Thursday 31 July 2014

Hare today ... gone tomorrow... (hopefully!)

Do you remember me giving you a little teaser the other week?  In case you did forget, here's a little reminder ....

 
The good news is that I have now finished the project I had planned for this piece of patchwork and I am really pleased with the result. 
 
Here's a few "in progress" photos ...
 

The backing - nicely ironed and ready for embellishment



Trying to work out the best placement of my hare
 (who is already mark#2 as the first one was too pale!)
 

 
Hare's positioning chosen ...
 

I must tell you this little snippet ... I had placed the hare in place and my eldest son Luke came in.  I asked him what he thought of my hare - only to have him looking intently at my head of hair!


And then to stitch the outline on the machine ...  (I was so proud of this part as it went just right!) 

 
 
Can you tell how proud I am of myself?!  I had to take a close-up!
 
 
And then onto the background machine stitching - I wanted it quilted (there's wadding behind) so decided to do wavy lines across with little tussocks of grass at intervals ...



 
And finally fully lined and all sewn up into a cushion cover



Looking rather good (even if I do say so myself!) 

 
I do love it when a plan goes well!
 

 
Mr Hare is now in situ in The Crafty Phoenix Lady unit at The Emporium in Yeovil. 
 
Hoping (or is it hopping?!) to find a new home very soon! 
 
 (Although I must admit I'd rather like to keep him for myself...!)
 
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Tuesday 29 July 2014

It's a very flowery day

I have been juggling again!

Over the past couple of days I have had not one, not two, not even three, but four projects on the go - and that's not including the crochet blanket I work on in the evening!

I don't know why I feel I have to work on many things at once, maybe it's so I don't get bored...?  Perhaps it's a way of stretching my brain ...?  Could it be just the Gemini trait ...?  Wonder if I just like starting new things ....?

That last one is definitely something I am working on.  I really must finish my UFOs!  At least now with having The Crafty Phoenix Lady at The Emporium I can craft to my heart's content and with no guilt at all ... because I'm WORKING!!!

Anyway, enough, babbling and analysing, lets get on and show you my flowery projects of the day (these are just two of today's!)


I would not say that I'm a really "flowery" person.  I like flowers but I'm not a mega floral girl!  I do, obviously, have one or two floral fabrics within my stash, but certainly not loads!  In fact when I had this idea to use bright summery flowers I was actually hard pushed to find enough.  Thankfully I managed to find four that I felt quite well together.




Digressing slightly - does anyone else save the selvedge?  I keep seeing these super projects on the Bermuda Triangle of Pinterest that I really think I should have a go at using selvedges.  So, I've started cutting mine off before starting a project so I'm now building up a little collection ready for another project ... one day!




I cut 5 1/2" squares out of the four fabrics.  I actually had an idea to make a bag - but when I started sewing together I realised that the squares were too big and it would end up a mega bag - so it evolved into a cushion!







Work in progress.
 

 
And both sides of the cushion which is lined and has a zip opening.  I went for a random look.  Something that doesn't always sit right with me - however I had to go with the amount of squares I had - so it was a pick and mix put together!
 
All I have to do now is find a cushion pad large enough to fit it!
 
And then, of course, I have some scraps left over and I cannot bear to let anything go to waste (especially fabric) so I put them together and made a lavender sachet ....
 
 
All I need to do tonight is sew the opening up and then it's ready to pop along to The Crafty Phoenix Lady's unit on Thursday!
 
 
 
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Friday 18 July 2014

Jeannie the Cat and Pink Flowers Crochet Blanket



On Wednesday evening I sat and finished sewing in all the ends on this blanket I have made to sell in The Crafty Phoenix Lady unit at The Emporium in Yeovil.

Just a thought - but how much do people charge for crochet blankets? 

This one measures 41" x 37" - ideal for a cot or a lap blanket.



Let me know what you think of it ...





I also - finally - managed to sew some whiskers and a little mouth on Jeannie the Cat ...


Jeannie is also now in her new - hopefully temporary - home in The Emporium.  She's hoping for a loving owner any day soon!


Trixie wasn't too sure of her - as you can see!




That's all for now ... I desperately need to sort out my work space and finish some more goodies ...

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Thursday 17 July 2014

Pretty things




Look at my lovely pretty butterfly labels I've been making!  Aren't they the sweetest things?!

For my birthday, amongst my other fantastic presents, Jonathan bought me a Big Shot Sizzix Machine!  I thought it would be good for applique work and quilting too, along with paper-crafts.



So I've been practising and hey presto - butterfly labels!

And hearts and circles too ...


There is one thing that really worries me ... the plates that go either side of the die cutters - you ought to see the top one - it's scratched and marked so much.  I know that is what they're supposed to do - but it is rather drastic and especially when I've not used it that much.  Look ...



Anyway, enough of my new toy for now!

Now I'm going to show you some of my new makes ...



 
A little zipped make-up bag with waterproof lining.  It's in gorgeous teal and brown with gingham ribbons and ecru lace, and buttons to decorate.
 


 
Something very simple - some pretty fairy and cupid charms that I've put on leather necklaces.
 

 

Something I've been wanting to do for a while - decoupage!  I've decoupaged (is that the right word?!) this sweet little bird box - and I think it looks really good.

Alexandra's been busy too - she's made a couple of dream catchers to go into The Crafty Phoenix Lady's unit at The Emporium in Yeovil.  Aren't they lovely ...




And finally, a teaser to what I've been working on this afternoon ...


Such pretty pretty colours!  Hopefully by tomorrow I should have finished it and can show you the final article!
 
Off to sit myself in front of the tv with my latest crochet blanket so I can sew all the ends in.  I'll try and remember to take a photo of that too!
 
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