Pretty as a Picture

My new skills projects are finished - and it wasn't too painful either. In fact the most difficult part was choosing the fabric combinations. Very difficult when you have boxes and boxes of fabrics to choose from!

I managed two designs: a sailing boat and cupcake. After all everyone loves a cupcake don't they? And having opted for a cupcake design, I decided to go with vintage Laura Ashley as the main fabric.



I used some very delicate vintage 1940s (I think) cotton for the top of the cupcake and topped it with s vintage button.


With such a girly bias, I felt that I ought to make something for the boys. Which meant that a sailing boat was next up on the sewing machine.


Red are blue is such a traditional nautical colour scheme, but it always work so well. And of course there had to be a vintage button embellishment.

I have developed the bug for this machine embroidery malarkey and no can't wait to try some more designs. But in the meantime, I have pictures sitting in my studio and looking for new homes.

If they catch your eye and you could see one in your house, they are in my Folksy shop.

Birthday Gifts

Yesterday was my Mother's birthday and as we usually do, we all went over after school for supper and to give presents.

I don't know whether anyone else has parents like mine, but they are very difficult to buy for. They have everything they need, and if they needed anything they would go out and buy it for themselves. Which makes it not so good for buying gifts for them.

My Mother had admired my doorstop - which was made to stop the 1960s fully glazed doors from smashing into the wall everytime Arthur crashes through them. And I was lucky enough to buy a bundle off upholstery and curtain fabric a few weeks ago. A quick rifle through the bundle and I found the perfect fabric.


It is a very heavy weight chenille and I did wonder whether my sewing machine would be able to cope with four layers of it - but it did. Filled with several kilograms of sand - very heavy.


I was brave enough to go to the boot sale this weekend and whilst pickings were very slim, I did manage to find this pedestal (?) which I thought would be perfect for display. It is not finished yet, as I undercoated and then just about managed to scrape enough paint from the bottom of the Farrow & Ball tin to paint it. A little distressing is on the cards and then I think it will be finished.

The other present was made during my pottery and ceramics class - which I just love. It was made using a mould and terracotta clay. My mother loves her garden and I thought this would look charming propped up against a wall or peeping out from some flowers.



Thankfully she loved them all!

Something to Show for It

Do I have something to show for my time away from the computer - well, Yes I do! Bet you thought I had been slacking! Well, admittedly, there was a little of that. But there has been some sewing as well.

These lovelies are the first things to have been finished. They are made entirely from felted wool that has been recycled.


Each corsage has a vintage button in the centre as an embellishment. This means that although I may have made a few of each colourway, each brooch in unique. The only new item on it, is the brooch back. I just love these and they are more heavy weight than normal corsages which means they are perfect for coats and jackets.

I have ventured into new fields and tried something different with my next items. I have loved the idea of making jewellery and have been wanting to have a go for some time. I am really pleased with the earrings and they will be making their way into Christmas stockings and gifts.


There are three designs - I thought I would keep it simple!


This is my first attempt at jewellery and I would appreciate some feedback as to whether I've got it right.


Any suggestions would be appreciated.



And lastly, not a new item but I haven't made them for some time. Greetings cards : both birthday and Christmas.


Each card is made with a detachable badge - this can then be worn after the event. It would lok great pinned to a bag or coat.


Enough of my rambling - here's the last photo of the Christmas cards


Now that was a long post!

I just couldn't resist

Back again after a half term break. Thankfully the weather was good which meant that the boys were outside with their friends most of the time. There was a trip to Oakwood for Ethan and Halloween Trick or Treating for the boys. So a good time was had by all.

I did manage to squeeze in a trip or two to a charity shop and spotted the most delightful doll's crib. How could I leave it languishing there?

I couldn't so it came home with me. And later that night, it had received a new matttress and bedding.

I dug into my fabric stash and used an animal circus print. I have had this for some time and it was just waiting for the right project.

And running the risk of over eggging the pudding, I just had to add a felt blanket and ticking mattress.


I had such fun making over this project. My life is so rock and roll - NOT. I am now thinking of friends with girls who would rather a wicker crib rather than the usual plastic ones. So this little crib will be on the look out for a new owner.

Other than indulging in making dolly bedding, I have been doing some sewing with Christmas in mind. Not yet finished, but here's a sneak peek in the meantime.

Facing the Fear

I have been sewing for more years than I would like to remember. But there's one thing that I've always shied away from - zips.

Call it irrational, but the thought of them has terrfied me and I've never even attempted to put in a zip. After having a pile of zips in my workbasket for the past few years, I decided to take the plunge and make a dent in the pile.

After some head scratching I think I have cracked it!


The size of the zips dictated what could be made with them. So I went for small zippered change purses. This cheery print seemed an obvious choice.


To add some detail there are boxed corners.


And we all know that I can't leave alone, so I have added some embellishment in the form of grosgrain ribbon and a removeable badge.

And for all of you that haven't mustered enough courage to tackle zips, you can always take the easier option of getting yours from here.

Spare Parts Rip Off

I have a few sewing machines - until yesterday I had three. One Industrial machine and two Janome. One of my Janome machines was bought second hand and didn't come with a foot controller or a power lead. A new power lead was cheap enough to buy.

I have managed by swapping the foot controller to the machine that I was using at the time but a friend was coming to the house to do some sewing and I needed two machines. Off I trotted to the local repair shp, but there he didn't have the part. No problems, he would call Janome and find a price. Which he did. £54 plus carriage! For a foot controller!

How can companies justify that kind of price for something which is relatively simple. Faced with the choice of paying over £60 for one component, I opted to buy a second hand machine which cost just over half the price of the replacement part.

Meet machine number 4:


Admittedly not terribly pretty. But it does the job - straight stitch and zig zag stitch plus a few others.

And sitting on the machine is some vintage fabric that I just couldn't resist. Blossom barkcloth in a cheery yellow.


Not sure what it's destined for, but when has that ever stopped me bringing home more fabric?

And proof that I may have too much time on my hands


One titivated bulldog clip. It was just an excuse really to use my favourite word of the moment!

Serious Stuff

At the start of the new school year, I was roped in to help at the village youth club. I am now officially in charge of the tuck shop. What a chore! For someone who loves sweets, this is an ideal post (I am even talking in an official capacity!)

One of the downfalls of being a faffer is that I just can't leave anything alone. After manning tuck last week, I decided that the whole thing lacked something. Something I have made up for this week.

I felt I lacked a certain gravitas - after all, I am in charge of tuck. Let's not beat about the bush here. After having a chat with Keanan who informed me that I would embarrass him beyond belief if I wore a full apron, I went with the half apron (with Keanan's consent).


Also popped into the youth club bag, ready to go, is a table cloth for the tuck. After all, I can't stand there in all my finery, with my wares displayed on a old chipped formica table can I?

Back to School

Today was week one of adult education classes. Although I sew, dressmaking is not a skill I possess. Because I can sew, I have joined Dressmaking for Improvers.

The first part of the project was choosing the fabric. I picked up a vintage duvet cover over the summer holidays with the intent on using it to make some bags. But after having a good look at it, decided it would be better used to make a skirt with.


After today's class the pattern pieces have been cut out. Next on the agenda is the lining fabric. And I am hopeful that I will be able to take the skirt and lining into class next week, tacked and ready to sew.

The pattern?



I chose it as it is relatively simple: 6 panels and there is a zip. A zip has always been something that eludes me. So I can't wait until I finally get taught how to insert a zip.

Roll on week two!

Weighty Issues

After all that awful weather during the summer holidays, this week has been glorious. I've even managed to dry washing on the line!


So it's ironic that I have started thinking about Christmas presents. But needs must and all hat. I decided to go down the practical route and make two doorstops that I managed to squeeze out from a remnant of chenille fabric.


Although I have kept the doorstop a manageable size. it still took some filling. But that's one present down. After making one for someone else, the thought occurred to me that I should have made an extra one for myself. Arthur careering through our fully glazed door is a regular event in our house.

So it's back to the sewing machine for me!

Small but Perfectly Formed

Not talking about me here, but bunting. Although I do like the larger flags that are usually associated with bunting, I thought that smaller ones would be more suited to inside use. After all what little summer we have had, has been and gone.


So to try and prolong summer I have raided my quilting cotton stash and made up some bunting in smaller, more appropriate prints. And just in case you don't want to keep the bunting up all the time, a handy drawstring bag to store it in when it isn't being used. After all no one wants grubby bunting.


And because once I started I just couldn't stop, I have added an applique detail made using vintage fabric and a mother of pearl button.


As the bunting is slightly smaller than usual it's perfect to hang up inside the house - mine is hanging on my dresser permanently. The drawstring bag means it also makes a ready wrapped gift.


And just in case you may have missed the hint, it's on sale here!