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!