Dog Blanket

I'm fairly new to Machine Embroidery, but it didn't take me long to find out I could do other things with it! And one of those things is applique!  I found an applique file for a dog bone, and of course thought dog blanket. So along with a couple of paw prints and the name of my brothers Dog I came up with this.

A friend of mine saw it and immediately asked for one for her dog and one for her daughter!

I have added 'Dog Blankets' to my Etsy shop to be personalised with the recipients name!

The pooches have never had it so good LOL!

Sarah xx

Well Hellloooooooo! I have a new hobby!

Well its been a while, how are you all?

I have a new Job and a New Hobby.  I started my new job last June, its part time in the NHS still, however I now only work mornings which gives me lots of time for my new hobby...

It all started when I decided I was going to treat myself to a new sewing machine (I had been saving up for nearly 2 years). I decided it was going to be something all singing and dancing and something that could do a bit of lettering!  Lots of searching on the internet, I had narrowed it down to a Singer 9960 or a Janome TX607 until one morning I turned on the Create and Craft channel and they were demonstrating a Embroidery Machine. I watched fascinated, think how marvelous it would be to have a machine that could Embroider, just think of all the things I could do!  The price was a couple of hundred pounds more than I was going to spend on my new Sewing Machine, but still nearly £800. Could I justify spending the extra? Lots more searching on the internet followed, and its soon dawned on me that the machine on Create and Craft was in fact Embroidery only, the price of an Sewing and Embroidery machine combined was double at least! Oh well, I thought, there's no way I can justify that amount of money, let alone afford it, until I came across a machine which was Ex Demo/Ex Display and slightly outdated (no USB connection) for less than half price, but still came with full 2 year Manufacturers Guarantee!  Oh My God! Could I possibly justify it, would I use it, much procrastinating, and checking the website to see if it was still there, much discussing with hubby!  In the end I pushed the button and paid for it and 2 days later it was delivered. My new hobby began with my New Elna Xplore Sewing and Embroidery Machine!

My New Pride and Joy

I started with a pack of embroidery threads and a pack of stabiliser, and with the instruction manual on my knee I tentatively hooped a face cloth, pushed the buttons on the display and my first embroidery started to stitch!

Well, that was 6 months ago and I haven't looked back, I've embroidered Face cloths, Towels, T-shirts, cushion covers, bags, fleece blankets and of course the favorite Item of mine the Peg Bag LOL!

Face Cloths

There's a whole world out there on the World Wide Web of Embroidery websites, I've joined a Facebook group which offers invaluable advice.  I have also found it's quite an expensive hobby, so I am hoping to sell a few items and will be stocking my Esty Shop hopefully very shortly - Braddlebury Crafts

Fleece Dog Blanket.

I love my new hobby, its so addictive.  I'm hoping to add a few more projects here from time to time. I've missed blogging!

Sarah XX

Felt Novelties Part 2

It was a colleagues 50th birthday recently at work, and her immediate work mates had clubbed together to buy her a Radley Handbag.  Of course I was inspired by the Scottie Dog logo, and set about making a bag charm.  Using a pattern from a previous project, I cut out 2 halves in contrasting colours and blanket stitched them together and was going to leave it flat, but in the end decided to lightly stuff it.

I didn't like it left plain, so I cut out the felt hearts and embroidered them on to the sides, and chose the beads for the eyes.

Finally I made the collar and lead out of a piece of fine ribbon and attached to a lobster claw.

Wendy seemed really pleased with her Scottie Dog and hung it straight onto her handbag!

The photos were taken with my mobile phone at work as I forgot to take a picture at home.

Sarah xx

Handmade Felt Novelties Part 1

I sat on the sofa one evening and was inspired by my daughters notebook which had owls on it.  I started by sketching a rough idea, and then got out my wool mix felt to select the colours.

The main colours are blue and pink with big yellow felt and black embroidered eyes. I sewed all the parts together with a blanket stitch and stuffed it lightly with hollowfibre! The little beck stands slight proud, which was achieved by sewing the sides closer together so the beak was pushed out.

I think I need to do a little more to the wings and tail feathers, and will probably add some coloured felt feathers and embroider them on some how... another job for when I'm sat on the sofa watching tv.

I'm quite pleased with myself for making my own design instead of copying someone elses!

Sarah xx

More Birdies

I've spent the most of the day making Birdies.

I had to go shopping this morning, and bought some cheap embroidery thread off the market for 20p a skein. A bargain, but I was a bit worried it was sub-standard, however I made the red one with this thread and it was fine!

I particularly like orange with green thread... I thought the colours contrasted nicely when I was sorting out the felt and embroidery thread. I also liked the pattern on the orange one, so repeated it for the pink one.

I'm having a stall at a school fete on Saturday, so I thought I might print some small thank you cards to go in the pockets... thinking teachers gifts.... maybe...

xx

Embroidered Felt Birdies

Whilst browsing the internet I've often come across Embroidered Felt Birds, so I decided to make my own. So I drew a template and made the first one... of course being me, I decided the first one wasn't quite right, so the second one is slight altered... I've left the top of the wing un-attached from the body so it forms a pocket... might put a note or little something in there???

I'm still working on a few design ideas, with scraps of felt I've got, so will post some more pics soon!