A promise

This week I will make on at least 3 days.

I will be out in the garden in the mornings, 6 - 7.30 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (bit of kickboxing on the back to finish off) and gym on Tuesday and Thursday morning.

When I get back from work I will get crafty. Here's my first two days:

Monday: clean the sewing machine and move more stash to its new home. Then select a couple of makes and materials - possibly a needle book from nanaCompany I know they aren't difficult, I made a few as a kid. But I want to start doing something useful that would get me into using the machine a bit and maybe hand sewing again, these include both. I could even use the new machine foot and do some free motion embroidery! God knows I lose enough pins!

Tuesday: Select material and start first make - report back and don't forget the piccies!

Secret Easter Bunny swap

Well... I have had a couple of weeks.

I have lost internet for a week and been drive slightly batty by the presence of a square brown package sent to me by a Secret Easter Bunny from UKCraftsforum swap.

Now I can reveal what I got... and what I sent.

First what I received. A little bit of detective work tells me that Bodrighy made it, thanks Pete, they are lovely.

I know my chickens did not lay that yew egg. It's beautiful and I read the instructions carefully and have stroked and polished it, it works, I feel less stressed!

As for the mini vase (walnut) - it is lovely. I am going to make a little posy for it. I will make on later in the year form dried flowers I think. Meanwhile mini buttons might look OK.

As for what I made, well, what a trial! I had grandiose ideas and got the sewing machine all warmed up. But sadly nothing turned out as I wanted it. I now have some unfinished slightly clunky looking storage thingies sitting around... waiting.

So I sat down in something of a panic and thought... what on earth could I do? I twiddled and fussed and, to be honest, slightly panicked. Had I let myself get into a situation where I would have to let someone down? I hate that, really hate it!

I was sorting out my fabric stash into colourways and then moved onto the button tin when inspiration struck!

A little dab of glue and earrings arrived. A bit more and I had a brooch.

But it wasn't good enough. I needed more. I was twiddling and sorting and pondering when more buttons sort of fell into place. Some stringing elastic and all as done. I was a happy bunny!

But then doubt crept in. Was that really enough to send to a real, professional crafter? Noooooooooooooooo. Far too easy, small and insignificant. So I sat and continued to sort out the stashy overflow. 

Then I found something that made me think... plastic stuff, I think it is used for cross stitching. Why I have it I have no idea, I don't like doing cross stitch!! But it made me think..... what could I do with it?

 A happy thinking hour later I got to my bits box and contemplated the wire samples I got from Wires, could I string some buttons into a something? But a what? Ah ha! A pendant. Wire plus cross stich plastic stuff plus buttons and there you go! I was somewhat pleased with myself. Here is the collection complete, I hope my SEB receiver likes them!

 Oh, before I forget. Part of the SEB brief was to wrap the gift carefully or, if you can't, get someone to do it for you. Well I fall into the can't wrap to save my life category. So I had another problem. Then I remembered a giveway I had won. Kat from With U in Mind had sent the gift in two lovely little pockets, so I brazenly used one to package the buttony bits in. The colours were a perfect match, it felt like cheating, big time, but needs must and all!

Thank you Kat, I am very, very grateful, and not a little embarrassed!

I didn't stop there though. I had some green buttons I quite liked. But I couldn't find a lot of matching so I started again with some blue buttons. I have worn the set for about a week now and people comment on the pendant a lot, so I think I have found a 'thing' I could do more of.

All in all I really enjoyed the SEB swap. Thanks to Beads by Design for organising it. I loved the whole scary experience!

Blog Hopping

Well. I am just sat here blog hopping. I am making a secret thing for a swap and am wandering around looking for some inspiration for finishing details. It's fun, time wasting and just perfect for a miserable dark grey day!

Well, I got sidetracked as you do and found myself looking at other peoples favourite blogs. I hadn't realised there were so many card crafters out there! Being a fabric freak I did find some nice things and some great new blogs to follow:

Modest Maven has some lovely tutes, I've added her to my blog list cos I don't want to miss anything.






Ros is just amazing, I love the material. Sadly my mum doesn't have a garden - but I do!

Bugsandfishes is sharing things her customers have made and I have to admit that whilst some of it is too pretty for me I love the simplicity of a lot of it. She has a nice line in felty tutes too!

Obviously that reminded me of Annie and Lyn at rosiepink - it seems they are being too creative to be spring cleaning! Well, I am blog hopping to the same ends


That was also a natural hint to go and look at what Helen has been up to... though I suspect I will really regret this...... yes! I am so going to have to make some bags at half term!


I usually search for textiles at some point... and that is when I got lost and forgot to keep track of where I had been! So I am off out for a while. I need to buy some cleaning stuff - I WILL spring clean this week!

I can't do anything

I am so buried under marking coursework! I have so many things to do, like taking piccies of my lovely new jewellery Jules sent me. I will do it Jules, promise.

I have so many crafty ideas going through my head. I have an ideas journal but it isn't doing anything for me. I despair! Or I did until I found Mythillogical's blog, I will now simply back engineer whatever I make. Hopefully drawing and deconstructing stuff will help me get my mind's eye in!

But I think it will be April before I get to start anything again! Aaaaaaaaaaaargh. I almost wish I hadn't started this! I am so conflicted. Work : craft : work : craft  eeeeeeeeeeeeek!

Mind you, the evenings are getting longer.... mabe there is hope!

Oh!

Liebster Blog Award

I was a tad stunned to receive poke from Kat from With U in Mind.   She had decided to include me in her list of 5 small bloggers that inspire. Given that I am such a procrastinating blogger I was delighted that something I type and make makes someone smile! Thanks Kat xx

So there are some rules that go with this award. However they are nice rules. Not the kind that gives you urge to press the big red button saying 'please do not press'.

The rules for this award are:
1. You must link back to the person who gave it to you - yep, did that
2. Put the award on your blog - uh huh. Logo and link included
3. Pass it on to 5 other blogs who inspire you and have less than 200 followers  - ah!
4. Leave a comment on their blogs to let them know - OK

5 blogs.... I don't really blog hop that much (she lies).

So here we go:

Dragonfly-Jersey you only have to look at my logo to know why. Sarah is so generous (and talented)

Handbags by Helen cos she makes great bags and laughs at my unsuccesful attempts not to leap in!

Amigurami Barmy well, you see bags and buttons.... they just fit. I don't know how Liz survives surounded by so many buttons and other crafty bitses...... I wouldn't be able to breathe!  I have updated this link, thanks Liz!!

Kayleigh's Homemade Life cos she has some great ideas and has been a bit quiet recently. Having nicked a couple of ideas I hope this says thanks!


The English Country Garden Steve's nan's recipes are great, I've made some, yum yum (and his wood stuff is brilliant too)

I'm now off to let them know... and set them the gnarly problem of picking 5 of their own!

Piglet Heaven

I hit a road of charity shops yesterday and sort of went a bit mad!

I left my name in 3, they are looking out semi rag woollies for me.

I spent about £30 (oops) and bought:

• 5 woolly jumpers
• 1 double duvet set
• 1 set of curtains and tie backs
• 8 place mats
• 3 mini skirts
• 2 woolly tweedy skirts, long, wrap overs
• 6 bangles (handles to be)
• 6 woolly mens scarves

So in order that's:

• 5 more hat, scarflet and wrist warmer sets
• loads of outers and linings for the bags I am not planning, the pillowcases are not pretty enough for summer dresses
• Hats, scarf rings
• Lots more storage cubes
• 3 skirt bags
• any number of lovely woolly things - to be decided (any help gratefully received)
• handles
• about 12 clutch bags or a few laptop bags

That reminds me I still need interfacing and fleece!

All cut off bits will be made into a variety of accessories. I saw some lovely hair clips this morning, teeny tiny and £8 each !!!!!!

So hair clips, pendants, cuffs, brooches, key charms, bag charms, page markers, glasses cases, pen cases, iphone/pad cases, pencil/needle wrap thingies and anything else I can think of.... unless you have any ideas of what to do with offcuts.

I hate to waste anything and am more than happy to sew the little bits together to make more material. I might even try out my arty side and make pretty things, pictures with free embroidery or even some weaving....

I'm off to load the washing machine with woollies and golf balls!

When it's all clean I shall take photies and start cutting!

Storage first

I know I need practice with the machine and I need some proper storage. SO I had to think about some straight line sewing.... cubes!

Ingredients
Old place mats
Sewing machine - I even tried a new stitch: over edge!

I seem to have quite a few of these and we don't use them any more. I have more, they need a wash and a good ironing before I can use them.

I simply drew a cross of 4inch squares.
Cut it out. Sewed over the two cut edges that would be the tops and then sewed up each side.

Then I filled them up! I have lots more stuff to house so I will be making a few more of these.

But I also want to have a look at denim versions and that door hanger of pockets! So I am having another root through my stash of materials before I go to work for an hour or so!