker would be the most fun way to give them.

gnomes made from wool roving

and beards made from mohair locks

I used card stock and cut out diamonds to be able to 

cinch the ends shut

I found the cracking strips and the crowns at Michaels.  

you can really stuff these full of all sorts of 

goodies if you want! (and lame jokes:)) 

If you are interested in making these for yourself and want some more inspiration,  the Martha Steward December 2012 has a section on making your own crackers. I'm sure you could find it on her website too. But if your anything like me, I'm already behind on my Christmas making, so another project might be to much!