Stitching

It has been a little bit quiet around here lately, but as you can see from these photos I have been whizzing along on my machine creating a wee bird themed item for my sister, amongst other things. I've also been tidying up my creative space so that I can get everything into one handy unit, so things are easy to get to and everything has a place. Well it's got to be done at some point!

My sister has returned from her 6 months in the Gambia and I surprised her with a visit last week to welcome her home. It was lovely to see her and drop of this birdy creation which ended up as a quirky cushion for her wee sofa. Back soon with more bits and pieces as I get ready to re-open my little shop on Etsy too x

Boutique event

As you may or may not know (which all depends on how long you've been reading my blog - I've had a long vacant spell this year from here) as I have been working as one half of a business with another textile bod at Weft A Bit. For many reasons we are not continuing with this venture come the New Year. So I will be back to blogging here (which I am excited about, can't wait to totally finish freshening up the look of my blog) and I'll be posting more regularly here about stitching, doodling, making and more.

But before all that I thought I'd share with you some photos of the Boutique one day event we put on as Weft A Bit in the gallery at Creek Creative in Faversham the other weekend.

scarf walls, with crates

loving the 'crate' shelving

the 'frame' wall displaying a selection of handmade goods

willow hoops wrapped with recycled/vintage fabric, a little fun

panels of pins to wear, flowers, birds

The one day event went really well considering the weather that weekend wasn't particularly great. A greyness that didn't seem to lift all day. However there was a steady trickle of visitors in all day and we met many lovely people and packaged up lots of lovely items for those who were starting their gift shopping for Christmas. So Thank You to all those that came x

And with cake involved, how could it not be a good day?!!

We have a couple more fairs to attend and then that will be it. Moving forward onto ventures new! x

Robins...

Just a peek at some of the scented bits I've been stitching up for the last few fairs I'll be attending this year as Weft A Bit. (I have new plans and ideas for 2012, so lots of creative time to look forward to).

The robins are filled with bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, star anise and cloves for a fix of festive scent. Pleasing round little birds! (although in reality I know they are fiercely territorial in the wild). What have you been creating for the festive season?

What Katie did next

I wanted to introduce you (if you haven't already stumbled across her website) to the lovely Katie of What Katie did next. She is also a very good friend of the amazing Sue (Sewsister). I have met Katie before but hadn't seen her work so it was nice last month when visiting Farnham Maltings to see her work in all it's splendor!

Gorgeous lavender sachets. Image courtesy of What Katie did next.

Bespoke family trees. Image courtesy of What Katie did next.

Cute Christmas badges. Image courtesy of What Katie did next.

Her stand was bursting full of scrumptious textile goodies which as always is good to see for real. Her website is sooo pretty as well and full of lovely textile goodies for gifts and secret treats to yourself. Be sue to drop by and take a peek!

Sewsister

From looking at 'popular posts' and even my stats I can see that a lot of people have been dropping by my blog and reading about my lovely friend Sue or 'Sewsister' as she is known. I cannot blame you at all for eagerly reading and looking at the pictures of her work. She is fab! Such a talented lady, always a kind and encouraging word or more when it comes to creating. Recently I visited Farnham Maltings to see the Festival of Crafts which she was taking part in. Not only were there many wonderful stands there but more importantly to me I was excited to see what new things Sue had on display. What can I say?! I was not disappointed in the least.

Fab signage and how can you not like Sue's cute owl logo?!!

A glorious stand packed full of goodies

One of the beautiful fabric collages, they all have a story

Bundles of bright fun fabrics

Another fabulous fabric collage, cakes yum!

The amazing Giraffe which everyone was invited to help decorate over the weekend. Decopatch is addictive and fun!

One very cute and very large bunny, you need to cuddle these and will instantly feel better!

Apologies for my somewhat dark photos. It has to be said that the lighting there wasn't the best. That coupled with me still getting to grips with my camera doesn't make for perfect photos just yet! Anyway I hope you enjoy these photos of Sewsister, Sue is one talented and fantastic lady. Be sure to drop by her website for a peek, it is something she is constantly updating and building on. You can even book a 'Workshop Visit' to be all creative with her. I am hoping to make a date with her to visit her studio as I am sure it well be an absolute box of inspiring creative delights! x

Thinking...

Hello, v long time no see (well at least here!). I, as you are all aware have been posting over here (see below)

this year as part of the new business venture I am a partner in. I'm wondering though about starting my blog here up again and wondered what you all thought? I'd be posting about stitching, doodling, journaling... sound interesting? Would love to share what I'm creating and get input from all of you out there x

New Blog

Toooooooo excited for words!

Come and see!
With my new business partner in tow 'I' is now 'We' and We have a new Blog!
So come on over and show us some blog love! pretty please?!!
Click on the image above to drop by...
So I have now moved from here to there and shall be posting there from now on,
be good to see you there, a few familiar faces to make us feel at home.
Hope to see you all soon x

The 52MMMC Week 13

Well hello!

I've decided to be succinct in showing you my next 'make' but make it I did indeed.
So no masses of photos just the two.

I joined a class to make clothes! and what a fab class it was too, it was one of my aims to actually make an item of clothing to wear. Now I know I had already completed the shirt/blouse but this was the challenge - a jacket from beautiful fabric in a vibrant colour to be able to wear.

As you can see I chose a 'very easy' pattern to create my garment from, don't want to run before we can walk and all that!


And this is the result! like? or no? it does look better on a person than a hanger, a free flowing swing jacket/coat, warm, cosy and handmade by me!


so tick in the achieved box there!

If you are wanting to learn about making clothing from patterns yourself then I highly recommend the class I attended which is back this year (2011) for a new term of creating. I can't make it this term as I have another pressing venture unfolding (more soon.....!! all v exciting!) but if you would like to join up then here are the details:
Venue: Broadstairs Adult Education Centre (Hilderstones) Kent
Tutor: Barbara Roots (so lovely and enthusiastic about your projects!)
Course title: Sewing - clothesmaking
This terms course starts: 12/01/2011 for 10 weeks.
Times: 10am - 12pm. (Although I think there is also an evening class too)
Check out www.kentadulteducation.co.uk for further details, dates and courses.


Oh and before I forget way back now I was asked for the recipe for the fruit gingerbread I made so here it is:

Ingredients:
400g plain flour; 1tsp baking powder; 1tbsp ground ginger; 1tsp ground cinnamon; 225g unsalted butter (cut into sml pieces); 125g molasses or blk treacle; 175g soft light brown sugar; 3 eggs beaten; 75g dried cherries, halved; 115g stoned dried dates, chopped; 50g preserved stem ginger, drained and chopped; 90g sultanas.

Preheat oven to 150C/300F/gas mark 2. grease and base line a deep 20cm square cake tin.

Mix the flour, baking powder, ground ginger and cinnamon together in a large bowl. Set aside.

Put the butter in a saucepan with the molasses or black treacle and sugar, stir over a low heat until melted. Pour into the flour mixture and mix well. Beat in the eggs until smooth, then stir in the dried cherries, dates, stem ginger and sultanas, mixing well.

Pour the mixture evenly into the prepared tin. Bake in the over for 1-1 1/4 hours or until a skewer inserted in the centre come out clean. Cool for 10 mins, turn out onto wire track to cool completely.

Ta dah! yummy cakery!
Obviously if you're anything like me who never finds the exact ingredients to go in things then you kind of ad lib and bend the rules on what your cherries, dates, ginger make come like!
enjoy! x

The 52MMMC Week 12

A fabric 'envelope' clutch style creation
for a very good friend
and all her paperwork
and bits and pieces that she lugs around



don't you just love creating?

The 52MMMC Week 10

Well hello to you all on this windy and rainy November day (well for me it is anyways).
Here's my first ever attempt at making an item of clothing!
I joined a class a while back now to do this just to see if I could(!) and to learn about and do something new.

So being a tad reticent and not knowing whether I would get on well at making clothing I opted for a vintage pattern and instead of wasting money on brand new fabric and ruining it! I opted to use up (and experiment with) a fair sized remnant I had in my stash.

So for your eyes here's what I made.....

My shirt/blouse pattern




pattern pieces in the make, not bamboozling me in the least!!
well I had a fab tutor to advise and direct!


And shots of my finished piece


Now mine looks a little different to the finished picture on the pattern as I didn't have enough material to make the sleeves the length they should be. But this in itself was a great learning experience to see how patterns are adapted and changed to suit the individual need.


Now I'm not sure if I would wear this! as it's not my type of fabric but it was just my test run at making and seeing as I did okay.......!
I am now onto something I will wear in a fabric and colour that I love.
So back soon with that to show you!

The 52MMMC Week 9

Well hello! long time no see so to speak, I am back again with another make for your viewing.

Quite some time back now I took part in a P I F (pay it forward) Giveaway and part of the rules of taking part was that I would go on to host my own P I F Giveaway and send a wee something handmade on to three more people.
As I have now made and sent off these PIF gifts I thought that I would include them in my 'makes' challenge and let you see what flew off in the post recently......

After much doodling, stitching and creating with fabric and thread it was time to put all the pieces together, the easy part really and the part where everything comes together...

zip being put in


sides being stitched



turning


finishing off


and hey presto a wee zip purse!


well two wee zip purses..


make that three wee zip purses for three lovely ladies!


I hope they are loved and well used! ;0 x

The 52MMMC Week 8

Well hello to you all! I'm back again with another 'makes' post.
I have been meaning to make a larger version of my oval pin for a while now and thought it would be one of my 'makes' for the challenge, a good place to 'test' out ideas I feel.
I have also been promising my mum one for a while too.....
So inspired by this photo in a magazine recently I was ready to try my 'make'


I gathered together materials and threads that reflected the gorgeous colours of the heather



My mum likes my wee birds and so a wee bird the pin would have


stitch upon stitch


teeny tiny snippets of fabrics in lovely deep pinks and greens


And voila! a birdy pin has been made




Yes HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!!!!
My mum has received this wee pin and I shall wait for her to visit
with it donning her jacket lapel, before I show a 'finished' photo of it.
And *phew wipes sweat from brow* she loved it! x