"The Craft Group" plus...

If you are an ambitious sock knitter, then this is the sort of 'next step' project for you! Janelle found this project on Ravelry. (You may have to set up a free account to see it.) Every day before Christmas, Janelle received another small part of the sock pattern. Each day another part of the festive sock pattern was revealed. From the crazy toes to the wise owls, there were many fun challenges. One sock was knitted toe to top and the other was knitted top to toe. Amazing job Janelle! The small price you paid for this Jo Price design/pattern was worth it! SEE THE RAVELRY LINK HERE

Wishing you a very happy Christmas  and a terrific, crafty and blessed new year! From me and my friends at The Craft Group! This nativity scene has a story. It has 2 stories actually. The first story is the real story it depicts. That one of God becoming man. The story of Jesus being born in a humble stable to live a perfect life only to be killed by those who hated Him. But His death was a payment for the things we do wrong and He came alive again to show that He is strong enough to do anything. He is God so if He can overcome death, He can surely forgive our sins and make us right with God. We just need to accept Him. Now THAT is a gift! The second story is about the making of this nativity scene. At The Craft Group we have a "Swap Shop" where people donate things from their craft cupboard at home that they know they will never make. Any optimistic crafter from the group can take items for free if it they think they will make it. I took a felt nativity sc...

Ida is inspiring us with the table runners she made. Christmas is just over 5 weeks away! A good time to start making some decorations that are good enough to keep for years.

In the past... I have been to Europe. I have been to Canada. I have seen some of Australia. But... I have never really had the desire to go to any Asian destination for more than a stop over. Then, our daughter decided she wanted to live and teach in Southern Asia. So... after 9 months of her moving there, my husband and I went for 3 weeks to visit her in the Himalayas. What a fascinating experience! We are back. She is still there.   I am very thankful for modern forms of communication. There are so many stories to tell but seeing as you are all my craft friends, I will share some crafty photos... There was folk art on every single building. A newly built apartment block was being built near our daughters place. We loved watching the men perched on the bamboo scaffolding painting all the amazing designs for weeks on end.  We went to a paper making factory.  We watched women weaving scarves. We saw hand woven yak w...

Here is a beautiful Christmas Tree bouquet made by Elly. Amazing! Look at some of the detail and work that has gone into it! I hope and pray that this Christmas is one of Joy. If it is a time of sadness and grief, then I pray that the whole idea of God becoming man and coming to this earth to carry out His rescue plan of love for us will hit you in a real and powerful way once again and fill you with HOPE and joy. On the home front, I am bracing myself for (emotionally) stormy weather. Our 4 teen/young adult children are all embarking on new ventures. Miss 18 is looking at courses now that she has finished High school. Mr 21 has finished his Nursing degree and has a Post-grad position in a big hospital in the children's ward. Mr 23, who has been recovering from hand surgery has just completed 3 months in a new job in the building industry and is looking forward to a new year of constant work. Miss 26 is ready to launch, but in a big way, moving to take up a teac...

[In case you have caught me out, yes, it should say 2015,  but I loved this picture I made up last year and I just don't have time now to make another one, so be assured, the sentiments are just as sincere!]

Well, the year hasn't ended yet but 'The Craft Group' has ended for the year. We had our Annual Christmas Brunch and again it was such a lovely morning. Craft. Sharing yummy food. Singing a few carols! Hearing Lydia share about "Grace". Lovely memories of 2014. And presents! Here we are in our final craft frenzy...  The table was filled with goodies Check out Georgina's reindeer biscuits at the front and Elly's paint swatch bunting which went around the table.  Our table centre piece was also by Elly and was won by Lyn D who was happy to take home a cute instant Christmas decoration. Gifts! This year we had Elzanne as the 'Gift Creative Director'! (again- yay) We all received a 2 year planner/diary. I have the technology to keep a digital diary but I keep coming back to a real one in my bag at all times. The front of the diary has Hebrews 4:16 on it. A great reminder throughout the year. "Let us therefore come boldl...

This term at The Craft Group we are featuring a project a week. This week we made 5 pointed origami stars. So nice to hang or sit in a nice spot in the house this christmas. I would like to say... honestly , that they are easy! But some of the ladies may not agree! It was just a bit hard to do it as a big group and is SO much easier making it along with the video. You can do it step by step and hit the pause button whenever you like. After you have made 2, you will agree with me that they are really easy. You have to start with a pentagon. This website "Home made gifts made easy " gives a free printable pentagon template , but he also explains how to make a pentagon from any size square paper. Give it a go! starting with A4 paper is OK but I used us quite a few sheets of scrapbooking paper that I knew I would never use. I also used an old atlas and some old books. Here is how to make the star... Have fun with it! all photos on this page are from home-...

This Christmas I have been doing some decorating using recycled books , so to continue the theme, here is a great Christmas tree made from an old magazine. You may have seen it before but it's good to have a step by step 'how to' for yourself or the kids! I snapped Bronwyn making one so that we could share with you a full visual tutorial. Find a magazine that has a glued spine (not staples). "Perfect bound" is the proper name for this (because I just asked my magazine publishing husband!) Rip the covers off and fold the first top right hand corner down like this... Fold the diagonal edge to meet up with the spine of the magazine. You have to really score the folded edge well with your fingernail. Now make a straight fold along the pointy bit by folding a line along the bottom of the magazine. Open the page and fold the point under. Like this... Or, you can fold it under before opening the page. W...

One of my favourite days of the year is The Craft Group's Christmas Brunch. This was my "Christmas Tree" table centre piece this year. A gorgeous hydrangea in full bloom. It was a gift from a lovely relative from New Zealand who came to stay at our house during their Aussie holiday. I decorated everything to match it. Pink and silver. Everyone brings a little plate of something yummy to share  and we always end up with a lovely feast! The morning was full of lovely food, lovely people, we sum up our years ups and downs and collect money for a worthwhile charity. This year from the sale of a lovely bullseye quilt (made by Bev I) and donations, we were able to provide 5 sewing machines to women in the Solomon Islands! Anne came and gave a really lovely talk about Mary. Mary the mother of Jesus that is. Anne put us in the shoes of Mary and we travelled through her life to the death of her Son on the cross. It was profound to think beyond the usual C...