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