Show & Tell: Rubber Duckie over and out!

Ho ho ho!

Hi again all you lovely people.  First, thank you.   Thank you to every single person that stopped by, linked up or commented on this link...ever :)  After two years, the time has come to say thank you and fare-thee-well linky.  Yep, that's right folks... 106 Show & Tell posts and link-up's later, it's time to call it a day.

The reason the link-up started was to help out a bunch of friends who were looking to re-start the NZ blogging community with some new ideas, new link-ups, different features etc.   It fitted with my plans for the blog and I knew it would be great encouragement to keep up my crafting and creating... Then of course there was the benefit of "meeting" so many other lovely people and crafters through the link-ups! Win-win-win!

However, as is the way of life, things change, plans change and eventually subscriptions expire too :) All things considered and various options explored, its fate is now sealed.

So again, thank you! To all you lovely linker-uppers, commentors, stalkers and sponsors, that kept Show & Tell going for as long as it did.  Without you, your support and kind words, it would have stopped a long time ago!  It has been wonderful meeting so many awesome people and I for one have been inspired and encouraged by you all.   I do hope that this link-up has brought you one or two awesome ideas throughout it's life and hopefully you have been encouraged and made some grand connections with other lovelies too.   At the end of the day, that was what it was about - a crafting community coming together :)

If you've come to link up...fear not! There is one more this week! Use it or lose it I say :)
As always I look forward to seeing what wonderful things you've been up to!
Have a wonderful week leading up to Christmas.
Craft on!!
L xx



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Christmas is all around me

What is not to love?

Happy holidays lovelies
L xx

Show & Tell: Elfen Antics

14 Sleeps till Santa...

We're slowly getting there - one way or another! How are your Christmas preparations shaping up?

For the last few years we've had Albert Elf come to stay at ours. The first two years were great fun but this year the plans that I had have gotten a bit waylaid... Still, the girls love coming out in the mornings and seeing what he's been up to (I'm just happy I'm remembering even if it means jumping out of bed to quickly think up something simple!)

Last year Albert had great fun making house... and this year he is loving the comforts of his special space every now and again.

Some of the highlights:
An empty box was transformed over the course of 23 days...

...into a fully functional house - complete with carpet, wallpaper, furniture, decorations, working lights and a pet!

Some of my favourite parts to make were his chair and tree...

and the tiled roof...

It really was great fun for us all. And in addition to that were the antics... making my sewing machine go and creating his own flying fox to name a couple! If you're looking for ideas there are lots over here :)

Do you do anything Adventish? Would love to hear!
And of course would love to see what you've been working on too :)
Have a great Thursday!
L xx



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bury me in your quiet love

This one isn't so much for our summer festive season, but it's still pretty :)

Have a super weekend!
L xx

Show & Tell: Makers Gonna Make

Hi Guys & Gals

Given many of you are makers, or know makers, or you're not but like looking at pretty things... well, I thought I would give you some ideas on maker type gifts for others, or yourself...you know... whatever works!

In the yarn department:
Kate from Greedy for Colour released this adorable book earlier in the year: Stanley and the Hot Air Balloon... a super sweet story that ends with crochet patterns... Adorable Crochet patterns... This would be a goodie for both kids and crafters... two birds people, two birds...

Catrien at Yarnfloozy does amazing hand-dyed yarn. Now of course this one is not just for Crocheters but also knitters or people who like to have a lot of pretty yarn to stroke. Seriously - go and have a look at some of the gorgeous skeins she produces.

In the sewing department:
It's no secret that I am a fan of Juliet's paper-piecing patterns. Her Tartankiwi Craftsy shop is jam-packed with all sorts of goodness - for beginners and experienced piecers alike. You are bound to find something here that would help to make an excellent gift!

If you're more into garment sewing... then surely you've visited Lisa at Big Little. Here you will find enchanting childrens' and ladies clothing patterns along with some other little delights and a small selection of pre-made items too. I'm yet to come accross someone who doesn't love these patterns or garments!

Just a small wee selection for you today to get the juices flowing and enable you to get your gift crafting on. Don't even get me started on other talented people who produce amazing finished products, from cards to toys to jewellery to homewares... I love browsing Etsy or Felt to discover some true gems!

Dont forget to link up your makings (present or past!) and do share if you have some other local talented suppliers we should visit!
Happy Thursday lovelies
L xx

PS: This is not a sponsored post - just sharing some lovely "tools of the trade" people I admire : )



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Singing how I've always loved you, darling, and I always will

One of my favourites for the upcoming season :)

Hope you enjoy it!
L xx

Show & Tell: To the Future

Hello Lovelies,

Christmas is 4 Thursday's away... I keep staring at that statement.  There is no way I'm going to make all the things, for all the people I had hoped to.  And I am ok with it.   I've made my peace. 'Tis the season for giving...and for Peace right? : )

Anyhoos, instead I am thinking about and very loosely planning the things I hope to make next year (I know, don't freak out!).  So, here's what's on the cards:

- A scrap vomit quilt for a friend.  I re-sorted my stash and lo and behold I have enough scraps to actually separate them by colour.  So this project is the one that is going to gobble them up.

- An angelic wall hanging for another friend. It was supposed to be for Christmas but... I think it would be simple and delightful and just sweet especially in super colours and fabric (pattern from an old edition of Homespun magazine).

- Fox River Quilt - I have my eye on a few of the quilts in John Adams' book Beyond Neutral.  Next in line is this beauty.

- Also some crochet.  I really want to nail down the pattern for these Zebra slippers I made up for one of my girls last year.

So what about you crafty cookies?  What plans, schemes, hopes and dreams are in your creative future?
And dont forget to link up and away any goodies you'd like to share!
Thanks a bunch for stopping in.
L xx



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45, 46, 47/52

A:  You are a reading machine - you finish them off at the rate of at least one book a day... your appetite for books is insatiable!  Lucky we had a fresh supply of 24 library books (you were so excited about that!) when you came down with a yucky bug.  Your non-stop jibber-jabber stopped for the weekend, but before long those energy levels were back up to normal.  Drawing, reading, biking, talking talking talking... your little brain barely ever stops.

H:  You are loving school and are basically part of big sister's class and still managing to be a friend to everyone in your class.  You are always being called and greeted from all manner of children and teachers.   And my heart swells when I see how kind and inclusive you are to children who are new or struggling.  What a gem you are.

L:  You know how to keep us on our toes!  When you're not yourself things are pretty intense but they are always overshadowed by the delight and joy you bring when the mischievous look re-appears in that little face.  You march entirely to your own beat in all regards - one of the funniest ways it is expressed is in how you dress yourself.  The outfits are hugely entertaining and recently you went through a week of dressing for the next day underneath your pajamas.  Come the morning you whipped off the pj's and tada!  You were ready to roll :)

L xx

all the right junk in all the right places

Another one for my girls... and for every other girl (or boy) out there ;)

Happy Friday
L xx

Show & Tell: Ghosts of Christmasses Past

Hi again,

Ok so I don't have anything new to show...shock horror! Doesn't mean I haven't been making stuff! Though to be fair there's not an awful lot of making going on... I am quite sure that my days are going down a black hole of forgotten nothingness... or I'm loosing my mind... anyhoos... When I presented my wee conundrum to a friend she gave me a great suggestion - let's do a Ghosts of Christmasses Past post!

So gather round, gather round and please share some of your cracker Christmas makes from previous years (or this year!). Gifts, decorations, foodie items... let's pool our resources!

Some of my favourite goodies made were just from last year - baubles for Africa, mushrooms and teeny socks... but i think the apples took the cake.

Not sure why but they just made my day - making them and packaging up with a KitKat as teacher's gifts gave me a kick. I'll take them where I can ;)

So share your clever creations with us please? Link up new makes, old makes, Christmas makes, non-Christmas makes... Go on - sharing is caring!
Have a splendid day
L xx

Pattern for the mushrooms here, and patterns for the baubles and apples here.



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a fighter, dancing through the fire

Especially for my girls.

Have a wild weekend peeps.
L xx

Show & Tell: Tis the Season

Only 6 more weeks...

It's coming! And you all know it!

I'd been tinkering with a pattern for Crochet Christmas trees for a little while. I wanted them to be simple to construct but with lots of options to embellish. After a couple of attempts these were the end result.

In my spare time (hahahaha) I am making lots and lots and lots of these ;)

I really enjoy the process of working out a pattern. Thinking and trying different ways of construction. Counting, recounting, more counting. Trying and trying again. And always learning through each attempt or "wrong" turn.

How about you? Will you re-invent the wheel if you cant find the right one?
Looking forward to hearing from you lovelies and seeing what you've been up to.
L xx

The pattern for these little trees is available in my Etsy shop.



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