My Diamond Jubilee Post

Well that was the Diamond Jubilee Week over and done with... Well not quite, I have decided to reserve the right to have a Barbecue in aid of the Diamond Jubilee when the sun is shinning. I' m sure the queen won't mind...  I think she was a real trooper to stand in all that rain on the river Thames for 4 hours plus, putting a very brave face on the worst British weather we could have possibly had! Who's idea was it to change the Bank Holiday Weekend.  If they had kept to the original May Bank Holiday and just added the extra day on to that, the weather would have been splendid.  Typical!

I decided to make my own souvenir and as I had downloaded a trial copy of Coral Paint Shop Pro...  I merged two pics together to make the flag above....  I will add a few appropriate words and make it into a needle case or something else that takes my fancy! Watch this space... (I have taken 2 days off at the end of next week to do some crafting.  Shhhhh... Don't tell anyone, as I don't want people to allocate any jobs to me or ask me to do anything if they know I am off work).

I hope you all enjoyed the Diamond Jubilee...  We won't see another one in our life time.

Sarah xx

A little bit of dressmaking

I recently decided to do some dressmaking.  Something I used to do a lot of when I was a lot younger.  In fact the last thing I made for myself was my wedding dress and that was 17 years ago!

I had some material which I had bought for crafting, however the piece was 5 meters long and there is plenty for crafting as well as making a top for myself.  I was going to down load a pattern from the internet, however I decided to check out the new haberdashery department at John Lewis and found myself perusing the dress making patterns.  £5.95 later and I had my pattern.  I chose a fairly easy one.  I wanted to ease back into dress making.

It didn't take too long to cut out the fabric,and it didn't take too long to sew everything together.  I completed the project over several days, but I'm sure it would have taken an afternoon from start to finish.

I decided to do French seams as it hides all the raw edges. 

A close up on the button detail and front gathering.

I enjoyed my revisit to dress making so much, I might just do some more.... when I have time that it!

Sarah xx

100th Post and a Little Owl

I have been meaning to post for a while, I noticed I was up to post no. 99, so this is no. 100 congrats to me LOL!

I browse Pinterest from time to time and of course anything of interest I repin...  I have noticed that sometimes pictures have been hi-jacked and lead to something totally different, so I always check the link before I re-pin! (Its a bit naughty of Pinterest to allow this, don't you think?).

One of the items I pinned was this lovely little owl cushion/softie. 

It has taken me some time to make this, I started it a couple of weeks ago, however in between an extremely busy week at work and having some time to myself this afternoon, I finally finished it.

I decided to hand applique the pieces using a variety of stitches, just to see which worked well and which didn't. I added some hearts to the body and I lost the original beak template so I just cut out a triangle, all be it a bit small, however I am relatively pleased with this.  I am tempted to make another and double the size of the pattern to make a large owl cushion. Alternatively I might applique the front of the owl to a cushion square!

Sarah xx

Silhouette Easter Cake

I hope you all had a lovely Easter...

My daughter made a lovely Chocolate Cake to take to our relatives... we had been invited for dinner.

I couldn't resist an opportunity to use my Silhouette SD machine to make a decorative band to go around the outside.

I had searched the internet for ideas or a pre-made design, but could only find Cup Cake Wrappers.  I didn't have a lot of time to look, so I made my own.  I used the trace facility to get the rabbit shape from a picture I found on the net,  and used the flower which comes with the software.  The scalloped border is just some circles in a row and merged on top of a rectangle. And then some smaller circles inside the scallops. After cutting it out from yellow paper, I just lined it with the green paper and some grease proof paper.

The cake was received well and looked lovely on the table for the 2 minutes before it was sliced up and eaten.

Sarah xx

Credit Card Wallet

My mum mentioned the other day that she wanted a little holder for credit card and store cards.  We happened to be in TK Maxx at the time and we couldn't find one and I little voice in my head said, I could make one...  Mum was soon distracted by a pair of shoes and I hatched a plan.

I scoured the internet for ideas and patterns, and decided on drawing up my own.  I rifled through my fabric cupboard and picked out some likely candidates.

A few hours later, the time it took hubby to take the kids to the cinema to see the latest Disney offering 'John Carter' (funny I used to work with a John Carter, and there was a John Carter in ER,  OOoooo Noah Wyle). a'hem... I had made 3 credit card wallets.

The first, not bad, but too much iron on interfacing, I interfaced every piece of fabric and its just too bulky. I also forgot about a tag or elastic to hold it closed. I haven't included a photo of this one as it is very similar to my third effort!

The second, I only interfaced half the fabric, so turned out quite well, however I miss measured the top card pocket and the Credit Cards sit level with the edge, which I decided is not ideal, I also decided the outer fabric is upside down and the Elastic/ Button is on the wrong side.

Third attempt.... Just Right.

I am going to make another one, as I really like the finish of the fabric, the second attempt was made from.  It is a Japanese Linen Mix FQ that I bought at the MK Handmade and Vintage Fayre. I will attempt to photograph the steps and make a little tute for you.

Sarah xx

Milton Keynes Handmade and Vintage Market 3rd and 4th March '12

The fabulous MK Handmade and Vintage Fayre is back at Milton Keynes Shopping Centre tomorrow and Sunday.

Further details here http://www.mk-handmade-and-vintage.co.uk/home

I might just pop up there for a little mooch around!

Sarah xx

Off Work Today!

Here I am, sat on my sofa, I have contemplated do something crafty, alas I have pulled a muscle in my back and the slightest movement is very uncomfortable at best and down right painful at worst, so I have sat here all day watching day time telly, surfing the net and playing Angry Birds (Rio version) on my mobile phone!

It occurred to me whilst reading some Blog updates that, perhaps I should show off some of my handy work of old.  I used to do a lot of dress making in my younger days, and I am contemplating doing some more. Some items I have made no longer fit me, but I can't bear to throw them out. When my back is feeling a bit better, i'll dig them out and take a photo.

Talk soon!

Sarah xx