25 September 2014

Kiss me under the mistletoe.......




On the day Mum and I opened Pretty Fabrics and Trims we published our very first tutorial, which was for a pretty pocket heart.  The heart was something that I made back in my Little Kitten Homemade days and after my bunting was one of the most popular products available.  The original tutorial can be found on the old shop blog and has proved to be one of the most popular tutorials I've written.  Fast forward two and half years and this morning as I photographed this new mistletoe ribbon, it came to mind wouldn't it it look lovely on a Christmassy themed pocket heart.



So after a quick cheese and marmite toasty for lunch (yummy!!) I dashed up to the sewing room and rustled one up.


 all the instructions including step by step photo's can be found HERE and if you're not quite ready for Christmas crafting, here's one of the originals I made.......
You can find links to all my other tutorials HERE and if you do make something using them, please do send me a picture, I would love to see.  Alternatively, I've just thought of a little hashtag #alittlehappytutorial  that you can use to tag your photo's on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter...... get me I am finally getting with it!

Back soon.....
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19 September 2014

A summer of crafting and a feature


Throughout the summer my sewing machine found a new home on the dining table in our conservatory.  It worked out brilliantly, Poppy was happy to sit at one end keeping herself busy with a crafty project and Jamie.... well like most 10 year old boys he would have been quite happy to sit playing on an electrical device all summer!  (Needless to say this didn't happen!)

My first completed project to share with you (wow that sounds good!) was my Tilda scrappy crossroads quilt which I started back HERE.  This was so much fun to make and I'm pretty certain that another scrappy crossroads will feature in my life, thanks Lori for such a great pattern!

I used a mix of Tilda fabrics in shades of blue, grey and brown, which came from a variety of Tilda collections.  This is what I love about Tilda, the fact that you can mix and match and it just works!
I also pulled some Tilda fabrics for some EPP to take with me on holiday.  I originally planned on this being used for a new roman blind in my downstairs cloakroom, but as I stitch each little hexie (which are half inch in size) I'm thinking that it would be such a shame to have it hidden in the loo, so it may eventually become a new pillow or possibly cover the top of a pretty Lloyd Loom ottoman I have in my living room........ I've been asked on Facebook for a tutorial on how to use these papers, so I'll get one sorted very soon...pinky promise!


Gift making is an ongoing process throughout the year, it is a fact that my children have a better social life than me.  The other weekend, I rustled up this pretty tote bag for Poppy's friend Molly using the stunning Petite Fleur fabrics that arrived this summer.  It was constructed in the same way as I made my Country Girls Tote Bag (click here for the tutorial) The letters, which I drew freehand, were simply adhered using bondaweb, machine stitched in place and then I added some decorative running stitch around the edge.  You can find a tutorial for using bondaweb HERE  For the handle I used navy webbing and some lovely May Arts velvet ribbon.  I love the colours on this bag and I'm desperate to use these fabrics for a new tunic this winter!
My other holiday project was to continue working on my crochet granny square blanket.  The colour scheme is definitely inspired by my Cath Kidston crochet bag and as always I'm using Drops Muskat 100% cotton.  This is such a great pick and put down project and I'm so pleased that I learn't to crochet last summer.

Rather excitingly, I also had a feature in Issue 2 of Hoop-La magazine.  My brief was to use embroidery as part of a functional object.  As with all my tutorials I wanted to keep it simple so that anyone could give it a go, so I came up with a pretty felt phone pouch.  The stitches are french knots, blanket stitch (You can find tutorials for both of these HERE) and some easy straight stitches.  
I'm really happy with my summer of crafting and I'm now looking forward to starting some Autumnal projects...have you noticed there's a slight nip in the air in the evenings and the light is fading so early.  It seemed complete sense to me to therefore start on a brand new quilt.....
Andy asked where this one was going to go?......who knows, but you can never have too many quilts...right?? 
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6 September 2014

Happy Holidays




















14 days in Norfolk, 12 days on the beach..... can't be bad!  Sometimes we were wrapped up in winter coats and hats, other days we totally on our own.....we even had our very own flypast!  We saw a twister and plenty of seahorses gave Andy, Poppy and Jamie lots of fun on their belly boards.  I managed some crochet and sewing, but more of that another day.  We built sandcastles and although they tried their best, they were always lost to the waves, ready to be rebuilt the day after and day after that.... it really was a holiday of happy memories......see you next year Norfolk!
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