Christmas has arrived and OPAM

Yes, I know it is only the end of October, so Christmas cannot have arrived, but if you looked at my sewing area at the moment, you would think that it was Christmas tomorrow.

I have completed 3 lovely table runners

 and a couple of adorable wall hangings.

 Here they are in closeup.  The fabric panels were designed by Dianna Marcum (a couple of years ago I think)

 I love the phrase on this one.  It really makes you think.

I have also finished a 'secret squirrel' quilt (made with a friend) that I can't reveal or it won't be a secret, but we love it and we're am sure it's new owner will love it too.

So I am quite excited.  These are 6more items for my OPAM list and that brings the month tally to a very healthy 30 items.  Whew, no wonder I feel tired  like I have been sewing alot.

Gifts for our teachers

Well a few more "Teacher" towels have joined the craft fair stock.

 but more importantly than 'stock' are these two towels for our class Teachers.

Tomorrow (Friday 28th October) is World Teacher's Day & we will give these to the two ladies who spend 5 days a week educating my boys and making them feel like they can do anything.  We really appreciate the work of our teachers. They are dedicated, they care, they are approachable and they genuinely want to know what is going on in the lives of the boys.  They share in sorrow for the boys, they share in joy. They are exactly what a teacher should be and we are going to make sure we say thank you.

The boys will put the finishing touches on their notes/pictures to give to the ladies tomorrow.  

Will you take 5 to thank your teacher?

A 'flock' of elves and a 'herd' of angels

Well I am not sure of the technical term for a group of elves and I am fairly certain that a group of Angels is a 'host' but I feel like they are a 'flock' and a 'herd' due to their behaviour.  They were rolling all around the table and wings were flying and the elves were joking around.

These three were chosen due to their exemplary behaviour, but look at Red there, he is try to steal the limelight from the others.

Now he is behaving himself, but he looks kind of cheeky.

These three along with about 47 others are destined for the craft fair where their new owners will be able to choose the letter they wish to have personalised onto their elf or angel like these three below for the family of a good Roma friend.

Just in case you think I am joking, here are the rest of them waiting to go.

Well these don't count on my OPAM list, but it sure feels good to have more finishes under my belt.

OPAM and Craft Fair

Well the Craft Fair is getting closer (only  32 days to go Bindi - don't panic though) and my stock is coming together nicely.  As it needs to as we have a 9th birthday, a wedding, a 60th birthday and just the usual craziness of Term 4 to deal with before then.

These Christmas towels will accompany my 'teacher towels to the event.

and a close up of some of the phrases

 These are my favourite, but I forgot to photograph them before I stitched them into rolls.

  "Peace on Earth" so you can sort of see the stars and "peace on" one towel and "earth" on the other.

 and the same idea with an awesome tree & "Merry" on one towel and "Christmas" on the other.

I am getting excited now and as a bonus these are 11 OPAM finishes.  YEAH!!

A hat for Mum

When my parents came to visit a couple of weeks ago I was given the task of making a custom fitting hat  for my Mum.

Now it has been close to 2 years since I did the hat making workshop and so the old grey cells got a bit of a work out trying to interpret my notes.

I forgot to photograph the hat while it was here so thanks Mum & Dad for emailing these through.

Mum wanted a small brimmed hat that would keep her head warm for when she next travels to Europe.

 It is made from tiny corduroy.  Not perfect and looking at it now I wish I could reach it to unpick the top, but Mum says she likes it and it will squash nicely in her suitcase and 'come back to shape again' when needed.