Unrealistic Sewing Goal #2: The Handmade Christmas

I’m putting it out there.  Every year I make the same hollow vow - no, not the one promising to cut chips and gravy from my diet (I know no one actually expected me to stick to that one)… the OTHER one – the one vowing to a handmade Christmas.  Bespoke gifts hand-sewn and wrapped with love, delicious treats lovingly baked and presented in perfectly adorned clip-top jars, a tree strewn with beautifully eclectic decos and a table laden with sumptuous food set amongst the sort of lush garlands and vintage-inspired place settings that exist only on Pinterest.

Every year, I wake up on the 15th of December, realise there's 10 days left to knock up 20-odd gifts so turf the idea completely.

Oh, and I’ve never had a Christmas tree.

But, dear readers: 2014 is my year.  Yes, there's only 6 weeks left but I (am fairly confident I) can do it (please, let's overlook the fact that I should have written this post approximately 12 weeks ago and thus, am kind of already failing... it is Christmas after all). 

Now, there is the further issue that, given these items will be gifts, I can’t exactly share them with you in an obvious, literal sense (as the relevant recipients will have their surprises completely ruined).  So, maybe you’ll just have to trust me: 2014 is the year of Hayley's Handmade Christmas.

My attempt at some fancy-schmancy wrapping last year...