The Advent Calendar - Day 2: Giveaway

On the Day 2 of my Advent calendar I present to you the first giveaway! :)

The prize for the giveaway is Barbara Ana's new chart "Christmas pals"!
The winner will get instructions to her(/his) email how to download the pattern from Creative Poppy. I purchased this chart just for this giveaway and the email comes straight from Creative Poppy.

The only way to take part in this giveaway is to comment on this blog post today, on the 2nd of December, before midnight, the Finnish time. Check here what time it is in Finland at the moment. :) I would love it if you would also leave a finishing idea for the chart with your comment. (This giveaway is also in my Finnish blog)

Enjoy the Advent time!

The Advent Calendar - Day 1: Kokeshi doll

The Freebie Advent Calendar starts again in my blog! Should I say The Traditional Advent Calendar since this is the third time already. :)


This year it's a bit different since I will also show you some lovely sewing patterns and maybe a giveaway or two in addition to the cross stitch charts. Remember to be quick when the giveaways open since you only have that day to add a comment and take part in the draw.

I have chosen the sewing patterns with Christmas in mind. They are easy to make and maybe you'll find some ideas for gifts too.

On this first day I chose to go with the new style so here is a sewing pattern from Melly & Me. It's called Kokeshi Stuffie and as we don't want to rush into new things head first there is also some traditional embroidery on it. ;) You can also use fabric markers for the details if you like. Click the image and you will go to the Melly & Me blog, there on the right column a bit further down you will find the link to the pdf-chart under Free Download (same image there).

Snowy Winter Greetings!

Some stitching and Crazy January Challenge 2011

I have stitched some. Not as much as I've hoped to but at least I have started again.

Ritva sent me a picture of the fridge magnet I stitched for her as I forgot to take a picture of it. It's a part of the chart Pumpkin keeper from The Drawn Thread.

I started to stitch this Halloween chart a while ago. It's called "Un tour dans mon Sac" from C Mon Monde. Although it s a Halloween chart I think it will look good all year round on my wall. :) It's not finished yet but here is wip pic. The fabric is really not that pink, it's more purple but the sun was going down and the camera didn't catch the real tones.

Minna is organizing a Crazy January Challenge 2011 on blog. I try to wake up my stitching mojo and take part to this crazy thing. :) I have chosen some charts I want to start in January. The trick is to start one chart on every day until 15th on January and then finish these during the year 2011. I chose smaller charts so I have a change to finish them. :) I have mostly chosen Lizzie Kate and Bent Creek charts, there's also one from Little House Needlework and The Trilogy.

I only have the Lizzie Kate FlipIt charts from January to April. I would love to have the rest of the months too so if you have any of them I am more than willing to buy them. Please send me email if you can help: srinity (at) wippies dot com

I almost brushed all the snow of from my patio yesterday but then thought that the snow looks so pretty that I will let it be. That was a goog thing since I would have not noticed these paw prints if I brushed the patio. :) I have seen a young rabbit many times on my yard. He likes to sit in my car's roofed place. I guess the wind doesn't blow on that spot and it's a bit warmer there. I haven't been able to take a photo of the little bunny yet but take my word: he is really cute. :)

Crafts fair finds and my birthday last month

Last weekend I drove all the way up to Oulu and Muhos (about  260km north-west from my home) to meet my dear friends and to go to a crafts fair in Oulu. I was so happy to see my friends Ritva, Marja and Lennu! :) Ritva had stitched me a surprise needlebook with sheep on it! I love it, thank you Ritva! I stitched her a pumpkin from The Drawn Threads chart Pumpkin Keeper and finished it as a fridge magnet. And as usual I forgot to take a photo of it. :D

In the picture below is my new stash that I invested my money in. See, I did not spend I invested. ;) Charts, threads, ribbons and purple hand dyed linen fabric are from Violarium. I had to buy the Moutons de saisons sheep charts autumn and winter since I got the spring and summer ones for my birthday. They will make a beautiful four season series.


I also bought some jewelry parts, knitting yarns, fabrics, a sad fox that wanted to move to my home, wooden bits and pieces for crafts, felting wool etc etc. I am quite happy with my new stash. :)

My birthday was in 9th of September. I haven't been blogging lately so these pics come here so very late. :) I took part in Finnish birthday exchange and I received these gorgeous gift last month.

Heidi stiched me a lovely sheep card. She didn't know that I actually love bag pipes too. :) She also sent me two pieces of stitching fabric, threads, beads and wooden heart. Thank you Heidi for this lovely gift!

Kirsi had wrapped her gift in the fabric and fluffy ribbon that are on the left in the pic. I love this sheep tote that she made me! There was also some sheep charts by Tralala and Atalie thread for it. Thank you Kirsi!

A modified dress

Last spring I bought a demin dress that is quite short and I did intend to wear it this summer. Weather-wise it would have been ok since we had the hottest summer ever (over 30C for weeks) but as the time went by the dress seemed shorter and shorter. So as it was on it's way to becoming a no-use-item I decided I'll try to modify it to make it more decent. :)

The dress before. When I had it on and tried to put my shoes on everyone could see more of me than I would have liked... :D And the ruffle around the waist made it look like a tutu or a bit too much "little girlie"-like.

First I removed the ruffle from the waist. It immidiately looks a bit calmer and better. (See how I only have one leg! Luckily the other pics show that the left leg is still hanging in there :D).

Then I sewed the removed ruffle to the back of the dress and made the dress a bit longer.

For the final touch I added some studded ribbon to make the dress more "rock". :) the back got much longer eventhough I added just one strip of fabric.

Some might still consider this too short but this is what I'll wear next Saturday when I go out with my friends. :) I will just add a pair of tights and long boots to feel a bit less "naked" :)

A birthday exchange for Kirsi and A Wonderful Summer for Leena

These have arrived at their destinations so here are some pics and stories. :)

First one I stitched for a "Wonderful Summer" exchange for Leena. The pattern is one of the two pattersn from "Floralie No1" from Taralala. I stitched it with Atalie threads, one over on on Floba. I really like this pattern and I think I'll stitch the other one for myself. :) I finished this as a pinkee. The fabric on the back is from Moda Fabrics, from a layer cake called "Blush".

Number two today is a birthday exchanged to Kirsi. I stitched her the "L'Heure du Thé - Tea Time" from Tralala and finished it also as a pinkeep. Also stitched on Floba with Atalie one over one. And the back is also from "Blush". I think it fitted this one perfectly.
 

And for once I rememberd to take a photo of the whole birthday package. :) I put in a Tralala pattern called "ABC poule" and Atalie threads for it and also a small cute purse (which is now used by Kirsi's daughter I heard :)).

Mailart to Aw

I took part in a "Stitching accessories" mailart exchange on a Yahoo group in the beginning of July. It took me a while before showing it here. I stitched mailart for Aw who lives in Malaysia. I used a new technic to finish the mailart. I used a ribbon that has glue on both sides and it stitcks to the fabric when ironed.I guess it worked since it was still intact when it arrived in Malaysia. :) Patterns are from a book "Cross stitch and embroidery on red, white and blue". Buttons are from my grandma's button jar. She used to weave carpets and she cut the weaves herself and put the buttons in a jar. I used to play with the buttons when I was little. :)

I like the lace pattern I used on the flap. I think it looks very delicate and pretty.

Details:

Later this week I will show you two other exchanges I've made. I have been a really bad exchange partner this summer since I have mailed almost all my exchanges late. I want to apologise that from my exchange partners. This summer has been really tough and the situation ended up in me and my husband separating a couple of week ago. So now I am learning to live alone again. I want to tell you that eventhough I feel sad I am also somewhat relieved. And that I am doing fine now.

"A wonderful summer" -exchange from Leena

I got this beautifiul sachet from Leena. The theme for the exchange was "A wonderful summer".Thank you Leena so much, I love it! Now I am thinking what kind of treasures will I keep on it. :) There was also a lovely card with birdhouses so the package had my favourite things. :)