Shabby Chick

The return of Clothkitty!

We already mentioned the triumphant return of the wonderful sew-it-yourself company Clothkits, well now there's even more good news... Clothkits have brought back the original design Clothkitty dolly. Hurrah!

My very own original Kitty is still going strong, but she does have some, ah-hem, alterations made with a blue biro. Perhaps I'll make a new one in penance.

The kit costs £24.47 and contains everything you need to make Kitty and her clothes (dungarees, shirt, bag, dress and pants).

Related posts: Clothkits doll's kimono and hat | Fabric floral buttons

Stocking filler alert! Vintage French matches

We love Christmas stockings in our house; so much so that everybody gets one (that's adults, children and cats). Filling the grown-up's stockings isn't always easy, but I would be very happy to find one of these boxes of French matches tucked at the end of the toe...

They're practical, pretty, and the boxes come in eight different vintage designs. £1.47 per box from Colloco.

Related posts: Blue and white French kitchen storage | 1950's diner phone

CHRISTMAS CRAFT: Shimmering Stacked Trees

When it comes to craft ideas, you can rely on Martha Stewart. These Shimmering Stacked Trees are an exercise in recycling, too, as they're made with newspaper, used aluminium foil, or old wrapping paper.

The video tutorial is very clear and you can find it free here.Why not make an entire forest?

Related posts: Craft archives

CRAFT PROJECT: Sew-your-own wine tote

'Tis the season for socialising and it's always polite to arrive bearing gifts. I usually take an unimaginative, but trusty, bottle of wine. If I'm very organised, it might be in a paper gift bag rather than a supermarket carrier, but don't count on it... But no longer!

This free tutorial from The Sewing Republic shows you how to create a wine bottle tote bag you can be proud of; tarting up that boring old gift into something rather special. Oh yes.

[Via Craftster]

Related posts: Recycled slippers | Simple ribbon cushion

CHRISTMAS CRAFT: Beaded stars and icicles

By Jennie Hughes

I hesitate to call this a tutorial because it started as I so often do, just looking at the shiny things in my collection of beads and wondering how I could make something new for decorating this year’s Christmas tree and then messing about until something emerged.

Still, hop over the cut for step-by-step instructions!

Knitting-crazed Christmas wreath

Yep, there is no escaping it; the time has come to decorate the house for Christmas. I love traditional foliage-bedecked wreaths, but this multi-coloured work-of-art might just sway me.

Based on a polystyrene ring and using lots of hot glue and baubles, this wreath would be perfect for any keen knitter (or bonkers home-decorator). Visit the Etsy shop here.

Related posts: Crochet decorations | Knitted cupcakes

Let Them Eat Cake repurposes vintage china

I am loving the ingenuity that is being displayed during these difficult financial times - and this new company is a wonderful example of how 'make do and mend' can also equate to 'desirable retail'.

Let Them Eat Cake is making one-off cake stands from vintage china - turning odd pieces from old tea sets and dinner services into something newly beautiful and unique.

Related: Eclectic Shock revinvented vintage jewellery

Lucy Tom chicken doorstop

Another favourite find from last week's jaunt to the Country Living Fair; a chicken doorstop.

They had lovely leather elephants, too, which were extremely strokable, but this chicken is sweet, daft, and comes in a variety of shabby chic fabrics.

Check out the Lucy Tom website for details.

Related posts: Diner phone | Poppy Treffry egg cosy