Week eight project(s)

Just a quick visit to show you the card I made for my husbands birthday (yesterday). It was finished a couple of minutes before he was due home from work on friday, luckily it was 'Fajita Friday' which means my youngest makes dinner (until the novelty wears off, that is).

I am resisting the urge to tell you what I don't like and would do differently!

I also made a case for him to put his watch in when not using it (at his request). I can't seem to find a picture of it. I made it using a moss green coloured linen and lined it with some fabric with a map design on and used a vintage button that I actually removed from its original card,something I find difficult to do, with a clock face design on.

All four (husband, 2 sons and me) of us had lunch out and went to see Woman in Black at the cinema. I also managed to fit in a visit to The Eternal Maker, conveniently situated next door to the cinema! Having two teenagers it's rare for all of us to go out together these days so it was a special day. The film was excellent, I love creepy books and films. Some of the scenes were filmed at The Bluebell Railway which is fairly local to us and one I've visited many times. I saw The Woman in Black as a play years ago but couldn't remember a lot of the story. Have you seen it? What did you think?

I've started sewing together my throw, I do have a busy week but I'm hoping to get it finished within the week.

Thanks for visiting. X

Meet and Make - this week

Oh, how I've failed this week! I don't even have ONE photograph to show you. I was having such a great time that I forgot to take any pics, when I did remember there were only two members left and I then found I'd left the memory card for the camera at home!
Thanks to everyone who attended, it was lovely to see you all. X

Happy Birthday Debbie for Monday.

A Giveaway

I have a spare copy of this brilliant magazine. My favourite crafts magazine.If you would like the chance to win it please comment on this blog, it shouldn't be hard to win as I don't think I have many readers as yet! I will send it anywhere.

Make sure you leave a email address, or sign in with a account so that I can contact you if you win. I will pick a (random) winner at 8am on the 24th Feb.

Good Luck!

Well done Jane for winning the magazine. I hope you enjoy it! X

Thanks for visiting X

Etsy browsing...

From FlourishCafe

Week seven project

Inspired by Jess's wonderful quilt top and some fridge magnets I bought at the quilt exhibition held at the V and A a couple of years ago, I decided to make a mini quilt top as my project for week seven.

 I recently bought a charm pack based on fabric of the 1930's, it has some lovely, bright patterns. I began by drawing round one of my magnets to get a template for the paper pieces and then cut 60 paper, and 60 slightly larger fabric hexagons. Then I sewed a piece of fabric around each paper hexagon, I think this method is called paper piecing. After that it was just (!) a case of sewing all the hexagons together. This took a lot longer than I anticipated and I went a day over with this project. I've only ever done machine patchwork before but have been intending to try this method for a while.

Here it is almost finished, I'm loving the summery colours!

I have decided to leave the edges unfinished in case I want to add to it in the future as I still have lots of the fabric left. I also have some other ideas that I may add in the future, I think it would look good with Home Sweet Home appliqued on it, or maybe some buttons or mini doilies. For now though I consider it finished.

Here is the completed project

I am surprised how much I enjoyed making this, I'm not one for hand sewing usually - too impatient, I think. This is something I'm sure I'll do again, it was very relaxing sitting listening to music whilst hand sewing. In fact I'm already dreaming of sitting in the garden in the summer surrounded by scented roses and with a jug of pimms on the garden table, hand sewing in the sunshine (now that really IS a dream!)

Do you prefer hand or machine sewing? I always thought it was machine sewing for me, but now I'm not so sure.

The reality!

Thanks, as always, for visiting.

Roll on payday...

from Katie Daisy

from Ashley Goldberg

Both Etsy finds

No, it really doesn't matter that I have several prints waiting to be framed OR that I have little wall space left. I have a weakness (my one weakness,of course) for typographic prints and art prints with words on them!

Meet and Make - this week

Dee and Karen, our newest member

Happy Birthday Dee for the 20th Feb

I'm really loving that top Karen.

Ruby and Kay

Karen, Liz, Julie and Karen's son

Jess and her son

Our youngest (and cutest by far) member. This little

one is almost a year old and comes from a very

creative family.

Trish

Happy Birthday!

Helen

This lovely lot was given to me today by Jess. I have

an idea of what to use it for but it depends on whether I

can bring myself to cut up the cloth. Thanks Jess X

I seem to have lost some photos!

(I know you'll be happy about that Kerry)

Thanks for visiting.

New Books

Don't you just love the pink,orange and yellow together?

At one time barely a week went by without a delivery from that well known company, Amazon.They have a brilliant selection and at such a good price it was hard to resist! However, now I'm much more restrained with my book buying as funds are lower. I never buy fiction but I am always tempted by craft and interiors publications. There are some you just have to have, aren't there? These are two that I pre ordered and received this week.

The first is Flea Market Chic by Liz Bauwens. I have her previous book Thrifty Chic and I look at it a lot so I knew I was going to like this one. And I was right it's a great book, very inspirational. I've not read all the words yet but I have looked at the pictures! I think this is a great book and well worth buying or borrowing from your local library.

Homespun Style by Selina Lake is the second that I've bought this week, it is such a brilliant book with really great pictures (and lots of them) and I now know that my style is called Homespun!The definition of homespun is simple and unsophisticated - sounds about right!

  I would highly recommend this book. Selina is my favourite stylist, I love the styling she does for magazines and I'd also recommend a read of her blog.

Here are a few pictures for you to drool over

Thanks for stopping by.

Shall I?

I've had a fun afternoon finishing the block for my husband for Valentine's Day, and making him a card.I started the block some time ago but it just didn't look right. After some advice from Helen Chilton it's now finished. Thanks, Helen for your input. Here is a picture of it.

I also made him a card. I started with no ideas whatsover and it just evolved. I'm pleased with it and as always I'm trying not to see all the things wrong with it!

I used an old book as a base for the hearts (well, he is a Librarian). Then I used a tissue to spread the ink from a pad onto the background. I do especially like this bit as it looks like the sky. The stamps I used were Cavanilli and Crafty Individuals.

Then, I thought why not have a go at the Crafty Individuals Challenge? So, as is typical of me, I started without reading the guidelines. I just assumed I had to use all CI stamps, this really was a challenge as I only have four sets (I love this range so will be buying more) apart from the festive ones (I have quite a few of those) and as I'm new to this craft, a limited range of inks and embellishments.

I had a small wooden box approximately 5"x5" that came filled with wooden embellishments I love the look of it and knew as soon as I bought it that I'd like to use it somehow. Then I coloured small doilies with spring(ish) coloured inks - I don't have a lot of choice. After that it was just a case of stamping, cutting and embellishing. I have to be honest I'm not too sure about it (please try to ignore the footless bird!) and I've not decided yet if I'm going to submit it. I did enjoy the challenge and it was nice to do something other than cards.

I did submit it.

You have to start somewhere...

I would have done it differently if I'd known I only had to use one Crafty Individuals product!

Another lesson learned, read the guidelines BEFORE starting the project.

I did enjoy the 'extra' challenge though...

Meet and Make - this (last) week and week six project

(Late again!)

We were lucky enough to have two sessions this week. About once a month we have an evening session. Unfortunately, my camera was playing up on both days so I've not got many photos.
Here are the few that I managed to get!

Kerry and our new member Alham and Alham's adorable son. He had great fun playing with the buttons just like I used to do at my Nan's when I was his age.

Trish and Ruby at the evening session

Trish is covering six  kitchen chair seats, here Ruby is helping her with one of them.

Linda is only able to come to the evening sessions. Here is her first patchwork piece,she's hand sewn it all and now has to quilt it and make it into a cushion.

Jess has finished her hand sewn patchwork quilt top. It has taken her seven years to get to this stage. I am full of admiration, I wouldn't have the patience myself!

Sadly, that is just about it apart from this one

Trish has finished copying her mother's needlebook. Her mother died in 1982 so the original certainly has some age to it. Trish stuck to the same colourway and says the hardest part was cutting the flowers. Don't you think she has made a lovely copy? I especially love the thimble bucket.

Thanks to all the Meet and Makers and welcome to our two new members, Alham and Liz (and of course Alham's son)

Week six project

The failed one

This was supposed to be my project for week six, the fabric was cut and the layout planned then I hurt my shoulder and am unable to use my sewing machine. It will be a new throw for the sofa eventually.

Maybe I'm biased...

Libraries are worth saving,

just found this and thought it was worth sharing

Julia Donaldson's Library Poem:

Everyone is welcome to walk through the door.

It really doesn't matter if you're rich or poor.

There are books in boxes and books on shelves.

They're free for you to borrow, so help yourselves.

Come and meet your heroes, old and new,

From William the Conqueror to Winnie the Pooh.

You can look into the Mirror or read The Times,

Or bring along a toddler to chant some rhymes.

The librarian's a friend who loves to lend,

So see if there's a book that she can recommend.

Read that book, and if you're bitten

You can borrow all the other ones the author's written.

Are you into battles or biography?

Are you keen on gerbils or geography?

Gardening or ghosts? Sharks or science fiction?

There's something here for everyone, whatever your addiction.

There are students revising, deep in concentration,

And school kids doing projects, finding inspiration.

Over in the corner there's a table with seating,

So come along and join in the Book Club meeting.

Yes, come to the library! Browse and borrow,

And help make sure it'll still be here tomorrow.

Julia is the author of The Gruffalo

Needles and pins

Being short (4' 10") and round I've always found clothes buying a challenge. For a long time I have wanted to do a dressmaking course so that I can make my own, or alter shop bought clothes. There was always a reason I couldn't do the course, my children were too young, I was working... Last summer I actually signed up for a course, I was SO excited! I went out and bought fabric (no hardship) and patterns and dreamed of all the garments I could make.

Shortly afterwards there was a letter, the course was full. I was so disappointed. I was added to the waiting list but didn't hold out much hope.

A week or so ago I received a letter, there are places available for this term!

I paid my money, found my fabric and patterns and tried not to get too excited.  Then I received another letter, the course is postponed for a couple of weeks. The college needs to find enoungh people to sign up to enable the course to run. 

Will I ever  get to call myself a Dressmaker?

 Keep your fingers crossed for me!

It's happening! Just heard today (17th Feb) that the course will start on the 21st

Thanks for visiting