Xmas Boot

I wanted to make a small Xmas boot, smth like this Xmas stocking. Here is a template/resist:

 To make a decor I found this silk scarf with very appropriate design - baubles and ribbons. No idea where I've got it from!

 I wanted to decorate the cuff only:

 I cut out the design to make a border and used a rather coarse carded wool as the top layer because the silk was quite densely weaved, it's not a fine chiffon or ponge silk:

 The final size:

Oops!..Could you see any bauble here? Neither could I...

 Never mind, it'll serve its purpose! Next time (if!) I will do it differently.

                            Merry Christmas everyone!

Xmas Exchange

This autumn I was invited to take part in Craft Christmas Exchange between Russian speaking crafting ladies in Europe. And here we are! I've got not one but two boxes with Xmas presents! I am keeping the first one to be opened at Xmas Day with my grandaughters but the second one which was a comlete surpise for me we opened yesterday and there is a report below! As the most parties involved are Russian speaking, all details are in Russian but my joy is obvious never mind language!
                                                   Thank you very much!
End of Part 1!

Милые девочки, Надя, Лена и все участвующие в обмене! Спасибо всем большое, за идею, за подарки и участие!
Может быть, не все знают, но я получила не один, а целых два подарка к Рождеству, второй полным сюрпризом! Видимо, я действительно хорошо вела себя в уходящем году...
Я берегу первую посылку для Рождества, когда к нам приедут внучки и я смогу показать им и свой подарок от Деда Мороза, а вот вторая, "сюрприз", не долежала и вчера мы ее вскрыли, совершенно неожиданно для себя, полным сюрпризом.
Итак - праздничная коробка, "Surprise!", чтобы не было сомнений:

 

Вскрываем! А внутри - во-первых,  рукотворная поздравительня открытка. Спасибо, Лена за открытку и за идею! Шампанское на заднем плане - не бутафория, мы его потом открыли и выпили за разные приятные события, в том числе и за чудесную посылку.

 После открытки достаем пакетики, а в них - мыльные сокровища! Нас, особенно мужа, поразил список ингедиентов в каждом, муж сразу спросил - а это, правда, мыло или это едят? Особенно "нуга с орехами"! Посмотрите сами!

 Лена, огромное спасибо! И ведь это только присказка, сказка впереди....

Chrismas Craft Fayre. Some afterthoughts

I took part in my first Craft Fair last Saturday. I mean - as a felter and on my own. I've left it rather late so when this village fair came up (it was their first year) I grabbed the palce immediately.
In general it was a good and pleasant experience. Venue was warm, light and suitable decorated, stuff was very helpful and everything was arranged nicely. (Thank you, Ruth!). Fellow crafters were very friendly and quite a lot of local people turned up. Here are the pictures of my stall. Unfortunately my camera is out of order at the moment so I'd to use the old one hence poor quality pictures, sorry!

Chrismas Craft Fayre - Getting ready

Chrismas Craft Fayre - In process

I've sold quite a few items so it was fine from this side too. But still there were some disappointing things and it seems they are general and regular for practically every fair or show which are not large scale craft shows:
- the buyers of my staff were mainly friends, friends of friends, members of stuff and other makers. General publc - very few.
- people attending were not ready to pay more than ...The most of my items were out of that range even if I was selling them cheaper than usually in the shop.
- the majority of visitors had no idea about felt, what was this "fabric" and so on... I am thinking about doing demonstration next time!
All this is quite understandable, but still frustrating. I need to think it over and learn the lesson.
Hope you have nice time with your fairs if you are taking part in any!

Sometning new

I can't resist Christmas! I just feel I need to make something Xmassy! And here we are - white snow, dark night, red birds!

Kindle Case "Christmas night"

What is new apart from the theme? New type of closure, with elastic loop and wooden button. I like it, need to use it more...

Christmas tree

It's time for Christmas trees!