I commenced 2016, declaring it my year of all things homespun. The word 'homespun' conjures up the beautiful, the warm, the giving, the hugs and love, the learning, and the failing.
This year, I've learned a great deal. I've pushed myself to adopt at least one new skill, or money saving strategy each month. I've shared my successes, and even a few that weren't so successful, with you all. I hope I've encouraged you to, in Aussie lingo, to 'have a go'.
Because really that's what it's all about. Anyone can throw a bit of cash around and find a random pretty. It takes a certain kind of determination and persistence, to craft a skill that's good enough to gift, and even more, to admit that the skill is a work-in-progress, and gift it anyway.
This year, I made Goats milk soap, seen above, and rustic Gingerbread cities, seen below.
I presented my rustic Gingerbread city in an oversized glass jar, white sugar at the bottom to hold my Gingerbread buildings upright, and embellished with a hand stamped and glittered vintage fabric ribbon tied to the top...
I made rainbow tulle bed tutus for my Granddaughters. That was a true labour of love, as I love and detest tulle in equal measure. All's well that ends well though, and they adore their pretty new bedroom décor...
I wish I had the energy to share how I made them, and maybe early next year I will. Suffice to say, if I never make another one, I'll be happy! In short though, if you're really curious, I used a fitted sheet, fitting it to a spare mattress to hold it firm, and pinned multiple layers of tulle that I'd pre-stitched for a rainbow effect to it, in the appropriate spot. I then wrestled the lot through my long suffering sewing machine. Not hard, but fiddly.
That hand stamped and glittered gift tie, made from a vintage sheet (an idea borrowed from Annabel at The Bluebirds are Nesting), used on my Gingerbread City, found it's way onto our gift wrapping this year. Seen below, I think it was a pretty departure from the traditional...
Cake baking and decorating was taken to another level, cupcakes frosted and decorated with little North Pole signs seen above, and my first attempt at a Christmas Bauble cake, seen below. Now THAT was a challenge! I'll be trying that one again next year, and perhaps not choosing red edible glitter with which to embellish it. My husband commented wryly that it looked like it had been injured...whoops! All the same, you try smoothing buttercream and fondant onto a sphere...it's jolly hard! So I'm proud as punch! Hahahaha!
A Frozen themed cake was attempted early in the year, for Granddaughter number one, and declared a success, despite it's slightly more 'green rather than blue' hue...
and a Tie Dye batter cake, which was very pretty!
And likewise, the Topsy-Turvy cake, which started off simply looking Drunken, rather than Topsy-Turvy, ended up being the highlight of another special little someones birthday party...
The term 'Jamberry Nails' found it's way into my vocabulary, saving me time and money in the process. These little decorative vinyl stickers are heat activated and bond to the nail, lasting up to three weeks! At $11 for a mani and pedi, and ready to go as soon as they're applied, I'm a fan!
I resurrected an old skill for making bouquets, gifting many a generous floral, feather or greenery pretty over the year. Why not at a third of the price of a florists bouquet? Here, I also discussed how to keep fresh flowers, fresher, for longer....
I painted my own Scandinavian inspired Christmas artwork, and shared how you can do it too...
...made solid perfumes in vintage lockets..
...rescued vintage lingerie in silks and satins, and restored it to loveliness with Bullion rose embroidery and lavish packaging...
See how to package for a luxury presentation and feel here.
...made designer style scarves from scraps of nothing and pompom trim...
....treated myself to a 'new from my closet' wardrobe, with similar embellishments of fringe, sequins and frou-frou...to give my clothes a more designer feel...
I trained my daughter, now nearly 17, to cut her own hair, and mine, using a Creaclip. Thousands saved, and no more tears because the hairdresser didn't listen when I said 'don't cut off too much, because curly hair bounces up!'.
Earlier in the year, I taught myself how to make Petit Fours and treated many friends to a lavish High Tea at low price. These dainty pink jelly cakes are simply bought sponge cake, cut into diamond shapes, dipped into chilled but not set jelly (jello), and rolled in dessicated coconut. Add a purchased sugar rose and who could imagine a prettier treat?
Our teas were held in our tropical garden, and included scones with home made jam and home made Clotted Cream, and nobody missed being in a high end hotel. Rather it was agreed all round that this was MUCH nicer....
...I finally found time to adopt an Heirloom skill...smocking...one of which I'm very proud!
Here's another glimpse of the Christmas festivities around these parts yesterday. Can you tell I'm a bit chuffed? ;-)
Candle making was big as a gift here too. Who would have imagined that little scented candles in thrifted sugar bowls could look so adorable?
An impromptu Easter gift yielded some Rosy Chocolate Bark, dusted with edible rose petals and glittering gold sugar...
At the behest of a favourite teacher, I learned how to make textile fibre collage, and managed to embellish several ghostly costumes for a spooky dance routine. This was far too complex a project to share as a tutorial. Rather I confined myself to showing you all some pretty pictures. Maybe next year, when I'm more adventurous. Or rather when I have more time! It's kind of fun!
Pretty romantic images were sourced to decorate gift bags and magnetised pegs for teen friends. At this link, I've provided the same images for you to use for your own project....
I found a way to make my own custom coloured edible sugar glitter, gifting it with cake baking supplies to many baking loving friends...imagine little jars filled with a harlequin rainbow of different coloured sugars. Super cute...
Book weights were made for book loving friends, and declared a hit....
And other friends with new babies, were lavished with hand crocheted sweet things, and home made Wool Wash in which to bathe them...
Fairy Crowns were made from inexpensive buttons...
Crepe paper streamers were hand dyed and stamped to create simple roses and the tutorial for those is here....
Hand made Dreamcatchers became the Gift du Jour amongst the teen daughters friends, and with the teen daughter making these herself, they were a special keepsake...
And new ways to organise all the paraphernalia that affords us the materials with which we work to create all this loveliness, were sourced and put into action. My instructions for these lovely lace organisers is here.
This is just a portion of what I actually generated and gifted or donated this year. I do not photograph every single project, meal, costume, garment or cake I create, nor have I shared everything I've blogged here. However, these are my favourites, and the ones of which I am most proud.
My aim has always been, to simply show you that things do not have to be perfect to be loved...or lovely. And that simply by starting somewhere, anywhere, that you too, can find the skills to create your own store of beautiful gifts, and a special expertise that is welcomed by your friends and family for any occasion. I hope I've accomplished that much.
As an aside, my newly honed skills and projects, have saved my family, and my friends and loved ones, thousands and thousands of dollars this year. A cake can be anything from $100-$600, a large dreamcatcher sells at our local homewares store for $175, designer candles are $60-$120, Goats Milk soaps sell for $7-$17, a jar of Gingerbread? $45 please. Dance costumes...$100 each and I was a big part of creating over 200 this year. Haircuts, manicures, pedicures...well that's over $1000 saved right there. And so it goes. I'll be sharing a grand total next week, and I think like me, you will be amazed at how much it is!
For more ideas and tutorials, please go to my tabs at the top of my page here, marked 'Celebrations and Gifts', 'All Things Homespun', and 'Budgeting and DIY'. I hope you'll find something to inspire you. Is there something you'd like me to share next year?
At the start of 2016, I invited you to join me on my road to a Homespun Year. Did you take up the challenge? What new skills did you adopt? Are they still a work in progress? Or are you perhaps good enough to make some extra pocket money from them?
I'd love to hear from you. Please share your stories.
Happy end of 2016, and all that comes with the celebrating of another year gone by....
