I can’t believe it is two years since my Nan died. It feels so much longer. She was a huge part of my life and if it hadn’t been for her and my granddad who was my rock, I am sure I would have gone off the rails. So as I did when you were alive I shall do now in your absence. Thanks Nan for all you did for us and for being there for me whenever I needed you. I love you XX
Author Archives: Jenny Stilwell
Christmas Nails
An update on my Ciate mini manicure advent calender. The nail polish came off easily with my boots nail polish remover. I am pleased to report that their sequin polish has fantastic staying power. Normally when I use glitter polish it only lasts a couple of days this time I have worn it for 6 days and it is still as the day I applied it. I really dislike removing glitter polishes so it will be interesting to see how easy this one is to remove . I’m not looking forward to it.
Best present yet.
Yesterday we visited my daughter for lunch. We are having our family Christmas on Saturday as my other daughter isn’t available until then. I’m looking forward to it. I think we rush Christmas. My grandson gets far too many presents, noisy presents and I think when they are spread apart he appreciates them a bit more. I’m the boring grandparent who gets him clothes and quiet toys that you have to interact with him to play. Ironically he likes these toys as well as books a lot.
My daughter wasn’t very happy that we had to wait until Saturday to exchange presents and insisted we opened our presents from our grandson. He’s really good at this shopping lark and he’s not yet two. I was very pleased with mine. I got a pair of Knitting needles with a Nana bead on the top. I don’t know how they knit yet but they are bamboo which is good and are a size 4.5mm which I will use for aran sweaters for Harry. I love being a nanna
2013 Decorations
Here are some of the decorations I made for family and friends for christmas 2013. Every year I have some tags made with Christmas 2013 by Jennifer S. Obviously I change the year but I sew these on to presents I make for the holidays
I decided to add some crochet trim to the bell
The hearts are made with Liberty fabric , felt and trimmed with beads and vintage lace that was made in England.
Christmas Blessings
Merry Christmas everyone.
I was sitting reading A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber when my mind wandered and I started to think about how lucky I am.
I wasn’t thinking about my family although I do consider myself extremely lucky to have to two wonderful daughters, an amazing grandson and a wonderful husband of twenty seven years. We’ve been together for thirty two years a fact I am very proud of.
I was thinking of my craft skills. I am so lucky to be able to knit and sew. As I’ve said previously I do believe that my crafting is in my DNA. I am lucky that I have the skills to make a whole wardrobe for myself , my daughters and my grandchildren. I don’t think when I’m knitting it’s second nature. If I’m stressed I can just do some mindless knitting or even some intricate stuff and soon without noticing I am calmer. When I sit at the sewing machine I actually feel a wave of calm come over me. I can lose my self for hours doing cross stitch or tapestry. I am also lucky in that I still see things almost through the eyes of a child and simple things please me. I take great pleasure when I see a project coming together and I will stop and look at the leaves on the tree, the clouds in the sky and any other of natures beauties I come across.
Life hasn’t always been easy but I’m still here , I am blessed and know how lucky I am.
Day 24 One Day to go
Christmas Eve today. Only one day to go until we meet the new doctor. Oh and it’s Christmas.
I shall miss Matt Smith, although I do feel some of the story lines were more Sarah Jane Adventures than Doctor Who. I like the fact that my predictive text automatically suggests who after Doctor. I managed to source some templates for various Christmas shapes including a star, stocking and bell. I started with the bell first but kept unpicking it as I wasn’t happy with my stitching. First I tried blanket stitch then satin stitch but neither looked right so I ended up with running stitch. I used one of my tags for the hanger and sewed a bow I made from ribbon and added some sequins to the top. I am pleased with the result although I feel a lighter felt would show the Liberty fabric off better.
The second one I decided to make was the heart, this time I cut an extra heart from interfacing to highlight the pattern on the Liberty fabric.
Day 23
Two more sleeps until Christmas. Yay
I have decided to make my Liberty print decorations a bit simpler than I originally envisioned.
My mum gave me an old Liberty decoration many years ago which is basically a piece of Liberty fabric on the front, felt on the back and stitching around the edges. I am still doing hearts but will use the same type of fabrics and ribbons. I am not sure which stitches I shall use for the edges but it does mean I can have a play
Draught Exluder tutorial. Cost zero.
I often make things off the top of my head but never think to write out instructions or take photographs. This time though I have written a tutorial. For months I have been meaning to make a draft excluder. I have the fabric and the stuffing but haven’t gotten around to sew it. This week the draft under the door was back and I knew I had to make one. As I am unable to machine sew at the minute my make do and mend mentality went into overdrive and this is the finished product. It can be made in minutes and doesn’t need to cost a penny as all the materials you need will be in your home.
It’s a bit basic but it does the job and you could jazz it up with beads or ribbons.
Tools and Materials needed
1 pair tights 40 denier or thicker
Scissors
Beach towel
Step 1. Cut the Legs off the tights
Step 2. Fold beach towel in half so that the shorter sides are together.
Step 3. Roll towel up. It doesn’t matter which side you roll it from it’s which ever length suits you.
Step 4 Roll tight leg up as if you were going to wear it and insert towel into tight leg.
Step 5 pull tight over towel and tie a knot in each end.
Your draft exluder is ready to be used. The best thing is it didn’t cost a penny and when you no longer need it you can untie the knots wash the towel and put it away until its needed again.
Day 21
Inspired by Zoes wonderful patchwork pouch I have decided to attempt to handsew the liberty print decorations I wanted to make for christmas.
They will be a simple heart shape with a ribbon to hang it one the tree. I will stuff them with hollow fibre stuffing and dried lavender from the garden. There will be a button and beads in the centre. Hand stitching can be quite therapeutic but although my cross stitching is very neat I’m not so sure about my stright stitching. I bought this fabric in two colourways the white as shown and the same design in a charcoal background. Originally I was planning on making mini stockings but I couldn’t find a template on line or in my many books and my drawing skills are non existent.
Oh No more yarn day 20
Yesterday my friend Donna came around with two huge bags of yarn. I should say no I can’t take it but I just can’t do it.
There is a huge variety of gorgeous yarns and novelty yarns, brands I haven’t tried and some I have.
My particular favourites in this batch are some Arucania alpaca yarn in pinks and browns, The knitting goddess sock club blanket yarn as well as some Collinette which is 10 years old. We both talked about how sometimes we both think it would be nice not to have a stash and just see a project buy the yarn and knit it . Obviously our habits aren’t going to change regardless of how much we think it would be better for us.
I am good though with any yarn or fabric I am given I go through it all, choose what I will use and then give to friends, my knit group or nursing homes. I say I will use, I didn’t say when!
Jen Sews and Knits 