Oh Christmas Tree...

This is our first Christmas in our "own" home, so it's all a bit special. On the weekend Em dragged out all the decorations. Here are some of the favs...love a snowman...

Little bit of sewing...

I'm probably one of the last people on earth to make a Wee Wonderfuls toy - such fun, easy pattern - very pleased.

Thrifty bits

Did a little thrifting last week: these little bits of vintage land-fill caught my eye.

No reason - just because she's groovy.

Finally got around to doing some crafting this weekend: first up is this little dress from a great book, Softies. This is a Posie Gets Cozy contribution. The original pattern calls for stuffing, but I just wanted to make a flat one - maybe a bookmark? Anyway, easy to make and the dress pattern is so cute.

Next...some needle felting. I got some roving wool from Japan and made this penguin for a friend...I added feet later!

Hello world...

and this little dog with button wheels - took ages to make it and I'm still not a 100 per cent happy...maybe he does need the little doggy coat?

Thanks for looking.

...and yet more goodies from Japan

Every shop in Tokyo seemed to be full of things I suddenly couldn't live without but I did have to show some restraint (sigh). Here's a few more little things: a felted, giraffe pencil warmer, tape measure trim, mini Blythe, cake eraser set, buttons and tiny tiles!

The Haul from Japan ...part one...

Here are some of the craftbooks/interior magazines I happily lugged back from Japan.

Japan Part Three

I really loved all the haiku moments when we travelled. The Japanese seem to have this innate sense of style that can be simple or wildly over the top. A few random things:

I love the way people had tiny pot plants outside their gates and even on the footpath.

Lots of shops had their wares on the street. Love the baskest full of cats.

Umbrellas - for rain and shine. They were gorgeous and sold all over the place; rich colours, pale, ruffled, tinted, large print, the tiniest flowers, frogs, dots, bold stripes.

Food trolley on the shinkanzen (bullet train) - fantastic bento boxes; chicken, rice, pickled vegetable.

Kimonos, flashes of colour; butterflies, cranes, falling leaves. Just lovely.

Shoes: seriously; kids, old people and everyone in between had brilliant shoes in Tokyo; expressive, high, flats, laced - all colours, lengths and styles.