Sunday 30 December 2012

Little pegs need a little peg bag.

Big peg bag little peg bag

This was a present for Mum who, the week before christmas, asked if I could get her some little pegs from the market to put cards up with.

A pot of little pegs
 
Then a little pile of yummy scraps used for a different present (yet to be shared!), suddenly had a reason to be put together to make a miniature peg bag for the new pegs.
 
Little peg bag
 
I used exactly the same method as for the larger peg bag, explained here, except on a smaller scale and found a plastic hook that had been on a bag of socks at some point.

Little peg bag detail

Saturday 22 December 2012

Seasons Greetings

Holidays are here so I'm off to wrap and eat and play.
 
I'm also going to have a go at one of these beauties over at Michele made me. I think that her ideas are so clever and they just keep on coming.
 
Will post some of the gifts that couldn't be shared after christmas, but for now..


Family Christmas cards

Happy Christmas.

Monday 17 December 2012

I have a Tomte!

Last christmas I bought my Mum this book by Kajsa Wikman over at the blog Syko, and dropped a less than subtle hint,
 that I would really like a Tomte!
 
And here he is..

I have a Tomte! Made by Mum from book called Scandinavian Stitches by Kajsa Wikman. He is sitting on a branch with Evie.
 
Sitting on a branch with Evie the Elf, two pointy hats together.
I love him.
Thanks Mum.

Monday 10 December 2012

Four Festive Owls

Christmas Owls, from a tutorial by Moonstitches called Zakka style owl pennant.
 
I saw the tutorial for this lovely garland of owls a while ago over at Moonstitches.

Last night I was feeling in the mood for a quick project with instant results and this was perfect.
They whip up in no time.
 I didn't get as far as the 'Joyeux' but the Noel will do for me!

 
Gorse
 
And this bit of shiny yellow gorse was in the hedge in a nearby field today.

Sunday 9 December 2012

Meet Jock

Jock. He is a little softy about 4" tall with a pocket on the back in which I can tuck a note.
 
Jock is a little softy about 4" tall.
He has a pocket on the back of him that I intend to put some money in before he is given as a present.
 I have made these before here , and I first saw the idea over at Molly Chicken  where she made a hedgehog in a similar way.
It kind of makes giving teenagers money a bit more exciting (well it does for me anyway)!
 
Jock with a bottle of his favourite tipple
 
Jock and his favourite tipple (which won't be included in the present)!!

Happy weekend.

Saturday 1 December 2012

More pressies

Another busy week and luckily a bit of time for sewing.
 
I have made quite a few grain bags over the years both as presents and for us too.
Sometimes I just sew a bag out of cord or other strong fabric, fill it with grain and sew it up.
 
At other times, usually if it's for someone else, I use this pattern from Sew Mama Sew, as I did for
this one. The only difference is that I use wheat instead of rice.


Grain bag
 
I also finished some pink bunting for a 'box of pink' .. 
 
Bunting
 
And finally a little neck purse.. 
 
Neck purse
 
Off to do some more.
Happy weekend.

Sunday 25 November 2012

Pressies.

Lots of rain and time indoors to make pressies.
 
Firstly a tea cosy, with applique detail from Poppy Treffry's book
 (she shows coffee pot and egg cup cosies in the book but it's the same idea).
 
Tea cosy- applique design by Poppy Treffry in book called Free and Easy Stitch Style
Thistle pin cushion..

Thistle pin cushion
 
Thistle pin cushion
 
Tartan mobile phone case..
 
Mobile phone case
 
Owl from pattern I bought from Retro Mama's shop..
 

Owl from pattern by Retro Mama
 
 
Pictures not great as I can't get outside in this weather.
Bunting and grain bags to come.
 
Just hoping the recipients don't look at this!!
(And if they do they will just have to guess which is for them)!

Sunday 18 November 2012

Rainbow Pencil Roll

I wanted to make my neice a pencil roll and decided to match the pockets to the pencils as this just appeals to me and gave me a chance to delve through my ever increasing box of scraps.

Rainbow Pencil Roll
 
On the reverse I had another go at an idea from the Poppy Treffry book, Free and Easy Stitch Style. This time I tried the butterfly.
I have now found an embroidery hoop and used this to hold the background fabric while appliqueing the butterfly with free machine embroidery.
If I'm honest, the first pair of lower wings were snipped off and redone, as they ended up too far away from the others, but I don't think it really shows!!


Butterfly detail on reverse of pencil roll- pattern and technique as in Poppy Treffry's book, Free and Easy Stitch Style
 
(Strategically placed bit of leaf covers hand embroidered name!)
 
Butterflydetail- pattern and technique as in Poppy Treffry's book, Free and Easy Stitch Style
 

The technique is alot of fun and is quite quick which is always a bonus.

I am already planning the next present..
 
Next project- WIP

Saturday 10 November 2012

Autumn is here

I have got some new shoes and I love them!

Naturalista shoes- Mary Jane's in Egeo
 
I have been looking at them for a while and pondering on the colour as they come in a wonderful rainbow of colours.
They are Naturalista Mary Jane's in Egeo.

I have also been playing with a book called Simple Modern Sewing..

New Book
 
 
It is really interesting to read and study (my sort of bedtime reading!). The patterns are all in the back but need tracing which was a challenge, and I forgot to check about the seam allowance at first, which isn't added.
 I started with a top, well a combination of two of the tops really, made from a recycled shirt.
 I am quite pleased with the outcome and will definitely be trying some more when time allows.

Shirt from combination of two patterns in book 'Simple Modern Sewing'.
 
 
I have also started on presents as I was given this lovely tartan fabric by Mum but I can't show the whole picture as the intended recipients might peek.

Presents in the making..
 
Nelly lining
And finally, another purse using the Poppy Treffry technique, mentioned in my last two posts. Once you have sussed it, it is quick and very effective I think.

Call-off-the-search purse from pattern by Poppy Treffry.
 
 
Call-off-the-search purse from pattern by Poppy Treffry.
 
 
Call-off-the-search purse from pattern by Poppy Treffry.  
 
Happy weekend.

Tuesday 30 October 2012

Sussed it!

 
The pattern mentioned in my last two posts from the Poppy Treffry book, Free and Easy Stitch Style.
This time I made a small purse as a present for a little chap.
 I appliqued a bug and a bird from some Urban Zoologie fabric I got from Fabric Rehab a while ago now.
The bug is on the front..

Purse front.
 
 a birdie on the back..
 
Purse reverse!
 
and a little apple tucked under the flap..
 
Another small purse made using the Poppy Treffry technique.

And the chrysanthemums have come out.
I was given a small clump of these a couple of years ago and they are just a great colour at this time of year when most other things are over.
 
Chrysanthemums
 
And the best bit is my little clump has grown and is nearly big enough to give a bit to someone else.

Sunday 28 October 2012

Purses and Puddings!

I have been making a purse from the Poppy Treffry book that I mentioned in my last post.
The technique is so brilliantly nifty and a new one on me.
 
I used a pair of old jeans and my scrap box, and lined it with part of an old skirt..

Call-off-the-search purse from pattern in 'Free and easy stitch style' by Poppy Treffry
 
Unfortunately, although the instructions were generally very clear and easy to follow, there was one diagram that I misinterpreted.
 
When the purse was finished and looking lovely, I opened it up to find a row of upsidedown bunting under the flap!!!
 Not what was planned or what the finished picture in the book showed.
 
Inside of purse that I got a bit wrong!!
 

If I had applied my brain a little more I would have worked this out, but because the technique was new to me, I blindly followed the instructions without thinking much at all.
Never mind, this one will have to be for me.
Next time I will be more aware of which bit ends up where and I will definitely be using the pattern again.

Off out for lunch and taking these beauties..
 
 
Pudding
Ginger biscuit base, cream and fromage frais in the middle and a layer of blackcurrant puree.
(Recipe adapted from one in the September Waitrose magazine I was given).
 
 It's very quick and easy - my sort of pudding!

Saturday 20 October 2012

A bit of this and that

I was lent a book by a friend this week called 'Free and Easy Stitch Style' by Poppy Treffry.
 I have admired Poppy Treffry things in the shops around here for a while so it was good to have a go. I used the flower template and had a go on a piece of fabric to make a sponge bag (not in the book).
This was the result..

Flower applique from book by Poppy Treffry called 'Free and Easy Stitch Style'.
 
And the flower detail..

Flower detail
 
I didn't use a hoop as advised but will try that next time when I have found it!
I will definitely use the technique again. I like the ragged edges.

I have also started the quilting of my sampler quilt, spurred on by a kind comment that reminded me it was still sitting on the 'to do' pile..

Sampler quilt. Starting to quilt 'kantha' style.
 
We have had some lovely autumnal sunshine here this week in between the showers, as well as some very high tides.
This is the river at Cothele with the water coming over the banks and the early morning mist still in the air.
 
Cothele at high tide and in the early morning mist.

Monday 15 October 2012

Evie evolves

Evie now has knee joints and a pointy hat!
 
My Mum and Dad popped in and I showed them Evie.
Mum kind of held the hat up straight, and Dad suggested knees!
Now she can sit beautifully and her hat is tall and pointy.

Evie the Elf

I have been making the Elf I mentioned in my last post.
Instead of doing the sensible thing and buying the Christmas Book, I bought the spring one (because I wanted the rabbit pattern) and have been improvising from the Witch pattern.
The book is called 'Crafting Springtime Gifts' by Tilda.

What I failed to think about was the size of her nose.
It started like this..
 
Before the plastic surgery (this is an Elf not a Witch!)

but I thought it looked a bit big for an Elf and so did a bit of 'plastic' surgery.

I also made a bit of a hash of her shirt which was covered with a lovely pinnafore dress for the Witch, but looked a tad revealing on Evie and suggested she had eaten too many pies (or christmas puddings)!

The first attempt at a shirt!!


After a few alterations, Evie is now suitably dressed for her duties of helping Santa and happily posed for a garden photo shoot in a sunny spell between the showers...
 
Evie on the hedge
 
And again
On the hedge.
Evie dangling from the buddleia
Dangling from the Buddleia.
Evie in the Rosemary
In the Rosemary.
Evie in the bay tree
In the bay tree.
 
Evie on the Holly (Ouch!)
And finally in the Holly Tree, ouch!!