• english paper pieced diamonds
    days out - family - homestyle - mindfulness - National Trust - sewing

    Monday happy list – week 83

    April 25, 2016 - By 

    I’m not sure why but I haven’t felt in the mood for sewing recently. I have lots of things to make, such as my Shipping Forecast quilt and a fun Nana Company swap deadline looming. The only thing I have been stitching are pretty yellow English Paper Pieced diamonds from the last issue of Mollie Makes. Normally I love to make the cover gifts so something is definitely wrong with me if I’m still making it (the new issue landed on my doorstep today!). The yellow EPP diamonds will eventually make a Starburst Sampler which I’m going to hang on my…

  • collecting sea glass in teignmouth
    Cath Kidston - holidays - sewing

    Monday Happy List – week 80

    April 4, 2016 - By 

    We’ve just got back from a wonderful holiday in Devon. It was a typical week by the sea and there was mini golf, ice creams, swimming in grandad’s pool, walks along the beach, a trip on the steam train and spending spare pennies on the pier. I could get used to spending so much time outdoors and I think it’s safe to say we tired the kids out every day. Thanks Matalan for supplying some of the toys and games we took along with us. Whilst we were in Devon we spent a day in Exeter to escape the rain.…

  • Spring time mini quilt
    crafts - Easter - Patchwork & Quilting - sewing

    Simple Spring time wall hanging

    March 22, 2016 - By 

    This year I want to make a little mini quilt for my quilt gallery wall each month of the year. So when I was invited to take part in the Brother Crafts Challenge I just had to say yes. I have some really pretty fabrics in my stash and decided to use this sweet Spring time print from Belle and Boo. It’s a Cotton Poplin which I’ve used in a couple of projects around the house. Featuring Boo and the butterfly tumbling across this traditional patchwork-style fabric, I knew it would be perfect for a Spring time mini quilt. Simple Spring…

  • sewing

    Habdash Subscription Box

    March 20, 2016 - By 

    Now regular readers will know I love subscription boxes. There’s nothing better than a little box dropping on to your doormat that contains something nice. A while ago I came across Pocket and Pin on Instagram who sell modern vintage haberdashery. Their Habdash Sub Box caught my eye so when I saw they had produced one with a Coastal theme I snapped one up. It arrived yesterday in a little white cardboard box. Carefully wrapped in tissue paper was a lovely bundle of craft supplies. There was a selection of ribbons – one with seagulls, a white polka dot on…

  • Stitching an Easter bunny
    Easter - sewing

    Stitching an Easter bunny

    March 17, 2016 - By 

    I saw the cutest little Easter bunny on the cover of a recent issue of Mollie Makes and knew I would have to stitch my own. It needed some things I didn’t have in my crafting supplies so I ordered a doll needle, extra strong thread and the woven wool fabric. Stitching an Easter bunny I cut out the templates, using some left over cotton fabric from the Mr Fox and pals kit which was the latest cover gift, then cut out my fabric. Then I just kept looking at all the pieces and didn’t know where to start. I…

  • mindfulness - sewing

    Monday happy list – week 77

    March 14, 2016 - By 

    Happy Monday everyone, hope you had a great weekend. Time for my weekly post about all the things which have made me really happy over the last 7 days. Sometimes I struggle to find 5 things, other days I have more than 5 and have a hard job picking my favourite 5. The idea is to remind myself of all the good things which happen and be more mindful. I got my Shipping Forecast quilt out, albeit briefly. Life is just crazy at the moment and I need to spend more time doing the things I enjoy. So far I…

  • book review - London - sewing - What I'm reading

    What I’m reading: London Stitch & Knit

    March 10, 2016 - By 

    My bedside table is piled high with books at the moment. I seem to behind sharing them here but today I wanted to tell you about London Stitch & Knit: a craft lover’s guide to London’s Fabric, Knitting and Haberdashery Shops by Leigh Metcalf. The author blogs at Found, now home which I’ve enjoyed for a while so I was excited when she mentioned she was working on her first book about haberdashery shops in London. As a Londoner who loved to stitch I knew I was going to want a copy of London Stitch & Knit on my shelves.…

  • homestyle - interiors - Orla Kiely - sewing

    Finding homestyle inspiration

    March 6, 2016 - By 

    I spent an enjoyable weekend planning some home improvement. We were in the West End on Saturday and popped into my favourite shop, the Orla Kiely shop in Seven Dials. Have you seen her new range of homewares? There are lovely things but what I really love are the room displays which give you an idea of what her furniture, or a rug, cushion or wallpaper might look like in situ. I took some cheeky photos as we’re planning our lounge makeover this year. We have a long lounge and dining room where the wall has been knocked down by…

  • Issue 64 of Mollie Makes magazine
    crafts - Mollie Makes crafts - sewing

    Jenny Makes Mollie Makes Mr Fox & pals decorations

    March 6, 2016 - By 

    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 crafting and I love to make the kits and hopefully try something new with each of the cover gifts. Jenny Makes Mollie Makes Mr Fox & pals decorations I love getting mail and was pretty excited to see the pretty cover of the latest issue of Mollie Makes (issue 64). With the yellow and decorated eggs I immediately felt happy and couldn’t…