The little birds...

If you watch little birds you will see they are busy and happy! Using whatever they can find they create the most gorgeous little nest.
I would be the little bird with some glittery thread in her nest!
We can be like this. Happily working away with the things that are available to us to create a beautiful and happy home.
All the while with a little song in our heart.

Banner by Free Pretty Things for You.

Sunday, 20 July 2014

Building up your gift cupboard.

After my crochet blanket I needed a new project to get into! Also I need to build up my gift cupboard as we are now in the second half of the year, which means one thing.... Christmas.

 I have a good supply of cottons, some that Mum gave me as a gift. It is lovely cotton. So I decided to make useful dish cloths, cleaning cloths or wash cloths. They have turned out very thick so they could also be used as pot holders I think.

I saw this lovely pattern but had no clue on how to do it. I followed this tutorial on You Tube and it took me about half an hour to learn it....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJMnfzE3U1Y

Really it is easy. If you can chain and double crochet then you are set. If not learn those first on You Tube or get someone to teach you and practice a little bit. It is really good fun and easy to get the hang of.

My plan is to give these away mostly in sets of three, tied up prettily, and paired with either soap or a a bath bomb or with kitchen things to set a theme.


While the weather is cold and windy it is so nice to be happily working away on something nice in spare moments and in the evening. And it's amazing how doing things now adds up so that at Christmas you find you have a great supply of gifts. I can't even estimate how much money this saves. Something huge!


I am going on with some pale blue yarn then doing some in a natural raw looking yarn which I will tie up with string and I think they will look very "french kitchen" (I hope!)

Last week I was talking about how important it is to keep our minds thinking on nice things. I really find handiworks and sweet projects help with this. They make us happy! I also worry less about Christmas and Birthdays etc as I know my supplies are increasing and the cupboard isn't bare!

And on that I have exciting news... I am almost finished my first e book! This is a first for me and something I have been working on. It is about how to save an absolute fortune by making your own gifts and how to stop dreaming of cutting costs and making gifts and start doing it. It is a step by step guide to help you work out what you can make that you will be proud to give and that come Christmas time you have done all the work already. All you have to do is some wrapping! 

Many families could save thousands by making some changes to their habits. And free themselves from so much financial strain. We love Christmas and love to celebrate but it does not have to involve credit card debt! 

My friend Helen loves Christmas more than anyone I know! She starts early and just is in heaven! But she does not break the bank over it, they celebrate whole heartedly but without the financial stress. 

So my ebook is really partly inspired by Helen. All joy and no stress. We absolutely all can do it!

Have a wonderful week. Next week I will take you on a tour of my new kitchen and the changes we have made! xxx
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24 comments:

  1. Anonymous21 July 2014 at 01:57

    Congratulations on the book. You have so many great ideas. I will definitely get a copy. Jacqui

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annabel21 July 2014 at 05:02

      Thank you Jacqui, one will be coming your way as a gift after all the things you do for me! xxx

      Delete
  2. Anonymous21 July 2014 at 14:15

    Annabel I think you may be thinking of the wrong Jacqui. I am Jacqui (from NI) New Zealand not Victoria. Looking forward to pics of your kitchen. It.s been a journey and you will love using your new and beautiful one all the more because it has so much of you in it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annabel21 July 2014 at 19:04

      lol Ive done it again! (like I did on SS) Sorry Jacqui. Ive got to stop doing this! Thank you for your support and encouragement! xxx

      Delete
  3. Mimi21 July 2014 at 17:43

    Annabel, that is so exciting and well done!

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    Replies
    1. Annabel21 July 2014 at 19:02

      Thank you Mimi. It is progress albeit slow progress! xxx

      Delete
  4. Jenni Dunn22 July 2014 at 06:30

    Looking forward to pics of your 'new' kitchen and love your blog! Must catch up one day when we are in the 'big smoke' !!

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    Replies
    1. Annabel22 July 2014 at 06:46

      Thank you Jenni. I was telling my Mum about how you showed Phyll that blog post just the other day. I must get to Kingston one day too and see you, Phyll, Cath ... but I dont get to the farm very often, Mum is up here a lot. Dad goes up north a lot. But it will happen sometime! xxx

      Delete
  5. Anonymous24 July 2014 at 07:04

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    ReplyDelete
  6. Kimberline30 July 2014 at 12:27

    What pretty dishcloths! I need to learn to knit and crochet so I can gift friends with such pretty things. A dear friend of mine recently sent me 4 new dishcloths that she knitted. I just LOVE them. They were to replace one she gave me when we met 4 years ago. I always used that cloth first when I'd just done the kitchen laundry. It finally wore out, but now I have 4!!! I always smile when I use them and they remind me of my lovely friend every day. Thank you for your sweet and pretty post and pictures.

    Kimber

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annabel30 July 2014 at 14:43

      Dear Kimberline, Thank you for your reply on Always Learning. I am trying to discover if there is any copyright on Laines Letters. If I could contact her I would but I have tried without success. My friend made a binder and made it so pretty as a gift to me, it contains masses of the In your Home Letters. You have inspired me to do a blog post and Ill show a picture of it. So give me a few days to decide how to go about this but one way or another you will have at least most of the letters. I agree they are a resource and a perfect gift for young girls starting out.
      Thank you for your kind comment here. I want to encourage you to start crochet. You will have so much fun! Go to You Tube and search "learn to crochet" and try a few videos. Find a teacher that you can follow easily. Truly in one day you will learn. Then when you are doing basic stitches find a dishcloth pattern you like or follow the one I did for these. I get one finished every two days at the moment! I am so happy to meet another one of Laines ladies. Anyone who followed Laine I know I am going to love. xxx

      Delete
  7. Scrappy quilter2 April 2015 at 18:32

    Those dishclothes are almost too pretty to use. Love the pattern.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annabel4 April 2015 at 16:25

      Thank you so much, they are really easy and a lovely gift. Xxx

      Delete
  8. Stephanie4 April 2015 at 14:41

    Absolutely stunning! You create such beautiful items and I am so glad you shared this with Roses of Inspiration. I hope you're able to join us again sometime soon.

    Have a blessed Easter. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annabel4 April 2015 at 16:26

      Thankyou, I will be back, I was very glad to find Roses of Inspiration!

      Delete
  9. Stephanie7 April 2015 at 05:55

    Hello, my dear! Just dropping in to let you know that you and your sweet dish cloths have been featured at Roses of Inspiration. Thanks for joining the party last week! Happy Tuesday!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Annabel7 April 2015 at 05:57

    Thank you so much Stephanie, I am honoured! Xxx

    ReplyDelete
  11. magnoliasntea7 April 2015 at 06:06

    Hi there! I wanted to say congratulations on being featured at Roses of Inspiration and thank you for the videos you have made of the crocheted bobble stitch. They are very good! I'm a crocheter and knitter, too, and have a few patterns you are welcome to use to stock your gift cabinet if you like. Lovely post!

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    Replies
    1. Annabel7 April 2015 at 06:33

      Thank you! I am looking through your patterns....lots of inspiration for me.xxx

      Delete
  12. Home Meadows7 April 2015 at 06:15

    What a pretty dishcloth. I'm popping over from The Enchanting Rose, congratulations on being featured. Heather

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    Replies
    1. Annabel7 April 2015 at 06:29

      Thank you so much Heather. And now I have found your lovely blog full of crochet inspiration also! Many thanks.xxx

      Delete
  13. Debbie Harris7 April 2015 at 18:22

    Oh who wouldn't want these pretty and feminine dish cloths in their kitchen. They would make cleaning up a joy.
    Beautiful!

    Blessings, Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  14. Unknown7 April 2015 at 22:05

    Beautiful! I wish I could do such beautiful crochet, just not my gift. I love the idea of building up gifts to have on hand. Going to work on that. THanks! #laceycharrene

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    1. Annabel8 April 2015 at 00:30

      Thank you very much Lacey! I really appreciate that. It is a great saver to have gifts ready and not have to hit the shops! xx

      Delete

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