Things to dangle from your bag

Remind me never to get a job as a headline writer. 

I mentioned in my last post that I'd bought some beads at the craft fair.  I had a few ideas in mind for them and this was the first.  Bag charms.  I bought a kit to make these little angels and they whipped up in about 2 minutes each!  I made all ten the night I got back from the fair.

Here she is with her mates.

That should be enough guardian angels to keep anyone safe.  I also bought a kit to make a beaded bag charm.

Not too creative really, using kits.  Is it cheating?  But I also bought components to make some of my own design.  I really enjoyed making them.

I have some more to make, I couldn't finish them as I had to have an emergency visit to the over-pricedness that is Hobbycraft to get some more beads as I hadn't bought enough.  They're now just waiting to be finished.

Christmas Challenge Roundup - March

I'm joining in with Allie's Christmas Through the Year challenge again in a desperate bid to be ready for Christmas 2011.


This is what I've completed in March:

1) Yet another crochet washcloth

2) Oven gloves

3) Counting bean bags

4) Another crochet washcloth...

5) Another Buttercup bag

I didn't do as well as February, but it's not bad and brings my grand total up to 17! 

A trip to the craft fair and a bag

I went to the Hobbycraft and Sewing for pleasure shows at the NEC on Friday.  If you were wondering why I hadn't mentioned it, it's only because I've been scheduling posts recently and this is the first one I've written since then.

I'm not going to bore you with loads of photos of stash, and believe me, I got STASH!  I got some fabric bargains and lots and lots of beads.  Oh yes, I've moved into a whole new realm, more about that in posts to come.

I will show you this photo though.  I got a big bag of random spools of thread, Portuguese I believe:

How much do you think I paid??  A FIVER!!  That's $8ish US/AUS.  I don't know what it is in Canadian dollars.  I only know that the US and Oz have a similar rate at the moment as we trade with them at work.  You didn't want to know that did you?  You come here to see which craft I've messed up now and here I am blathering on about exchange rates.

Anyway, this time you'd be wrong, I haven't messed up!  Oh no, I made a Buttercup bag and it came out perfectly!  Not a mistake on it. 

Does it look a funny shape?  Well that's just the camera angle and then I turned the picture round.  What do you think to that delicious linen?  I don't even know where I got it.  It was bought in my first fabric-buying-frenzy when I first learnt to sew.  The buttons match the lining:

I changed a few things this time.  I sewed the handles between the lining and the outer and think it looks better.  I also didn't bother playing with the pleats on the pattern and instead added my own - 3 double pleats in the middle and a single pleat on each end.  I pinned it up on one piece, then matched it to the other piece and I'm really pleased with it.  The pattern comes from the brilliant Made by Rae blog.  It's free for personal use but you have to pay for it if you want to sell them.

That's a picture of the pleat pinning process in case you didn't get it!

This is my project for the One Thing One Week challenge at Amy's blog. 

alphabet chart

I've mentioned in previous posts that I'm making an alphabet chart for my beloved Rebecca.  It was intended as a birthday present for her second birthday in September last year.  I think I got to "D" and realised it would have to be a Christmas present.  I didn't get any further than "D" so I'm working on it for a birthday or Christmas present this year instead!

I've shown you the panels for letters A - I, so here is K.  Yes, I do know my alphabet, I just couldn't think of anything for J!  I've since decided on Jigsaw, but haven't got round to it.

This was very simple to do.  I cut out the kite shapes and the string and bows are embroidered.  Satin stitch for the bows and a rope stitch for the string.   Since beginning this project I have learnt to machine applique, but the first 9 panels are hand appliqued and so I will continue.


This ladybird was cut out using a jar lid as a template and then blanket stitched.  The spots are satin stitched and I had a terrible time making them the same size.  As you can see, I failed!

Mr Mouse here isn't my favourite, he looks a bit strange, but I am lacking in drawing skills.  His tail is a crocheted chain.

12 down, only 14 to go before I start stitching up the letters!

Happily hooking

Remember I've been going on and on and on about my friend having a baby?  Well I finished the last present.  Maybe the last present.  I might still crochet a bunny.  But anyway - mitts - ta dah!

Crocheted in Sidar Baby Bamboo to match everything else.

Here are all the patterns in case you want a go:

blanket  - pattern here

hat - pattern here

mitts - pattern here

booties - pattern here

Here's the full set together.

Now hurry up baby, I want to meet you!!

Recently it seems that whenever I talk about crochet, there's a washcloth involved.  Oh yes, there's a washcloth in this post too!  This uses the Circle in a Square pattern from 200 Crochet Blocks (for more information see my Craft Book Challenge page) and a bead stitch border from Round the Corner Crochet Borders.

I really like this block and could fancy it for a blanket.

Happy news!

I'm so happy and a bit overexcited.  I just posted the photo of my sewing machine cover on Facebook - the first time I've put a picture of something I've made on there - and 5 minutes later an old work colleague asked if I sold them.  I gave her a figure and she said yes!  My first commission order that's not from my mum!!  Woo hoo!

Bliss! A post in which I say "piping" quite a lot

After the weekend's shenanigans with my machine, she's working again.  I put her through her paces on Sunday.  Should I be calling her "her"?  It sounds like I like her and at the moment I still don't - I'll refer to her as "it".  I decided to get going on the sewing machine cover I'd started.  I managed to finish it in a record 7 hours!  You people that whip up a quilt in 2 hours amaze me!!

I have noticed that I like looking at progress photos on other blogs as much as I like seeing the finished item, so I thought I'd take some as I went along.

This pattern is from Australia Homespun Vol. 11 No. 11, but you can buy it from the lovely Bloom, see this page here.

I had been struggling with my patchwork pieces when the machine died, so I finished them off on Sunday.  Then I added the side panel that I'd hand-embroidered with the word "Stitch".

I've used white linen, a Bliss layer cake (well a tiny bit of it!) and some tape measure twill that I happened to have in my card-making stash!  The embroidery is sewn in DMC Light Effects thread.

Here's a close up so you can see just how wonky my patchwork is!

I'd forgotten I'd need buttons and I didn't have 13 matching so I used a combination of red and pink buttons (again from my card-making stash).  I think they offset the blue thread nicely.  This is the DMC Light Effects again.  There is a thick layer of fusible fleece on the back of this machine cover, so does this count as me having done some hand quilting?  If you enlarge the photo you'll see the spot of my blood!  I do like to put something personal into a project...

See it?

I thought that I would be stitching in the ditch along the patchwork, but the pattern didn't call for it, so I didn't.

That's my piping.  I've never done piping before and I was scared but it was EASY.  I used my zipper foot as I don't have a piping foot and it worked fine.  I did have to do an emergency mid-project run to Hobbycraft to get the piping cord... I really should consider planning ahead!  I bought a metre of one Bliss print and a half metre of another for lining and piping, but this used up the tiniest bit of fabric, 2 inches I think!

Piping added.

What do you think of my piping efforts?

The next step was to sew the main panel and the end panels together.  We're talking 2 layers of linen, 2 layers of fusible fleece, 2 layers of medium-weight interfacing and 2 layers of cotton.  My machine said no, so I bought out this baby:

Oh yes, the walking foot.  Why was I scared of it?  It took about 20 seconds to install and is BRILLIANT!!  It made short work of all those layers and soon I was finished.

Ta Da!!  Sorry about the light - it was 6pm when I finished but I HAD to get photos.

This is the back, and you can see that I messed up the lining:

I used a blue spot print for the lining and when I put it all together, it formed a sort of cuff on the right side.  The lining isn't supposed to be showing on the front, but I liked it so sewed it in place like that.

The lining was bigger than the outside piece, so I ended up with ruffles and tucks and it looks a bit of a mess, but it's on the back! 

Go on, admire that piping again!

Sandra, I'm declaring this as my March LANT (Learn a New Technique) - I did walking foot sewing, piping and Quilt As You Go, oh, and hand quilting!  No full quilt for me this month, maybe April (or maybe not!).

By the way, I see I have loads more followers, thanks girls and welcome!  I wanted to come and visit you, but the list is no longer in date order of when you joined so I can't identify you, feel free to let me know if you're a new follower so I can come and visit you.

One Thing, One Week

Just a quick note to let you know I'm joining in with One Thing, One Week over at Amy's Creative Side.  I had to choose a project and will have it finished by Monday in time to link up.  I'm going to make another Buttercup bag.  Go on over and join in, it might just motivate you to finish something you've started.

Gratuitous bunny photos

I'm having a lull.  I need to make stuff and get good photos.  Whilst I'm doing that, I thought you might like to see my bunny-babies.

This is the handsome Colin.  Colin was a rescue rabbit.  We adopted him to be friends with Tiff, but they didn't like each other.  We had to separate them.  Poor Colin had been given up for adoption along with his brother.  They were adopted but then he was brought back to the rescue centre after being badly hurt by his brother.  He's such a loving little boy, he loves a cuddle and having his nose rubbed.  He's some kind of cross breed - Netherland dwarf and Old English I think.  He'll be three next month.

Whenever my bunnies are given the run of my small but completely-enclosed yard, they find the smallest place to squeeze into.  Why bunnies? 

This little cutie is Harry.  Harry is our latest addition, adopted to be a friend for Tiff.  They love each other even though she's twice his size.  He's a little tiny Netherland Dwarf with the strangest hop.  He hops with his legs firmly together, so dainty!  All I know about Harry's previous life is that the family he lived with was "chaotic".  He's still very scared and is slowly getting used to us.  For some reason he adores my brother - even though he's only met him twice - but is scared of everyone else.  Harry is 3.

Here are Tiff and Harry during hutch cleaning operations.  They spend the whole time I'm cleaning out trying to get back into, or under, their hutch, then when it's time to go in, they don't want to!  I think Tiff's thinking about jumping over the make-shift fence here.

Come on Harry, let's try to get round it...
I don't think you'll fit Tiff... you have got a very large bottom.

How rude!  I only ever eat salad...

Come on Tiff, let's go and sniff around near the bench instead.

Tiff was my first bunny and is definitely the Queen of the Castle.  Scared of no-one and nothing, she just wants ALL the attention, and all the carrots.  Bought from a petshop (yes, I know - I didn't know any better at the time but I'd NEVER do it again) at age 8 weeks, I think she thinks she's human.  She was alone for nearly 2 years before she bonded with Harry.  She is a little madam who just loves throwing toilet roll tubes and dinner bowls around! 

This little angel is Ellis.  Ellis doesn't photgraph well as the light shines off her pink eyes.  She's an Albino Netherland Dwarf.  She was badly treated before she came to live with us.  She was skin and bones but is now a healthy weight.  She was also terrified of everyone.  Now she's still scared of most people, but I'm allowed to stroke her.  Unless she's recently been to the vet for her jabs!

Ellis is 2 and a half, the youngest of the bunch and totally in love with her Colin.  She loves tunnels (she's claiming this one as her own) and has a hidey-cabin in her run which she loves to tip over.  She also loves to sit in the rain, getting soaked.

Colin?  Colin?  Are you under there?

So, where did the names come from?  Well when I got Tiff I told my stepdaughter that she could name her.  She named her off a character from her favourite soap - Eastenders.  Yes, that's right, my fat bunny is named after little red haired Tiffany from Eastenders!  I then named Colin as I think Colin is a great name for a bunny.  I wanted to call Ellis Matilda or Maude, but Craig refused and said it was his turn.  He wanted to call her snowy or something but I said she had to have a human name.  So he gave her a boy's name.  As for Harry, that was a compromise - I wanted to call him Humphrey but was vetoed.

I hope you've enjoyed meeting my bunnies.  If you have, I might post about them again in the future.

oh the embarrassment...

You know when you're feeling really ill?  You give it a couple of days before calling the doctor?  Then you make an appointment and go to the surgery and suddenly, miraculously, your throat is no longer sore, your head no longer aches, your stomach feels fine, you're perfectly well?

I took my machine to the shop.  She plugged it in and sewed a row of perfect stitches.  She hadn't even changed any settings.  I said I didn't believe it so she sewed another row.  And another.  Perfect.  Every.  Bloody.  Sodding.  Stitch.

I left with my head hanging low.  At least I was too embarrassed to buy fabric.

Friday Night Sew In March results

Despite my sewing machine chucking a wobbly, I decided to join in with the Friday Night Sew In anyway.

First up I finished up, wait for it... oh yes, ANOTHER crochet washcloth!

This one was made up, by me, using the Handbook of Crochet Stitches.  So I'm also sneaking in my first entry for March's Craft Book Challenge.

I used a lovely ripple stitch and am really pleased with the way it turned out.  I finished it with a round of dc.  Once again, it's the Sidar Calico range.
Anyway, back to the FNSI.  I then started to applique some bikinis which will be made into lavender hearts.  These will be the first items in my Folksy shop.  Am I crazy to open a shop so soon into my crafting life?  Probably.  But nothing ventured, nothing gained.  I'm aiming to open it at the end of April.

I got as far as bondawebbing both pieces to the linen, then doing a double-whipped back stitch on the bra.  I decided that this time, instead of cutting the hearts, appliqueing and then handsewing, this time I will applique, machine sew the hearts and then cut.

So how am I going to machine sew considering my machine is broken?  Well I'm taking it to the shop to be mended (fingers crossed) today.  I have no idea when I'll get it back, so I might also be nipping round to my parents' house to steal my mum's machine!

Also last night, I laid out a load of projects on the dining room table as I plan to get a whole load of cutting done ready for when I'm able to sew again.

Here we have (top row, left to right) Amy Butler fabric for mum's bag , to be sewn loosly following the Hobo Bag in the Bag Making Bible but with a lot of changes.  Another Buttercup bag, but altered to my own specifications from this gorgeous printed linen and probably the spotty cotton.  The Amy Butler home dec. fabric used for the knitting bags I made for me and mum so I can make her a crochet hook holder, and probably one for me.  Random pattern pieces, fusible fleece and interfacing.  Also on that pile is Crafty Ady's glasses case pattern pieces as I plan to cut some more of them, though I'm not sure which fabric yet.

Bottom row is some gorgeous Moda Essence fabric chosen by my mum for more placemats.  The lining pieces for the sewing machine cover from Homespun Vol 11 No 11 now my Bliss yardage has arrived.  And finally a Lily and Will layer cake and lots of yardage to make placemats and other table linen.  I've just realised I'm a project missing as I also intend to get a playmat made for my cousin's children.

That's all folks!