• Liberty heart banner with kantha stitch
    Crafts for adults

    Liberty heart banner with kantha stitch

    May 22, 2021 - By 

    My favourite craft is anything which combines using beautiful Liberty fabrics and English Paper Piecing. Earlier this year I made a sweet EPP Liberty heart and framed it in an embroidery hoop. I wanted to make something similar in different colours so I could try decorating it with kantha stitch. What is kantha? Kantha is an ancient form of hand-stitched embroidery which originated in India. The word kantha means “rags” in Sanskrit, reflecting a tradition of using discarded clothing or garments to recycle into something new, such as bed coverings or clothes. Kantha can also refer to stitching fabrics together…

  • Mollie Makes Starburst Sampler patchwork
    crafts - Mollie Makes crafts - Patchwork & Quilting - sewing

    Jenny Makes Mollie Makes Patchwork Project Book

    May 24, 2016 - By 

    I am so late with this post but I have only just finished it! Regular readers will know that every month I challenge myself to make the Mollie Makes magazine cover gift. I’ve subscribed since it first came out and have a drawer full of unopened kits – but no more! I’ve been making more time for grown up crafting and I love to make the kits and hopefully try something new. Issue 65 of Mollie Makes included 30 floral fabric pieces and a Mollie Makes Patchwork Project Book containing 5 projects to make with the fabric. The projects were…

  • sewing - swaps

    Motivational felt banner

    July 21, 2015 - By 

    I hope you’re not bored of reading about my little banners yet? I can’t help making them as they are just so satisfying and fun! Every couple of weeks I like to sign up for a craft swap to ensure I’m making things and being creative. The latest swap I took part in was the Handmade Gift Exchange from Craftaholics Anonymous. I’ve taken part a few times and made and received some lovely handmade gifts. I exchanged a few emails with my partner and we decided to make each other banners. I knew I wanted to make a motivational felt…

  • Union Jack flag quilt
    handmade - Handmade gifts - Patchwork & Quilting - quilt - sewing

    Union Jack flag quilt

    July 12, 2015 - By 

    My goal for the first half of this year was to complete the Union flag quilt. A couple of days late but I’m pleased to say this weekend I went to Quilt Camp, otherwise known as my mum’s house, and finished it. I fell in love with the pattern as soon as I saw it in Hexa-Go-Go: English Paper Piecing 16 Quilt Projects by Tacha Bruecher. Union Jack flag quilt I really enjoyed collecting the red, white and blue fabrics for it and picked it up every couple of weeks. My progress was slow but last month I finished piecing…

  • blogging - book review - handmade - sewing

    Monthly makes – June

    June 26, 2015 - By 

    June was a great month for me and it feels like I’ve barely put my sewing needles down. My daughter gained a Cath Kidston-inspired ric rac skirt which looks great with the iron on Cath Kidston letter I added to her tshirt. A brand new updated outfit for pennies! I tried something new with an EPP feather, a bang on trend craft kit which came with the latest issue of love patchwork and quilting. The issue also has a pattern for an adorable liquorice allsort quilt which I have put aside for a rainy day. I completed the patchwork part…

  • book review - Craft book review - handmade - Patchwork & Quilting - sewing - What I'm reading

    All Points Patchwork book review

    June 10, 2015 - By 

    I love to make quilts but always stick to the same, safe designs. Recently I’ve begun to experiment and tried my hand at jewel, octagon, triangle and diamonds EPP – baby steps! I was interested to hear about All Points Patchwork: English Paper Piecing beyond the Hexagon, for Quilts & Small Projects by Diane Gilleland, published by Storey Publishing. image credit I received a copy to review and read it in one evening. It’s a lovely book and I learned so much from it. I’ve taught myself which is why I’m always happiest following other people’s tutorials and patterns. All…

  • homestyle - interiors - sewing

    Monday happy things

    June 1, 2015 - By 

    Time to write my favourite post of the week again. This weeks’ Monday happies is easy as we’ve just had a wonderful half term. I love family time and a break from the normal routine was just what everyone needed. We had fun den building in the sunshine at home. I had time to try out new EPP techniques thanks to a sweet craft kit that came with Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine. I’ve been planning my own stencils for a spot of home decorating. I recently painted a scrubbed pine chest of drawers with some Annie Sloan paint but…

  • quilt - sewing

    Monthly makes – May

    May 28, 2015 - By 

    May has gone by unbelievably quickly for me. I think I say that every month but this month has flown by. I’ve been really busy this month and barely made anything. Even my 5 year old noticed I hadn’t been sewing and suggested I stay at home to do some sewing whilst everyone else went out for a few hours! I really want to spend more time being creative and my heart just doesn’t seem to be in blogging at the moment. Perhaps after blogging for 10 years that’s not surprising so I’m hoping for some amazing inspiration when I…

  • competition - sewing

    Win a £25 voucher to spend at elephant in my handbag

    May 13, 2015 - By 

    As you know when I’m not blogging, or crafting with my children, I’m sewing. I always have a few projects on the go and my current project is the Union Flag quilt I’m making for my daughter. I’ve been trying to add some handmade touches to her room so I’m also making a patchwork cover for her vintage Lloyd Loom nursing chair. It was added to her room when we moved 2 years ago but I wanted to match the cover to her pink colour scheme. I found some gorgeous fabrics from elephant in my handbag, an online shop which…