Machine Cross Stitch Dilemma...

Well I finished my Sewing Machine Cross stitch.

It is in dire need of a good pressing but it's done.  I only hesitate in pressing it as I might unpick bits of it yet.

Rather than go for all black I added gold highlights to three little places, as suggested by the clever Ruby thinking it would give it the vintage singer machine feel, but now I'm not so sure. Maybe it's the shade of gold I have chosen?

What do you think, unpick those bits and do it all black or leave it alone?

It's rather dinky overall, here it is draped over a standard 16" cushion.

Once you have helped me decide I will get it off to be framed... then the next dilemma - glass or no glass, oh bother!

Thanks ladies x

The Spring Clean Bug

Well like many other I seem to have caught the spring clean bug. 

It's more than that actually, I feel like I have just rubbed my eyes and seen that my house is long overdue for decorating ~ all of it!

I need a new kitchen so I have been putting off decorating in there as it would be a waste of my time right?  We played the 'Oohh lets pretend we can afford a new kitchen' game last week and window shopped for one.  

I think I am more depressed than I was before the game started, my conclusion was that we can not afford the kitchen I want yet which means that I have to start thinking about decorating a kitchen I hate :0(

My lounge is ok but could do with another lick of paint, some new curtains and a good de-clutter!

These shelves behind my sofa are my domain and the craft stuff and nick knacks have multiplied to the point of madness.  I am prepared to share my shame in an effort to encourage a grand de-clutter.  

I loaded so much crap on my little trolley it buckled and the legs and wheels broke off!

My hubbie tells me that looking at these bookcases is like playing one of those hidden object games where you get a list of random items to find in a very crowded picture, and he has a point!

I decided that my starting point had to be prepare a place to store all this crafty clutter, then once that is sorted I can continue.  This is my glory hole under the stairs. 

ugly cupboard

crap that was stored in said cupboard!

 I emptied it out and thought I would give it a lick of paint but before I knew where I was I had stripped the old paper off so had to paper and paint it all.  There were literally dozens of layers of paper on there, my cupboard must be a good few inches larger than it was before :0)

I am getting there but need to invest in some storage for this little cupboard and hope to be able to show it to you soon.

I am gathering inspiration for my de-clutter and generally prettyfying from Sandra of Cherry Heart and her PCH ladies and I have joined the gang.

I will be back soon with an update, wish me luck...

Stitch at Home ~ Make No 2.

As promised I am here to share my little sewing cottage case that I made from this lovely little book by Mandy Shaw of Dandelion Designs.

I have to admit to not following the instructions in the book to the letter (I never do!) I did use the templates and made it from the photos.

It has lots of space for my little bits and bobs, scissors, thread, tape measure, pins, tags, thread ...

I just love it, I love to make useful things, things that I can actually wear or use and I will use this all the time. 

  

 I have found a home for it in my bag of 'stitchy things that are ongoing' - each packet is part of a different project that I am currently on with (about 6 or 7 things in there!).

I can see me making a few more of these, it did take quite a long time but I did enjoy it.  I will be submitting this as my April Monthly Make.

Back Soon...

I've been stitching...

Remember this lovely book I bought not long ago from Mandy Shaw of Dandelion Designs

Well I couldn't wait to get on and make some of these lovely things.  First up were these pin cushions, I have to admit they are quite cute.

They are a little on the large side, so I filled mine with stuffing and lavender so that they could be used as lavender bags if they were too large for standard pin cushions.

I made a little pouch for the inside of each one to be sure my lavender did not escape through my blanket stitching.

The felt fronts were cut using freezer paper which is a flipping godsend.  If you don't own freezer paper and do appliqué you need some, trust me!

Using my softest Felt Fairy Felt I made a few of these.

I'm rather pleased with them, quite simple to make but the hand stitching did take a little while.

This is next on my list, a beautiful cottage sewing packet.  I must admit I have almost finished my first one and I am in love!  

I have many sewing projects on the go and I keep a set of needles, pin cushion and scissors with each different project, I could fancy making a few of these one for my cross stitch bag, one for my hexie tin and one to live with my sewing machine.

The little cottage I have made is the thing that I am most pleased with so far this year, I promise to share just as soon as it's finished, I am hoping it will be my April Monthly Make.

~ ♥ We Have a Winner Folks ♥ ~

Thanks again everyone for joining in my little giveaway, I was blown away by all of the entries.

I scribbled your names all down and added to you to my little pink bowl again.

(I use this same picture each time but I promise it looked broadly similar just the paper was white!)

My beautiful assistant Thomas picked out the following;

~ drum roll please.....

Winner ~ Julie - A Tale from Toadstool House

Please email me your addresses and I will send some goodies your way!

Thanks for entering everyone x

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

Travelling Craft Box

The Travelling Craft Box organised by Lynda has arrived!

Wow, I can't really share as it has to go on it's way but I can show what I took from the box and what the lovely Beki added in there just for me.

Gorgeous handmade pegs and a lovely UJ lavender bag with chocolate and a candle. Thanks again Beki x

 I chose these from the craft box, a willow heart to prettyfy and a CK makeup bag to sew.

Delightful, I have added some items in there and it will soon be on it's way to Lynda as she is next on the list. 
Thanks to all of you ladies who have contributed to the box thus far and to those of you to whom it is still to reach, I hope you enjoy what you find.


I will be back tomorrow with a winner for my little giveaway, there is still time to get your name in the hat.


~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

I'm 2 today :0)

Today is my 2 year blogiversary.

Thank you all for listening to my ramblings, and sharing with me my journey through blogland.

Don't forget there is still time to put your name in the hat for my little giveaway.

Thanks again guys! xx

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

How are you enjoying this weekend?  I'm not a religious person and don't really celebrate Easter but we do make a little effort for the boys.

I have been spoiled though...

Yum!

 On a totally unrelated note, I bought myself this little bundle yesterday and just wanted to show you, I just love it.

I am planning on attempting a little Buttercup Bag, I've had one of these bags on my wishlist for ages now but am yet to make one.  

I think this may be the ideal fabric for it.

Whatever you are doing this weekend....

... and how our song shall always be

A Peaceful Easter Unto Thee.

Picnic is gone :0(

I was really sorry to hear that Picnik was closing it's doors later this month.  It's a site I have used for a few years and was even a paid up member for a while.  

There are more complex and technical sites and downloads out there that can do better, but for simplicity and a good result I always liked this.

I was asking around for a similar type of site and Justine of Sew Justine Sew recommended PicMonkey.

It's great, I would go as far as to say that I prefer it to Picnik it seems much faster and smoother to use, apparently it is created by the same people involved in Picnik!

If you are looking for an alternative to Picnik give it a whirl!

Thanks again Justine!

(no affiliation just happy with the service)

Stitch at Home by Mandy Shaw

A couple of weeks ago at Birmingham NEC I had the good fortune to meet the very talented lady Mandy Shaw of Dandelion Designs. 

Mandy had a new book on the way and she had samples there on the day so my friend Lynda and I pre-ordered a copy each and my book arrived today!

I thought I would share it with you as it is a delight.

I have had a good hour with a cuppa oohhing and aahhing my way through it and there are lots of makes that I am determined I will create from this book.

 The book is signed by the author which is a lovely touch.

Here is a sneaky peek of the delights on offer:

Cottage Sewing Case, ...oohhh

Patchwork Quilt, ...aahhhh

Cutwork  Pin Cushion, ...wow

Sometimes you buy a craft book and there are one or two things you really must make, well in this book I really want to make almost every project!  There is even a fabulous dog bed I want to make and I don't even own a dog! I did want to show you almost every page, but that would be cheeky.

Anyhoo, off to make a few notes and gather some supplies :0)

p.s.  don't forget there is still time to enter my little giveaway, you will find it here.

p.p.s. My friend Lynda (The Swap Queen) is hosting a Jubilee Swap if you are interested you will find that over here.

p.p.p.s. The clever Jenny Arnott has been featured in a new crafty book is having a lovely giveaway over on her blog you can find details of that here!

Phew, that's all folks, back soon!

Giveaway Time - NOW CLOSED

~~~ NOW CLOSED ~~~


Well this time next week it will be my 2 year blogiversary.  I have to say it has flown by and I have enjoyed every minute of it.  
I do enjoy reading blogs and getting to see your makes and gathering inspiration and ideas, it is something I could not do without now.  
I have come to know many of you through your blogs and I have made some great friends along the way.


As a little thank you for following and bearing with my ramblings, I would like to offer up a little giveaway.

Peony Russian Doll Chunky Cross Stitch Kit.

Ain't she sweet?

This kit is worked using full cross stitch and contains 5 hpi superior precision screen printed high quality canvas, gold eye needle, 100% acrylic yarn, detailed instructions in 10 languages and a large colour image of the finished piece.
No fussy pattern to follow the pattern is pre printed on the canvas.

I will be throwing a few little handmade items into the mix too, but they will be a surprise for the winner.

If you would like to be in with a chance to get your hands on this kit please follow the simple rules below, no jumping through hoops required :0)

Simple Rules:

To enter the giveaway you don't have to follow me but I do need to be able to contact you. If you don't have a blog please leave a valid email address.

Just leave a comment on this post and I will add you to the list. 

If you have your own blog and if you wish, please add my button to your sidebar and link to this giveaway and I will add you again. Please let me know if you do and I will add you twice.


I will draw the winner on the 15th April 2012.

~ ♥ Good Luck ♥ ~