Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!

Photo courtesy of Ludie Cochrane via Flickr

It's that time of the year again when we reflect on what the past year has brought us and think about what we hope the New Year will bring. 

2011 has been a fantastic year for the Gingerbread Bunny.  It was the year that I launched my blog and my (very small) business.  I have enjoyed blogging much more than I initially thought I would and have shared my crafty work and connected with so many wonderful like minded people.  It has been amazing.

2011 was the year I taught myself some new crafty skills.  I learnt how to knit and crochet and I am truly a yarn addict.  (My current work in progress is a jumper!  I never thought I would be crocheting a jumper by the end of the year!)

2011 was also the year I taught my first ever crafty workshops and I loved it.  The feedback was great and I am really looking forward to teaching more in the future.

I hope that 2012 will see The Gingerbread Bunny continue to grow as a blog and as a business.  I am also looking forward to teaching more workshops and sharing my love of crafting with others. 

I have set myself 2 crafty resolutions;

To learn how to do Tunisian crochet.  I saw Holly (who has started a crafty blog - check it out) doing some Tunisian crochet and the final effect is gorgeous.  

I  also what to attend more workshops next year.  I have already enroled on the next Textiles course at night school for this term and am really looking forward to it.  I really want to go on a dressmaking course and definitley need to get myself booked onto another art journaling workshop at Art from the Heart in Harrogate!

Since Mr Bunny is working a night shift,  I will be seeing in the New Year on my own with my art journal and a glass of rose.  I will complete the final page in my 2011 art journal, reflecting on what the year has given me, and will begin my 2012 art journal, thinking about my own personal goals for this year. 
All that leaves me to do is to wish you all a Happy New Year.  See you in 2012!

Christmas Makes!

So it is over for another year: Christmas has been and gone in the blink of an eye and, if I'm being completley honest, I haven't fully recovered yet!  I love Christmas and was lucky enough to spend it with the people I love and care about most.  Plenty was eaten on Christmas day, lots has been drunk (and still is being) and presents have been given and received.

As you may remember, I was making quite a few of my gifts this year and now that they have been given, I can share pictures of them with you.

Some of the items I made!

I crocheted many pairs of fingerless mitts, hats and cowls, made a rag wreath heart for my aunty, a batik 'Socks in progress' bag for my friend (which I forgot to photograph) and of course there was the scarf of doom I knitted. 

Rag Wreath Heart

I also put together some crafty gifts, mainly some gorgeous hand spun and dyed sock yarn to go with the sock bag and I bought my mum some beautiful sparkly yarn to crochet with.

The Christmas cards I made have been admired and commented on by the lucky people who received them (check them out here).

I to received some lovely crafty Christmas gifts including some homemade blackberry vodka, homemade fudge and Kirsties' new craft book.

Happy Christmas!

Today is Christmas Eve and I am spending the day making last minute preparations for Christmas! Mince pies are baking in the oven, the Christmas Cake is waiting to be marzipaned and iced and there are still gifts to be wrapped and cleaning to be done!
Tomorrow morning I will be off to church and then I will get to open my presents and then start to cook Christmas dinner with a cheeky glass of mulled wine!
So all that leaves me to do now is to wish all my followers a very merry Christmas! I hope you all have a great day and that Santa brings you some fab crafty gifts!

Keeping the troops warm!

Sometime in October I answered the crafty call of Louise from Caithness Craft Collective (check out her fabulous podcast if you haven't already done so) to put my crochet to good use; making hats for the troops in Afghanistan.  This project had been born by a lovely lady on the Isle of Man, who, if I have my information right, is related to someone currently serving out in Afghanistan. 

So I got out my hook and my yarn and began to make my hat.  I posted it to the Isle of Man and, feeling rather pleased with my efforts and with a slightly more shiny halo than usual, forgot about it!  I had done my bit.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago now and the arrival of a bluey (a letter used by the armed forces to send mail overseas) through my door.  Mr Bunny was at home that day and text me, rather worriedly I think, to say this bluey had arrived.  I spent most of the day wondering who it could be from.  Once I got home I discovered that this particular letter was from one of the soldiers who has received our hats thanking us for making them. 

How lovely is that?  I didn't expect anything but to receive anything but to know that our efforts are appreciated is amazing.  It reminded me of the importance of saying thank you when someone does something for you and, if a soldier serving out in Afghanistan can say thank you then I definitley can!

Wonderful Workshops!

Tribal Bunny and Mum

I'm back!  The past few weeks have been manic with Christmas shopping, making and festive frivolities!  You may recall that a few weeks ago I was off to the Tribal Sleepover in Huddersfield to teach some workshops, eat cake and dance!! Today's post is all about what was an amazing weekend.  The Tribal Sleepover took place at the most beautiful Victorian house in Huddersfield and belly dancers from across the country came together to dance, drum, eat cake and be crafty.  The whole weekend was amazing and I taught my first ever crafty workshops; Feathery Hair accessories and Art Journaling for Dancers. 

We (my Mum and I) arrived on the Friday night and were greeted with cake, always a good start to any weekend I think!  In the evening I taught 2 lovely ladies how to crochet.  I have to say that they did extremley well and picked it up very quickly.  I think they are hooked!


Saturday saw my Feathery Hair Accessories workshop.  I had around 13 lovely ladies on this workshop and they produced some amazing clips and hairbands to wear whilst performing (I even saw one being worn at the hafla (show) on the Saturday night!)  There where plenty of feathers for people to choose from and sparkly bits to decorate the clips with. 




One of the beautiful hair accessories made on the workshop!



Look at what we made!!!

On the Sunday I taught Art Journaling for Dancers.  There were around 12 of us playing with paint, stamps and spray inks and some beautiful journals were begun.  Some of the ladies are now addicted to art journaling and have been out and bought more resources to journal with!




Busy, busy



I love this page

Sharing my love of making through the teaching of these workshops was amazing!  The feedback I have received from the individuals on them and from the fantastic organsiers, Asif and Pauline, has been great!  In fact, I have been asked to teach at next years Tribal Sleepover! How great is that?