Saturday 6 November 2010

Christmas-Crafty Give-Away

filigree

I'm so excited!   I've managed to book myself on a workshop with Julie Arkell, woohoo!  You can see some of her work on the Loop website and on Ticking Stripes blog.   The workshop is at Hope and Elvis in Nottinghamshire, which isn't exactly on my doorstep, but it's so reasonably priced that it's worth the little trip.   It's not until next March - too soon to start counting how many more sleeps.  So, to keep me from swooning with impatience, I decided to try and make myself one of the kind of brooches that I saw on some of the workshop photographs.  I gather it's inspired by some 1940's brooches that are in the Imperial War Museum.    There's a real make-do-and-mend/clothing-coupons feel  to them.     And to stay in keeping with that, I just used thrifted bits and bobs in my own version, which I think is quite pretty.


So, ta-da ..........  the giveaway.   I decided that although the linen set is rather lovely (and aromatherapeutic!) I ought to do a more colourful collection too.  (Especially as I'm joining in on Silverpebble's Splash of Colour to brighten up the winter - just click the pic in my sidebar to see all the cheery photos.)

The linen lot is made up of a sack of cinnamon bark chips with a wooden heart and cinnamon stick tied at the top; a luggage label dangly calendar with a stamped wren decoration; and a padded heart with hand-embroidered snowflakes, hanging on a hessian string.





The birdie & bobbles collection is a long garland (about 52") of hand-felted merino wool bobbles; a padded birdie on a string with its own felt bobble; and a matching luggage label dangly calendar.





If you would like to enter the give-away, please just leave me a comment telling me which you would prefer - Linen & Cinnamon or Birdie & Bobbles.    I'll do a random number draw on Friday 12th November and announce the winner that day.  


Big thank you to everyone who kindly pops in to read my blog - I do hope you'll feel free to enter the giveaway, even if you don't normally leave a comment.   I love Lurkers!!!Don't be shy - the more the merrier!  

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Chrissie x


22 comments:

Fiona said...

Gosh, I'd love to win either of the sets. I just can't decide. Perhaps the linen cinnamon one. To make all those felt bobbles for the bird garland set must have taken you ages. I find it very time consuming. Did you wet felt them or needle felt? ...or maybe the bird set ...I leave it to you if I am lucky enough to win.

vintagerockchick said...

I've been trying to catch up on my blog reading after a long time away travelling - I immediately went over to look at the workshops at Hope and Elvis - they look good - I'm very tempted ....
Reading back - Love the bags - I'm the same with brown paper I'm sure I only order stuff from Lakeland because of the packaging!

Celia Hart said...

How lovely to meet you this afternoon... that was a surprise!

I'm back home and the feeling is seeping back into my frozen toes (note: must wear my boots to next week's Christmas Market!)

I'm drawn to those lovely linens - especially the calendar, and I can't resist cinnamon!

BTW the brooch is lovely - wouldn't it look nice pinned to a plain shetland sweater? Lovely!

Celia

Jee said...

Can hardly choose between them, but the birdie I think is my favourite - I love all the felted bobbles!

Abigail Thomas said...

ooooo birdy and bobbles for sure! although i like the linen heart too, but the bird wins! been 'following' you on flickr for ages but only just discovered your blog - will take some time to get to know it now.

Things Hand Made said...

I did a workshp with her earlier this year, she is such a gentle soul. ( and wear the coolest sparkly eyeshadow!)

gpfrench said...

You just gave me another reason to NOT throw away those sturdy pieces of cardboard from Amazon packaging! I love the Linen & Cinnamon! Two of my favorite things! and so Pretty together! Have fun!

ELK said...

goodness ..you know how I love a sweet bird ..oh and also a lovely heart..how can one decide among two amazing creations!!

Jennyff said...

Oh yes, we love a giveaway and you have such pretty things. I really like the linen set, actually I love the brooch very much but realise it's not up for grabs. The course sounds very exciting.

gerfiles said...

L & C, of course ;) - best wishes to you...

JP said...

love the brooch - please thingk about me for the linen giveaway - i just adore the bird

Julie Schubert said...

I love the birdie and bobble garland....it's so nice to bring the memory of birds inside once they have flown south for the winter! A reminder that summer is just around the corner....along with the great workshop you will be attending!

Anonymous said...

I do love your forties inspired brooch Chrissie. When you showed it to me the other day I was a little confused because I thought I had seen it before but, obviously, couldn't have as you had just made it. So ...... I must have seen the one in the Imperial War Museum. Oh good, senility held at bay for a while longer! Anyway, it's beautiful - you are clever. I had a look at the Ticking Stripes blog - it's a delicious post and you are clearly going to have a fab time at the workshop. Regarding your gorgeous give-away - if my number comes up, I'll have whatever the other lucky winner did not choose - all your things are lovely.
Anne

LAC EMP 2020 said...

Chrissie,
Everything you make is so lovely. I hope you have lots more takers for your give-away. As the recipient of your creativity already I could not possible expect my name to go in the hat. Whoever wins either of your offers will be so lucky! Lesley xx

menopausalmusing said...

Ha! So Lesley beat me to leaving a comment! I also was going to say that I have been the recipient of your beautiful work so wish good luck to everyone else. Also want to say what a wonderful time I had trawling through the Jam Jar Shop website............ some stuff in there that I have been trying to source for quite some time, so THANK YOU.

Unknown said...

Ah, I always love your crafting - and I always love your pictures and your stories and your blog. Chrissie, I am so very glad you are here / there doing what you do. You are a constant smile for me.

Jill said...

Oooh - birdie, heart, heart, birdie - oh don't make me choose, oh okay, the heart.
Love the brooch too.

Anonymous said...

Hello Chrissie!
How can one chose between such lovelies....I think the birdies take the cake though, if I HAD to chose! They are all scrumptious!
Love your blog and glad to be back browsing it, along with your shop...
xoxo from across the sea,
Christine88

mandy said...

Hi, Both gift sets look lovely, I'll go with the linen and keep my fingers crossed, thank you.

Gina said...

Lucky you getting on a Julie Arkall workshop! Your thrifted brooch is gorgeous. I think my favourite is birdie and bobbles!

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Chrissie, Your art is truly beautiful and I especially love the brooch from the thrift store bits and pieces. Hugs Judy

two bones and a bagle said...

Hello just found your blog via Vintage Magpie -you have lots of gorgeous makes to show. Glad you are going on the Julie Arkell workshop at Hope and Elvis I went last year and it was fab. Louise is a good friend of mine and actually I am popping over today to her Coast workshop to help her out. Nice to find your blog - I will pop back for a browse.