Merry Christmas!

To everyone who read this blog and to whom I thank the visit.

Talking about Xmas

And my other hobby called cross-stitch, I'm posting a picture of my Christmas Diner Towel that I've made in cross-stitch.
When I bought my house 6 years, I started doing it. It took me a long time to do it. And curiously, it was the reason why I bought my sewing machine.
I wanted to do everything: the cross-stitch and the hem. And so it was.
Every year during the holidays I put it on my diner table.

I'm very proud in it.

Xmas Tree Costume - Finished!

Finished yesterday and just in time. I had still time to lay on my sofa before my son woke up from his nap.
It was a challenge, but it was overcome. I confess it was less hardworking than the other projects that I have done.

In order that the points look stiff and straight, I put pillow stuffing in it.

After the nap, we convencied the boy to try the suit, to see how it looks. (unfortunately, we couldn't take his pacifier off for the picture...)

Today I already brought the costume to my colleague. She loved it.

She said that the fact that I offer myself to do, was fantastic enough. I was very happy that I've done this costume. And mainly, because it resulted ok.

Xmas Tree Costume - 1

Yesterday I managed to do a lot in the Xmas tree costume, and it's being easier than I expected. I used a large sweater which belongs to my son (Ana's sugestion).

I got a sheet of newspaper and placed underneath the sweater. I did the pattern.

With the help of a ruler I made the triangles/point.

I left the pattern longer than the sweater.

This is the fabric that my colleague gave me. It's a very heavy and thick fabric. It seems those fabric normally used on sofas and chairs. But it will do perfectly.

I folded the fabric and placed the pattern on it. And then I marked the pattern.

I bought golden wrapped ribbon made of fabric in the supermarket. As it was very wide, I decided to cut in half so that I could have enough for the back.

The balls I took a piece of carton. You can use the carton of the cereal boxes. I draw the circle in the fabric that I wanted.

The fabrics that I used was the red fabric of which I made the knoted top. The backwards is completely red. The other fabric is the one that I used to make the scarf to place inside the shoe box.

Then I place the ribbons and the balls on the fabric.

Yesterday I've sewn all the front part and the ribbons of the back. I think I'll finish it today.

Special Request

Talking to a colleague of mine, she told me that her son must go disguised as a Xmas tree to the Xmas party at his kindergarden.

I tolde her that she could pust him some brown pants and a green sweater. But then I also suggest that she bought some fabric and made the suit.

When I noticed I told her that I would do the Xmas Tree suit for her son. She was very happy.

As a coincidence, our sons have the same age and... the same name!

I tolde her that I would use my son as a molde, as they have the same height.

With the help of the web and computer, I made a draft of possible Xmas tress.

I think I'll do the one on the left, as I think it's more simple.

Then I reasearched on the internet in "Xmas Tree Costume" and I got these images. they have already gave some ideas.

The deadline is December 19th. I'll do everything I can to make it this week-end.
I confess that I'm a bit nervous. It's a big responsability to do something else to another person, as it's my first project without any patterns.

But I believe that a trinagule will not be hard...

Xmas Advent Finished

Here it is finished and already hanged. No, it's not perfect and only after I had finished, the husband noticed that the number 25 is not centered.

But, this year it's the best I can do. Maybe next I'll do another one with more careful, with fabric bought specially for it.

But here it is and I'm very glad with the result!

And here are the 25 gifts that my son will find each December day until 25th day, Xmas Day.

Chocolate balls bought at Pingo Doce.

Embroidered ornaments made by me.

Pencil case and smarties bought at Intermaché.

And a pack with 5 toy cars bought at Intermarché, only € 3,95 the pack!


And here is my First Advent already with the gifts inside the pockets.

To put inside the Advent

I have been doing embroidery ornaments to put inside the pockets.

I inspired on drawings and ideas taken form these sites and blogs:

Coloring Book Pages - Holidays and Seasons Themes - HERE

NeedleCrafter - HERE

AllSorts - HERE

Better Homes and Gardens - Christmas Crafts - HERE

This week-end I have been sewing all the squares/pockets in the advent. It was very difficult. It was a lot of fabric and a lot of squares. It was not perfect, but I'm happy with the result.
I'm not posting any photos yet finished, as we are still trying to find a way to hang it on the wall.
I will post photos hanged and completely filled.

Xmas Advent - part 2

I have sewed all of the squares and I already hadsewed the numbers on the squares.
The numbers I found them on the web. I google it and wrote "number to color" or "coloring numbers". I chose those which had few curves and that were simpler to pass into the seethrough paper and afterwards to the fabric.
As a base fabric, I'll use "sarapilheira" that I had at home. My husband suggested that I place the squares in a tree shape, to give a Xmas look...
The next step will be to sew behind a thick fabric and the squares on the sides and bottom, so that they will be placed as pockets.
We will fill the pockets with small ornaments to afterwards put in our Xmas tree, chocolats and gifts.

The son will open everyday the pockets.
I was thinking in closing the pockets or with buttons or with velcro tape. I still have to figure out which will be more practical.
As for now, the "pockets" are placed like this only with pins.

Shoe Box Finished!

First I got a tennis shoe box from the company where I work. I glued green silk paper. Over the past few day I have been hand stitching (ponto caseado), silhouettes of animals in a satin green fabric that I had. I glued the fabric over the green silk paper.

The "stuffing" bought: a coloring book, crayons and a small toy car. The "stuffing" homemade: two drawings made by my son and a scarf made by me.
I lined the interior with wrapped paper. My son helped putting the presents inside the box and that was it! Here's our shoe box.

Tomorrow I'll take it to the Imaginarium store during my lunch break.

Scarf - Solidary Xmas

Still talking about the shoe box that I'm decorating, I decided to place there a book to color some crayons, a toy car and some drawings made by my son. But I wanted to do something more. Something more in need.
So, today I made this scarf to put also inside the shoe box. I got some leftovers of flanel and the fabric thar I made a sheep suit for my son last year.

It turned out like this:

It's reversible and very warm. And it's for a good cause. The box is not yet finished, but it does, I'll post here photos.

Also I finished the tunic today! I washed it and it's still not dry. Whe it does, I'll iron and take some pictures.

Craft Project

It's my first craft project.
With a xmas smell.
Wiht 25 squares of fabric.
And it's for my son.
Limit date: November 30th.

And the first square is already done!

Stores Imaginarium - Xmas Solidary

Here is a fun thing to do. Get a shoe box, decorate it, fille it with small gifts and give it to children in need.
Stores Imaginarium together with Fundação Antena3- Onda Cero and Mensajeros de la Paz have lauched this campaign to collect and distribute Xmas gifts... inside shoe boxes.

What we have to do is get a shoe box and together with our kids decorate it and then place in it whatever we want. In their website they give ideas for the gifts.

I will get a shoe box of the brand whre I work, and together with my son, we will decorate it. the reason for this post is because we will use fabric stash to decorate the box. I have already some ideas...

I will later post here pics of our work.
More informations here.