Handmade Christmas Gift Guide 2013: Gifts for teenage boys.

Hi peeps,

Today's gift guide is all about teenage boys, a category notoriously difficult to buy for .... because there are only so many video games (do they still call them video games?) a young man surely needs!

Our ideas embrace the quirky, geeky and we have two awesome DIY options too.

1. Hangry cushion - from My Bearded Pigeon $373 HKD - etsy store here

2. Black leather handmade notebook - via Buntmal $238 HKD - etsy store here

3. Dalek cross-stitch (this is super dooper cute for the Dr Who fan!) - $181 HKD made by This Grand Life - madeit store here

4. Wallet designed and made by the awesome folk at Kitty Came Home $411 HKD - etsy store here

5. DIY Option - an Ice Cream Care package + online movie voucher of your choice.  This idea is from The Misadventurous Maker (see her original post here) and also appeared on Fat Mum Slim here - cost is up to you as to how fancy you make it.

6. A DIY gadget cover tutorial via Curlypops here - I would be very surprised if a teenage boy didn't have a gadget of some type!  I have made a few gadget pouches using this tutorial, it is very easy to follow.

Have you got a teen boy to buy for? What are they in to?

Happy Monday to you.

Cat xox

My (guitar and space invader) Creative Space

Hi peeps,

Last week, I was secret squirrel sewing.  I knew the Shropshire boys birthday was coming up, and I wanted to make him something. It was his turn for some home made goodness.  He has had a kindle for almost a year now, and it really needed a cover to protect it.  I was determined to make that cover.

So last week, in the one sitting, in between toddler demands for food and cuddles, I finally made the Shropshire boy a cover for his kindle.  I was so chuffed at how great it turned out, I was buzzing.  I was on a sewing high.  But I could not tell anyone or show any photos on Instagram, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter or this blog. It had to remain a secret for almost a week.  That was really hard.

I did show the kids, I had to show some one.  Abbey, at 6 years old, was gorgeous and told me it was good and that daddy would love it.  Gosh I love her.

Cam from CurlyPops has a fabulous tutorial How to make a Pouch for an Electronic Gadget that I used.  I have had this tutorial printed out for a long time, waiting for just the right moment.  I can make fabric zippered pouches with my eyes closed, but I have never made anything like this before.

Cam's tutorial is very easy to follow.  Since making the kindle cover, I have made some wet-bags with the same method (minus the quilting and the padding, and I added a velcro closure)  I will definitely be making more of these for our other electronic gadgets.  Thanks Cam for a great tute!

Have a great Creative Space day.  Or a Space Invader day.

Cat.