Baby Bunting

It's been a long while since I've had a finished project to share
here with you. The last ones were my apple bags back in July,
a long time ago now, really. But I did make and finish something
over the summer school holidays and it's this bunting. A friend of
ours asked if I can make one for her friend's baby and I was more
than happy to oblige. I haven't made a bunting in ages but I've
always enjoyed making them. From choosing the fabrics to sewing
the appliques and adding the binding, a bunting is always a fun and satisfying project to work on.

 I usually attach the appliques by machine but as it's been awhile
since I've done any machine embroidery, I decided hand stitching
would be easier, even quicker this time. I do like a blanket stitch and
 I think the ones here make a nice, colourful outline to the letters and elephant shapes so I'm pleased I decided to do them all by hand. My
 friend was really happy with it, especially with the little elephants.
 I think they're rather sweet too. A happy, enjoyable project, all in all.
Hopefully Baby Albie and his mum like it too!

A lovely and warm Tuesday evening to you all. See you soon!

Cushion Making

I had a bit of free time on a weekday afternoon a few weeks
ago and decided to spend it making new cushion covers. I wanted
a change from the dark blues and oranges of the cushions we've
had all winter on our sofa and chose fabrics with more cheerful
 colours for these new ones.

This was the first of two that I mananaged to make. I love the mix of
blue, green and coral on this material which was part of an FQ bundle 

from the V&A fabric collection that I bought at half price in the post
Christmas sale. I just think it's so pretty.

I like the fresh colours on this second one, all greens and yellows.

This fabric was from the lovely Virna, just one of many lovely things

she's recently sent me and the girls.

Here they are both, my new cushions, giving our sofa some
spring and summery brightness. Not bad for an hour's work 

on the sewing machine methinks.

I have plans to make a third one and it will have appliques.
Fingers crossed I'll have time for more cushion making soon.


Thanks for reading!

Parcel Joys

Just after the New Year I wrote about the lovely presents
my friend Virna from Craftmates sent me (you can read all about
 it here. ) And I'm delighted to say that I've recently received another
parcel from her and as always it's filled with the prettiest and
sweetest things. Would you like to have a look?

Lots of lovely fabric...

.....crafty goodies..

...and vintage treats.

I have to say that's the cutest handmade needle case I've ever seen.
An aboslute treat to use. I've already turned one of the fabrics into
a cushion cover but I'll wait for as long as I can to use those masking
tapes and buttons. They're just too pretty!

The girls got their own presents too, the lucky things. Virna sent
them a separate parcel with these inside:

And they adore their presents just like I do mine.
Virna has really spoiled us with these generous and
 GORGEOUS GIFTS! Thank you, our lovely friend!

Thank you to you too for stopping by. I hope you've had some
parcel joys too lately. Have a fun week ahead!

DIY Fabric Memo Board

I had this wooden framed cork pin board in the
little room where I keep my sewing machine and all my
crafty bits and bobs. It was useful for keeping magazine cut outs
 and postcards on display. However it was quite plain
and the little corner where it hung could do with some colour
so I decided to try and turn it into a nicer looking
 fabric covered memo board.

I started out by padding the front of the cork board with
a layer of polyester wadding leftover from previous projects.
This was then covered with the red flowery fabric which I secured
at the back with tacks and pins as I didn't have a staple gun or
glue gun. I then attached the pink ric rac and added these
mini wooden pegs.

Tadaah!

My old cork board is now a lovely memo board.

 Hurray!!

And here it is 'at work'.

I'm so pleased with it and I'm glad I chose this
brightly coloured fabric. Hope you like it too.

Thanks for reading!

Have a lovely weekend!

New Friends

Last month, just a few days after Christmas, I received a parcel
 in the post that came all the way from Canada. It was sent by Virna,
a lovely new friend I've met through blogging. Virna and her friends
 Aimee, Bebsy and Irma are amazingly talented and creative ladies.
They make so many beautiful things which you can read about
in their blog Craftmates.

Inside the parcel was a letter from Virna and a mug rug made
with vintage fabrics that she stitched herself. There's also a beautiful
bird's nest pendant crafted by Aimee and a pretty card made by Irma,
plus a piece of vintage fabric with all the colours I love.
It was like Christmas Day all over again!

Thank you Virna and friends! They're the loveliest handmade
goodies any crafty girl could receive. I feel very lucky to know
such clever and talented group of friends. Hoping to return this
 very kind gesture very soon!

For beautiful and inspiring projects do visit their blog.
You'll be spoilt for choice.


Thanks to everyone for stopping by!
Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

Light and Shade

A few years ago I bought a very nice wooden lamp base
from a church table top sale for about a pound. It was old but in very
good condition and I remember wanting to skip with joy
on my way home over this lucky purchase (I was heavily pregnant
with my older daughter at that time). I just added a simple lampshade
and it's been happily lighting up our living room eversince.

We still love our old lamp but lately I thought maybe it
can do with a bit of an update. A more colourful lampshade will make it
look better and liven up the corner where it usually sits.
I didn't want to buy a whole new shade though, so decided
to just cover the old one with fabric. I found a helpful video in
You Tube that showed an easy way to do this and last Wednesday,
armed with fabric, paper, glue, ruler, pencil and a pair of scissors,
I set about my first ever lampshade restyle job.

And here's the result: a more colourful, cheerful lamp.

Hooray!

It certainly looks so much nicer and I am very happy. So happy
 in fact that now I want to give the other lampshades in our house
 a little update too. Keep an eye out for more colourful lampshades soon.



Thanks for reading!

Strawberry Photo Board

Last summer I was asked by a lovely lady here in Sheffield

if I could make her a strawberry shaped photo board. 

It was going to be a present for her bestest friend who loves
strawberries. What she wanted was sort of like those fabric covered
notice boards with ribbons crisscrossing at the front
to hold papers, cards, etc.
I've never made one before but decided to give it a go.
It wasn't needed til November so I had time to come up with
a design and plan.

I started off by cutting out a giant strawberry shape from

 two pieces of red spotty fabric then appliqued the leaves onto one of

them using blanket stitch.

Then I did a bit of embroidery before sewing both pieces of fabric

wrong sides together with the stalk then turned it right sides out.

I used medium interfacing on both sides to help hold its shape.

Instead of ribbons I attached these wooden pegs to the front

to hold photos.

Here it is stuffed and padded 

and all finished.

I was hoping it was what the lovely lady had in mind and
luckily it was. She liked it so much she gave me
the nicest compliment and paid me extra for my work!
Hurray!
Hoping to hear from her soon. Fingers crossed her friend will
love it too!



Thanks for reading!
See you soon!

x

What A Hoot!

This week I had time for a bit of sewing and 

decided to make an owl cushion. It's my little autumnal project,

inspired by walks outside with my girls, the colours of fallen leaves and 

my fondness for wise cute owls.

It was an easy project and was quick to make.

I just enlarged a pattern I already have and got all the fabrics

from my (ever growing) stash.

Some toy stuffing, a couple of vintage buttons and

she's finished!

Twit Twooo!!

Of course she's a girl!

She loves to accessorize with a little flower on her head.

She also likes to read,

arrange flowers

and sit outside in the sun.

She likes to play with the girls and doesn't mind too much
being pulled, poked and squeezed by playful little hands.

She was a joy to make although I was surprised
when her 'ears' turned out longer than I was expecting.
  But never mind we all think she's lovely!
She's a year round friend and not just for this season.
Hopefully soon we'll find her the perfect name.

What a hoot!!!





Thanks for reading!

Have a fun weekend!!!