Apologies first for mentioning the C word in July but I am being nosy, I haven’t started making fot Yule as yt but really must start soon and although I have a few ideas haven’t got much time so seeing if I can be inspired by you lovely crafty ladies

So what are you making?
What do you make year after year?
What are you trying new this year?

Any simple ideas you want to share?

One idea that I hope to make that is very simple is a fold over scarf/hat with pocket, knit a scarf wide enough for a childs head, sew middle bit to make a hood and fold/sew ends up to make pocket/s.  That is if I have enough time, at least I can make them out of any wool any size needles!  I am not feeling very technical as brain capacity has diminished after giving birth to Saule

sarie

I am determined to make the cards this year. Last year I just couldn’t get it together and it was the first year I had bought them, I felt so ashamed!  I’ll defo have a go at making some sweets though, salt caramel candies (an Ina Garten/Barefoot Contessa recipe) for the grown ups and vanilla fudges for the children. I want to try some raw chocolate recipes too.

I’ll start my paintings earlier this year as well. Last year it was a bit of a rush job on a couple of people’s presents but I’m feeling a bit more organised this year, I’ve even bought canvases in a sale ready for the yuletide flush of inspiration!

Don’t worry about saying the ‘C’ word so early, I’m glad you did, as I always leave even thinking about what to make it until I’m already rushing trying to get so much else done that I don’t enjoy it like I should.  I will be watching this post to see what inspiration I can glean from all you crafty people.

Crikey, this year is going soooo fast!!

I havent given it much thought…..but I know I need to start earlier than last year, which ended up a bit manic.

Im currently making dressy outfits for mine. I also really want to make them a hobby horse each. They are my main projects.

Going to do a big batch of pickles and jams for friends after the summer holiday (so start of sept) and I’m making different things for family. :D

Sister in law and her older girls getting home made bath bombs, Brother in law getting homemade shaving bar. Youngest of SILs kids is getting a hand made felted flower brooch.

Mum getting a hand made tote bag, and going to let the kids draw design on some plain canvas with fabric crayons. Granny (Mums mum) is getting a lavendar bath melt, and 2 bath bombs, from plaster of paris set (cheap and cheerfull purchase during half term!) heart mould. Washed obv, hehe…

Nanny and grandad will be getting a selection of jam/pickle (have saved little jars, and will be making jams/pickles for friends so will be making little bit more to fill 6-8 tiny jars.) they’ll also be getting a cushion cover, which will be decorated by the girls with fabric crayons too.

OH is getting a hat, mittens and scarf, scarf knitted by DD1, hat & mittens machined by me. DD2 is going to make him an airdrying clay paper weight for all his marking at work. Painting it herself too

DD1 is getting felted brooch too, along with a doorstop, made in shape of a cats face, for her room, as specified.

DD2 is getting a sewn dolly, from pattern in Womans Weekly summer craft suppliment, from 2008! DD2 is also getting her own set of tempura paint blocks, as they fight over DD1s all the time. Sigh. Not going to win that battle!

I’m also making mini bath bombs for great aunties and Granny in law. Also using mitten pattern and making pair for great uncle without fingers, as he wants a pair of fingerless mittens with flap for cycling (78 and bikes everywhere - Family of hippys, my side are!)

Also going to make a pile bath melts/bombs/hand made shampoo bars/shaving blocks/essential oil bubble baths.. for various other distant relatives, including my uncle and family, and children/grancchildren of my great aunties and uncle… sounds mad, but we are close family, so not just giving in spirit of consumerism!

Will prob make a few sets of homemade sweets for DD1 & DD2s friends.

Not much - and I’m envious of everyone with such wonderful plans and organisation! I’ve decided to go easy on myself this year. Our baby is due at the end of September and dd is moving schools to one which will involve a 10 mile commute twice a day, so I’m already a little stressed about how juggling everything is going to be. So, because I love Christmas and the one time in the year I actually choose things for the children, I’ve started with the shopping bit and have most of the things for the children sorted already. I’m storing them at my mum’s house as we’re hoping to move house too and we’re going to my parents’ for Christmas for the first time in five years!

So in terms of making things, we’ll do cards - which I’ve forgotten to do for the last few years. We were going to make elderflower cordial for everyone but things have been so manic lately that we didn’t get to pick any elderflowers in time :( I’ve picked up lots of things for relatives in the ethical superstore sale and at a festival I worked at last weekend, and we’ll try to do some cooking stuff.  Lots of photos of the children to take and frame, as they’re great for our parents and siblings, but that’s about it for creativity for me! We made everything last year and it was great, but the last minute rush on making bath stuff and printing wrapping paper nearly killed me and that was without a newborn! Relaxation is my goal for this year, instead, and the year after maybe I’ll start in February, lol.

Claire xx

Was inspired - just went and cut pattern peices for OH hat and mittens/great uncles mittens. Can use same pattern as OH would like flappy top ones for fishing too! Result :D

Have just been and got this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-Cavity-Mixed-Fairy-Soap-Bath-Bomb-Choc-Mould-/140427395420?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Carfts_Candle_SoapMaking_EH&hash=item20b220015c For making soaps and bath melts in… Way-hay!

Would love the recipes for shampoo bars and shaving bars earthmummie as I am always stuck for blokie presents and they usually end up with food, would nice to keep them clean too

sarie

Sure, give me a bit, and I’ll type em up for you… x

Thankyou

sarie

Well, not really started thinking about it yet as we have birthdays to get out of the way first!  DH has already requested more Sloe Gin, and I will be knitting him a hat with the wool he has chosen, which reminds me I must order it!

As for anyone else… probably jams and chutneys as last year, there’s no way we would ever get through all that I make in a year! And I’ll have to get my thinking cap on for everyone else!

This year I’m hoping to crochet socks for most of the men folk I know.
There will be various hats, mits and scarfs crocheted, plus some gnomes for Rye for the tree house.
Rather than sending out cards I’m hoping to make a tree ornamet and send that instead to friends and family.
I’ll bake a few bits for folks, and I plan to paint some of the jars etc I’ve been saving up to make vases and tee light holders as gifts, too.

Rye will again be spending Christmas with his dad (work dependent), so I have booked Yule off.

My usual Yule traditions - but this year I’ve decided Rye is old enough for us to re-enact the Holly King and Oak King Battle for the guests I’ll invite to a bonfire in the evening, followed by jacket poatoes, chilli and pear (mulled) cider and mincepies etc.  So I’ll be making costumes/masks for that and then practising with Rye

Should be fun.  Mmm, I love Yule.

I may have a go at a few flavoured vodka’s too - especially since discovering my brother has developed a taste for neat vodka - sort of his ritual relaxing on his first day off after his shifts.

Joxy.

Gosh, That was still quite far from my mind, but I guess if I want to get a few things done, I’d better get going! Cooking-wise, we’ll make damson and blackberry jam, and sloe gin again. I haven’t really thought about other things yet. Maybe some knitted toys for my nephews, some tote bags for the various women in my life, some bunting - knitted or sewn, I like the idea of making our own cards but haven never done so far. I would like to knit some ornaments as well. I’ll keep watching this thread for more ideas.

Love,
SunshineXX

Recipes, as promised. Sorry, had our NCT cheeky monkeys today, so was planning for it last night and sorting out craft bits, got time now to paste up what I typed whe we got back in earlier…

Shaving Soap Recipe.
I’m afraid its all a bit basic, as I tend to work in ‘ish’ quantinties with this one…

For a 3lb batch of soap - about 5 bars - you need:
•13 -15oz. Olive oil
•10 oz. Coconut oil
•7-10 oz. Tallow
•2-3 oz. Castor oil
•5 oz. Lye
•9.5oz. water
•2 Tbs. of Bentonite Clay
•1 to 1.4 oz. of fragrance or essential oil

Make as per cold soap. You’ll find info on net for this.
Put the clay in toward end - make sure you stir. lots.

Shampoo Bar:

•3oz Canola Oil   - can get this from states, and if you buy in bulk works out well, can make bars for many rellys and also for family during year too. They’re great for taking on hols, especially camping! 
12oz Castor Oil
14oz Coconut Oil
2oz Hempseed Oil
2oz Jojoba Oil
11oz Olive Oil
6oz lye
16oz liquid (water, lemon juice if blonde, cooled brewed tea for darker hair. Peppermint really great for warding off headlice..

Essential oils, 2-4 drops. Rosemary is great for shine. Mix the lye into the water/liquid and let sit in a safe place. Melt the oils in, add the hemp near the end of the cook.
Stick into the mould.

Ooh, thanks for those recipes earthmummie - very useful. I’m definitely going to make some of them and maybe some other soaps - picked up a fab 2nd hand book a while ago with lots of recipes/inspiration.
I usually enlist dd to make our cards to people and dh often makes a few collage style photo ones in photoshop for close family.
Food gifts - elderflower champagne (bottled and stored), elderflower cordial, mulled wine syrup (or winter fruit cordial ), Sloe gin, Sloe and blackberry cordial, turkish delight for my Dad, chutney, Pickles, fruit syrup (rather than jams). Biscuits, biscotti closer to Christmas.
Simple garter stitch gloves for dh, and maybe others.
Felted playmat for dd, and some felted figures to go with it (still in planning stage)
Knitted toys - mostly simple dolls or animals, and hoping to try and make a knitted Miffy this year

Hmmm ... need to give this some more thought for family members, have had my mind on other stuff so not really thought it through too much yet. Have lots of handspun wool so I’m sure there will be some other knitted goodies - scarves, etc.