Sew Sweet

Hello! I have some sweet things for you today! First of all here is a gingerbread man tin - another in my series of syrup tin recycling. (I've used up the supply now and we're a bit tired of flapjacks!) This time a Christmassy one which is just right to store these shiny candy canes. They were a little surprise from Sarah a couple of weeks ago - she knows how to make her Mama happy! I love using them in my decorations every year, even though I rarely eat them myself, I just really love the way they look!
The little red and white striped sweet bags are some I sewed the other evening, after finding the fabric at the Knitting and Stitching Show. It was exactly what I was looking for as I wanted to make the bags look like the old-fashioned red and white striped paper bags that shops used to use for sweeties.

 I made the bags very simply using rectangles of fabric sewn down one side and along the bottom and hemmed at the top. When you have filled the bag with your choice of sweeties - or other gift - you can tie it up with ribbon or ric rac, raffia or lace, whatever you have that looks pretty. I made the little tags with white card (and a corner rounder punch) and my favourite merry wishes rubber stamp. I also used some Christmas stickers from Doodlebug. ( The rubber stamp and stickers are from Handy Hippo.)

 I think my sweetie bag sewing was partly inspired by some of the gorgeous shop windows in York last week - just look at all the swirly colours in this sweet and sugary array of lollipops!

 In our house Christmas starts to appear all by itself at the beginning of December! Little Christmas things start to pop up in different places, cards begin to arrive, then the trees, the decorations....and suddenly it's here!

I love being at home this time of the year, and enjoy the cosy winter days doing my designs and making Christmas plans. Having family nearby means I often go for a walk to see them on a wintry afternoon, and it's lovely to come home through the chilly dusk and see the little advent lights in the windows.
I hope your days are cosy and snug and filled with sweetness and light!! x