Spring is in the air

I've been getting in the mood for Spring & Easter ....... No, no, I haven't been eating chocolate. Well apart from all the chocolate I ate over Christmas and through January and February, hence the extra pounds sitting on my posteria!! Instead, I've been inspired to make this little birdhouse display thingummy! I saw this one on the 'Calico Crafts' blog and was so struck with it, I just had to make one - mine's similar, but not an exact copy, I've added my own touches and am pretty pleased with the result

 



 

Do you like the little picket fence I added to mine with a tiny padlock charm hanging on it?

 

I added paper flowers, a small terracotta pot, a vintage style label and a clock charm - and just to finish off, I glued a bit of paper bunting on too

oh yes, and a rusty heart on the roof!

 

So, what do you think? Time to go and find the rest of my Spring/Easter bits & bobs I think!

Woolly treasures

Well, I've had all sorts of problems with Blogger lately and have finally managed to upload my photos - goodness knows what's been wrong, but it appears to be alright again ....... for now anyway!

 

February was Wendy's birthday month - most of us (apart from the Queen) only get the one day don't we, but Wendy celebrates all month! Who can blame her! Anyway, I thought I'd show you a couple of things I made for her, which have a February Valentine theme. Wendy LOVES wool so what else could I make, but a woolly sheep

 

I loved the little antique brass label I hung around his neck - it's actually a jewellery setting, but I thought added a great touch

I was quite taken with woolly sheep number 1. and ended up making one for myself ...... seeing double!!!!

 

I also made a little cross-stich heart, which I attempted to grunge up, although I wasn't sure whether I'd gone over the top in the end - Wendy very kindly told me she liked it though. That's what friends are for aren't they LOL

So, there it is - better late than never!! I'm trying to work on a new rag doll at the moment ....... and it's very 'trying' I can tell you - perseverance Julia!!

Cathy's Giveaway

Pop on over to Cathy's new 'Patchy' blog for a chance to win one of her lovely patchwork gifts ..... gotta be in it to win it!!

Gustav

Well, I finally have a couple of things to show and I’d better show the more interesting one first!!


BUT, before I get going, I have had the most annoying problems trying to upload the photographs to this post (the first time ever I've encountered problems!) - I tried yesterday and again today and in the end I've only managed to do it by 'copy & pasting', which I know isn't the proper way of doing it, but I have at least managed to get the photographs on to the post! The quality of them though has suffered - has anyone else been experiencing similar problems???

SO, introducing ‘Gustav’, my little woolly bear:

 

Apologies for the colour – the photographs were taken in the evening under electric light, so the colours are bit brighter than true – he’s a bit darker in reality. Gustav is from a pattern designed by Megan Wallace - you can find her on Etsy here. He should be made in real mohair teddy bear fur really, but I don’t have any of that, as I’ve never gotten into proper teddy bear making .......... although I have been thinking about it!! instead I’ve used some lovely mulberry colour 100% wool. I’ve used bits of gorgeous variegated velvet for the innards of his ears and for his hand and foot pads ...... I’ve also tried to grubby him up a bit to make him look a bit older – sorry if it’s not showing, but he looks quite cute in real life – Honest!! He’s even got his own metal name tag around his neck tied on to a piece of lovely yellow chiffon ribbon.

 

Anyway, I hope Gustav was of some interest to you, as sewing project number two is I’m afraid rather boring – on the face of it anyway! To me however, it is REALLY exciting, because it’s the beginnings of me having a dedicated sewing/craft room – YES!!!! Up to now, I’ve always used my dining room, which has been OK, except that whenever I’m entertaining, I have to do a mass clear-up ........ who out there doesn’t know what I’m talking about eh!! And as I seem to be entertaining more often these days, it’s becoming a bit of a nuisance. I live a smallish two-bedroom house and have always been reluctant to give up the spare bedroom over to a craft room, BUT, on the grounds that I sew far more than I have overnight guests, AND because I recently came up with an ideal solution, I’ve decided to go ahead with the conversion.

And the solution??? Well, it’s simply a fold-up guest bed, which folds up into a pouffe the rest of the time - it will live in the corner of my craft room and when I fancy a little sewing break, I can relax on the pouffe and watch TV, which will also be in the room. So ........ after a boringly long story, this is my second make

I bought 3 pieces of very firm foam and plain brown fabric from the market and covered them. I am pleased with it, as I managed to make nice tight covers and the firm foam makes for a very comfortable bed and seat. Eventually, I shall make an appliquéd, quilted cover to go over it to make it look more interesting.

This is the bedroom as it is now.


I need to get rid of the bed (and I think I’ve found a new home for it, which is better than sending it to the tip)! And THEN, bring in a work table and shelving etc. – can’t tell you how excited I’ve been recently anticipating this transformation – I’m very easily pleased you know!!!! so you must forgive me LOL

I hope very soon to be able to show another photo of my new craft room!

Happy New Year!

Before it's too late - 5th January isn't too late is it???

Unfortunately, I don't have anything new to show at the moment - I'm in the middle of something, but that will have to wait until another day, so .....

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all my bloggie friends

Sleigh Bells

Another cross-stitch finish and just in time for the festive season! This is from Country Rustic Primitives - Jenny has loads of lovely primitive patterns available on Etsy, really worth a look if you've not come across her before

I've made mine up a bit differently by adding red homespun fabric top and bottom and a run of tiny rusty bells across the bottom

Mind you I have to admit to swearing at it more than once while I was stitching it!! The pattern suggests stitching on Osnaburg and as I had some I thought I may as well use it ....... what I didn't know was that stitching on Osnaburg is like using 32-count linen - bear in mind, the smallest I use is 28-count, so I found it pretty tough on the old eyes and practically impossible under electric light. Still, I got there in the end, added a bit of coffee staining, and voila .......... and I love it!

I bought this pattern too at the same time, but didn't get around to making it .......

maybe in time for next Christmas!!!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Pineberry Lane Pinkeep No. 2

Well, it took me longer than anticipated – I knew it would- but here’s Wool Pinkeep No. 2 from Pineberry Lane and it was a darn sight easier to stitch than the first one on the dark linen!

here’s Pinkeep No. 1 and Pinkeep No. 2 together

 

And speaking of woolly things, look at what I bought from Ebay recently from Old Scotties – beautiful dyed wool, so lovely and soft – it’s gorgeous. The colours in the picture are fairly true to life. Of course, I have no idea what I’m going to use it for. It’ll just be added to the stash for now (as you do!!). Seeing how lovely it is, I'm inclined now to bid on some other colours ....... well it is practically Christmas isn’t it and I ought to buy myself a treat (or three) – nobody else is going to buy it for me anyway. Sounds as though I’ve just justified it to myself doesn’t it LOL

Oh well, back to Christmas present wrapping I suppose ...... it seems never ending!!

Pumpkin Pie

Isn’t it fabulous when you get home from a hard day at work to find an unexpected package waiting for you!!  That’s what was waiting for me today:0) ....... a surprise pressie from my sweet friend Wendy – a bit of woolly love in the form of a Pumpkin Pie Pincushion.

 

Isn’t it lovely? Thank you very much my friend – I love it. Wendy, as we know, is the King (sorry, Queen) of pumpkin making, but such a clever idea to put one in a tin to make it into a Pumpkin Pie. Wendy was being thoughtful in more ways than one too, because she did tease me a bit at the beginning of her letter by telling me she had thought about sending me some Pumpkin Pie (yummy, yes please!), but then decided it would be a bit messy in the post and unkind to my hips too; anyway I prefer the woolly version Wendy, so much better for me (although I’m sure the foodie Pumpkin Pie is scrummy). I love the rusty pin and bell on the top too - a great prim touch.

....... now I’m off to find some pins for my new pin cushion!

I Love Dolls

Isn’t she just Soooo ME? ‘I Love Dolls’ – one of those little Blossom Bucket resin ‘dust collectors’!!
I ‘won’ it recently on ebay (now there’s a Wendyism if ever I heard one LOL) .... sorry Wendy! How could I leave her there floating around the internet – I couldn’t could I? She had a long trip mind – All the way from America – she’s worth it though and now I have to find a special place for her, so she can watch over me while I make rag dolls ...... yeh, sad, I know!!!!

Another little ebay ‘win’ a couple of weeks ago was some Primitive Gatherings fabric.
I’d been with a friend to just a small quilt exhibition held in a local church, which was lovely and very inspiring, but of course there were also a few traders – only 4 stalls in the church hall, but I still managed to spend a few pennies. When I spotted the Primitive Gatherings ‘Seasonal Little Gatherings’ charm pack, I made a ‘beeline’ for it – there was only one, so I wasn’t going to let anyone else get their hands on it and bought it on the spot! Then of course when I got it home, I decided I really needed a bit more of the fabric to make the charm pack useful, so hence the two half metres ‘ebay’ wins ....... isn’t it scrummy? Can’t quite decide what to do with it now of course!! I’m thinking of perhaps a small stitchery for the middle, then make it up with the squares with a border – oh choices, choices ...... what I actually need is the time to do anything at all with it though ........

April Showers!

Now I’ve probably only had this Blackbird Design ‘April Showers’ pattern for these stockings about 3 years! and I finally got around to stitching them recently when I went to Spain (in September) on holiday. I know it’s the wrong time of year for April showers, but, hey ho!! I decided some stitching was a ‘must’ for my holiday and managed to complete two and a half of the stockings while I was there – I amazed myself, but it does just go to show how little time you get for sewing in the normal course of crazy, mad work days, housework, shopping etc. Having done two and a half in one week, it then took me a further 3 - 4 weeks to finish the other ‘half’ after I came home ...... and then another 2 weeks or so to finish them with the fabric backing and the beads. I’m very pleased with them though

 

This is them individually, and if you look closely you can see that I’ve added a little charm to each one. A heart charm on this one - my favourite with the blue umbrella

I love the little ladybird on this one

and I think the charm on this one is meant to be a little buzzy bee or something .... not too sure really, but cute all the same (can a bee be cute! hmmm – maybe not)

so that's my latest finish; and now back to wooly pinkeep number 2 (see previous post for wooly pinkeep number 1) – I’ve made a start on it, but haven’t got very far and I don’t think I’ll be doing much of it this weekend either, as I’ve decided I MUST MUST dedicate the weekend to finishing off decorating the bathroom, which I’ve only been doing for about 3 months!!! I am not in the least bit inspired to do it – but it HAS to be done, so .......... !!

Pineberry Lane Pinkeep No. 1

Just a quick post to show off the first of the two Pineberry Lane pinkeeps I'm stitching

it's the first time I've stitched on this dark linen ......... and I have to say, probably the last, as it was incredibly difficult to work on, even in natural daylight - anyone else experienced any problems working light thread on dark linen - the darker thread was easier though. It'll be much easier to stitch on the lighter linen and thankfully that's what the second (larger one) is done on ...... phew!!

Not sure what's with the lippy on the larger of the two black sheep, but that's what the pattern asked for - two red stitches for the mouth!! LOL

I was pleased at the weekend to find a dark grey trim to finish it off, because it looks very similar to the one in the pattern - a pig to sew in though!!

Now to start on pinkeep number 2!!

Copy Cat!

...... that's me!! But as I said to Christine at Preferably Prim, copying (they say) is the greatest form of flattery - that was when I saw her lovely woolly pinkeeps from Pineberry Lane and decided I just had to have them. I asked Christine whether she minded me copying and she very kindly said it was fine; so within minutes, I'd ordered the pattern from Pineberry Lane and downloaded it

 



I've even made a bit of a start on the smaller one - fortunately, although I don't have the exact linen, I have something very close in colour so, waste not, want not!!and here's my 'bit of a start'

cross-stitch is so difficult though under electric light, so I couldn't do any more this evening:0(

Anyway, that's only my first confession of copying!!! because recently, my lovely friend Wendy showed us a beautiful orange velvet pumpkin she'd made, which immediately reminded me that I too have some burnt orange colour velvet - so again, I spoke nicely to Wendy and asked whether she would mind me copying, and again being lovely, she said she didn't mind - she knows anyway I'll never be the pumpkin queen she is - very prolific she is! Soooooo; here's my lovely, touchy, feely orange velvet pumpkin ......... honestly, you just want to keep on stroking it, it feels so luscious and just look at the lustre!

I must admit, it's turned out nice - I used some green wool for the leaves, a cinnamon stick for the stalk and then added a few orange berries for a finishing touch

.... and it now has pride of place amongst Wendy's pumpkins (the ones she made for me a few years ago) and my other autumn bits & bobs

 

Is it worthy Wendy?!!