Flowery Cath Kidston Fabric Makes

As I've joined two swaps I'm in that place where I have been making but can't share just yet.

What I can share is these little treasures, I saw the idea on my new obsession Pinterest and gave them a go.

They are rather sweet and i'm quite pleased with how they turned out, I first saw them here.

My little Cath Fabric Flower Brooches

I have also been making more little lavender mice, I was asked to make these for a customer, but I've popped a few more in the shop as they are quite sweet and several people on twitter have asked me for some.

I've been pottering with cross stitch recently too and I made this little one last week, it's a lavender blossom with a little bee on evenweave stuffed with wadding and beautiful dried lavender.



Not sure where I'll use it yet I like to pop my lavender bags in amongst my fabric stash to keep it all smelling lovely but this one is a little too pretty to shove away in a drawer.

I'm posting my cupcake swap off on Tuesday so I'll be able to share that with you next week.

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~ 

My Shelf of Messy Wonderfulness

Have I shown you this, it's my shelf of messy wonderfulness!

This is in my lounge, and as I rule I'm rather anally tidy, but not here...

It's packed full of lovely gifts and cards from my friends.  I keep my favourite cards out all year round and sometimes substitute them for others from my stash (I keep them all).

Looking at the lovely bits I see the lovely creative people behind them, like Beki, Lynda, Sue, Judith, Tina, Pene, Maria...

 Rachael, Vicki, Nicola, Amanda, Jackie, Laura...the large vase in the middle was handmade by my talented Sister in Law Lisa.

and I found the best thing last week to add to my shelf to better display my cards, check them out here...

They are even better in real life than they were in the shop photos, really high quality pegs, not your ususal clothes pegs, I'm really delighted with them and can't wait to get my hands on the Christmas versions that I know Beki is currently working on, how cool would these be to display your favourite Christmas Cards? 

 I'm currenly getting my crafty mind into swap mode and as such my head is spinning with Cupcakes and Autumn, I'll hopefully be able to show some of my makes for those soon.

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~ 

Did I just join in another swap?

After the madness of the summer swaps I needed a little break from swapping for a while... until I spotted this one;

It's being organised by a talented North East Lass - Blueberry Heart, who's blog I have only just discovered.

I took part in an Autumn swap last year and really enjoyed it so I've taken the plunge and joined in this one!

Go on, pop over and have a little look...

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~ 

If we took a holiday...

 Hi lovely people. I've been a little quiet as I've been away on holiday.  I won't bore you silly with loads of photos of my time away, but I will share these few.

 Beautiful Peak District where we spent our time in a little cottage in the country.

 We did lots of activities including visiting these guys (the highlight of my week)at the Tropical Butterfly House

 

 Following our holiday with four boys we could do with a little holiday to get over this one, infact I'm looking forward to getting back to work for a rest!

I did manage to sneak in a little bit of crafing whilst away, I did make a start on some new crochet squares, you can't tell here but they are tiny, and will take me an age to complete anything substantial but I have had my heart set on owning a springtime throw from the Cute & Easy Crochet Book (Nicki Trench).  I'm making these all in merino soft baby cashmere silk, so when it's finally done it will also have cost me a small fortune.

Whats the betting I give in and turn them into a cushion?

I've also been dipping my toes into cross stitch again, something I've not done for ages.

It started with a charity shop haul of these Cross Stitcher Magazines for 20p each.  I love them lots and have since subscribed!

A couple of them still had the little free kits included, untouched so on my Summer holiday I sat and made cross stitch Christmas Gift Tags, yes I'm mental!

In the last magazine there were patterns for Ice Lolly Bunting, I adapted it to make this, I thought it might make a nice greeting card.

And whilst I was on the cross stitch roll, I made a couple of these bookmarks, not for the easily offended...

I sent them out to a couple of foul mouthed blog friends (Annie& Alex) and they were well received, I've since been asked to make several more, I'll have to get my needle back out!

So that's me, I'm looking forward to spending a few hours catching up on all your blogs and makes. I have several hours of soap operas to work my way through, not to mention a pile of ironing bigger than me... oh hell I could do with a holiday!

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~ 

UFO Progress and Bits

I joined in with LaaLaa's UFO Support Group with the intention of clearing some of my unfinished objects before starting even more.

 

(Trouble is I'm such a sucker for new things, I already have two new projects on the go ... shhhh, dont tell Lynda)

I didn't really get my backside in gear and still have not finished anything!!

This has been almost ready for over a month now and just sat there unloved,



I did make a little progress with my little hexies, they are joining together to make something pretty.  

To be fair it does take ages to do these and they are coming along quite well,

Second was my crochet squares I started these and quickly fell out of love with them. 

The original idea was a cushion but I couldn't bear to carry on with them so they will end up as a mini cushion with lavender for my bed.  I have made a start on the back of the cushion but again not finished!

Oh and a sneaky pear dishcloth I just had to make...

Can I just share some lovely gifts I won this week from the lovely Jodi at OhSewBeautiful

I love cups and this one is my new breakfast cup, and how cute are these buttons?

The chocolate is long gone, the lavender bag is asleep amongs my fabric stash and the card has pride of place on my fireplace - I love it!  I have only skimmed the book but it has loads of promise.

Thanks again chick xx 

Jodi is hosting a Cupcake Swap, if you fancy joining in? 

 It's open until the 20th August, pop over and have a look I'm all swapped out for the minute but I might be tempted to join in at the last minute, I hate to be left out ;0)

I've had a few enquiries about the book thongs I mentioned in my last post.  Thank you for all the kind words, I have added some to my folksy shop if anyone is interested, I plan to add more soon x

Right I'm off to make another dint in my UFO pile.



~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~ 

More Felty Makes and Gifts

Well, it has to be said I'm still addicted to making my felty rings, they are just too cute, here are my latest batch...

I do get addicted to something then do it to death and move on; enough rings already!

I had a visit from my lovely friend Nic at the weekend and received some fabulous handmade items, they say great minds think alike ~ she made me a book thong! It's fabulous and I love it lots.

Another beautiful gift was these earrings, hand twisted and hammered, they are very me (can't tell you how happy I am with these)! 

I keep telling Nic to open a shop she really is very talented at jewellery making, I own the most beautiful stuff she has made me, at present she only makes for family and friends (lucky me!)

I was also the recipient of these stunning notecards from Paperchase ~ my two favourite things ~ papercuts and Russian Dolls!

Thanks again xxx

Another wonderful parcel arrived this week from the lovely Beki over at BekiMaries ~ we did an additional fabric swap and wow, was I amazed at what arrived.  I have to add that my backup camera died this day and I didn't get any close up's but I was thrilled and delighted with the contents! 

There are a few fabrics in here I would trade one of my kids for (Beki take your pick 4 boys aged 11-16, let me know which one to send lol)

 

Can you see the Russian Doll pin cushion ~ wowzer she's my absolute favourite thing at the minute.

Thanks again lovely xx

I've got so many new fabric options now that I'm itching to start a new project, but I've got so much to finish already ~ in the words of Natalie Imbruglia 'I'm Torn'!

Right I'm off to make a dent in my WIP, new fabric get thee behind me; although I've just received a couple of cute crochet patterns from Pink Poppy that I might have to squeeze in...

 

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~ 

Bookish Makes

I have fancied making a covered notebook for some time now and I had just enough Cath Kidston Cotton Duck left to make one.

This was the simplest thing to make just like the plastic cover on a library book but in fabric with a little bit of elastication to hold it in place.  To be honest if I make another I would make it a different way but it's good enough for me to use.

I added a beaded thong to the back of the spine to use as a bookmark and that got me to thinking.

Wouldn't they make nice bookmarks on their own?

So I made a few up. 

I was once an avid reader but since I re-discovered sewing and knitting books have falled by the wayside, I try to read in bed but I only last a few minutes and I'm asleep.  I am a flitter in most things and I usually have 5 or 6 partly read books by my bedside, which calls for 5 or 6 bookmarks.

I made a big batch of these and enjoyed getting the beads out again, I should really make a dint in my reading pile now.

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~