I finally got my handmade Christmas gifts finished today! And I remembered to get pictures of the good bits, even if they are weird night-time shots, haha. I think at this point, poorly lit shots just have to be accepted as the norm around here, as night is the only time I remember to take pictures, and really, this time of year it's dark all the time anyway. And I live in a basement. (every time I start a sentence with "and", I remember my 12th grade English teacher saying that you can only get away with doing that if you're Margaret Atwood. And then I do it anyway :)).

Archie is wondering why Headless Sarah is in the middle of the room

I made this apron for my man's sister, who I adore, shares (if not surpasses) my love of tacky things, and who's favourite colour is green. It took me ages to find a fabric awful and wonderful enough, but when I saw this one, it was the clear winner! I helped a friend make this pattern up for herself ages ago, and liked the weight of hers after we added a backing fabric to the main body, so this one is lined with...

not lime zest green, more the colour of limeade from concentrate, haha

Lime green eyelet! I didn't know anyone made such a thing, and given the large bold of it on the clearance wall, nobody but myself wanted anything to do with it, but at 4$/m I couldn't resist. Ok, lets be honest, I probably would have paid full price for it; but not having to meant that I got a whole bunch, and have grand plans to make the rest into Tasia's new Hollyburn skirt pattern, in view B, with hot pink buttons on the waist tabs (rubs hands together schemishly).

I would also like to make this apron pattern up for myself before returning it to my friend, but so far the right fabric hasn't jumped out of my stash. A serious sewing closet tidy is in store after the holidays though, perhaps something will be unearthed.

so much photo manipulation to get close to irl colour...

And for my man's mom (who I also love to bits. Seriously, I have the coolest in-laws), a chain mail bracelet and earring set just like the one I made for myself, only in a lovely violet anodized Niobium. May I just say, chain mail is a bitch to photograph in low light, so the picture is messed about with something fierce, but that is basically the colour it looks in reality. Also, only leaving myself two days to make the bracelet was not the best planning, and my still-weak-even-18-months-after-having-tendonitis wrist is pretty sore, but I will call it a learning-what-not-to-do experience.

I wanted to do the bracelet in full persian weave, instead of byzantine like the earrings, but upon trying it out, I discovered that the aspect ratio of these rings just can't do it. Or possibly I just couldn't figure out the confusing instructions, but trying something new when the end result is a gift probably isn't the best idea anyway. You win this round, persian 6-in-1.

These are being added into holiday patterned tins, filled with home-canned apple sauce, cranberry jam, mason jar cookie mixes, and various odds and ends. I would try to get pictures of those too, but my camera batteries are charging, and I haven't wrapped anything yet. Tomorrow, festive baking and a very non-traditional holiday dinner with my mom, a present wrapping extravaganza, and the Garfield christmas special with my man and a fuzzy blanket. I can't wait!