A Camouflage Bag For My Nephew

I promised my nephew I would make him a camouflage bag for Christmas. He gave me a good idea of what he wanted based on another bag I had made. I had some camouflage fabric left from another project, so I set about cutting out the fabric and the lining and basically made it up as I went along. It was very easy in the end, I used some Khaki strapping for the strap and left it long so it could be made shorter if necessary and added a magnetic clasp on the flap. Although its not clear in the photo, the bag is about 2 inches deep.

I wrapped it up and gave it to him on Christmas Day and was so pleased when he opened it and said how good it was. I said I could adjust the strap if necessary, but he said it was just fine as it was.

Sarah xx

Gingerbread House and Merry Christmas

Every year me and my daughter decorate a gingerbread house, this year is no exception. Except I was a little lazy, I poured the icing straight over the roof, instead of piping it on. My daughter spooned the icing onto the floor and stuck the Jelly Tots, Jelly Beans and Gummy bears on the icing, some of the sweets kept sliding down in the icing, so I mixed up a thicker batch to stick them on with! It was finished off with a couple of candy canes in the chimney and a light dusting of icing sugar. Perhaps not one of our best efforts, but still has the desired effect.

Merry Christmas to everyone that reads my blog. This has been my first year of blogging and I have enjoyed doing it. I have also enjoyed blog hopping and reading so many peoples blogs from around the world. Heres to a Happy Blogging New Year!

Sarah xx

Winter has arrived...

The snow finally hit my North Bucks Town on Saturday afternoon. We did a dash to the shops to get a Turkey, thinking at least we'll have Christmas dinner, if we get snowed in. It started to come down pretty thick and fast and by 6.30pm we had a good 8 inches plus. We were a bit concerned about my daughter who had gone to the cinema with a birthday party. However she arrived home safely with the parents of the birthday girl.

I took some photos on Sunday.

This is the snowy tree in my neighbours garden.

The snowy trees at the back of our garden.

The snowman built by my husband and daughter in the back garden.

Sarah xx

Pink Buttercup Bag

My Sister in Law asked me if I would make a bag for her to give to her son's (my nephew) Girlfriend for Christmas. She liked the Buttercup Bag shape, but specified a long cross body Strap, a zip closure and pink.

I had a rummage in my stash of fabric and found the flowery fabric, which was sent to me in a fabric swap with Witchwoopiggy! I also used the lining fabric which was also received in the fabric swap. The plain pink was the remains of a tea towel I had used for other projects.

I've made 2 pockets on the inside. 1 to hold a mobile phone and the other a bit bigger.

I'm really pleased with how this bag turned out. The material has a linen feel to it and it looks really nice and (without wanting to blow my own trumpet too much) professional.

Sarah xx

Elf Christmas Stocking

I have been wanting to make a Elf style Christmas Stocking, ever since I found this pattern way back in the summer. I have been on the lookout for some suitable fabric ever since and whilst I was browsing in Ikea this week, I came across a cheap red fleece blanket and had a flash of inspiration.

Using the pattern I cut out the stocking and hand embroidered on the felt hearts with silver thread for decoration , but instead of making the cuff with the points, I used the decorative edge on the blanket. I stuffed the toe as per the directions and added a silver bell.

I think it turned out rather well... I've decided this is my Christmas Stocking and I have hung it up in the hope Santa will pop something nice inside it for me on Christmas Day!

Sarah xx

Felt Tooth Fairy Pillows

I have really enjoyed making things out of felt lately. It seems to be a bit of a trend, in the crafting world (or maybe I'm just catching on). My Tooth Fairy pillows have been one of the most popular items on my craft stall and in my Misi shop. I decided to make a version in Felt.

I have managed to sell a couple before I managed to take a photo. However I have one left at the moment.

The felt on the reverse is the same colour as the pocket!

Sarah xx

More Crayon Rolls

A while ago one of the ladies on MSE, posted a picture of some crayon and pencil rolls she had made. I loved the fabric she had used so much, I just had to buy some. I made four rolls for my craft stall and 2 sold. I still have 2 left so here they are.

Don't you think the fabric is so appropriate.

I made the insides in different fabrics, the buttons on the outside tone nicely with the fabric inside.

Sarah xx

Gingerbread Heart Hanger

Over the last few weeks, I have been busy making things for the School/craft Fayres that we attended. I have been meaning to take photo's however, somehow didn't get around to it. Alas some things have been sold without photo's, but I have had a rummage in my goody bag to see what is left...

I made several of these Gingerbread Heart Hangers, this one is green gingham, which you can just make out on the photo. I also made some in red gingham (sold out). And I made a Gingerbread House version (also sold) as well, which was my daughters idea.

I really enjoyed making these, perhaps because they are a little bit different to the other gingerbread men I have seen.

Sarah xx

Custom Felt Birdies

I was rather excited last week to receive a lovely order for my felt birdies.

The customer had a couple of specific colour requests, but then left the rest up to me, providing they were darker colours (i.e. no white).

I really enjoyed putting together the colours and making sure no two were exactly the same.

Sarah xx

Felt Butterfly Hanger Tutorial

After seeing one of my Felt Birdies, I was asked to make a felt butterfly for a girls bedroom. As I made a start I decided to make a photo record of my progress and perhaps make a tutorial... So here goes.

This is the finished item, although I was losing daylight when I took this photo, so its not the best...

Step 1. Gather the items needed.

Butterfly template. (Find a shape you like on the internet and trace it)

Felt in co-ordinating colours,

Embroidery thread again in co-ordinating colours. I split mine into 3 strands.

Felt shapes to embelished, I used shapes from a pack bought in Tesco, but you could cut out your own.

Seed and Bugle beads to decorate.

Stuffing. (Hollowfibre or toy stuffing is fine).

Ribbon to hang

Pins and Needle and Sewing Thread

2. Pin template to felt and cut out butterfly. I cut 1 in a light mauve and 1 in dark mauve.

3. Sew the felt shapes on in a symetrical design using a small running stitch. Cut a long piece of felt for the butterfly body, shaping as desired (rounding the ends etc.,) and sew using blanket stitch in the middle of the butterfly.

4. Sew Bugle and seed beads in place, again following the symetrical design.

5. Take the 2nd butterfly shape place behind the first, making sure they line up neatly.

6. Pin the two pieces together and sew through them around the butterfly body, taking care not to let the stitches show on the front.

7. Starting at the bottom middle, using a blanket stitch, start to sew through the two layers of felt, around one of the wings.

8. When you reach the top of the wing, attach the ribbon by incorporating it between the felt layers with the blanket stitch.

9. Stuff the wing lightly before completely sewing the wing shut. Repeat steps 7 and 8 for the other wing.

10. The reverse side should look like this.

11. The finished butterfly.

Let me know if anything is unclear and I will endeavour to help you out.

Home Grown / Home Made Pumpkin Soup

For the last few years I have grown my own Pumpkins for Halloween. This year was no exception, and I manage to produce 3 football sized pumkins and one slightly larger. I gave 2 away and and we carved 2 for displaying to the trick or treaters.

I was determined not to waste the pumpkins afterwards, so have made some soup... here's how I did it.

Ingredients

Half a medium sized pumpkin

1 large onion (also home grown)

2 carrotts

1 chicken stock cube made into 450ml of stock.

Knob of butter

1. Chop the onion and lightly fry in a knob of butter in a large saucepan
2. Peel and chop the carrots add to frying onions.


3. Peel and chop the pumpkin in to small pieces add to saucepan with the stock.


4. Simmer for 20mins or until the pumpkin is soft and mashable.


5. Allow to cool slightly and transfer the contents of the saucepan to a liquidiser and liquidise to preferred consistancy.


6. Serve adding Salt and Pepper to taste!

Mmmmm...... this was surprisingly tasty!

Sarah xx

Halloween

My daughter takes halloween very seriously. And this year decided to go Trick or Treating as her favourite film character Jack Skellington. We bought face paints from Poundland and the rest we made from old school trousers and sweatshirt and a tube of acrillic paint for the stripes.

All in all the overall effect was great! We spent a good hour with friends, trapesing around the houses in our village that displayed Halloween Decorations and came home with a pumkin bucket full of sweets.

Sarah xx

Felt Hair Slides

Another thing I have come across on my Blog Hopping is normal metal hair slides and clips converted into lovely hair accessories. I finally got around to buying some plain clips this week, and after viewing many tutorials and articles I made some... to my own design.

The top one is the first one I made and like most of the ones I've seen, has the motive on the end. This one is made from the metal hair slides that snap shut! I decided to be a bit different with the middle ones and sew the motive in the middle.

The bottom ones are made with Curl Clips or Alligator Clips. Ribbon is glued around the clip and then the design is glued to the clip.

I think both clip styles are equally effective and I might just make a few to sell on my craft stall!

Here are a few of the web pages where I got my inspriation...

http://www.purlbee.com/rose-barrettes/

http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2007/06/this_house_is_w.html

http://weefolkart.com/?q=node/293

http://shop.giddygiddy.com/ This last site is selling their Felt hair clips, but the designs are fantastic and vast!

Sarah xx

Misi Monday - Halloween

I've seen Folksy Friday, but as my shop is with Misi... Here is my Misi Monday Selection... I've chosen a theme of Halloween as its only a couple of weeks away!

First item is a lovely Fabric Pumkin

Visit the Misi Shop here

A pair of Horror Finger puppets...

Shop Here

A Set of Halloween Blocks Decoration

Shop Here

And last but not least

A fimo witch bear...

Shop Here

Sarah xx

A Little Bit Of Crochet

I'm not a big Crocheter, but its something I enjoy doing when I'm sitting watching the TV. I found this pattern on http://creativeyarn.blogspot.com/2008/08/white-flower-necklace.html a while back and saved it to my favourites to try out. Well I finally got around to it last night whilst watching 'The Apprentice and Ugly Betty!

I realised when I had finished that I had used the wrong size crochet hook, so it has come out a bit smaller than it should. I also used a 55% wool yarn instead of cotton, so it has a different feel to it. I think I need to practice the leaves as they're not very leaf shaped.

Sarah xx

A Little Bit Of Knitting

I'm not a knitter, I found it tricky when I was a child when my Mum tried to teach me. The best I managed was a knitted teddy in garter stitch. However, my daughter has a go at knitting every now and then, so I have taught myself some basics so I can help her along. Whilst searching the internet for some easy beginners patterns I came across these knitted stockings by Jean Greenhowe http://www.jeangreenhowe.com/patterns.html I always have a go to see how easy the pattern is!



I've got a bit carried away as they knit up quite quickly! The last one is awaiting stitching up! My daughter decided to try the Nittybod on the same webpage!

Sarah xx

My New Sewing Box

It was my birthday back in July, and I told my husband I need a new cabinet to keep all my sewing stuff in! He had to agree as most of my material was in bags stuffed behind the sofa! (or to the side) We've have just got around to buying one....

I spent most of last Friday sorting out all my sewing stuff, being ruthless with fabric I will probably never use and putting it in a bag for freecycle.

The cupboards have room for the rest of the fabric, wadding and stuffing.

Each drawer is sorted in to patterns, ribbons and lace, buttons and bits and bobs, and top drawer is for scissors, sticky tape, measuring tapes, needles and pins etc...

How marvellous to have everthing sorted and to hand!

Sarah xx

A Pencil Case

The night before my daugher was about to start her new school, she decided she wanted a new pencil case... So, not wanting to disappoint her I told her to have a rummage in my stash and find some material. She pulled out a leg off a pair of old black jeans and some red gingham. She wanted her name on it.




Here is the result....

We used a bit of non sew bond-a-web to apply the letters, a good opportunity to find out how it holds up against day to day use. I made her, draw and cut them out. I left it unlined for quickness, sewed in the zip, and added a bit of the gingham to the end of the zip.

A few weeks in and the pencil case is holding up to daily use, however the bond-a-web is starting to peel up in places, so I might add a few stitches around the edges

Sarah xx

A Crayon Roll At Long Last!

For a long time now, I have been wanting to make a Crayon Roll. I had a quick peek yesterday at the Sewing Thread on MSE and there was another photo of one someone had made... that was it... I picked out some material from my huge pile and got to work... I had to go to Mr T's for something so picked up some crayons whilst there and voila... my first crayon roll... very quick and easy to make as everyone says in there posts and blogs... I followed the tutorial on this Blog which was nice and clear.

I just may make a few more of these for my next craft stall...

Sarah xx

A Fete and A Few More Makes

Sorry, I haven't posted for ages, but I have made loads... I had a craft stall at a school fete the other week and sold a few bits and pieces, some items were old stock I had made before, but I had spent 2 weeks making stuff for this fete. I think I thought it was going to be good. The new items I made were some larger hanging hearts. I main aim is to make things from fabric I already have, but I went to John Lewis to see if I could get some of the white fabric I use for my hanging Tooth Fairy Pillows! I found some in the remnant bin and whilst rummaging I found some lovely green gingham style fabric and was immediately inspired to make the larger hearts in it.

I made this heart from some lovely fabric I was sent in a fabric swap
organised by the MSE ladies.

I had also made 2 large hearts, one in red gingham with an applique pink flower on it and a green striped one with a small red heart appliqued on it, both of these sold at the fete, so I haven't got a picture. I will probably make some more though and will make sure I take a picture.

I made some more of the felt birdies too...

Sarahxx