counting down....

before and after felting....

I have been very good this year - for once (at least so far!) I am on top of christmas presents etc... I finished the coasters (yes, the ugly duckling was replaced) and I also finished the bag this morning. I dug out some of the Oliver Twists mixes and embroidered along the yarnover holes (they nearly close during felting, but make an easy line to embroider along). I had planned to put a button into the middle, where the spiral meets - but couldn't find a suitable one. so off I went into the shed to look for a base I could use. I found an old rusty washer in a good size and made it up a little with threads around and a "spiderweb" in the middle. I think it's good to go now - the small bag on the side is meant to be for a mobile, but to be flexible with it I fastened a spring fastening hook to one end. now the user can either clip it into the baglet (short strap), around the strap to pull it down as far as the strap reaches - or take it out altogether. it should be large enough for the usual sizes nowadays - I don't think many people still use the bricksize ones:)

I also put a small side bag inside - I hate it when hankies, labello etc. go awol inside a larger bag and I assume that's the same for most people. the strap is always a bit difficult - it all depends on the taste of the person and also on the body length! something that's suitable for me might be too long for a smaller person. I also like my bags (let's face it, with their huge size they should be called sacks:)) to hang down fairly low... well, don't look a gift bag onto its handle - or something like that!

so now I am down to one small present and one larger (1/2way done!). of course there is the baking and decos etc. - but that is never so urgent that I get into a jiffy about it. I already feel rather christmassy - I could just about hold back on putting a seasonal cd into the player this morning! might be due to the cold spell we're having right now - no snow yet, but it's growing colder every day and we had two hail showers already today. it's supposed to become colder and more wintry towards the weekend - so that I hope we don't end up having snow on saturday (though that might leave the bag for myself, as I don't fancy driving through snow and ice on summer tyres!).