Tag Archives: gifts

New Decorative Gift Tape

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Our new decorative gift tape designs have landed at our sister brand Pearl and Earl‘s HQ and we have been playing with them all weekend.  The kids favourites are the BOYS AND GIRLS tapes.. which they have have fun making cards with.
Personally we think they make a great quick wrap idea teamed with our candy striped bags…  or to jazz up some simple brown paper wrapping…. we have 2 versions of our NO PEEKING tape – one is a simple big stamp (240mm long) and the other is a typographic montage which works really well as an alternative ribbon (whether its Christmas or any celebration)

Personalised Cross Stitch Christmas Stockings

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Day 2 of our new Christmas launches and today it is the turn of our personalised CROSS STITCH CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS…  each kit includes a personalised letter chart (1 initial not names) and a choice of wools – PINKS or RED AND GREEN

Why not sign up to our newsletter to make sure you get the latest news and special offers – todays code is STOCKINGS for 25% off this kit

Knits To Give New Book

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I have quite a few books from knitting designer Debbie Bliss – her style is simple and classic, and patterns uncomplicated.  So I was thrilled to receive my copy of her new book KNITS TO GIVE yesterday from the publishers Quadrille to add to my Crafty Book Shelf.

Riding on the wave of homespun gift ideas, the book is aimed at those with some knitting knowledge – and contains 30 projects of Knitted Gift Ideas.  The book is split into 5 sections For Her, For Him, For Baby, For Kids and For the Home – hitting all the main present sectors.

The projects are clever, as they are not labours of love – but quick and effective patterns across different levels.  The ‘Her’ projects contain pretty mohair shawls, belts, sparkly clutches and some fabulous Cable Stitch Cuff Bangles – which I think are a great idea.  The ‘Him’ section contains a tie, socks and a dog coat (madly in the for him section?) which are all very chic quick projects.

However it is always in the Baby / Kids sectors where I think Debbie comes into her own… The mini bow headband, bunny booties, knitted zebra toy, mini coat, blacket , tiger scarf, mini sun hat and romper suit are simply gorgeous.  With the ladybird backpack being a touch of genius.

What am I going to knit? Well I am going to give the Home is Where the Heart is cushion a go when I get a spare mo.  Simple yet stylish – the Bliss trademark.

Published September 2011 in hardback – just in time for Christmas stitching.  We think the book itself will make a perfect gift.

>>BUY THE BOOK HERE

Pictures and images produced courtesy of Quadrille Press all rights reserved.

Fruity Crochet Coasters

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I am on a little bit of a crochet tip at the moment (as you may well gather from the posts) – and I was delighted to find these little gems of coasters, crocheted from cotton yarn and sold  by MariMartin from Madrid on Etsy.

I have a similar pattern I made for some apple coasters – but it is the zesty lime of these that catches my fancy.  Yum

Mrs Whitey Bear

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My most favourite childhood toy is a well worn teddy called Whitey.  He is white, has big blue eyes and a worn tummy and over large ears.
My daughter has taken him under her wing, and last week decided that he was lonely and she needed to design a Mrs Whitey to keep him company.  So she sat at her desk and drew an outline of a bear and a lovely ‘girls’ face  and asked me to make it into a pattern for her to sew.
We literally took the design and cut it out using some of our white wool felt.  Libby drew the face on one side using a water soluble embroidery pen.  I then embroidered this using simple back stitch.  She then used a white embroidery thread to oversew the edges – and used some kapok and a knitting needle to stuff. She decorated it with a bracelet..  and then Mrs Whitey ventured into the garden for her first photo shoot.
She is now tucked up in bed with Whitey and they seem very happy indeed.  She now wants me to make a kit!  Perhaps I have over instilled the commercial gene in my offspring?????

Crafty Gifts for Dad

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I Love You Dad 

In celebration of Fathers Day and the launch of a new collection of mini stitchers – every customer spending over £10 gets this project for free.
Simply enter code FREEBIE at the check out.
Our free projects are subject to change at any time and have a limited life.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest project hot off the press
We have also made our best selling NO DANCING DADS into a PDF PATTERN too

Why I love paper streamers

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ribbon and flower gift wrap

I LOVE paper streamers..  when I was a child we used to twist them and drape them everywhere at Christmas – and the reels just seemed to go on FOREVER…
So when we launched NOSTALGIC EVENTS I set about sourcing these in our colour palette to festoon onto every occassion…
Last week they arrived and yesterday I played and played with the colourful array..  and this is what I came up with!
I am in the midst of writing lots of DIY Party tutorials .. and so full instructions will follow…
Each colour comes in a 25m reel and at less than £3 each you get an awful lot for your buck .. and plenty of paper to play with!  Cheaper than ribbon, bunting and paper chains for sure!

monster red flower
giant pink bloom for a centerpiece

Right Royal Stitching

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I was asked a lot last year to design a modern wedding sampler for people …  well seeing as it is the Royal Wedding this year (one of 2 no less) I thought that I would pay tribute to the Royals with my own take!
When I finish stitching it, I will give you a peek… but I have designed it with a full alphabet and calendar so you can adapt it for your own date!
Stitching for this will include metallic gold on the crown!  I have also done a version with a replacement for the crown (for us commoners!)
Hope you like it … x

Crochet Sleepy Hearts Eye Mask

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As our new Granny Knits crochet classes are coming up in the next couple of weeks, so I have been practising a few new patterns and techniques, ready to pass onto my lovely customers in the classes.

This weekend I have been playing with a few quick projects using Double Crochet and Triple Crochet stitches – and these little gems are one of them..  a SLEEPY HEARTS EYE MASK

They will make the cutest Christmas present and my daughter is crazy for them.

Keep following the new Granny Knits project blog for the pattern posting soon.

PS the pom pom was made using our new POM POM MAKERS in less than 5 minutes!