Seasonal adventures in Upcycling and Crafting

At last there seems to be a seasonal chill in the air and although I'm not a fan of the cold or extremes in temperature, I do love to have defined seasons. I like the feeling of hunkering down in my living room with an open fire and a pile of craft books on a cold evening or propping my bottom on the Aga whilst warming my cockles with a mug of Pukka Three Ginger Tea.
 This was my view whilst I sewed at the Cowshed workshop yesterday and I take no credit for the beautiful stag other than snapping the photo. He was made by the enormously creative Seren; he looks so majestic and I would love to have one of these in my garden.

I'm busy preparing for the Kitsch and Stitch Fair next weekend and sewing up some pretties for Curly Girl's school Christmas fair the week after (more snuggly foxy pillow pals).  Last night I joined some lovely girls from the PTFA for a Christmas garland making session with buckets of fresh bay leaves and fragrant dried fruit and cinnamon sticks.  I'm not in full on Christmas mode yet; it's just ticking along in the background for now whilst I focus on more pressing matters, such as the current husband's birthday.  

I've been doing a little upcycling on a couple of old sewing boxes to sell at the Kitsch and Stitch; a little Annie Sloan chalk paint and some vintage decals will soon have this box looking her best.  I seem to have accumulated 6 vintage sewing boxes in need of a makeover; I find it very difficult to resist them when they flash a saucy vintage leg at me from a dusty corner of a charity shop.  You may remember me telling you about this saucy sewing basket a while ago; I sold her at my first Kitsch and Stitch and was glad to see her go to a new home.  

The latest addition to my flock is a real retro looking gal and in pretty good condition considering her age; I love the Jetsons feel to the shape of the box. She's in really good nick but I'm not keen on the strange nubbly fabric covering, so that definitely has to go.  

I knew I'd seen a revamped version of the same style sewing box somewhere and eventually stumbled across it in one of my favorite sewing books, Chloe Owens 'Tells You How to Sew'.  I adore Chloe's style and would love to achieve something similar with my old sewing box.  I don't have a cat and I fear Mr Wilf would be a tad on the large size for using it as a dog bed!

Let's have a big 'aaaaahhhh!' for Mr WIlf in a basket.

Once again, I am linking up with Claire over at Clarina's Contemplations for her Savouring the Season linky and Victoria at Vevivos for her Post Comment Love linky #PoCoLo.  Go take a look-see at what's going on over at their blogs.

Hope you are keeping snuggly and warm under a granny blanket and enjoying a cheeky tot of something in your afternoon tea.  

TTFN. Galx