Big Cushions for Little People

So, I thought I would make some elf sized cushions, using some left over ends of yarn.

No pattern or anything, I just winged it!

I have a new elf to introduce today.  I am delighted to bring to you Arlan the Elf.  He is the most recent addition to my best friend's household.

Upon arriving the first thing he did was to help put together her special Advent jigsaw puzzle (each day a stand-up piece of the puzzle is added).

Apparently the reindeer are on strike at the North Pole and Arlen has spent he first few days here interviewing replacements

As you can see, the whole process has exhausted him and he is spending today in bed.

These elves do not have the stamina of the elves of my day.

Daisy the Elf went to see Santa with the girls yesterday - but she is back today and up to mischief.

Dionne

Not a Creature Was Stirring, Not Even a Mouse

I find it very hard to tell the difference between the girl elf and the boy elf but, I promise you, that my super model elf is a girl, complete with long eyelashes and pink lipstick.  But perhaps it is not really surprising that she looks like an elf in drag today - not that I have anything against that, if an elf wants to cross dress then so be it.

Her handbag, jumper and skirt knitting patterns are all by Helen Cox and are available from Ravelry.

I could not find a pattern for a replacement hat, so I made one up.

As Daisy the Elf would say 'Not a Creature Was Stirring, Not Even a Mouse'.  Big day today.  My niece is taking her two little girls to see Santa.

I think that Daisy the Elf looks so very much better in this outfit than does my modelling elf, it really suits Daisy.

I got a bit of a shock when I saw these photographs last evening.  Many, many years ago I made the story book out of a kit.

And to think, my niece still reads it to her children ..... and tonight Daisy is reading it to the other toys.

Daisy really does look snug is her yellow and grey outfit.

Back again tomorrow.


Dionne

Party Time!

Over the past year I have knitted quite a lot of Santa style hats for the Advent Boxes I have put together for my family this year, some of which you have already seen.  But in case you missed them, here are a few more.

One of my nieces got Santa hats in her Advent Box yesterday and so her daughter's toys had a party last night to celebrate the return of their elves.

Party on .....

It seems that Daisy the Elf was tired out from her trip to take the letters to Santa and is having a little nap today ..

Shhhhh!

Dionne 

Elf Advent - Day 2

I think this is going to be a very busy month of blogging, I hope you do not get fed-up with me popping up on your screen.

Today one of my nieces received a little ballerina outfit as her surprise gift.  The outfit consists of wrap around cardigan, a tutu and leg warmers.  My girl elf knitting patterns are by Helen Cox available from Ravelry.

I decided that I needed my own super model elf to show off the outfits to their best.  I suppose I should give her a name, any suggestions?

My niece helped Daisy the Elf into her new ballerina outfit and then Daisy climbed into their Christmas tree to hide.  I wonder how long it took the girls to find her!

Daisy also left a little message for the girls, seems the little magic door may still have a use.

And it seems that two little girls have been very busy this morning ...........

Dionne

The Return of Louis and His Girlfriend

More Advent news today, there was so much to tell you about yesterday, I split it into two posts.

Regular visitors to this space will be very aware that every year I put together an 'Advent Calendar' made up of a daily small gift for my best friend.  We have been doing this for each other since her own daughter was a small child - more than 25 years now!

Here is the box I made for her this year.  As with the boxes I shared with you yesterday, this box is made from very thick card covered in material.  This year I chose a pretty gingerbread man design for the outside  and a plain red on the inside.

The lid is padded with wadding to give it that soft dome shape and, after Christmas, the tinsel can be easily removed with a few snips of her scissor

Inside the box there are 31 small presents - I know that traditionally there are 24, sometimes 25, little gifts but we like to have a little surprise each day for the whole month.

Something else to see a welcome return today is Louis the Elf and his Girlfriend.  They took a year out from visiting my other niece and her family, but now that her youngest daughter is older, they have returned.  If you saw my post from yesterday you will know that I made special elf themed Advent Boxes for both of my nieces and my best friend.

The surprise present on Day 1 was a little magical door for their elves to return through.  I challenged the girls to create a 'scene' which included their gift of the day.  Trouble is, my niece's little girl now wants to look behind the elf door to see into the elf house!

I looks like Louis bought Advent presents for the rest of the family.  Happy Advent everyone.

Dionne 

Happy Advent

December already, where has this year gone?  I am relieved to report that I have at long last started work on my Christmas cards but that is not why I am here today.

Today is the start of Advent and, for most probably millions of families around the world, the arrival of all of those mischievous little elves.  My family seem to be is addicted to these 'little helpers' as most families with small children.  My two nieces spend weeks in the lead-up to Advent trying to work out what their elves are going to get up to this year, building props and planning surprize parties.

I decided to lend a hand this year and have put together an Advent Box for each family.  The box contains 24 little presents, one to be unwrapped each day and used in the 'set-up' that evening.  I would have liked to have made all of the things in the box but I am afraid I was not up to that task and I bought quite a few bits and pieces.  However, I did make the boxes.

The boxes are made of thick card and covered in fabric - both inside and out.  I really happy that I managed to some elf print fabric on the internet for the outside and I even found some elf wrapping paper for the presents.  

I made the the boxes much larger than needed, so that my nieces can use the boxes to store all of their elf paraphernalia.

Lots of gluing and sewing to put the boxes together and to pad out the lids of the boxes I use wadding.  I also cut out and decorated all of the tags, which identify which gift should be opened each day.  

This is Daisy the Elf, who regularly visits one of nieces and her girls, Sometimes she is a particularly naughty little elf but today she was in a party mood.

The gifts in each box are not always the same but for the first day they all had a doorway for their elves to arrive by.  One of my nieces sent me photographs of her door in use and the party she and her elf had set for the family to enjoy this afternoon.  It looks like they are going to have a lot of fun.

Lots of the girls favourite treats, I even spotted a bottle of elf punch on the table.

It looks to me like Daisy bought more than party food with her, do I spy presents as well?

I am hoping to bring more photos to you of the mischief and mayhem as Advent progresses.

Happy elf adventures.

Dionne