Returnings..: Christmas makings and bakings..

I find the buildup to Christmas a bit of a mixed bag of elation, excitement and overwhelm. I put myself under so much pressure to enjoy the buildup to Christmas that I end up doing too much rushing around and forgetting what this season of advent is all about. Advent is a season of preparation, but it's also one of calm and reflection. As the mayhem of Christmas commercialism whirls around me, I am battling to say true to what I think is important. I don't always win and I often get sucked into a panic that I'll run out of time and haven't bought enough presents etc etc.

I so want things to be different. I have been spending time making gifts, It is time consuming, but I suppose the point is that it offers an opportunity to slow down and think about and appreciate the person for whom the gift is being made. The tricky part is that all my issues around being enough come to the surface when I am making a gift for someone, will they like it or just think it's rubbish?, will it be enough? Does something have more value when you spend money buying it or does a handmade gift have equal or even more value? These are all questions that I'm grappling with.

Anyway here are a few glimpses of my gift making so far...

I learnt how to make these bags in my sewing class. The patterns are in this book.

I made this bag for my daughter's friend, with a matching notebook, which I covered with fabric, felt and knitted squares.

I'm enjoying making the fabric covered notebooks. They are fun to make and are an inexpensive gift idea. The patchwork covers are a great way to use up any bits of leftover fabric from another project and of course feature one of my favourite things, crochet flowers!

It's Christmas baking time again, and I made these cakes for the Winter fair at my daughter's school. The Christmas trees are made from sugar paste with mini chocolate buttons stuck on, and the icing is vanilla buttercream.