Gorgeous handmade presents for Christmas

Thought I'd take a photo of some of the special presents I received this year, some of them came from the lovely shop owners on Folksy.



We have the cute little cashmere puppy from The Hunny Bunny Company, the stylish brooch from pantsandpaper, keepsake stocking which is the home for the sweetest of little mice from Northfield Primitives, pretty phone charm (with a bead that matches my phone's wallpaper) from my daughter, Katie, and a scary Polymer Clay monster from my son, Ben.

On the giving side, I shopped from Folksy and gave my little neice a cashmere puppy and her mum, who absolutely adores poppies, a bright and cheerful poppy brooch by Crafty Koala.

Now that all present opening has taken place in our family, I can safely post up a picture of this bag I made for my sister from an unwanted Aran jumper. It is the first of my hand made items to have an "original by Ellie's Treasures" tag attached, so I'm quite thrilled with it! Inside I put a variety of girly things including a necklace that I'd made (but forgot to take a picture of), a mini tile magnet with pretty painted silver horse head designed by Katie, a family photo and a very pretty bracelet from Angels and Me.

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Nifty Knits hits the pages of Period Living

It's always a nice feeling when you see a fellow Folksy seller featured in a magazine. One of my presents this year was a subscription to Period Living and the February issue plopped onto my hall floor a few days before Christmas. As I wasn't supposed to know about it before Boxing Day, I put it away until Christmas! As it happened, I was so exhausted Christmas night, Paul and I decided to head in for an early night with a bit of a read before bed. I had a quick peek at the Period Living and came across Nifty Knits on the "Green Shopping" page with this lovely crochet flower pincushion.

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Wishing all my readers
and my customers

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I'm SO pleased with this ....

It's taken me quite a long time to complete this glasses case, mainly because (a) I'm pretty slow at sewing (and it's all hand-stitched), (b) I sew when I'm watching TV or in front of the fire and often find my eyes drift away from what I'm supposed to be doing and (c) I'm always ultra slow and careful when it comes to making something new, which this is, and I wanted to get it absolutely right because it's a present for my Mum.

I was hoping the second photo would show the inside, but lighting was obviously not bright enough. I've lined the case with a soft blue fleece, edged in a pretty pink ribbon so glasses shouldn't get scratched when being stored. Also, the little decoration on the front is also a pocket to hold some lint cloth for lense cleaning.

I'm so pleased with how it's turned out I'm going to make some to sell in my shop in the New Year. Watch this space!

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Folksy Friday

Here's my choice for this week, as always, click on the photo to go to the relevant shop:


This is so dainty. My daughter dug out our small selection of felting wool this week, it's been an age since we did any and then we came across this lovely brooch.


I've seen maps made into pictures, but I think these are lovely.


It is absolutely freezing here today and I think my mobile decided to play up and keep switching itself off purely because it was getting cold (I hope that's what is was anyway - it's a new phone). This cosy cover would have done the trick!


My sis-in-law has been facebooking this week about the new felted soap range, so I thought I'd find some on Folksy. Sounds fun and different and I've heard great reports that it does wonders for the skin.


This shop is just great, and so original. For all book lovers out there please go and have a peek. I really like these hanging decorations.

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Christmas SALE

I've reduced the remaining Christmas decorations in my shop before the final posting day on Monday (21st). Please take a mo to have a look - just click on the picture to go to the shop. Thanks.

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New shop items

Katie and I went on another shopping spree last Friday for goodies to add to our growing stock of beads and buttons. Among our finds were some fabulous beads from a necklace in the local second-hand shop.

Anyway, more beads = more crafting. Have just listed this lovely dangling charm which can be hung from a mobile phone or mp3 player (if it has an "eye") or from a zip on a purse, bag, pencil case - the list is endless.

The picture really doesn't do this justice. The deep purple velvet style beads are beautiful and go so well with the other tiny beads and silver charm at the end. All securely fastened to a black attachment.



This little fella is another dangling charm, this time with a red attachment. From the Woollie ponies range, he's a tiny, tiny Woollie in striking blue embroidery thread (wound around wire) with tiny mane and bushy tail. So cute - he has his own little character!



Click on the pictures to go to the shop to see more photos.

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Bright and cheerful Christmas trees

We were inspired to have a go at this while listening to Christmas tunes on You Tube. Katie also made a few gift tags - I think they look really bright and cheerful.

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Folksy Friday on Saturday - oops!

Here's my choices for the week - I want them all! Just click on the pic to go to the shop:


I think this is a brilliant idea to keep the little ones happy as they wait for the big day.



I know my daughter would love this and I may well buy her one as a small gift for her birthday next month.


I have to admit I love all of these brooches from Pantsandpaper - I'm hoping the zillion hints I've dropped will ensure one lands in my stocking on Christmas Day!


My daughter's firm favourite - anything to do with horses and ponies - this lovely felt pony is from a new shop.


Not usually one to wear much jewellery (it doesn't go with mucking out stables!), but this owl really caught my attention - handpainted and with a lovely small photo locket too.

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Last Christmas cutie to hit my shop

I couldn't leave this snowman out - he'd been sitting in my "to complete" box as I had run out of accessorizing inspiration!

It took several attempts to find the right mouth for him. At one point he looked so scary - like his teeth were bones! Anyway, I think he looks quite lovely now with all his purple accessories and "snow" sign - a wish I hope will come true!



He's in my shop, here.

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How much mess can a girl make?

We were watching a film the other afternoon so I decided it was a good opportunity to do a bit of creative sewing. I started with just my wooden work box and a laptray and then after several trips back and forth (and a rather het up hubby) to the utility room to grab more needed bits and bobs, I realised what a mess I was working in - took a photo for evidence! Mess or no mess I did manage to make a couple of lovely things.

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Comments are working now ...

... so comment away!

Not sure what was going on but all seems fine now.

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Folksy Friday finds

Here's my first Friday Folksy finds where I'll list some of my favourite Folksy items that I've come across during the week from all the other fabulous shops on Folksy. Just click on the photo to be taken to the relevant shop.
















Folksy have also put together a Folksy Festive Sampler; a newspaper featuring some of the items available on Folksy. You can download a copy here.

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Those festive goodies

Have really been feeling seasonal this week. Loads of houses in the village have put up their decorations inside and out. I'm sure it's a villagey thing to decorate the outside space too. Last year we spent an hour wandering the streets of our village and the next just taking in all the pretty lights and displays!

Our first lot of sloe gin was ready for decanting and tasting last weekend. I've never tried it before, so didn't really know what to expect. Was pleasantly surprised, although it's not a bottle I'd reach for over other tipples! Hubby seems to really like it. It's very sweet and sticky, but certainly warms you when there's a nip in the air.

Monday saw our first heavy frost - the car roof looked very pretty. Those patterns of nature - truly amazing.

1st December - the mad rush of excitement from my youngest to put up the advent calendars. We have three that come out every year. This one is always going to be my favourite as it has such memories. Sadly the inscription on the back has now faded so much I can't really read it, but I know if was given to me and my sister by our godparents probably the year I was born so it's now 40 years old and still going strong (much like me really!).

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Snowmen and angels - still feeling Christmassy!

Have been busy re-stocking this morning after the weekend "rush"! It was lovely to get some sales, all very exciting.

Have put up two snowmen, both made from an Aran jumper and both with their own little characters:



I'd like to call this one Mrs Snowman because of that rather fetching hat, but really it could be either gender. When you think how children, and adults, just grab what they can to dress their snowman after all the excitement of a fresh layer of snow, the rolling of the snowball around the garden or park to make it bigger and bigger, who cares how it ends up looking! Adding the bay leaves, heart and little jingling bag of sparkly stars just seemed to add to the thrill of Christmas.



So if the one above is Mrs this should be Mr! I love his smiley face, he looks really happy standing there with his twig stuffed stocking and jingling heart decorations!


The dolly-peg pixies and Santas seemed to fly off the shelf so I've made something a little different - angels. I think these look quite lovely:

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Countdown to Christmas giveaway!

To celebrate opening Ellie's Treasures on Folksy and getting a Facebook page and new blog up and running, I'd like do a giveaway in the lead up the the festive celebrations.

I've made a smart Christmas Stocking and this will come complete with a Santa peg doll tree decoration, a Woollie mini pony, mini tile magnet, polymer clay two-tone snake and a pretty red/white beaded keyring with felt heart.

To enter, please leave a comment and "follow" my blog. Entries will close Monday, 14th December, so you should receive your stocking and goodies in time for Christmas. I'll use to random number selector to choose the lucky winner and will post up the winner here, on Facebook and on Folksy. I'll also be selling a stocking and goodies in my shop.

Good luck everyone!

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