Unlucky For Some - Project 13

Are you superstitious ?  I tend to be .......  So it has come as no surprise to me that Project 13 provided a stumbling block for me .......  As you know I have a chronic illness which is caused by a condition which affects the collagen in my body and in particular in my joints. (amongst other things)  This causes them to be super floppy, flexible and not hold together correctly.  This includes all of my fingers, wrists , the vertebrae in my spine and so on .......  Well the culprit this past few weeks has been my wrists and hands.  My left is worse than my right - I am right handed but I rely on my left hand for so much - Or so I have discovered !!  Anyway the long and the short of the matter is that I had a repair done on the wrist in August and an exploratory so the surgeon could see just what was going on with that hand and he recommended ulna shortening surgery to tighten everything up in that hand and wrist - I have until now been able to postpone the surgery ........  I see him for a pre-op meeting tomorrow and then the surgery will happen on the 3rd May.  My posts and free tutorials may be spasmodic between then and after the surgery but we will catch up somewhere along the course of the next 40 weeks of FREE projects !

Maybe I will be able to blog with just one hand ?  Whilst I am writing this blog post I am currently trying to upload a video to make these gorgeous pin keepers from an old doily.  Aren't they cute ?  They are super easy to make and by watching my video on MY CHANNEL you can make some too.

I have lots of projects at various stages of completion ready for video tutorials so hopefully I will be able to complete a few of them prior to the 3rd May's surgery.  I will have everything crossed but one thing my condition has taught me is to not rely on my body - It lets me down and quite often !

My true love and sanity saver over the past years of being unwell has been my ability to sit covered in heat packs and strapping and to hand stitch.  My hands have been betraying me lately and even that hasn't been easy. I'm not really sure what I will do if I can no longer stitch. Without trying this surgery I know it is a strong possibility so if you are the praying kind pray that the surgery helps me to at least be able to stitch properly again so that I can have one little corner of my life with pure joy tucked inside.  If not then I will just have to fins something else to while away the hours - I did buy a puzzle book today in anticipation of not being able to do anything for up to 12 weeks.

I would love to see your creations from this project and any of the others I have shared so far this year.  Join our facebook group and show me what you have been creating.

Love and Hugs,

Fee xx

A Year of Gifts - Project 12

Today's project in A Year of Gifts is a really easy one.

If you have some glue, a brush, a napkin, some paint and a pot then you are good to go.

It's a very simple but effective idea and perfect to do now and pot up pieces of cacti ready to gift at Christmas.

I show you how in a quick and easy video.

You can watch it HERE on my You Tube Channel.

Hugs,  Fee xxx

A Year of Gifts - Project 11

Sorry for this project being 2 days late.  My concept of what I am capable of physically and what I THINK I am capable of have been poles apart this week.  Every few weeks I come crashing back to earth with a thud when I have been pushing my body and/or mind beyond it's capabilities and I pay with my body forcing me to just do nothing in order to recover.  The energy levels are at zero and the ability to do anything much is depleted.  You would think that I would learn by now but each time it happens I scold myself for being so stupid !  Anyway the 3 half finished projects for upcoming A Year of Gifts tutorials are still in the same state of semi completion and will have to stay this way until I can once again get some energy and finish them.

So this week I am sharing with you an old pattern of mine that was published in a magazine here in Australia about 6 or 7 years ago.  It's for a lovely needle book and pin cushion with a sweet little stitchery.  The pattern includes a step by step photographic tutorial for those of you that are visual learners.  You can DOWNLOAD IT HERE.

Hugs,

Fee xx

A Year of Gifts - Project 10

This week I have another stitchery for you.  This time I show you how to use an iron on transfer pen to transfer the image onto a darker fabric and also show you how to mount it inside a wooden hoop.  It would make the perfect gift !

Next weeks project will include a video for those of you who prefer to be taught visually.  You can download the pattern for the Woodland Deer HERE.

Hugs,

Fee xx

A Year of Gifts - Project 9

Most of the time I am pretty good at technology but last week the video for my project (No 9) became corrupted and no matter what I did I couldn't fix it.  I help run and attend a 5 day retreat every March and found that I just didn't have time to re shoot the video so instead I am now gifting you a stitchery instead as a replacement project 9.  I know that you will understand.  The project will now have to be remade and a new video made and maybe I can get it released as Project 11?

So here we have a gorgeous jar of buttons stitchery.  Isn't it adorable ?

It's perfect to make for any of your sewing friends.

You can find the FREE download HERE.

Hugs,

Fee xx

A Year of Gifts - Project 8

It's Monday again.  They seem to come around very fast don't they ?  This week's project is an environmentally friendly one.  It's for Beeswax Food Wraps.

They are super easy to make 

And can save your food from being stored in plastic.  Great for lunch boxes for the family or to give away sets as gifts.

You can make them any size you wish and fold them to store sandwiches, cheese slices etc or even to stretch over a bowl to seal it.

I have a downloadable Instruction Sheet for you this week.  You can download it HERE

Have a wonderful week.

Hugs,

Fee xx

Project 7 - A Year of Gifts

Welcome to Week 7 and Project 7 of A Year of Gifts.  This week I have a card making project for you.  I will show you how to make this gorgeous card which has a ribbon closure.

And when you open it up you have a pocket which holds a block of chocolate and room for a sentiment.  Isn't it gorgeous ??

I'll also show you how to make a little box to gift it in - Or you could gift it without the box - It's entirely up to you.  You can watch the video tutorial HERE

The cutting requirements as mentioned in the video are as follows :-

White Cardstock 

5 3/4 "X 8 1/4"(Bottom of Box) - Score @ 5/8th " on all 4 sides

6"X 8 1/2" (Top of Box) - Score @ 5/8th " on all 4 sides (not 3/4")

7"X 9 1/2" (Card) - Score at 4 1/2"& 5"

Chocolate Pocket - 4"X 8 5/16th - Score at 1/2" & 1" on 3 sides

Patterned Paper

6"X 2 3/4" (Top of Chocolate Pocket)

4 pieces of 4 1/4" X 6 3/4" (front and back panels on card)

4 1/2" X 7" - Top of Box

I hope you enjoy making them.

Hugs,

Fee xx