Small things

As Christmas gets closer I come to the realisation that I cant make everything I had wanted to make...for a start the Christmas quilts are well off the list (hehe), even the medium sized gifts will be a no-show this year (all these things will be done for next Christmas, right?)
But there's something about 'making things' that makes gift giving all the more special, isn't there? The pleasure of the planning and the creating adds an extra dimension to a gift - for both giver and receiver.
Take these face clothes received from my Nana many years ago...a simple cloth with a simple crocheted edging, but one of these (or a decorated hankie) was in everyone's birthday cards for a number of years...a simple gift but also very special. (With 20+ grandchildren and well over that many greats, I'm sure she was crocheting non-stop to ensure a steady supply!)

Nana's been gone for 16 years now but these surviving cloths are still
used and treasured - although they are looking a little worn!!

So when I come to my own gift making, I can't help but want to 'make something'. This close to Christmas, 'quick' giftmaking is the order of the day.
When I stopped and thought about what I could do for Friday Night Sew In, I decided a few more decorated hand towels would be a nice way to spend some time.

The rest of the evening was spent on the top-secret crochet project below. I have high hopes that this will turn into something gorgeous!!! Fingers crossed :-)

Thank you Wendy for hosting us on FNSI - this weekend and through out the year. You can visit Wendy's Sugarlane blog and the FNSI lineup by clicking *here*. 

A few other quick and easy - but made with love - gifts I've crafted lately have been these two pillowcases -

Once I worked out which direction to cut my fabric so the fairies would lie the right way these were a really quick and fun make. (Luckily YD bought extra for me to use as I had to cut long ways to accomodate the directional print).

These are made burrito style - and no raw edges - if you google Buritto style pillowcase plenty of tutorials come up; I cant remember which one I used.

And these cloth books don't take long to whip up either —

(I like to top stitch the edges of the pages which adds extra time but gives
a tidy finish).

A couple of nights with a crochet hook had this market bag finished too —

If you want to make one too, the link for this can be found *here*.

And while I'm talking Small Things, we've been distracted by these small things lately...4 more wee chickens to add to my flock. I love getting them young as they get used to being handled.

About a week old, they spent their first few days in the cat cage.
Which was shut away in the laundry.
Away from highly interested and excited cats and dog. 

See the shavings as bedding? It travels quite a distance when flicked out of the cage by busy chicken feet!

They spent a day in our strawberry patch where they had a ball.
(This is an old aviary so is very cat and dog proof.)

Now they have progressed to the guinea pig cage (by day) giving them more room to stretch their wings and peck a bit while still nice and safe from 'hungry predators'.

I'm looking forward to the day when they are big enough to give the wee dog a peck on the nose - then he will learn who is boss and will stop dreaming of Chicken Dinners!

See you next time,

Happy Christmas preparations :-)