Eclectic Elements

 I've been beavering away in crafter corner, so much so that I seem to lose track of time and now it is nearing the end of November. I thought I would show you what I have been up to. Yep you guessed it more sewing. I recently took delivery of some seriously scrummy TH eclectic elements fabric and it was crying out to be patchworked and turned into some bags.

I made a satchel style bag with natural linen bias binding, piping and adjustable strap. It has an internal zipper and magnetic fastener. It was a real challenge to sew as the layers were very thick and if I make this style again I probably won't make it in patchwork I've learnt my lesson!

These two are a style I make over again as they are so roomy and are the casual across body style I like.

 I already had this butterfly fabric which I used for the lining and felt it worked well with the TH fabrics.

 I have listed this bag on my folksy shop here

Promise I won't leave it too long before my next post.

Happy Crafting xxx

Shades of Autumn

Hopefully I will manage more than one blog a season. As it certainly feels very much like Autumn, I thought I would share my latest quilt, that I have just completed. It is a snuggle up on the sofa type of quilt, which is just as well with the latest fuel hikes here in the UK. I went on another workshop this time with Cherie from Beecrafty to make this heart log cabin quilt.

Quilting is a fairly time consuming process, of cutting and measuring the fabric, then machine piecing the top, layering the quilt sandwich, machine or hand quilting it all together then hand binding the edges, so my blog posts will be probably be fewer whilst in quilting mode. I have made several other stitchy items, but as some are presents, I won't be able to blog them until after the event.

We spotted this little chappy in our garden the other night, don't know where he's come from as we don't have a pond, piccy not great as it was pitch black outside so I had to use a flash, hopefully not startling Mr Frog too much. I thought he was a toad, but my husband told me he was indeed a frog as they apparently have a brown patch behind their eyes.

Happy crafting xxxx

Shades of Summer

I've been on a blogging sabbatical since returning from our holiday in France. Various reasons really, the main one is my crafting mojo has been absent of late and I seem to have lost all inclination for stamping and getting inky. Quilting has become a bit of an obsession though and at the moment I'm finding it very therapeutic to sit and stitch. I've also been learning  free motion embroidery on my machine, which I have a feeling is going to be a real learning curve, and take a long time to master.
I completed the above quilt in France, and on my return three table runners, two bags and three cushions, which I will blogg later!

I know autumn has now set in but I would like to share some summer sun and the beautiful flora and fauna from our holiday in Normandy.

Unlike in the UK the grounds of many of the beautiful Château's are free and are a real pleasure  to wonder around.

These gorgeous flowers were photographed in the grounds of the beautiful Chateau Tourlaville.

Happy Crafting xxx

World Traveller ~ The Stampsmith

I've really enjoyed my guest design spot for The Stampsmith and so for my final project I just had to use one of my favourite stamps, the gorgeous Ophelia on my Vintage Quilted Postcard.
Ophelia comes in three sizes and for my project I used the largest stamp which I stamped onto TAP with Sepia archival ink. I printed up a digi postcard design onto printable cotton then ironed the image onto the fabric. I then tinted the image with zig photo markers. I  hand quilted the heart and around Ophelia.

There is still plenty of time to join the Stampsmith monthly challenge. The theme is World traveller. So please join the Stampsmith Challenge for a chance to win $21 towards your favourite Stampsmith stamps!

Have a lovely day and Happy Crafting xx

Sac de vacances d'été

Any excuse for a new bag that's me. Off to France for our summer holiday, so I felt a new summer bag was in order with matching purse of course.

I'm not sure if we have any internet connection, so I think I'll be feeling rather bereft. But as I've just finished a table runner and a quilt and have managed to sneak them in my packing as they need binding so plenty of hand sewing to keep me out of mischief. Seriously wanted to take a sewing machine, but Hubby was rather horrified and threatened to take his banjo if I did LOL!

I'll be back with a scheduled post in the week for my last DT project for The Stampsmith.

Soooooo sorry for my lack of blogging comments, I just don't know where the time goes. Will enjoy visiting all your lovely blogs when we get back from France.

So take care and have a great weekend & Happy Crafting. xxx


Take care xxx

Cushions & Quilts

Purple hearts a plenty today.  I attended my second workshop at Beecrafty taught by the talented Sarah to make this lap quilt. I'm having a purple faze can you tell! You can't really see but the hearts are appliquéd on using blanket stitch.

I used one of Astrid's gorgeous & generous free digital designs to make this heart label that I sewed to the back of the quilt.

Next the cushions! I wanted to make some cushions in a similar style to the quilt and found a lovely pattern at the Bramble Patch and attempted a bit of hand quilting. Now I just need to stop Dylan wiping his dirty paws on them!

Have a lovely crafty day, think it's going to be another warm one.xx

Bohemian Beauty ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

Fashionably late again for FSC with my bohemian beauty tag. Apologises for the latest of my post! This fortnight we are asking to see your script, book, pages, print themed projects, loads of scope for this challenge and as always it is open to your interpretation of the theme. Please do head over to FSC HQ for some fabulous inspiration from the very talented Stampettes. We are a stamping challenge so we do need to see stamping on your project and no digi stamps please. The lucky winner of the prize draw will receive $21 to spend at Flonzcraft from our very generous sponsor Leo. 

I chose to make a simple tag, using various script style stamps and distress inks. I used another of the Lily Elsie stamps by Oxford Impressions, and added scraps of lace and fabric to complete my tag.

Just back from our few days away in Harrogate. First time of visiting and just loved it. Absolutely beautiful old spa town, brimming with loads of architecture. We visited Fountains abbey, thought you might like to see a few photos I took of this magnificent ruin.

Just adore arches, can you tell!!

Thank you for all your lovely comments, now time to catch up with your gorgeous blogs.

Have a great week and Happy Crafting xxx

Welcome to Crafty Corner

I was thrilled to be invited to appear as top talent At Our Creative Corner a fantastic challenge site with the most amazing design team. For my project I made a sign for my crafting space, which was christened 'Crafty Corner' by my Hubby.

I painted a piece of grunge paper and cut into pieces. I stamped a selection of stamps and used a combination of Inktense pencils and distress inks to colour them. I stitched them all together and using matte medium glued them onto a piece of plywood.

Below is a few pictures of my bijoux crafting area, usually extremely chaotic and messy, but tidied up for the photo shoot. LOL!

Have a fantastic week. We're off to Harrogate for a few days, mmm I wonder if there are any nice crafty/ sewing shops! I'm sure I'll find some.

Happy Crafting xx

Friendship ~ The Stampsmith

Another beautiful day here in the UK, I could get used to this :-D It is my turn to share a project with you as guest designer at The Stampsmith for more details of the stamps used please to visit the Stampsmith designer blog here. 

There is still plenty of time to join their monthly challenge. The theme is Shabby Chic or Vintage Grunge, and mine has a touch of both, I'll call it Vintage Shabby.

I hope you've all had a stunning sun filled weekend and managed to squeeze a little crafting in.

Have a great week & Happy Crafting xxx

I'd like to enter this for the following challenges

Craft-Room Challenge ~ vintage stamping - no cute please

Flora & Fauna ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

 I hope you're all enjoying the mini heatwave we're experiencing in the UK, not the best for crafting in, more for lazing out in the garden with something cool, refreshing and slightly alcoholic in your hand. We bought a wooden swing seat for the garden yesterday. A totally spur of the moment purchase, it's now built and ready to use, shame the Sun is hiding today LOL!

It's time for another Fashionable Stamping Challenge and this fortnight it's '' Flora & Fauna (flowers and animals)" we are very lucky to be sponsored by Leo at Flonzcraft who is offering the winner of the prize draw $20 to spend in his store. Please be aware we are a stamping Challenge and do require some stamping on your project and definitely no digis please. For oodles of loveliness do pop over to the FSC blog to see what the other Stampettes have been up to.

My card is a mix of fabric and paper. I used one of the beautiful Lily Elsie stamps from Oxford Impressions and French rose background from Justrite stamps, both stamped in archival ink. I ironed the pink fabric directly onto kraft paper using bondaweb. I made the yellow fabric flower and added some lace and trims.

Have a lovely Sunday & Happy Crafting xxx

Quilted with Love

Phew in the sweltering heat of summer (finally, the hot weather I mean) here is my first quilt. It is a Jazzy jellyroll designed by Sarah Payne at BeeCrafty where I went for the workshop. I enjoyed the piecing of the patchwork but I certainly wrestled with it whilst quilting it on my machine. So after many hours of stitching here it is.

I hope you all had a fabulous and sun filled weekend, a bit too hot to craft, but just right for plenty of Pimm's.

Have a fabulous week & Happy Crafting xxx

Shabby Chic or Vintage Grunge ~ The Stampsmith Challenge

For blog candy winner see bottom of post.

Shabby Chic or Vintage Grunge is the July challenge theme selected by yours truly. 'Both very popular styles and perfect for showcasing your Stampsmith favourites. We'd love you to play along and share your projects with us this month. So choose your preferred style `Shabby or Grunge' and join the Stampsmith Challenge with a chance to win $21 of gorgeous stamps of your choice from The Stampsmith.'

I chose to make a little shabby chic bridesmaid dolly bag for my GDT project, featuring the gorgeous star crossed lover Juliet from the stamp plate Olivia and friends

It stamped beautifully onto cream cotton using sepia archival ink, which I heat set with an iron and cut out using my spellbinders die, I sewed it onto a doily before sewing it onto some textured cotton. I then followed this tutorial here to make my dolly bag.

It would be lovely if you could pop over here and look at the gorgeous DT project by the fabulous Stampsmith ladies, they are real stunners and be inspired to join the latest challenge.

I hope you all had a great weekend, it was gorgeously sunny in my part of the UK.

Blog Candy Winner

Not having quite got the hang of the inlinkz random thingamabob, I thought it was going to email me automatically with the winner. It didn't LOL. But it did email the winner herself!

The lovely Chris Warner from My Corner of Heaven

Your goodies will be wrapped up and in the post tomorrow. Thanks to all of you for taking the time and trouble to leave a comment.

I would like to enter this for the following challenges

Anything Goes Challenge ~ Buttons Pearl and lace

Timewashed ~ Blisswhite wednesdays

Simon Says Stamp & Show ~ Anything goes
Artistic Stamper ~ Ladies Day
Everybody-Art-Challenge ~ Wedding

Take care and Happy Crafting xx

Blog Candy at Ephemerasattic

This will remain at the top of my blog; for newer posts please scroll down thank you.

I thought it was about time I offered a little blog candy as a thank you for the support and encouragement I've received these last couple of years from all you lovely crafters. I do try to visit as many of your blogs as I can, but the days just seem to fly by and not being the most organised of crafters I find I'm sadly lacking in the commenting department, so this is in way of a blog apology too.

Here is a list of the candy and some more pictures below. All items are  new and unused.

Three rubber stamps, two crafty Individuals and one papermania
small selection of fabric strips
cotton lace doily
zakka stamped tape
sage cotton lace
metal purse frame
small plywood frame
2 vintage manilla postcard blacks
3 zig photo marker pens ideal for using on photo stamped images (can be used with archival ink)
3 felted embellishments (made by yours truly)
I quilted zipper pouch (ditto)
A small digital collage printed onto washable cotton (ditto)

Lovers Pillow ~ Fashionable Stamping Challenges

I've come over all romantic for the latest challenge at FSC which is Mail time (Anything About Postage - Postcards/Stamps/Envelopes/Letters) We are very lucky to be sponsored by Leo at Flonzcraft who is offering the winner of the prize draw $20 to spend in his store. Please be aware we are a stamping Challenge and do require some stamping on your project and definitely no digis please. For lashings of  loveliness do pop over to the FSC blog to see what the other Stampettes have been up to.

My little pillow has a pocket for storing love letters and photographs from your Amour and has been stamped in sepia archival ink using a variety of mail art stamps and of course the beautiful Serena from the Stampsmith.

A little hand made flower from die cut felt and lace.

It would be lovely if you could share your mail art creations with us this fortnight at FSC.

Take care and Happy Stamping xxx

I am entering this for the following challenges

Country view crafts ~ Die cuts

Craftsandme ~ Anything goes

liveandlovecrafts ~ birthstones