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Labels, Keanu and a bird of peace

 

Okay, I think all the Christmas presents are bought.  Not yet all wrapped, but at least they're heaped on the carpet and not still on a shop's shelf.  I dragged the Sissix machine out this morning and used a stack of old Christmas cards to make labels.  
I don't send or receive a large amount of cards any more.  Emails and texts are easier (though not as pretty) and postage stamps are becoming ridiculously expensive if you've dozens of cards to post.  Though I remember when I was a kid, parents would get about 60 or 70 cards at least, and they'd be strung up on washing lines of wool or twine all around the sitting room.  The traditional greeting cards are gradually dwindling away.  But you never know.  Maybe they'll stage a revival, and writing & receiving vast heaps of cards will become the hip 'n' trendy thing to do.  Stranger things have happened...
If you want a break from thinking about all things festive, I've a book recommendation for you.  'Keanu Reeves is not in love with you' by Becky Holmes.  It's a deep dive into the murky world of romance fraud, of scammers and heartless criminals who prey on the lonely and vulnerable, emptying their bank accounts without a twinge of a conscience.  If that sounds too depressing a read, it's really not.  The book's laugh out loud funny in places, and you can't help but be moved and impressed by the sheer resilience of those who've been defrauded of their hard earned cash.  They pick themselves up and soldier on, best foot forward, having learnt the hard way how cruel the greedy criminals can be.  
On the crafty front, I did say I was going to spend the rest of December concentrating on finishing half-done projects.  But totally contradicting myself, I started doing this ... but it's a slow-stitchy kind of thing and I'm not in a rush to get it done.  I'm using embroidery thread to liven up this plain lambswool jumper.  Grey isn't really my favourite colour, so I decided to add pops of brightness to the cuffs and collar.  The aim's to stitch all the way around them.  Adding this to the collar is pulling it a bit out of shape, but I'm not bothered by that.  It's just a slouchy jumper for mooching about the house in.  
I did finish this little felt decoration, based on a pattern by Corinne Lapierre, from the Search Press book 'Twenty to Make Felt Christmas Decorations'.  You cut out two circles of white felt, sew them together using a blanket stitch, then embroider and add a felt bird to hang in the centre of your decoration.  
It's okay, I suppose, but if I was making it again I'd pad out the white 'O' with a handful of polyester toy stuffing, and would embroider the dove with a bolder design.  Maybe it'd look better using bright red felt instead, with white embroidery thread for the circle?  That might give it a Scandi kind of look.  

Because there wasn't much to watch on TV, I also made another of her patterns, for a raccoon.  Yup, a raccoon.  Nope, I don't know why either.  I was in the mood to mess about with felt, so here's a Christmas raccoon taking pride of place on a cluttered mantelpiece.  You see, stranger things do happen ...


Comments

  1. Your embroidery looks pretty! I am done with the shopping but, like you, I've still got a lot of wrapping to do! I remember Mum getting so many cards we used to put them all up in the living room on bits of string

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sharon. My embroidery's getting better with practise, but I still struggle with the fancier stitches. Some of the creativity I see on Instagram and Facebook is astounding. So many amazing embroiderers out there. It's inspiring, but daunting too.

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