Now much as I love cooking and baking, I do rather like the idea of having a home full of beautiful, useful items that I have crafted with these fair hands of mine.  Only problem is, I'm rather cack-handed and clumsy, not ideal when it comes to crafting.  When I bake cakes I rarely make them smooth and styled, swirls and curls and Mr Whippy style icing are more my style.  I have had a basic sewing machine sitting in the loft for several years now.  My lovely mum gave it to me when she had a sort out and discovered she had two ... don't ask!  I look at it, I have taken the instructions out of the box, I have read the instructions. Then put them away.  Safe and secure in my total conviction that I am incapable of sewing anything ... flashbacks to sewing classes at school and my inability to make a place mat with straight edges.  I haven't been so bold as to take that one small step and remove the machine from it's box let alone the giant leap to attempt to set it up.  I really must stop making endless excuses and reasons why I simply can't and get it out.  However, I do rather enjoy hand sewing.  I saw some gorgeous felt christmas decorations while I was surfing blogland the other day and thought I'd have a go.  It was cold, wet and dreary yesterday so it seemed an ideal day to see what I could come up with.  Not bad for a first attempt - what do you think?