Guest Star

This time I'm featuring a guest star - my good friend Ellen who has taken up crafting in a BIG way while she's been on maternity leave.  Here's her first sewing creation:

I love the Wizard of Oz fabric.

For some brilliantly simple ideas and projects I can fully recommend the brilliant 'Yeah I Made it Myself' which is currently on loan to Ellen:


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yeah-Made-Myself-Fashion-Domestic/dp/0297851179

Adventures in applique

I've experimented with applique in the past - making a variety of cushions and motifs...

I recently attended an excellent Ministry of Craft workshop 'Free Embroidery and Applique'

http://www.ministryofcraft.co.uk/

which opened up even more possibilities.  We learned how to lower the feed dog on the sewing machine and use a darning foot to gain complete freedom to move the needle in any direction.

This owl was made at the workshop.  He looks like he works in a bank!

Next step:  buying my own darning foot and experimenting even more.

Sylvanian

My love of all things  woodland continues lately.  Seeing Toy Story 3 made me want to go and find some old friends in my Mum's attic, and the Bank Holiday weekend gave me the time to do so.  Amongst other treasures (some of which are currently being washed) I found my Sylvanian Family collection.

Mouse Children

Owl Family

My mind is now turning to how I can utilise them and make something...so far I've got plans to get them in to the garden for a photo shoot and possibly make some bottle top brooches from the results.  Continuing the small animal theme I continued this weekend with my newest hobby - crochet, and had a crack at my first amiguruni, a tiny mouse. 

I would normally give this mouse a name, but since she is gift for my (as yet unborn) niece or nephew then I will leave that to them.

Twit Twoo

My craft endeavours have been owl themed of late, I made an owl cushion (Oliver) as a gift and have been making lots of these tiny owls.  They're very quick to make which suits my impatient nature, and I've now got owls brightening up my flat!

There's been an enforced hiatus on recording my work due to a stolen camera, I've been able to resume blogging thanks to DP's generous loan.

Beat the Blues

I can't take any credit for the pictured work this time...its all the work of the ladies who attend Beat the Blues stockport - a support group for those experiencing post natal depression:

http://www.beattheblues-stockport.co.uk/page2.htm

We've worked together for three sesions, making felt in the first one and turning it into jewellery in the following two.  Feast your eyes...

Brilliant Charity Shop Find

I bought this big pile of patterns recently for the tiny sum of £6.  I'm not sure I'll make any up, but I love the fact that they're obviously collected over a lifetime.  Some of them are priced in Shillings.

Resin

I found using resin to be very satisfying, and have had a lot of fun experimenting with setting various things in to it, as you can see below!

The above brooches were made for a hen party, with pictures of the bride inside, which has made me hanker for a set of brooches with old pictures of my family inside.  A jewellery version of the family scrapbook.

My other favourite thing to set in to resin, aside from images, is little bows and beads.  Which always look different once immersed.

Full contact

This is the fruit of my Easter Sunday labour.  Photo of me (and Kitchen) by Esther!

 

The pattern for this 'Full Contact Cooking Apron' came from the great book 'Seams to Me' by Anna Maria Horner.  The final instruction was 'make vanilla cupcakes'....I have yet to comply.

Cupcakes

Cupcakes feature quite heavily in both my baking and craft repertoires, this is my latest non-edible creation.

Cutting a dash with...

I think this girl looks a little bit like me - well, the hair anyway, and the stubborn looking face.  I'm particularly jealous of her 'Tab Front Showerproof Coat'

Bunty, on the other hand, looks nothing like me.  According to the text,  'Bunty is going on a cruise and she is so excited she can't decide what to take with her'.  Take all these clothes Bunty, that's my advice...you're going to need more shoes though.

The fantastic Craft Mondays logo...

Was designed by Jane Hilder, brilliant designer and all round top bird.  Check out her blog and website:

http://janehilder.blogspot.com/
http://www.janehilder.co.uk/

I received a C.M. rubber stamp for Christmas, and have been putting it to good use...

Tackling the mighty buttonhole

I've finished the Cath Kidston bag.  This involved making buttonholes, which I struggle with even though my machine has an anutomatic setting.  These went very well, which was both a surprise and a relief.