Kirstie's Home Made

PixieDust

Try the snowglobes, they really are as simple as they seemed - you can't go wrong (unless you put too much glitter in). Don't forget you can also use seed beads and sequins as well as or instead of the glitter You can also put the tiiiiiniest drop of (probably blue for xmas) food colouring in to make it all snow-in-the-sky ish I used to make these loads with the kids when we home-edded oooh eta - and and and.......you can do teeeeeny tiny weeny ones (if you can find the right figurines etc for the inside) in mini jam pots And you can tape or glue a scene or picture on the outside of the jar facing in, at the back (like an aquarium) (or photo, with just pretties in the jar iyswim?) And there's nothing to stop you using Lego trees and pieces to maybe make a shape or letter and....ohhhh SHUT UP PIXIE shutting up....

I was a little bit....not disappointed with the prog....but it didn't tell me what I was hoping it would...iyswim? I think I wanted tips on how to make the average living room look Christmassy and festive, and quite classy too, like hers did. I know her house is enviable and a far cry from the boxy 3 bed council semi that I live in.....but I really liked the way her house looked and would love to be able to replicate that in my own home on some level.....does that make sense?

I know it's been said before but GAH she should tie her hair back when working with food!!!! I would love to have a go at the candy thing.....though we have a sugar thermometer, I've never had an awful lot of success with sweetie making!

I really liked the Fimo/Sculpey tags/tree decs, and I think DD and I might have a go at that if I can get the pennies together for the stuff

ETA (again) - needlefelting doesn't have to be massively expensive if your hands are reliable (iykwim?) - you can buy felting needles from Eb@y along with unspun wool, and you can use a dense sponge (I used a washing up sponge to have a play), as did DD. It takes longer than it seemed to on telly, because you're only using one needle instead of many simultaneously....but there IS a cheaper way if you just want to have a go before splashing out There's also wet felting which makes sheets of felt - that just needs unspun wool, old towels and some bubble wrap (and warm soapy water). Much fun

valk_scot

PixieDust wrote: »

I know it's been said before but GAH she should tie her hair back when working with food!!!!

Oh definately! Can you imagine sucking your way through your lovely hand rolled candy cane and finding a long black hair inside it.....:eek:

oldtractor

re the SNOWGLOBES it would be nice to use some xmas cake decorations that have special meaning,perhaps those which were used when the children were small or your grandmothers or something. Would make it very personal.
I have to say I am so inspired that have have begun to collect things to craft with .Glossy magazines for decoupage,old clothes,some woolly socks which shrunk,bits of ribbon,. Theres all sorts to make,bunting,padded hearts,rag rugs . The list is endless. I have easter in mind,we decorate for xmas but not for easter, could make chicks and eggs out of felt or wool , make padded hearts in pastel spring colours with primrose flowers embroidered on. Lots of possibilities.

THIRZAH

I thought I might try making the heart garland as I have all the materials already except the bells and I could leave those off.

Not sure why she had to go to New York though. There are plenty of decorated houses over here now and there must some people who make candy canes too.

PixieDust

mind you though....if I was commissioned to make a prog about Christmas crafting, I think I might well shoehorn an "essential" trip to New York into the budget

Interesting that the Christmas Market in NY seemed to sell the same overpriced tat as the one in Birmingham

lostinrates

PixieDust wrote: »

I was a little bit....not disappointed with the prog....but it didn't tell me what I was hoping it would...iyswim? I think I wanted tips on how to make the average living room look Christmassy and festive, and quite classy too, like hers did. I know her house is enviable and a far cry from the boxy 3 bed council semi that I live in.....but I really liked the way her house looked and would love to be able to replicate that in my own home on some level.....does that make sense?

I think that's a fair comment. Although, I expect it took a lot of money to get such a beautifully ''casually'' decorated house!

When I returned to UK as a child I was a bit......disappoint is too veheent a word...with Christmas decoration here. Things have chaged a lot since that time though and I think e have learnt things like colour coordinating trees and perhaps thinking about the rest of a room in our choices for which decorations to make and collect. I think a key thing can be to have fewer but BIGGER and better coordiated things...

This is the first year in my life I don't think I'm going to decorate. I have dug out our stockings (just dh and me and the pets here) but I'm finding it very difficult to get in the sprit of things. I'll probably stick a wreath on the door.....

Butterfly_Brain

She made wreaths etc last year and it is being repeated next week

rosieben

PixieDust wrote: »

....I know it's been said before but GAH she should tie her hair back when working with food!!!!

its been said several times on this and other kirstie threads

name me one tv chef or someone who cooks on tv who covers their hair when preparing food?

I'm thinking Nigella, hairy bikers, jamie, gordon, hugh fw, clarissa D-W, masterchef, come dine with me, great british food revival .....

:rotfl:

PolkaDotsAndLace

rosieben wrote: »

its been said several times on this and other kirstie threads

name me one tv chef or someone who cooks on tv who covers their hair when preparing food?

I'm thinking Nigella, hairy bikers, jamie, gordon, hugh fw, clarissa D-W, masterchef, come dine with me, great british food revival .....

:rotfl:

I'm sure I've seen Nigella with her hair tied back on these programmes before. Don't think any of us are obsessing over wearing a hairnet or the like, but tying it back isn't a big ask! (esp. if in Kirsty's case you're putting your sausages into a competition!)

rosieben

I've never seen Nigella with her hair tied back, though must admit I haven't watched her that much.

eta I can see why you mentioned trying needle felting on the cheap Polkadot - I'm just :eek: at the prices of the kit

maybe I'll stick to the felt heart hangers ...