Scrappy Vintage Sewing Cover

 Dusting off the cobwebs of my blog, thought it was about time I posted after a rather long absence. I have been beavering away in my sewing corner. I recently bought a rather delightful 1955 singer featherweight. It sews beautifully and is perfect for piecing my patchwork and beats my all singing and dancing computerised Bernina for neat stitching hands down.

Such a sweet machine deserves a cover to stop it getting dusty; dusting the house you see, is not high up there in my list of priorities! I used a pattern from Lori holts book 'Quilty Fun' to make this cover that has a dual use as a mat to store your bits and bobs whilst sewing.

I'm rather enjoying using more vibrant and brighter fabric in my sewing at the moment, and recently made yet another sewing kit.

Hopefully it won't be so long before my next post.

Take care and happy crafting xx

Goldilocks and the Three Bags

I tend to sew most days now, the consequence being I have oodles of small scraps of fabric which are ideal for making these drawstring bags. As you can tell I have a lot of red fabric mainly French general which is inspired by 18th century french fabrics. I adore mixing linens and neutrals in with the reds.

I made this little sewing kit to go inside the largest bag which I use when going on any sewing workshops

I recently used the scraps to make a fabric card for Hubby, as I couldn't find any suitable card (just an excuse really to start up my my sewing machine.

Have a lovely day crafting. I'm off now for my daily sewing fix.

Take care xx

A Gift For A Friend

My lovely & oldest friend made a few hints that she would like a patchwork bag, so this is what I came up with. Of course it had to have a matching purse, which I added a little hand stitching. It is made with various linen and cotton fabrics from my ever expanding fabric stash, which is now taking over the house.

My sewing machine does a lovely applique or blanket stitch

  and some gorgeous satin stitches.

Have a lovely day, I did see a glimpse of the sun earlier, so hoping it keeps the rain at bay

Happy Crafting XXX

Mexican star

Ooooh it is nearly two months since my last blog, this has reminded me of when I used to go to church many moons ago and I had to go to confession, these were the exact same words I used to say apart from the word blog of course, but I won't be confessing any of my sins on here LOL!

Anyway I am still busy beavering away in my sewing corner, and do have lots to show you I've just got out of the habit of blogging.

This is a quilted wall hanging based on a mexican star design, which I loved making. I added some free motion embroidery in the corners, which I'm learning very very slowly.

A very belated Happy New Year to you all.

Happy Crafting xx

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