Dried Orange Stars - Day 3 Michelle Makes Christmas

As you guys know by now I love using things to their full potential as much as possible and try to avoid waste. Why waste something that can be so pretty? Not only are these pretty for decorations on the tree but they are also lovely to pop into your herbal teas or just on their own with hot water. You can do the same with lemon peels too, although they are trickier to peel!



Ooops!!  This is what happens when you try to multi task too much.

I'd love to see your makes.  If you make some star decorations be sure to share on social media using the hashtag #michellemakeschristmas. 

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 ♥Business Email: michellemadethis@gmail(dot)com 
♥Vlog Channel: http://www.youtube.com/michellemadethis ♥Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/michellemade... ♥Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michellemadethis ♥Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/michellefallon Business enquiries michellemadethis@gmail(dot)com

Paper Star Decoration - Day 2 Michelle Makes Christmas

So here we are Day 2 of Michelle Makes Christmas

Today it's all about REUSING RECYCLING UPCYCLING and generally reducing waste.  This is something I am trying hard to do more of.  It's terrible how much waste we generate on a day to day basis.

These book page stars are super easy and quick to make, best of all they are practically free.  As long as you have all the supplies that is.

For this project you will need:

An old book

A scissors

Glue stick

Star template 

So what are we waiting for? Let's get making.  Check out the video below:




If you make some stars I'd love to see them.  Share them on social media using the hashtag #michellemakeschristmas.

► Please LIKE ✯ COMMENT ✯ SUBSCRIBE to My You Tube Channel to see more DIY videos !

★★ Thanks for watching! Please leave a like if you enjoyed and tell me what you think in the comments! Thanks ★★

♥Vlog Channel: http://www.youtube.com/michellemadethis
♥Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/michellemadethis
♥Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michellemadethis
♥Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/michellefallon

Business enquiries michellemadethis@gmail(dot)com

#michellemakeschristmas

Potato Stamped Christmas Cards - Day 1 Michelle Makes Christmas

So here it is ... Day 1 of Michelle Makes Christmas

And yes, I'm back to Blogger.  I gave it a go with wordpress but I just don't like it.  If ind it so clunky compared to Blogger.  Maybe it's because I've been using this for 10 years now (yikes!!!)

So Michelle Makes Christmas.  What's it all about?  Well it's about me and my LOVE of Christmas and how, I feel, it's the little touches that make Christmas just that little bit extra special.  Whether it's a handmade card, a decoration or that extra something added to your cookies, all these little extras make Christmas extra special and I'm going to share with you my little extras in the run up to Christmas

Kicking things off I'm going to show you how to make some home printed Christmas cards using the humble potato.  No Irish/Potato jokes please.

For these cards you will need:

Blank Cards

Acrylic paint in your choice of colours
A knife
A cookie cutter
A pen
Potatoes!

So what are we waiting for let's get making.   Check out the video how to below.

So what did you think?  Hope you like them.  Sorry about my poor videos, this is all new to me so bear with while I learn on the go and hopefully improve as I go!!

I'd love to see your makes.  Share them on social media using the hashtag #michellemakeschristmas or leave a comment below.

If you have any requests for DIY videos let me know

You can also find me here, come say hellp 

♥Vlog Channel: http://www.youtube.com/michellemadethis ♥Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/michellemade... ♥Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michellemadethis ♥Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/michellefallon

I've moved

After  so many years here on Blogger I have made the move to wordpress.  

With great reluctance I might add. 

I can clearly remember the day I sat in my apartment in Manhattan and wrote my very first blog post here on the 5th January 2008.  Wow, so much has happened and so many dreams have been fulfilled since then.  

You will find me here  from now on at

w w w . m i c h e l l e m a d e t h i s . c o m

I'm not so keen on the 'look' of the blog over there but I'm working on it.  Any suggestions/resources you can recommend would be great. 

In the meantime you can also find me here ... 

Facebook

Instagram 

Twitter

Pinterest

Snapchat 

I hope you pop over and say hello in my new abode.   Thank you for all the comments, likes etc over the last 8 years xx

Michelle xxx

Summer Sewing Camps

I'm not sure what I'm more excited about.  My super cute poster design by Fiona at FD Design or the fact that my Summer Sewing Camps are starting in just over a month's time!!

Spring Sewing Workshops

After lots of requests I've decided to trial some one day workshops at the cottage.

The feedback I've been getting from people who attended short workshops was that they loved the cottage, and having the use of all my fabrics and buttons and sewing notions and would love to have a full day.  As all us stitchers know you don't find a few hours flying by when you are engrossed in a project. 

I've decided to start with three workshops and I'm kicking off with 

Do you have a sewing machine but aren't sure how to use it or are you thinking of buying a sewing machine but would like to "try before you buy" ? 

Are you looking to spend a day with like minded people in a quaint cottage drinking tea/coffee in china cups, eating homemade scones, trying out different fabrics and sewing techniques? 

If so, this workshop is for you.

I will get you sewing in no time. 

Come along and learn all the basics in my quaint country cottage with a cosy wood burning stove roaring inside. What better way to spend a couple of hours?

I will show you how to set up your machine and teach you the following:

How to thread your machine

How to thread and load bobbins

How to change your needles (different needles are needed for different fabrics)

How to sew a straight line! Trust me it is possible :O)

How to use different stitches

Please bring the manual for your sewing machine if you have it and correct sized bobbins as all machines vary.

Apart from that nothing else is required other than bucket loads of enthusiasm :O)

Call Michelle on 085 1111984 to book your place

Or

michellemadethis@gmail.com

65 euro, includes basic materials Please bring 1 metre of fabric if you wish to make a bag or cushion cover.

This is not just any sewing workshop this is a michellemadethis sewing workshop

This is the perfect workshop for you if you recently purchased sewing machine from Aldi

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Easter at the cottage

 I hope you all had a lovely Easter 

I'm busy teaching Sewing Camps to kids but over the weekend I got to enjoy some time at home doing what I love most - some sewing, drawing, baking, a little spring cleaning (just a little) and lots of pottering. 

I just love these Easter themed cookie cutters.  I've had them hanging on my Easter tree as decoration but during the week I used them for the purpse intended to make some bunny cookies for the girls in my sewing camp.

I used a lovely buttery lemon shortbread recipe (my go to biscuit recipe) 

Meanwhile I filled the cottage with daffodils and bunnies to get into the Easter festive spirit. 

 I hope you all had a lovely Easter xx

Apple Pastry Roses

I am totally loving these apple roses!  I shared a video on my facebook page months and months ago but finally got round to making them.  They are super easy to do and so quick!  Perfect for when you want to impress with little effort. 

All you need is a packet of puff pastry and some nice red skinned apples.  I used Pink Ladies.

Start off by de-coring and thinly (I mean thin - think potato crisps) slicing the apples. 

Once they are sliced put them in a saucepan of hot water with a little lemon and simmer until slightly softened.   A lot of the tutorials/videos online don't mention this bit and let me tell you it's messy and annoying if you skip it.  When it comes to rolling the roses it makes life so much easier.  Trust me!

Meanwhile roll out your pastry or if you are really lazy (yep that's me) buy the ready rolled stuff.  Make sure it's been sitting at room temperature for at least an hour otherwise you will find it cracks.

Cut into 1 inch wide strips, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with cinnamon and a little brown sugar.

Then get your slices of apple and lay them along one side of the pastry strips. 

 Turn the other side of the strip over on top of the apple slices and start to roll.

Voila you've got yourself a lovely apple pastry rose!

Place in a muffin tin.  I used a silicone one so I didn't need to grease it but if you are using a tin I would suggest buttering the tin first. 

Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes or until golden 

Delicious served with whipped cream, a sprinkling of icing sugar and cinnamon.

Enjoy!

Easter Kids Sewing Camps

Hello lovelies.  Sorry this is a shameless plus for my Easter Sewing Camps for budding super stitchers or fashion designers out there.  

I will be running two camps from my cottage this coming Easter.  Choose from

21-25th March Mon-Fri 10.30am - 1.30pm 95 euro
29th Mar - 1st April Tues-Fri - 10.30 am - 1.30 pm 75e

BOOK ONLINE HERE 

During the week they will learn how to hand sew, sew with a sewing machine, design and make their own patterns and make several items all of which are theirs to take home. In previous camps we have made bags, cushions, dolls, wall art, pin cushions and lots more.

Camp is limited to 6 children to ensure they get as much one to one attention as possible. ALL materials are included in the price. We will take a 15 minute break late morning so a small snack/drink can be provided. I normally serve cookies and a glass of squash also (please provide alternative if they have special dietry requirements).