Preparation

I had a lovely evening preparing samples for an upcoming 'fabric jewellery' workshop, I needed to create items that didn't need a sewing machine so it was a very relaxing couple of hours hand sewing and sipping coffee.

All crafts need cake

My favourite - fiddly looking, but simple to make!

'Suffolk Puff' or 'Yo Yo'

A stuffed 'Suffolk Puff'

The instructions for my favourite came from the excellent 'Coats Crafts' website: http://www.coatscrafts.co.uk/

Fragrant

One thing I've been meaning to do for ages is make some lavender bags for my wardrobe and drawers.  I finally got round to it this week, and used up some of my fabric scraps as well.

The template for this bird is from Cath Kidston's Sew

I stuffed the bags with dried lavender, which I bought online.  never having bought it before I purchased 500g...which turns out to be LOTS!  I'll be making lots of lavender bags to use it up.

Raining...

Rarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Timmy Tiger: crochet cat.  Timmy was my final craft project of 2010

Resolutions

One of my new years resolutions is 'more craft' and,  along with that, 'more craft blogging'.  With that in mind - here's the first of 2011, a couple of recently completed projects:

Super monkeys!  These were made for brand new twins.

Tiny Owl: with her cute pink legs.

Super Monkeys are crocheted, I'm getting more confident with my new skill (gained in 2010 thanks to the guidance of CH) and have a lot of projects that I'd like to undertake.  The tiny owl is needle felted, my first attempt!

Project wish list - if only there were more hours in the day!

As a start to the year here are some of the project ideas that are swirling around in my brain: storage cubes for the front room, a giant cushion cover for my giant cushions, a new cooking apron, a crochet frog for Freddie, crochet giraffe and elephant for Alex and Dominic, a table runner for my new grown up table, needle felted farmyard, lavender bags for my wardrobe...

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.