Monday, 12 November 2012

Christmas Shopping

I'll be honest... I'm not sorry to see the end of last week, which felt like an entire week of back to back teaching (it wasn't quite but that is how it felt). And much as I love teaching there is a limit to how much packing and unpacking of bags and lugging a sewing machine from venue to venue that I can take. But that said, I've met some lovely people, re-aquainted with others and have seen some amazing work produced by students which is always a joy.
 
 
Another benefit of working with lots of different groups of people is that it sparks ideas and I find myself working in ways I hadn't previously considered, trying out things I hadn't thought about before. Whilst demonstrating and stitching poinsettas for a Christmas garland at Bee Crafty on Thursday... I started to wonder just how small I could make them?

 
Quite small as it happens... this one is barely 3 cm across.

 
And then I got to thinking it might be fun to put one of these on a tiny matchbox which could house a miniature book... because it has been quite a while since I've made any miniature books.

 
And then before I knew it I had made five miniature books each with their own little matchbox case and so my rather empty Etsy shop suddenly has some stock!

 
Five little Christmas themed books...
 
 
which would make perfect little unique stocking fillers.

 

 
And I even made another Christmas Garland.... which may also end up in my shop if we ever get enough light for me to take some decent photos. But meanwhile my mind is still racing with new ideas of how I might use these flowers... but you'll have to wait before I reveal what they might be.

 
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On a completely different note there is a little game going on... The Compound Word Project devised by Ali... do pay a visit and play along. You can find out how to play here. I'm already stumped!

18 comments:

  1. Such a lovely and alternative garland. Nice to see you are still making books. Cherish mine! X

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  2. Awe the little Christmas books are lovely Gina, I really love the poinsettias!
    I'm really into the Compound Word Project, I can't wait for the next clue. :)
    Vivienne x

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  3. Love your garland, the Christmas flowers and leaves are gorgeous. I'm sure anyone who gets one of your little books in their Christmas stocking will be more than delighted.

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  4. Gina, you are so clever! Those poinsettias are beautiful and I think they'd make gorgeous little Christmas brooches too :o)

    xx

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  5. Oh such a lovely post - the poinsettias are gorgeous and your tiny matchbox books are a brilliant idea - thanks for sharing. x Jo

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  6. Oooh, more little books -- they're adorable!

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  7. These look beautiful, especially the tiny little books.

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  8. These little Christmas books are so lovely - great tiny treats for special someones.

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  9. thought you would be heartily sick of your match boxes Gina . .. obviously not as these are lovely.

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  10. These are all lovely Gina! But honestly, you must live in some other dimension of time with more hours in the day than everyone else. Either that or you are super-organised and disciplined and never let yourself get distracted! I honestly don't know how you do it!

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  11. I hope this week is better for you Gina. The little books will make lovely stocking fillers. I've had a look at the Compund Words game and have only got 2 out of 4 so far.

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  12. Lovely garland and matchboxes. You have made me realise with a start just how close Christmas is!!!

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  13. The mini books and garland are rather jolly ... and a horrible reminder that it's less than 6 weeks to Christmas ... eek!

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  14. Beautiful garland gets you in the Chriatmas spirit. Love the little books too.

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  15. Despite being tired, you seem to have had a bit of "mojo restoration". Well done you, those tiny books are lovely

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  16. Curses Gina, I've been trying to forget how close we're getting to 'you know what' and you've immersed yourself in the season and made me sit up and think about it.... lovely stuff as ever... but did you have to?

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  17. you are not the only one who is stumped on the compound word thing!

    Love the little boxes.

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  18. The return of the boxes, lovely idea!

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