5/23

Now I know I said I was not going to cross stitch any Christmas cards this year... But I just could not help myself.... And it is good to change what you are making when your arms start to ache from crocheting? Oh, and the lack of updates is because I am crocheting Christmas presents.

1

2.

This is not stitched, but I quite like it anyway, I know there is no way I am going to have time to stitch all the cards anyway so why not make some easy cards?

3.

I started this last year, and it was a left over, this year I bought stamps with "God Jul" on them and now it seems a lot more finished.

4.

I think this one is my favorite, simple yet fun. I buy the paper at Panduro, usually when there is a sale and use them for every occasion. 

This one is rather nice as well, I like the unusual format. 

So that makes 5. I did make two last time, so I am up to 7/23 unless I decide to add more people to my list.

For the observant people you might notice that there are fewer on the list this year than last but that is  because some people are not worth a card. I know Christmas is supposed to be the forgiving season, but that does not mean I have to send them a card. So there.

A sudden present

There is this lady that helps bunnies here in Norway (and sort of Sweden and Denmark too). She has a blog and a book in Norwegian and soon another in English, and a Facebook where she continues to be available for bunny slaves in need. 

She is also active in an animal rescue organization. My bunny asked me to make her a present and so I did. Last March when Mimle was feeling rather poorly that lady helped us with advice and consolation.

She is truly an angel.

This is one of her little bunnies Harald, who is inspired by the cats I have been doing. The felt is from the same kit because apparently all the felt in Norway contains wool, and this person is vegan. 

I am thinking about adding some vegan chocolate, a surprise and some bunny treats in the parcel and I am sending it on Friday. I hope she likes it. 

In other news I am down to my last two Christmas cards, and I have around ten presents left to make. Do you think I can manage? Or do you think I will think of something else to make to make my life more difficult? ;) I am after all the queen of that. That and procrastination. 

And hey, it is Ornament Onsdag and I managed to finish an ornament and blog about it, how about that;)

Moar Cards and a tomte

You know, I was looking at my to-do-list yesterday, and I have started the gifts for most of the people on it. And some are even finished! 

I made another coaster:

I like this one, on sparkly aida. I have really enjoyed making these coaster and I can see myself making more of them. I get to use up stash, I find the charts from my magazines, and all I have to buy is the coaster itself, and it is super cheap. It goes fast and there is no making up afterwards, just jam it in and close. My kind of project. And tadah, finished.

Here is another stitched card, There is only one left of the stitched variety and about eight non-stitchy cards, I think I will be able to send them out next week. Last year my mum bought the stamps and we signed all the cards together and sent. Maybe she wants to do that this year too? It is nice to send home made cards and I like sending them with my mum because we have been doing that forever. Plus it is never stupid to share the cost of the stamps;) Most people still think of my mother and me as a set anyway so a card from us and my boyfriend together might not be a dumb idea. I think I will ask them and see what they think. :)

Look at the poinsietta Bouffle is holding, that really is the most Christmasy flower I know of. I am thinking about buying one in plastic though because it is very toxic to bunnies and my bunny can get to anything she puts her mind to. To be honest I am fairly certain she can make people do whatever she wants by telepathy. The other day I found myself giving her a small banana bite even though I was adamant she would not get any as she had already gotten apple from boyfriend when suddenly I heard her nommin away on the banana…. Wonder how that happened.  

 So more cards. I like making simple cards, the lovely green aida is from a Bothy threads kit I did years ago and still had in my stash. There was not that much left, but I still keep the little pieces just for instances like this. I usually use fray-stop- glue on them immediately after cutting them and keeping them in my stash, because I hate for them to fray into something unusable just by being in the stash.

  God Jul means merry Christmas in Norwegian. I have used a Permin letter font from their God Jul heart ornament stitch that I bought the other day.

And I have also updated my bunny ornament stash!

This little darling was a shop display, but since she was broken I got her cheap. They are selling off the rest of their ornaments on the 22nd. I have my eyes set on one of them. Bunnies prefer bunny partners after all.

And, I have my first proper bunny christmas ornament. I see bunny ornaments on blogs all the time, but the only ornaments made for adults come during easter, and since Christmas is my holiday I want tons of bunny Christmas ornaments. Look at the little fellow, he looks like a proper "fjøsnisse".

Christmas fun

So I am still chugging away at the secret season projects. But there are some I can show you. I have also been busy with the Christmas cards, and I think I am halfway down now. ^^ 

I know I have only one more cross stitched one to go. But here is a card that I don't count as cross stitched, I really liked how this turned out. I gave it a little hanging so that the recipient can hang it about in the entire snowing season. The reason I don't make that many elaborate cards are because most people love getting cards, but throws them out or forgets about them too soon for me to think that there is a point in all the hassle, but some put them up year after year and those are the people that get the full on cross stitch ornaments cards. At least from me.

 I love the secret season, I love making gifts, and since the stress still has not made an appearance I am feeling like this season is still fun, Saturday I bought Christmas tea, and here in the cellar we have been drinking GLØGG for weeks now. The fun.

And here are some gifts, I like them even if they are simple, they are going to a couple which is why they are matching. And coasters are handy I think. I try to make gifts that are usable, but it is not always that easy if I want to cross stitch, knitting and crocheting are much easer to make handy gifts with, too bad I am not yet that skilled that I want to send them to others. But this year I am making something crochet. Four of the same design actually, but since at least two of the recipients read my blog, that particular reveal have to wait until after christmas;)

I am not about to slack off, but to tell you the truth, there are not that many presents left to make, still a lot of finishing off, but I thought all the finishing off would be best left to one day in so that I don't have to schlep my sewing machine about too much;)

4 of 8

or something....

But look, I have made another Christmas Card, and I am still busy with making presents, and since some of the recipients read my blog I will not feature pictures until packages are received. 

Since for some reason people like to be surprised.

Also I am reading a lot lately, and when I am done with this series of three books I will tell you about them, if I still like them that is;)

So that was a little sneek-peek from me here in the basement. 

If this keeps up, I think I'll make it in time for christmas

I am back for a brief show off session.

Because I have a total of three finishes (although not the ornament sewing up part).

Three finishes in a week is not normal for me and if I can keep this up, I will be done in time for Christmas, even if that is always my goal, I fail..... 

 I have made another Christmas-Card, so the total is now 3/8 (I think)

And then I made a heart for someone special this Christmas:) 

I kind of screwed up a little with the sewing up part, and the next two I make I think will have felt backsides..... And ribbons.

(this is a set of three from permin)

This is another little ornament for a special little person, he will get this sewed up as a little sock and I will put some money in it for a Christmas present. I really love the sheep.

It is fall now too, and look at this pretty little leaf I found on my way to the store today. I am not really that into orangy-colours, but there is something about the season which gets me into the spirit. The Autumn spirit and not the other kind.... :)

Oh, and because I know you like it, here is a picture of bunny and a very boring toy that was only interesting the short amount of time that pellets came out of it, now that there is only hay, no interest.

New Bunny News

You might not know, but this week we had to take our bunny to the emergency vet because she was constipated. This is her the same night after we came home, she's had fluids, pain-meds and then some food. She was cold and grumpy. We made her move around even if she just wanted to lie under the sofa feeling sorry for her self and force fed her for a couple of days.

 And the following afternoon after another visit to the vet the poo's arrived.

We still kept an eye on her the following days, even if I got the flu too, so it was though.

 Then she was up to mischief again, chewing her box to pieces and exploring so we knew she was feeling better.

And now I think she is perfectly fine.

And, I finished another christmas card. A Margaret Sherry design. I think it turned out nice. And my total of finished Christmas cards is up to two. 

On another note, we are watching "The Bridge". I love how different it is from other things on TV. It is so scandinavian. And to be honest, most of what Saga is doing is things I would do/say/think so I might not get the same feeling watching it as boyfriend does. Yes, I know that sometimes when she says something you are supposed to laugh, because it is socially awkward, but I laugh at different things, and as long as we both like it it does not matter that we think about it differently. Mimle likes it too, not too much things blowing up;)

Fox Jul in September

So it is this time of the week again, and I am hopefully fully recovered now so there will be more updates.... 

So I will show you what I have been up to before I sill post this weeks tuesday tunes, the first Christmas card is done. A lovely little freebie from WOCS I think. Anyway I think it turned out great.

This is not completely done, there is a ton of beads left to finish it off with, but since this is both a Christmas gift and a WiSP I am feeling satisfied. I swapped the joy wording into a jul, which is christmas in Norwegian. I will be happy when this is finished, because it is starting to bug me a bit with all those beads, but no start until this is finished! 

And just because Norway is so happy and in a buzz with this song, I will leave with it, at least some good things happen in this country. Yes, I am depressed about the election yesterday.

But those of you who like Stonehenge, should really watch that video instead, I think it is better.

Aaand so, this stuff happened and then..

So, I have been sick for a couple of days, laying around feeling sorry for myself and sleeping. I mean, I didn't want chocolate! I was that sick. on bunny you can tell she is not feeling well if she doesn't want any papaya treats, but for me it is chocolate, if I don't want any, I probably have a fever. Which I did. And a stuffy nose. I did a tiny bit of sewing, and I started something new....

Which when I think about it was not allowed, because I had only done on WiSP finish and one regular finish in stead of two WiSPs...Oh well, let's blame the fever. At least I am going forwards at a pace which will mean that eventually I will have my projects finished;)

I finished the bunny, I like it. Going to find a frame for this one I think. And as predicted there is not enough floss to start over and make just one of them...

But it was easy and fast, I can recommend this project from Pako if you don't want a challenge or if you are a beginner looking for a bit of a bigger challenge (project). With just two types of stitching backstitch and cross-stitch. But I do recommend spacing the bunnies a little bit farther from each other than I did, because they look a bit cramped.

A Finish from my WiSP-pile. A freebie from a magazine from last year I think.... Anyway. It went rather fast to stitch, have no idea why I left this for so long, there was no mistake in it, must have gotten busy with Christmas gifts or something. Which incidentally is why I am trying my best at making gifts this early, so my WiSP pile will not increase but rather decrease. Aaand, with this I killed two birds with one stone, because this will finish as a Christmas Card as well as being a WiSP finish. 

So now my Christmas Card list is at 1/?. Don't know how many I will make this year so the amount is still undecided. 

Here is where I sinned. I felt a lot better today than the other days, so I made a start, and a finish in one day. Completely forgetting the aforementioned rule. I am hoping this will be an extra small Christmas-gift for someone. A sign for their bathroom door, I added the text, but I am not quite sure if I like it, but no worries, I have enough floss to make another. 

And after I finished this I started on a WiSP because I am trying to make amends. 

(and a dent in my WiSP pile, which seems a lot more like an perpetual motion machine, than a list.)

It does not take much

Todays post a bit late because I spent most of my day on the sofa sleeping off some sort of bug.

But, I made a birthday- card yesterday. After her birthday I can show off the entire card!

And I have a finish! Yay. I made the stitching about a year ago (or maybe two). But today I whipped out my sewing machine and did this. I am pleased, took me two hours I think, and guess what, I am making fewer and fewer mistakes! The back is just a darker red.
I want to make another pillow- ornament.

 And now there is only ten more presents to go!

 Look, I am making a list and checking it twice. I love making lists, and I love crossing them out. As you can see, the list in the back is for presents and the one in the front is for cards. I have made four finished presents. (most are secret so I can't show them, but I have made the Star-Trek design for boyfriend, a secret project for my mum, a secret project for my friend and todays angel-pillow)
I have made some cards, but they are not completely done so they are not checked off the list yet.

An Almost finish: Here is my first finished Christmas card, I just need to glue it and write on it. (and decide who the recipient will be)

I am contemplating making these into ornament-cards. But am still undecided.  Might turn into ornament presents;) What do you guys think?

 Here are some finished cards. I just used glitter glue and some nice coloured paper and VOILA. As my mum says: Det er så lite som skal til.... which roughly translates to " it takes so little".  I think they look good. And I can't handsew fourty cards and send. So I embroider for a select few, and make handcrafted for some, and the rest, the ones that throw their card away get the store bought ones.

I made this for myself. I love this. ^^ I made three others for friends and now I am thinking about making atleast one more for another present;) ( which is why I can only give you a peek, it's a secret)

Oh, and if you wonder why I make so many presents, it is because I celebrate christmas with a lot of people. Usually about three times per Christmas. And that tends to add into a lot of gifts. Since I prefer to give homemade gifts that is a lot of hard work.

Look at bunny. She loves her hay. While I was sleeping all day, apparently she slept right next to me on the floor. (I was on the sofa)

Another Freebie, I will show one globe each post until Christmas^^

I want to decorate for christmas now, since it is the first advent and all, but my decorations are at my mums house.... :(

I have been drawing

See, I procrasteinate. I have been at my mothers for to whole days, and all I have done is draw and crochet, and sew a small stocking... But no work done on what I was supposed to work on, my angels... Oh well.

This is Alien and Ainin. They are in love.














And this is something that eventually will turn into a cross-stitch Chistmas card. (wow, that was a lot of C`s)














Here are my little duo waiting for the space-bus to take them home for Christmas^^

















And another little idea, that I think I will turn into a cross-stitch bookmark. I especially love this one, and I want to make it just for me.

Somebunny in a stocking.

I made another little card, and soon soon, I will show you a surprise I have been working on for about a week...

To be honest this has taken up a lot of my time, and I am not 100% happy with how it worked out, but, hey, it was my first try. ^^

Now, regarding this little fellow. I have been ogling him for the past few weeks, and finally, when "Cross-Stitch Card Shop" came to the shops here I made certain I had a copy. Because everyone knows I am a sucker for rabbits, and even more so Somebunny to love bunnys.

I have only one complaint, there was not enough of the dark green thread. :( Just barely enough for the stocking....

And, I have had an idea, that come Friday I will engineer into life. I will make another one of these, in different colours, and attach some felt to it, and he will hang in our living room and be our little Christmas ornament. Oh, JOY. I feel he will fit right in.

Happy Stitchmas

I have attended two workshops the past week. One with family with small children where we painted cups (pictures will come later) and one with my friends.

I finished these two little items and started the surprise thing for kareshi. I won't tell anyone what it is.

Also, I have surpassed a milestone. Only one more Christmas card to go!

But on a sadder note, one gift have gone out of my "Christmas 2011" pile and into my "Somewhere in the future pile" since it is too much work to finish in just one month along with 20 other (albeit smaller) items.