Smocket

I can finally post pictures of the little apron that I made for Lizzy. She has been reluctant to wear it (ungrateful madam) so I have been unable to take piccies until now. I managed to get a few photos before she realised what I was doing before she lay on the floor having a 'diva' moment. She's 2 on Monday and you sure can tell!


I got the pattern via Kristy and couldn't wait to get started on one. It was quick and easy to make but the finished product was sadly too small for my little girl so I have resized the pattern and just need to find time to make another. Here is the original one though, made with pretty kitten fabric and vintage polka dot so that it is totally reversible. It went down very well at her playgroup where all the mums asked if I could make them one and Alfie wants one in cowboy fabric. I can tell that I will be making a few!

New chair

I bought a vintage typist chair that had been recovered in vintage fabric last September. I love it and sit on it every day to work on my computer. The fabric was gorgeous but not very hardwearing so slowly it has worn out and then with a little help from a certain young lady (aka Miss Lizzy) the fabric had become quite torn and tattered. So, I decided to recover it in some more vintage fabric. When I bought it it looked like this




I recovered it in a 1950's Sanderson fabric in my favourite pink with beautiful roses on. The fabric is called 'Petosia' and now the chair looks like this





Here is where I sit to post my blog and answer my emails. I think the chair is more 'me' now and I love it. It's a suitable chair for a fabricaholic like myself don't you think?!

My website

My website has gone live at last, please have a look when you get a chance and let me know what you think. I need feedback!

A crafty old day

Baby it's cold outside. I love this weather, crisp, cold days with bright blue skies and sunshine. Perfect weather for staying at home next to the aga and sewing. I have had a couple of projects in mind for ages. I didn't like my bathroom curtains. They are quite nice and beautifully made from Jane Churchill floral fabric but they just didn't look right in the bathroom. I bought some gorgeous blue polka dot fabric way back in summer and decided that this would make the perfect pair of curtains. I love them. They look fresh and cheerful. A bit of springtime in my bathroom!







I also had a soft blanket that I bought from a charity shop for 99p in a lovely deep raspberry colour the same colour as our sitting room sofas. I added some Cath Kidston Rose Paisley fabric to make a gorgeous throw and snuggly blanket for those cold winter evenings.

Fabric box

It's been ages since I made anything. Christmas sort of took over any creating time I had. I was itching to get on with something. When I put the Christmas decorations away I discovered a box I had from last year that contained my favourite perfume (Stella by Stella McCartney). It was a beautiful box and I was just using it to put some hooks for Christmas decorations in. What a waste I thought, it needs to be covered, looked at, used daily. So, I found some 1940's fabric and with the help of a glue gun turned this.......





into this.







A lovely 1940's style box for putting my jewellery in.

Woollen trees

When a girl has umpteen presents to wrap, Christmas cards to write, a swap parcel to pack, Christmas decorations to put up, a website to complete and fabrics to sort out for this week's sales, what does she do? Well, she makes a trio of soft woollen trees of course. Beaded with tiny beads that catch the light and sparkle.




Have a go at some yourself, they are such fun to make. The pattern can be found here courtesy of the lovely Stephanie.

Christmas Crafts

It's been a long time since I posted anything here, not because I haven't been making, just because most of the things I have been making are for Christmas presents and I am worried that certain naughty people might look when they have been told not to (you know who you are!). But hey, I want to share with you, so here goes.

I have made some little tweed robins, stuffed with cloves for a festive aroma. These can be hung on the tree or just hung around the house. They are not obviously Christmassy either so they can be left up all year.




I have also made some lavender cats from wool and felt.





Inspired by my own cat, Fifi, who doesn't seem too impressed. This is not unusual for her. She likes to sit on her two floral cushions, (like the princess and the pea), on the dresser in the kitchen and look down her nose at her sister, Bella, and brother, Hebe who are lesser cats than she!



A mohair corsage and an alpaca and silk corsage. Not sure if I like it with or without leaves. I tried to crochet some leaves with no success so opted for the felt ones. If anyone has a pattern for crochet or knitted leaves do let me know.




I love making things at this time of year. It is so nice to sit in the kitchen in the evenings with the Aga on, watching 'I'm a celebrity' and sipping mulled wine. Ahhhhhhh happy days

Another Bag

Here's another bag WIP. It's still a work in progress because I have yet to decide where to put the little corsages, how many to have and whether or not to add any other embellishments.

I have made this one from thrifted, unused tweed bought at the bootsale last Sunday and lined with a 1950's cotton, finished off with a vintage button. I used an interfacing with this one to give it more body. It worked well, It's less floppy than the other one.

WIP Friday

Hooray I'm on time this week!

I am making bags for Christmas presents again. This time I am making tweed and wool shoulder bags from a pattern downloaded from this clever lady. I have almost finished one, apart from the decoration which I feel needs a little something else. This one is made from some thrifted grey wool suiting material and some vintage blue and black polka dot cotton, finished off with a vintage tweed button.

This pile of fabric is for the next one, watch this space ............

Alfie and Lizzy dolls

Well here they are. I did finish them on Saturday before going out to a dinner party, but the faces had to wait until Monday as I was too fragile to sew on Sunday (memo to self: don't drink again, ever!)

Hillary is a very talented woman and she has this knack of making everything look very easy. Let me tell you, they were not! I'm sure you're not supposed to spend the whole time swearing under your breath while you make toys for children. Don't look too close. My toy making days may be over just as soon as they began but, having said that, the lovely little Japanese craft book I received this morning may change my mind (see my other blog)