This has been a great month for some grown up crafting. I’ve cut back on my blogging which means lots more time for making the things that make me happy rather than hours spent staring at my laptop. I completed Wild Olive’s Winter Stitching Club pattern which made a really lovely table mat or wall hanging. I loved stitching each hexagon and making them into puffy hexies. I think my favourites are the embroidered Christmas jumper and quilt. Wild Olive’s Winter Stitching Club I’ve completed some smaller projects too, such as a cute little gingerbread man I bought from Asking…
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This has been quite a quiet week for us. We’ve stayed close to home, just trying to get through the days until half term. My 4 year old had a brilliant school report. I know I’m totally biased but it was great to hear how well he’s settled into Reception. I was able to look through his workbooks where he had written about why he was special (because he can ride a bike) and what he wants to be when he’s older (an artist). I baked some delicious lemon meringue cupcakes after finally getting my hands on a packet…
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Happy Monday everyone. I’m having trouble adjusting to the weather at the moment. The winter boots and coats are out and the heating is on! I feel the need for a shopping trip to pick up some more winter woolies. Luckily I have lots to make me smile: I had a fantastic day at The Knitting and Stitching Show on Saturday. My husband kindly looked after the children all day and sent me cute pics of them all enjoying themselves. This meant I was able to enjoy myself, attending workshops, learning about progging and buying lots and lots of lovely…
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September was a pretty busy month for making things. Aside from crafting with the children, which happens pretty much every day, there was also some baking with carrot cakes and a lovely Victoria sponge. There was the finishing off of WIPs and making a start on handmade gifts for Christmas so I thought I would write about my Monthly Makes. The month started with the London-themed ATC I made for a swap. I embroidered a London bus (from a pattern in Annela Hoey’s Little Stitches). I received a lovely ATC from my partner, she created a sandcastle and used a…
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So it’s only the second time I have written my Monday happy post but already it’s making me happy just thinking about what to write about. I’ve decided to pick 5 things which have made me happy over the last week but I could easily have written more: On Saturday we booked ourselves on a tour of the beautiful Red House, the only house commissioned, created and lived in by William Morris, founder of the Arts & Crafts movement. He only lived in it for 5 years but it still retains some pieces of furniture, wall paintings and decorations that…
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I feel bad writing about Christmas but it’s my blog so I think I’m allowed. Christmas is fun, especially when you have two little children. They’ve been writing their Christmas lists for weeks which means we’ve all been thinking about it perhaps earlier than normal. I love crafting handmade gifts. Every year I say it but I never start early enough but this year I am going to have. As my family read my blog I can’t say too much but I’ve planned a few super cute projects from some of my favourite craft books. First of all I really…
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One of my favourite craft books is pretty in patchwork doll quilts. I’ve already made one of the quilts from it (the I Spy quilt) but I’ve also had my eye on the really pretty ticker tape doll quilt by Cathy Gaubert for my daughter. So over a year ago, yep you read that correctly, I bought a colourful rainbow of fabric from an Etsy store and it wasn’t until a few months ago that I got it out again. It felt strange finally cutting into each piece but now I have at least I’ll be able to use the…
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There are some great craft books coming out at the moment. I’ve found a few extra pennies to purchase a few and have ear-marked a few projects to make as gifts for people this year. One book I received to review was Sewlicious – 35 ways to a handmade world. The author, Kate Haxell, creates 35 stitched and highly original projects. This is a lovely craft book, beautifully photographed with clear instructions. The patterns are a little different from other craft books which is really refreshing. In the introduction Kate Haxell explains that “Sewlicious” is delicious sewing. “That just because…
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So I’m blogging about doll quilts a lot at the moment. I love making them and trying out different techniques. One of my favourites was the Grandmother’s Garden doll quilt. I really enjoyed working on it although the shape gave me a few headaches over how to finish it. However, finishing off the Summer Stitching quilt gave me a few ideas which helped. Grandmother’s Garden Doll Quilt Firstly, I added a couple of green hexagons to the short sides of the quilt to make it into a rectangle. I spent a weekend unpicking all the basting stitches and removing the…