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.

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

The Christmas Challenge. Show and Tell for April 2018.

It looks like everyone was busy, busy, busy in April!  I love seeing what you have been making and it is so good to share ideas with each other.  Thank you to everyone who has sent me photos!

We will have two weeks of show and tell as there is a lot to show you!  I hope you are inspired with new ideas and also some tips on keeping costs down with your crafts as I include those where I can.

First we have Kathy.  She has been knitting...


I am always impressed with knitting socks as turning corners is mind blowing to me! 


Well done they are beautiful!

Kathy also makes up earrings as gifts.  She finds she can usually make them for $1 a pair as she looks for old jewellery to take apart and re make and this is a great source of beautiful and unique beads.


Kathy also said using clear fishing line is great for bracelets and necklaces as it is super strong and so cheap!   These are so pretty and such a personal gift.

Jane has been busy and completed a rug which is a gift ...


To me this is something that someone would have their whole life so they will always remember being given this! 

With Jane's gardening she saves seeds.   She has been making gorgeous seed packets from pretty paper to package them up in a gift worthy way...


I love this idea! And seeds are a great present and something to post in an envelope which is an added bonus.   Seeds can also be sold as Sewingcreations does. 

Jane also made a babies sun hat...


Beautiful work Jane as always! 

Cookie has also been busy.   She has been making purses from her husbands old jeans!  You would not believe a pretty purse could come from jeans but take a look...


Cookie made a whole series of these.  So beautiful! 

Cookie says she has become addicted to grub roses.  I agree they are fun to do, beautiful and embellish so many things in a gorgeous way. 

Next we have Tanya.   She has been sewing.  She is also very busy homeschooling and has eight children.  You are amazing Tanya!

Her little boys love anything with camouflage print! 



My girls loved skirts like these... I love the ric rack braid edging too....



Well done Tanya!  I know that children love it when Mum makes something especially for them.  Beautiful.

Teresa made great progress on her gift cupboard with some amazing buys i.e. kids pencils for 10c a dozen. Into the cupboard they went!    She also fancied up a lotion bottle to make it a beautiful present. 


I thought how this idea could be used for anything we might make up with essential oils too and that we could save and reuse pump packs or the foamy pumps and make them over for gifting. 

Thank you Teresa!

I will post more next week!  If you have photos you would like to send in then email me at brinkzi21@hotmail.com  

So far the week is going well!  We have had beautiful days and have rain coming.  I got all my washing done and dry yesterday just in time.  
I hope your week is going well!  

I am still responding to comments in Monday's post.  Thank you to everyone who shared there. I have a list of things to research as a result.  

See you on Friday! xxx






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13 comments:

  1. Anonymous1 May 2018 at 19:20

    Dear Annabel,
    It is good to see show and tell again! As usual everyone's work is lovely. I am always impressed with the knitting and crochet. Well done Kathy and Jane. I also love Jane's seed packets and the paper she used. A baby hat is on my list. I need to put my paper crafts aside and get out my sewing machine again!
    Which brings me to Cookie's purse! Oh I have a stack of denim and this would be the perfect thing to make! Cookie, did you use a pattern?
    Tanya, you amaze me with how much you are able to get done and your sewing and crafts are always so lovely. Your kids are very blessed to have you make things for them.
    Teresa, nice job on redecorating that lotion bottle. Packaging is half of the gift in my opinion and can go a long way in making things more special and luxurious.
    Thank you for sharing, everyone, and I can't wait to see what you have next week!
    Love, Kelsey

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    Replies
    1. Chookasmum2 May 2018 at 01:44

      Have to agree with all Kelsey said. All the crafts are beautiful.
      I have mainly been knitting washers and dishcloths, but also working on my red and white hexie quilt which I hope will grown large enough to be a curtain, we will see.
      Looking forward to the next show and tell.
      Cheers Lorraine

      Delete
  2. KayeB1 May 2018 at 19:46

    You have such talented ladies here! Beautiful items yet again and some great ideas as well. I love the seed packs and the prettied up lotion bottle. A couple of things I might even be able to replicate! 😊

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous2 May 2018 at 04:33

    Hi Annabel

    Wow, what talented people there are out there. The Christmas challenge never ceases to amaze me.

    Cookies purse reminds me of a handbag I was once given for a birthday present...made from old jeans with the pockets on them. So as you would guess it was the bottom part of the jeans and the legs were sewn together and then it was decorated and had denim straps to match from other parts of the jeans. Well done Cookie

    Jane love the garden seed packets, what an awesome idea

    Kathy the socks look so cosy, my house is all tiled in the living areas so I will be investing in some warm socks this winter.

    How gorgeous are those skirts Tanya. DD7 (almost 8) used to love wearing those type of skirts

    Love the fancied up lotion bottle Teresa

    Keep up the great making Ladies as you are all truly an inspiration

    Thank you Annabel for taking the time to share these wonderful craft ideas

    Take Care
    Love Aly xxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous2 May 2018 at 13:22

    Beautiful work ladies☺
    Much love Patti
    Annabel I wrote you an long email yesterday but it disappeared.
    Sorry I have not been commenting I have not been well.
    Hugs to all the lovely blue birds

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annabel3 May 2018 at 03:34

      Dear Patti, I am really sorry you have been sick. I looked for your email just in case it was in my junk box or somewhere weird but no luck. I really hope you are doing better. Do try again or get Cristy to send me a message... with much love Annabel.xxx

      Delete
    2. Anonymous3 May 2018 at 18:52

      Thank you Annabel. I will try again I think our emails have a hard time talking lol.I will have Kristi send one. I can't believe we are in May. I was going to ask the blue birds to pray. When they pray things happen. I have been I'll for a couple of months and Kristi has been doing it all. We are both ready for me to be well. Last week someone copied Kristi ATM card a d wiped out our bank account. We sure are glad we have a full pantry and everything else we need. We are so grateful for this blog. Kristi has a birthday to go to this week and she can just shop the gift cupboard. So thank you for all your time and everyone ideas.
      Much love,
      Patti

      Delete
  5. Anonymous3 May 2018 at 04:03

    Dear Annabel,

    I just love seeing all of the beautiful things the bluebirds create. So inspiring! Fantastic work ladies. You all are so talented! Blessings, Cookie

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tania3 May 2018 at 04:52

    Beautiful work everyone!

    I love Jane's seed packet idea, I am going to borrow that one :)

    xTania

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mimi3 May 2018 at 14:51

    Beautiful! Every single one! Mimi xxx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kathy4 May 2018 at 09:38

    Hi everyone,

    I love the variety of crafts represented here - everyone has such nice work! Those seed packets are a clever and beautiful idea, and I especially love the embroidered roses. I have such admiration for all of you who are good sewists, and the ribbon on the lotion bottle is very pretty.

    :)
    Kathy

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  9. Anonymous4 May 2018 at 22:05

    Beautiful work ladies! It is always so nice to see what everyone is making! I love everything!
    XOXO
    Vicky

    ReplyDelete
  10. Janine5 May 2018 at 03:46

    So much love in all these gorgeous gifts, ladies.

    Janine

    ReplyDelete

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