Christmas Presents Ta Dah Part One

Hellooo
I have been making Christmas presents on and off for the last six months, and whilst I have a few bits and bobs to finish off, am allowing myself to feel a wee bit smug.
This is what I've got to date.....

A rainbow striped Lucy style bag for my sister in law

You  can just see the lining peeking through in the above picture.  My Mum did an amazing job lining this bag for me, and she is still working on a few more for me- will show you when she's finished. I love that she even sewed in phone pouches, I would not have even thought of that detail!!

Next is a bag for a friend. I think of this one as her festival bag.
It's nice and slouchy and woodsy looking I think.

I am quite proud of this, as I sewed the lining myself. I just cut and kind of shaped and sewed an old silk wrap around skirt that I never wear. I love the contrast of the bright red inside with the muted neutrals outside.

I loved the yarn I used for this, was a beautiful thick wool that I really enjoyed working with.

Next up, we have my youngest brother and brother in laws presents.
My brother likes to cook, and my bro in law likes herbs, so I made them both culinary herb gardens.

They include: lemongrass. chives, parsley, rosemary, mint, coriander, oregano. I bought the herbs and the pots a few months ago as I wanted to establish them first, so they are hardy. I'm glad I did, as a few have died along the way, and have had to be replaced.
Strangely enough the long thin one has been the best, and is the home of the hardiest ones. I bought all the herbs at the same place, and potted with the same soil, the only difference was the pots, and clearly the long one is much better for keeping things alive.

And next stop on the journey is the fairy garden for my nieces. I have heaps of tiny china fairies I have been collecting that I will pop in to this garden at the last minute. Same principle as the herb garden, bought the flowers etc ages ago, and have been nurturing them.
I have also got paddle pop sticks to make fences, have made signs for each girls fairy territory, and tiny fairy houses to put everywhere.
Am realising now it may have helped to have taken a few photos of these, but will show you when all is put together.

And as a tie in with the fairy garden, I have written a book for my nieces. One day when they came to play with Daughter#2, I photographed them in fairy hunting poses that I thought I could loosely base a story around. I then wrote  a story, printed it and the photos out, and bound it . I decorated the pages with a few bits of lace and ribbon, to make it super pretty.
Here is the front page

This is one of the pages, please forgive the glue that hasn't yet dried on the lace.
The plot synopsis  is basically: a bunch of girls who like fairies somehow magically find some fairies who have been lost, and then the girls have a magic fairy garden for them to live in!!

And unbelievably, these same girls are getting a fairy garden for Christmas!!!
Product placement!!!

On a totally unrelated note, here is a cushion cover I am making. I am consciously trying not to choose the colours, but am just randomly choosing them.
I like how they look together so far.

Anyway, that's me done for the night,hope the beginning of your week is sublime.
 Over and out.

P.S Stay tuned for Part Two, in which I unveil yet more presents. Thankfully Daughter#1 is the only family member who knows of or reads this blog, and she is not getting anything handmade.