Kirstie's Homemade Hogwash

I watched one or two of her programmes ages ago, and I so wished she would show proper crafts in proper depth. She just glides along the surface, a bit like those makeover gardens, all glitter and no substance. Yes, I thought her shows were more appropriate for children. Then I remembered what Prima magazine used to be like before it dumbed down, with excellent dress patterns and knitting patterns, and I think it's all part of the instant gratification lifestyle. Buy somthing plain and tweak it slightly, rather than learn to make the original item.

Just watching Alex Polizzi Christmas Fix on BBC2, some good ideas for decorating, and as she says, she's useless at crafts..

I like Kirstie, even if I do find her programmes an awful lot of hot air. She strikes me as being genuinely enthusiastic about her projects, and I think she would be good fun to actually meet. We don't have to watch her, after all!

Sunflower I also like Alex . she has a down to earth approach.

The main problem I have with all these programmes is that they put them on way too close to Christmas.With 5 days to go I am not going to suddenly redesign the whole house, hand craft a birch bark canoe or concoct an exotic new menu.

Me too dahlia, I like Kirstie.
And I have those pom-pom makers and they are super quick. The GC love making pom-poms.

I'm not impressed with this years offerings. Ok for children but otherwise nothing new . Didn't like the colour scheme this week and that tree was awful.

Somehow missed the programme - how could I? I always wanted to make tie-dyed knickers, but seem to have missed the boat for this year. How does one tie dye a thong? I'm sure my senior GD would just love one. Bees, your review (are you a professional?) has made my day. And merlot, better luck next time. Sadly, my spruce has been chopped down - would any old conifer do?

DH has suggested we give it another go, anno but I've suggested he might like to spend Christmas in the shed!!

I told DD I'd poured the sorry little specimen down the sink and she said, 'Mum, how could you? I've been to ASDA and bought a cocktail shaker.'

I'll just have to substitute the maple syrup and hope they don't know the difference.

What happens if the colour seeps out of those tie-dyed knickers?

I would just like to find an Aquamarine ring like Kirsties in my Christmas Stocking

Oh the awful thought of a striped bottom .

It might be guite attractive, Tegan!

I believe zebras find them attractive (and bongos and tigers, and ringtailed lemurs)

Oh...well perhaps not a good look after all then, Tegan

Elegran All a bit "gushy" for my liking.

Its strange isn't it the thirst for fame that drives someone on from being a posh estate agent to being a minor TV celebrity doing Blue Peter -esq crafts for grown ups.

Not you, Elegran I mean Kirstie.

Mind you, I would love to be able to create a centre of table extravaganza from inners of loo rolls and lashings of gungy stuff and glitter. I could then stand back, throw my arms wide and gasp...and here's one I made earlier!

I wondered where you had met a tiger that was too "gushy" for you, Soop. Most of them seem very down-to-earth - even grumpy.

This thread is making me

However. Move over, Kirsty! Because:

I've knitted a 'snood' for son and it is drying now ready to be wrapped.

I made 'bath bombs' with lavender oil and seeds (they bombed a bit in the making*, so the chunks are prettily in a glass jar with ribbon). Thoze fizzy bath things that cost an arm and a leg in shops like Lush.

Snuck car freshener in the shape of a little sheep (made out of sheepskin) out of the bin - it had been filled with Hebridean machair stuff for the "fresh" bit but it had run its course, and re-stuffed it with fresh rosemary and wrapped it for husband because he was sorry it had come to an end because it was a holiday memento from the summer.

Am gathering the ingredients now to make "Stained glass biscuits" - star shaped biscuits with a jelly sweet melted in the centre, very pretty. To hang with ribbons.

Will settle down later and crochet a fancy edge on to the plain pin thingamajigs for holding scarves into place that I bought for daughter and DIL.

*because I was too mean to buy the recommended mould.

[showing off emoticon]

High five, Grannyknot

My newest hobby. I've just made some duck (duct?) tape toilet bags in red, blue and yellow. Hours of fun!

rockgran [impressed emoticon]

aren't they a bit sticky rockgran ?
You get the scavenger of the year award: "Recycle and Reuse 2013 Champion" grannyknot and reckon you should have that TV contract.