WOW - How busy has November been?!?! Every day since the 8th November, I have thought I must blog about the Fireworks we went to in Lyme Regis and here we are on 27th! If you know Lyme Regis or familiar with the Film The French Lieutenant's Woman - that was famously filmed on the Cobb in Lyme Regis, you will understand what a brilliant natural backdrop the Cobb and Sea provided for the Fireworks. We stood up in the gardens over looking the beach and the Cobb beyond It was almost like a huge outdoor Theatrical Stage. As with lots of things in life, photos really don't do them justice - and I do not profess to be a 'photographer' so they are literally snaps!

If you remember at the beginning of the year I made it the Year of 'No Shop Brought Cards' see this post here and I have kept to this - well almost! So I've been thinking of what I am going to do for Christmas cards, so many ideas! And I do appreciate that I have so many craft things to choose from :-) I've decided on 2 designs, firstly to cross-stitch directly onto card - I remember at the age of about 5 I was given Card Boards with some colour shoelaces and threaded them round to make a picture - so along the same lines I found a simple stag cross stitch design and made holes into the card, then using Gutermann Top Stitch Thread (definitely 1 of my Top 5 sewing must-haves!) I then cross stitched the design :-) Then I really wanted to utilise some of my hundreds of pieces of scrap fabric I keep in a HUGE bag! And although I did - I used the most tiniest amount for each of the dancing robin cards as you can see - so not really using up much of it!!!

I've also been busy making little Christmas Reindeer Decorations to send in for my boys Christmas Shopping Day at school. The idea being that everyone donates some items, then the children buy presents for all their family on Christmas Shopping Day and the teachers help wrap them and tag them up and the money goes into the PTFA. I know that they struggle for 'Dads' presents so on a recent trip to Bridport I found some Dads Christmas socks and a few 'boys' things to send in too! I wonder if I'll get a Reindeer back! 

I am now off to get on with a Wise-Man costume for my particularly fussy 5-year old  - I had gone ahead and created and stitched a red and yellow ensemble - to be told that Yellow was 'girly' and he wanted blue! He seemed to ignore the fact that it is infact a long 'dress'. I will let the teachers reveal that to him! Off to London this weekend for my 7-year olds birthday - I'm not sure he is going to sleep for the next 2 nights! 

Christmas is coming....Yep just 10 weeks to go!

Yes, Yes, I know its only October and if there is one thing I can't stand it's when shops fill their shelves with Christmas items before I've even considered getting out my winter wollies! I kid you not; our local Tesco had its Christmas chocolate aisle set up before my boys had even gone back to school for the Autumn term - ie IT WAS STILL THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS! However since starting my business I have come to realise that Christmas in the crafting world is a bit of an all year round feast. Ordering Christmas fabric as early as March and planning items for my Christmas Shop during the Summer Holidays. I have to say it is still a bit against my traditional feelings and I missed out on some lovely Christmas basic fabric this year - as I still thought 'No-ones going to be ordering Christmas fabric in June'......but how wrong I was!

Last night my husband and I questioned how long it was till Christmas - I said - its probably about 10 weeks - to which he gasped and said 'Surely not' a quick google search 'How long till Christmas' and yep I was pretty spot on '71 days 4 hours 20 mins 12 seconds!

That said, I guess it is now not too early to start thinking and talking Christmas. I was very excited to receive this week a stunning range of Copenhagen Print Factory Christmas Fabrics - bright and fun they would be great for loads of Christmas projects - they are now sitting very nicely in my EBay shop. You can order the fabric by the Fat Quarter or Fat Eighth in either a bundle or individually: 

Also I managed to get in a last minute order for some Dashwood Studios Christmas Wish Fabric by Lizzie MacKay. I love Dashwoods ethos of using UK only designers. The range is muted tones of the colours of Christmas and the light Teal from their popular Flurry range works brilliantly with it. 

I've also started thinking about my Christmas House Decorations too - specifically for the Christmas Table - So lots of ideas are floating around in my head! I will report back on them soon.

Just before I go and to bring us back to the season we actually in - my boys and I made some Halloween Bunting over the weekend using a pack of my Halloween Felt. Scary but slightly  cute at the same time I think!!

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A Good Evenings work....

Well I had planned not to work on Friday Evening! I am, without a doubt a morning person, and would much prefer getting up with the birds and get some early morning work done - in fact I am not really sure how I came about coming up to my work-room tonight. Thankfully there was nothing urgent I needed to do. However for a little while I have known that my website needs looking at. I did start selling there as well as E-Bay at first, but have just found it too much work to keep both right up to date as I like to keep my stock fresh and keeping up with constantly changing all the shop items, as well as the different shipping methods - just was not working. 

So I have removed my Shop from my website and am for a while going to direct all my customers to my E-Bay Shop. So with the Bee in my Bonnet - off I went and made all the changes tonight! I am pretty pleased and didn't get too fustrated! I've update images and added icons and changed lots of links :-) So really now the website is really just to have a web-presence. You can head over and have a look here if you like! 

I believe I have tested all the links properly but if you notice something awry please let me know - its far too late to be working.....

Now....Strictly, X-Factor or Googlebox!?!?!?! Have a great weekend everyone :-)

Friday Afternoon Crafting...

It's been a super busy week again :-) I just about ticked everything off my to do list other than Augusts' Accounts...Woops! And when I probably should have turned the little time I had to them this afternoon, what do you think I did - a crafty little project of course! 

Using just a Fat Eight of Michael Miller - Embossed Grey Fabric and a metre of ribbon will make up 4 of these super cute hearts :-) Fabric and ribbon can be found over at my E-Bay Shop

Now....Accounts or a cheeky glass of Vino?!?!?!?

A helping hand :-)

I was delighted to see that some extra staff had popped in to help me this morning!

Though I am unsure this motley Lego crew would be very much help! I even found them in the midst of new projects I had set up to photograph for a crafty pack I am working on for Christmas! 

Summers Out....Autumns in!

I hope you all had a good Summer :-) It went 'super-fast' as my 5 year old would say! It was definitely that 'back to school feeling' on Sunday night just gone - but actually in a good way - the boys were looking forward to catching up with their friends (less-so about the work I think!) And it meant I could spend a full week catching up on business things that tend to take a back-seat during the holidays. Things such as stock checking, research, product ideas, accounts (groan!) and of course some well-overdue crafting! My Shop is now stocked with a huge range of Tilda Fabrics and Notions and I have been desperate to get my hands on some it!

I've been watching the squirrels leaping precariously through the trees from my work-room window this week so whilst flicking through my Tilda Books, I knew as soon as I saw him what I wanted to make!

I used a Fat Quarter of Plain Tilda Dolls Fabric Beige, A Fat Eighth of Tilda Kitchen Stripe Pink for the tummy and a Fat Eighth of Martine Warm Grey for his ruffle. You can view my whole Tilda Range here.

Since I last blogged I have also added a full range of Wool Mix Felt to my Shop - a massive 72 colours to choose from and lots of great colour packs to inspire you too, I hope. You can visit my Felt Page on my shop by clicking the below picture:

I will leave you with a Pinterest board I have created with an Autumnal Flavour :-) I am however pleased that the South-West weather is far from Autumnal - long may it continue.

 http://www.pinterest.com/snowflakes2014/autumn-craft-ideas/

Which way will I go today?

I am so lucky where we live to have a whole maze of public footpaths throughout the countryside right on my doorstep. I can literally do different walks everyday, even if I change them just a little bit - or want to avoid a muddly puddle here and there! I love this earlier Summer-time with all the crops looking lush in the fields and the hedgerows full of wild flowers. I've also taken to plotting them on mapmywalk.com - which I do like, only I wish they provided a slightly better scale of map. Anyway a few very quick snaps from my morning walk today.

I have lots of exciting things going on with my little business at the moment and promise to blog about them soon (and I haven't forgotten to show you the project I mentioned a few blogs ago either!)

Weekend Flies By...

...Another weekend has flown by - the weather was much nicer than predicted so exploring down the stream by our house with the boys and garden time were a great bonus :-) 

And I rather proudly made my first loaf of bread after going on the River Cottage Bread Making Course (a year ago) Yep, I know its been a long time coming but it was worth the wait - if I say so myself :-) It was every bit as good as loafs that I buy in the bakery and even from the market at a fraction of the cost. I will certainly not be leaving it another year to bake bread again!

Cute little Packages....

I guess that with Summer on the way our minds turn to things other that crafts - OK there is Bunting to be made for all those Summer Fetes & Garden Parties - Yep I made up 40 metres to give to my boys school - who are holding a Summer Fete (if the weather ever improves) and added a listing to my E-Bay Shop if you would like to buy some ready-made. I considered for a moment using single sided flags, but knew that in reality these would probably not last a season and definitely not a cycle in the washing machine! So strung on Polka Dot Bias Binding I've used double sided flags measuring 15cm by 20cm - It would definitely fall into the Premium Bunting Category, and with a once season wash will look just as good next year...and the following.....and following......:-) 

So bearing in mind that hopefully we are all getting larger doses of Vitamin D, I have put together cute mini packs of 5 pieces of material for any little projects that might take your fancy. I've packaged them up in little celo bags and if I say so myself they look really cute :-) A perfect present for a crafty friend or cutting out Jam Jar Lids for the forthcoming Jam Making Season. They come in colour themes of either Pink, Blue or Red and Green selection and at just £4.00 who can resist!

All the above items are available in my E-Bay shop - just click on the photos to take you to the page. 

I'm actually in the midst of a project - actually something for myself :-) Which I will blog about soon. Right off to get my dose of Vitamin D now!

Where does time go???

Goodness Me...if you had asked me to guess how long had gone by since I last updated this blog - I might of said 3 weeks - but over 5! I had a unwritten target where I hoped that I would update on a weekly basis; note to self: must try harder! 

So what crafty things have I done over 5 weeks - I made this lovely little make-up bag from a Tutorial I found over at the Needle and Spatula blogspot 

All just made with 2 FQ, a little lightweight fusible interfacing, zip and a little piece of thin 7mm gingham ribbon. I filled it with a set of nail files and some glossy pale pink nail varnish :-)

I've also had a delivery of Bias Binding, that I have added to my shop, Gorgeous Floral Patterned, Polka Dot and Plain Brights and Pastels too: 

I'm also looking at adding other fabric ranges too and am determined to get another make your own kit out there soon!

Busy Times! 

Custom Order

I don't often get asked to make up custom orders - so I love it when I can do what I truly love and can make something from a request from a customer. This is a Rag Wreath made entirely from Cath Kidston designed White Rosali fabric tied with a piece of red Gingham Ribbon.

It currently on its way to Belgium, I hope its recipient is very happy with it. What a great choice of fabric and request of red ribbon - I think it looks great, if I say so myself. For a kit similar to make your own wreath visit this link on my website Snowflakes and Strawberries

Freebie :-)

I love a freebie :-) This weekend on Saturday 22 March & Sunday 23 March the Daily Telegraph are including a free Make Stitch and Sew supplement with the paper. The Great British Sewing Bee has certainly inspired me to make some summer outfits, so I'll be very keen to see the projects in these. 

Don't miss Make, Stitch & Sew - inside The Telegraph on Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 2014.

Auctions...Going Going Gone!

I am having a big auction day on EBay this Friday 19th March. There are lots of auctions starting at just 99p. Why not head over to my EBay shop and see if you can pick up a bargain.

Happy Bidding! ;-)

Handmade Cards

I thought I would update you on my New Years Resolution, now we are almost a 5th way through the year already! So although I have not brought a shop brought card as such, I do have to confess to purchasing these postcards on a recent trip to IKEA.

In my defence they were only 5p for a pack of 5...Yes, just 1p per postcard...how could I resist! I love the ice-cream van on top of the stack up cars! No use for them yet - but I'm sure I will find one!

Though fear not, the handmade cards are still continuing with conviction! My Mum has even got on the band-wagon now and asked me to make a card for an elderly friends 90th birthday party that she went to the other day. 

Just simply made by cutting 90 and a few flowers out of a scrap of fabric...and of course adding 'years young'! Happy birthday Muriel :-) 

Inspiration

I always wonder where designers get their inspirations for the thousands and thousands of fabric designs there are out there. I have to say I am in awe of someone who has the creative flare to continue to come up with new and interesting designs each season. 

The other day (one of those glorious days that gives you hope that spring is finally on its way) I snapped some shots that, when put together, reminded me of one of my recently ordered fabrics.

What do you think? Blue sky...Seed heads.....Primrose Flowers. I'm not for one minute saying I could ever become a designer.....but I can dream I guess!

I can almost smell summer round the corner :-) Happy Days.

Pick n' Mix

Don't you just love Pick n' Mix :-) There is definitely a feeling of wonderful expectation when you stand looking at the multi-coloured, multi-shaped, multi-textured display and then when you open the lid to your first selection that sweet smell that wafts its way into your senses...hmmm quite delicious. 

Although Snowflakes and Strawberries newest offering cant offer you the sugar high, the bright colourful selection of 100% cotton materials that you can now Pick n' Mix to your own size and colour requirements will hopefully inspire your next crafting project. Head over to my E-Bay listing to see it here.

Happy Shopping!

The Great British Sewing Bee

I do love that in the 'Pile it high sell it cheap' world of many high-street fashion stores that we have come to expect (and please don't get me wrong - I am the first to grab a bargain and my staple clothing is several plain white T-Shirts from the front runner of them all 'Primarni'!), there is enough interest for the BBC to produce a programme proving that there are still people out there who do spend time and effort and more importantly have a real skill for producing a handmade item of clothing that won't be worn once, then chucked at the bottom of the wardrobe to only be carted off to a car-boot in 2 years time! 

Of course, I think my favourite bit about the whole show is drooling at the fabric and haberdashery in the background of every shot - and just wishing it was all mine! 

Tonight we are promised a series of challenges, where the contestants must make a simple tunic out of cotton, transform a high street skirt, and make a made-to-measure silk nightgown. BBC2 - 8pm tonight - I'll certainly be watching.

Good Morning! I was going to say 'Here's an early morning blog' but at 2 minutes to 12 - it is definitely not early and will probably not even be morning by the time I finish this post - woops! Where has Monday Morning gone???!?!?!?

Anyway just a quick blog to show you my finished version of Gerbera The Giraffe (see this post). I finished her over the weekend as her intended recipient is due to arrive into the world at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning! 

I'm pleased with the bright stripy material and the yellow on white patterned fabric used for the bottom of the legs, ears and mane compliments it perfectly I think. Don't you think its great she can do the splits!! 

I would like to attach a label with a name attached (a little bit like those Wooden Ducks) but I'm stuck! Any ideas gratefully received!

Happy Monday Morning :-)

That Friday Feeling :-)

There are not many things that miss about working in my former office job in Customer Services, however 1 of them is that Friday afternoon feeling - which I've discovered I don't quite have since working from home...if anything its quite the opposite - its more a panic of 'have I done everything I need to before the weekend starts full of family commitments' feeling!

Anyway today I had a very productive morning and had done everything on my To Do List that I needed to before the weekend. So what better way to spend Friday afternoon than on a sewing project :-) I have recently purchased an IPad, which actually you would think belonged to my 5 & 6 year old boys considering the time they spend on it - but it is actually mine, and my 'To Do' list lives on it. It spends most of the day flat on my desk, which often means its the wrong way up when I go check off a task and I have to sit it up, I remembered sometime ago seeing an IPad Pillow and after a quick Google search, soon found what I was looking for. Although I found some tutorials I actually didn't follow one and just made it from my sewing knowledge after looking at some pictures of them. Very simply a piece of rectangular material that I folded in half and sewed up 2 sides; I inserted a piece of triangular card, to offer some stability to the bottom and filled with toy stuffing. I then literally sewed across with the seam twisted to create the triangular shape, inserted another piece of cardboard to create a platform for the Ipad, sewed again to keep it in place and another row of stitching at the edge enabled me to stuff with toy filler again and give a lip to prevent the Ipad from falling forward. Volia :-)

There would be a few things I would change if I did it again but for something that took me under an hour from start to finish without a pattern I was pleased with the end result.

I even had time to bake a tray of Brownies before the boys came home too. 

Definitely had that Friday afternoon feeling today. Have a great weekend :-)

Shhh......Lets keep it a secret!

Shall I let you into a little secret......I love sewing books, actually its not much of a secret! I love spending ages just pouring over the pages and digesting all the photos and taking inspiration not only from the projects that feature in them directly, but all the gorgeous displays showing all amounts of pretty 'sewing-y' things. I probably spend far too much time doing this - but hey ho - indulgence is good for you sometimes :-) 

Anyway I have been trawling them recently as a friend is due to have a baby soon (any excuse for a project!) But just couldn't find anything that I fancied making, so I started looking at sourcing another sewing book (again, any excuse to buy yet another sewing book!) Anyway, I came across the website http://www.stitchcraftcreate.co.uk/ and found this adorable pattern for Gerbera The Giraffe - it was delivered as a downloaded pdf so instantly received and I love instant! I cant wait to get making him (I promise I'll be back to show you my version of him soon!)

Gerbera The Giraffe

So, reader, are you thinking another sewing book wasn't purchased. Of course it was! I couldn't resist this:

But Shhhhhh...lets keep it a secret!! Have great weekend!

Party Time

So, my boys have been invited to a quadruplet party today (2 girls & 2 boys).....and I was determined to be inventive with presents and not spend upwards of £20 on 'tack'. I have a present bag that I keep stocked with either duplicate presents that the boys are given, or when I see a bargain that is too good to pass, I'll pop it in there. Inevitably with a house full of boys the bag almost always contains 'boy' themed gifts. The boys had a rummage in the present bag, which they love :-) and picked out 2 lego (no surprise there!) themed gifts for the boys. My eldest was quite right when he pointed out that the girls would not think that either a wooden pirate jigsaw or a silly word factory magnet book were good presents, so I suggested that I try out my new Tutu Skirt Kit. 

I'm really pleased with them :-) I made some matching headbands to go with them too. Hope the girls like them. 

PS. Please note the handmade cards are still going! And before you say - I know we haven't even got through January yet - so I'm not being smug!

Buttons, Buttons, Buttons

Its been freezing here today.....brrrrrrr!!!! My feet were numb when I got back from walking my boys to school and the heating has been on all day (which doesn't often happen!) but I just couldn't get warm today.

However I certainly had a warm glow after these buttons were delivered by our lovely postman :-)

Lots and lots of lovely wooden painted heart buttons and the cutest little birds. I have already mounted some onto card ready for orders and at just £1.50 for 6 of either design, how could you resist! There are available in my shop under Buttons here :-)

Every Cloud......

I know I live in England, I know its January, I know its winter and therefore I know I shouldn't bemoan the weather! Therefore instead of posting about the woes of owning a 200 year old house when it rains.......and rains.....and rains. I am posting a photo of a mountain of packs I have made up while not being able to get out and about :-) Every cloud.....and all that :-) 

The pack contains a beautiful selection of 100% cotton fabric. My personnel favourite today......the pink gingham....oh hold on actually maybe the bright pink with white outlines of cabbage roses......no I've got it the gorgeous blue and pink paisley design - very liberty-esque! For a closer look at the fabric included in the pack, head-over to my website here to have a look.  

Patchwork Pin Cushion

How did I only own 1 Pin Cushion? Yes that's right only 1! I've been sewing since I can remember and inherited my Grandma's vintage stuffed Strawberry Pin Cushion cira 1930's! It has definitely seen better days! 

Don't worry though I'm not going to send it off to landfill, but I was definitely in need of another pin cushion. I have my 'work-room/office/store room' which is on the second floor of the house, but also do quite a bit of sewing downstairs, and as my pin cushion lives on my desk in said 'work-room/office/store room', rather than in my sewing basket, I would inevitably forget it when dashing downstairs (guess it keeps me fit, however very annoying!) - so I have made a pin-cushion that can now live in the bureau in the sitting-room. Horay!

I made this quick pin cushion using scraps of fabric in blue/red/white check, cream with pink cabbage roses and a pretty pink spotty material. I found my tutorial at http://veryberryhandmade.co.uk/2011/05/30/quick-pieced-pincushion-tutorial/ Thank you Ali. I think it looks great :-)

A similar selection of fabric used to make this can be found at my website Snowflakes and Strawberries

The Year of no 'Shop-Brought' cards.

Hello! Last year I turned my love of fabric into a very small 'business' and thought it was about time I started to blog about the crafty things I sell and create (some which can be purchased over at my website www.snowflakesandstrawberries) and some that I just create all for me :-) 

One of my New Years resolutions is that 2014 will be the year of not purchasing any 'shop-brought' card. All cards will be 'home-made'. Quite a few years ago I purchased a large stash of card from a shop at Swindon Outlet Village, which has been rarely used, so we (yes husband and 2 boys are getting roped in too!) are going to make good use of the card through-out 2014

So first out of the starting gate was a New Years Eve Wedding for some very good friends.(OK perhaps not strictly 2014 - but it saw in the New Year, so start as I mean to go on!) 

Using some small pieces from 4 different pieces of material from one of Snowflakes and Strawberries fabric packs, along with a piece of Natural French Linen as the background and a Gutermann Sage Green No.283 Thread, I made this applique card.

It was a truely stunning day and there was plenty of Drinking Champagne and Dancing on the Tables! What a great way to see in the New Year.

PS I'll update you later in the year to let you know how the resolution is going!