Christmas Wreaths

This will be my last post for 2009.

We plan to spend Christmas and New Year in Thailand so the next few days will be very busy.

What better way to end the year and wish everybody a blessed Christmas time than with a collection of wreaths. I love wreaths. It is such a great way to welcome friends, family and good vibes into your home.

Enjoy

A great way to use leftover ribbing or recycled sweaters.

From Betz White

via Craftzine

For those of us in the warmer climates, a wreath that keeps on growing

even after the holiday season is over.

From Kraken Crafts

via Craftster

Fresh radishes! The ideal colour combination for Christmas.
From Sunset

via Craftzine

What to do with all the old magazines lying around the house?
How about a modern rolled paper wreath?
From Ragandbone

via Craftzine

Ideal for a crafter/seamstress/quilter with loads of leftover fabric scraps.

From Lindamade

via Craftzine

We've all seen the little felted balls in the craftshops and wonderded what to do with them.

Well, why not make a colourful wreath?

From Pickles

via OnePrettyThing

For a splash of colour and creativity make a wreath from canvas and buttons>
From Alisa Burke

via OnePrettyThing

My favourite!
From Sappymoosetree
via Craftzine


Felt rosettes - beautiful in white, but multicoloured would by great too...
From domestifluff
via OnePrettyThing

Loads of sweets over from Halloween? Why not make a wreath?
From Skip to my Lou via OnePrettyThing


May you all have a blessed and loving Christmas and holiday.
Have lots of fun and laughter,
but let us not forget what Christmas is really all about:
"Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you:
he is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:11

Merry Christmas!

Images from Italy 3: Craft and colour in Venice

Venice is not only about beautiful buildings and old art, but also about a vibrant, creative and modern population. Here are a few glimpses of crafty and creative things we've seen:



A felted coat...



with embroidered buttons.



An art shop where artists can buy colour pigment in little glass jars





A beautiful handbag and accessory shop...



...all hand-made.



Funky rain boots and...



...some guerilla knitting!



Lovely autumn colours...



...and big chunks of Lindt chocolate - mmm!



Murano glass...



...and Christmas lights

Images from Italy 2:

Everywhere you turn in Venice, you are confronted by a statue of a winged lion.



Apparently the story of the lion goes like this: St. Mark the Apostle died and was buried in Alexandria, Egypt. The symbol for St. Mark is the lion.



In the ninth century two merchants from Venice stole the remains of St. Mark from it's resting place in Alexandria and after and adventurous sea journey presented it to the Doge in Venice.



A Basilica was built on the main piazza to house the remains. The basilica and the piazza was renamed after St. Mark and he became the Patron Saint of Venice.



The lion of St. Mark aquired it's wings as the believe is that he protected the merchants on their journey across the Mediterranean sea.

NEEDLE Magazine Feature

HEN (Hand Embroidery Network) has recently launched their very own online magazine called NEEDLE which covers all things embroidery related. I feel very honoured to have contributed an article for their first issue. The article covers issues I feel strongly about - craft, entrepreneurial skills and dignity, and to meet and support people who can do all three with so much joy, really gave me a lot of joy too!



I am a huge fan of HEN. It is a great source of inspiration and knowledge. It is also a great place to meet fellow embroidery enthusiasts. So if you love needlework and haven't done so already, do yourself a favour and join the network.

Images from Italy 1