Gifted Gorgeousness for November

Gifted Gorgousness time has rolled around again (See Jo's blog for a full explanation, but basically it is a monthly blog hop showcasing gift-related crafting/craft-related gifting).
I've got a couple of things I can show this month. The first is this skirt I made Naomi for her birthday, using a chiffon panel printed with Boticelli's Primavera, which just happens to be one of her favourite Italian Renaissance paintings.

And the second is this Christmas card hanger I made for Eloise. There is actually a full metre drop of the hanging strip, I just zoomed in to show the cross-stitch part.

The cross stitch design is by Whispered by the Wind, stitched in various orphan threads on Crafty Kitten's Belfast linen in Moondust. The finishing is done as you would for any hanging ornament, except that the top edge of a roll of sequin waste is sandwiched between the front and back of the bottom edge as it is sewn up.  (The sparkly "button" was part of the packaging on a fancy bar of soap from a couple of Christmases ago. Sequin waste and teeny clothes pegs from EvilBay)

Hallowe'en Exchange

I took part in the Hallowe'en ornament Exchange at Needlecraft Haven.
Here is the sugar skull ornament I made for Justine (Justine's phot as I forgot to take one before I sent it off)

And here is the gorgeous black cat ornament I received from Clare

Trick or Treat Hallowe'en Blog Hop

Welcome to the Hallowe'en Trick or Treat Blog Hop!

I did some spooky crafting, but I sent it off for a Hallowe'en exchange and then realised I'd forgotten to take a picture of it first. Whoops! Anyway, just so there is a spooky picture here is the re-purposed doll's head planter I gave to Eloise as a house-warming gift, to give you the creeps.

Isn't it deliciously macabre - when you water it, it cries. (insert evil laugh here)

Your letter is 

Your next stop is

 http://chaosatlanta.blogspot.com

Gifted Gorgeousness for October

It's Gifted Gorgeousness time! You know the drill by now. (If not check Jo's blog for further details)
October isn't a particularly "gifty" month round here so there isn't much to see, but I did whip up these two little knitted skeleton dolls as Hallowe'en gifts for the girls. The pattern is by Clare Farrell and is available here)

Hopefully I'll have more to show next month.

The Start of Autumn

And as usual I'm a bit late with the last of my summer makes, and a bit early with the first of my Christmas ones.
I did think this little corduroy dress I made might be ideal for bridging the season, but we seem to have skipped the intermediate weather this year and jumped straight from Indian Summer into full on wild autumn. Oh well, perhaps with a nice chunky cardigan and some woolly tights...
This is the Zoe dress from Sew Over It, made in a beautiful soft needlecord from Seasalt Cornwall (yes you CAN buy their fabrics!).

I do love the shape and fit of this dress (and did I mention - pockets!) however, and I'm well on the way to making a 3/4 sleeved version in a heavier weight fabric. Cool sunflare in the picture too.
The very early Christmas crafting takes the shape of a stained glass workshop my friend and I attended at Craft4crafters.

I loved making these little tree decorations, and I may have to have a bit of a play with this technique and some of my ridiculously large mountain entirely proportionate and appropriate collection of seaglass.
Oh and I made a little skirt from a couple of upcycled t-shirts. I'll be listing this one on my Folksy soon,

I'm Late, I'm Late, For a Very Important Gifted Gorgeousness Date

I completely missed the posting date for Gifted Gorgeousness (see Jo's blog here for more details of this blog hop where we share our gift related crafting).
Not much new to show this month as I've not got a huge amount of crafting done but I did manage to make Naomi this sloth pattern Hawaiian shirt

Lets hope for more crafting time next month.

Summer Postcard Blog Hop

Jo from Serendipitous Stitching organises the best Blog Hops. This one is a Summer Postcard Blog Hop. We each sent a stitched picture (postcard) and a message, and received one in return.
Here is the lovely "postcard" I received from DJ at Tickled Pink in Stitches
Such a lovely stitched piece DJ, and it really does look like the perfect cosy place to sit and stitch

Visiting the land of the Midnight Sun, nothing like a little Northern Lights to inspire me to stitch!  Just think of all those lovely long nights snuggled in front of the fire stitching!  

DJ