We bought our Christmas tree over the weekend and it’s a beauty. It’s a bit of tradition in the Hudson household to buy a new tree ornament each year. We have ornaments from the year we moved in together, a beautiful glass star from the Ice Hotel where we were married and very special ornaments that have been passed down through our families.

I came across these lovely handmade baubles from Chester-based lighting and homeware designer Jenny Bland. Created by spinning thread and resin, they’re as light and airy as snowflakes and look so pretty with the fairy lights shining through them. The little felt tops are inspired by elves’ hats.

Check them out at www.etsy.com/shop/JennyBland. They cost under £6 each, including UK delivery.

I’ve been smitten with Miso Funky for a while now. Ever since seeing their ‘In Case of Emergency Breakdance’ embroidery I’ve been hooked. They’re widely know for their humorous and sometimes subversive samplers which brandish messages such as ‘Make Tea Not War’, ‘Live Slow Die Old’ and my personal favourite, ‘Home Sweet Fucking Home’.

Miso fans will be pleased to note that the samplers are now available in kits. There are three to choose from:- ‘Sniff Glue Worship Satan’, ‘Scurvy Pirate Icons’ and ‘In Case Of Emergency Breakdance’. If you’ve always fancied giving cross stitch a go but have been put off by old-fashioned, twee patterns then this could be for you. Each kit contains everything you need to get started including instructions, charts, needle and thread and an embroidery hoop.

Check out the Miso Funky website for the full range and while you’re there take a peak at their Christmas Gift Guide.

Well it sounded like a good idea at the time. This year my mum, my sister and I are going to make our Christmas gifts. Well the ones we send to each other anyway. My mum and sister are of course champion crafters. They knit, sew, crochet, make cards, make jewellery, bake and well pretty much anything else they set their minds to. And me? Not so much. I enjoy crafts of course. However, the results of my tinkerings are just not in their league. It’s true, I have a fondness for the scarf I made a couple of years ago that is twice as wide on one side than it is on the other. I still wear it though it ends up slipping down due to the sheer weight of the extra stitches I managed to pick up. And I like the uneven looking candles that line our kitchen window sill. However, there’s no way I could pass them off as gifts.

And so the search is on for new things to make that I won’t mess up. So expect a lot of ‘make’ related posts over the coming weeks.

This brings me onto the above pictures. I didn’t make them of course. This is the work of Michelle Webster of Keyka Lou. Another talented maker. Michelle creates sewing patterns and then sells them via her Etsy shop. Once payment has been received you can download the patterns as PDFs within 24 hours. No shipping, no waiting, no fuss.

There’s a good range too. You can buy patterns for bags, clutches, wallets, pot holders and other miscellaneous accessories, along with fabric and sewing supplies. There’s also a useful section devoted to beginners. This might just spare my family from receiving sock puppets for Christmas this year.

Shop at www.keykalou.etsy.com.

One more day to go to place your orders at Pepe and Friends! They have the cutest range of porcelain from £8 to £24.

www.pepeandfriends.com

Sugar Daddy, the Sugar Shaker - £12
BINGO, the Espresso Cup - £8
Rif & Raf, salt and pepper shakers - £12
Pablo, the honey pot - £12

A Christmas stocking wouldn’t be the same without a few toiletries. From Hetty Horner’s garden workshop comes a luxury range of handmade soaps, bath bombs, scented candles and perfumed tree decorations.

But hurry, there’s only a few more posting days left. Go to www.hettyhorner.co.uk.

Wooden Heart with Rosehip - £2.50
Vanilla Spice Scented Candle - £4.00
Ceramic Candle Set - £4.00
Glitter Pink Bath Bomb - £2.80
Wooden Star - Fragranced with Frankincense & Myrrh - £2.50
Cook’s Soap - £3.00

Unusual wearable art and accessories, inspired by times gone by, tea parties, walks in the countryside, castles, fairy tales, love stories and the forest.

And free UK shipping until 19th December!

www.lostintheforest.etsy.com

Curiouser and Curiouser Brooch - $20 (approx £13.08)
Fly Me to the Moon Brooch - $20 (approx £13.08)
White Rose Embroidered Brooch - $10 (approx £6.53)
The Black Eyed Smuggler Earrings - $12 (approx £7.84)

After Christmas when all the decorations come down, everywhere seems bare and a little forlorn. Check out these quirky ceramics by Which Witch. Inspired by nature, each piece is hand built in a converted stable in North Yorkshire.

www.whichwitch87.etsy.com

All of the above are $19 (approx £12.72)

These delightful prints by Hide ‘n’ Seek conjure up fairytales and story time. But look a little closer and you’ll see there’s something slightly disturbing about some of them.

These wonderful illustrations are all $7.70 (approx £5.19), except for Seduction (bottom right) which is $16.10 (approx £10.86).

www.hidenseek.etsy.com

As well as prints Hide ‘n’ Seek stocks cards, tags, mirrors and badges.