no post week

Hello everyone, no post this week but back next week as usual.

Thank you to all those that have commented over this last year it has really helped me to keep motivated.  All those lurkers, don't be shy...I don't bite honest!

Sid Rabbit. Bits and bobs.

I think the decorating has at last finished and the paintbrush and rollers will be put away till the next time. (which, I hope, wont be anytime soon)

This week we have Sid Rabbit who will be going to his new home very soon. He has on his nice warm winter scarf and stripey leggings. I have done the eyes a little bit differently with tiny boot buttons. (he is going to live with a grown-up so no danger of littlies pulling them out!)

He's been featured on;

This is just a peek at something that I am working on. This is going to be for the back....have I got your interest?

Clue.... it was a sort of tablecloth. But you will have to wait till next week, sorry!

And here is another sneek peek.....a little cat on a red roof. This project is one that has been picked up and put down,  just like Mr.Postlethwaite in a couple of posts down. So has/is been a long time getting anywhere with it.

The kitty cat looks like he's poking his tongue out but he's yowling!

And finally a handbag, which was made entirely out of re-cycled fabrics and metal clasps, by my daughter, for her sister, who loves it.

Fully lined and with a zip compartment and little pocket. Just the right size for a purse/mobile/hankies.

This weeks linky parties;
Sunday;
flamingotoes.com/
navywifeypeters.blogspot.
Monday;
the-chicken-chick.com/
sewingbarefoot.blogspot.
watchoutmartha.
.alderberryhill.

Maurice Monkey Stained glass window crochet Japanese flowers

Well, from a thick frost to high winds in one day, what a contrast. Good job that I had stocked up on bird food as I'm sure the ground was too hard for them to peck and the creepy crawlies were hiding under a layer of perma frost!

Here is a knitted little monkey called Maurice. I'm hoping that he will be as popular as the bunnies and sockies otherwise he will feel a bit unloved!

He has on his winter jumper and trousers and cosy shoes.

                                             All monkeys have to have tails!

                                      Here's a peek at his secret heart.


I've not done much in the crafting front this week. These are the crochet Japanese flowers that I started quite a while ago and added to over time. A nice colourful pile, which look like a stained glass window.

                  
    Looks like a colourful pile of waffles!

All laid out....not as large as I expected it to be as when I first started out crocheting these flowers, I did think it would make a very big blanket. There is not a lot of cotton left to do many more so need to have a re-think on what to make with them.

Never having stitched circles together before that is going to be a bit of a challenge.....hmm might put them on the back boiler....got another quilt to make!

This weeks link parties are;
Sunday;
flamingotoes.com/
navywifeypeters.blogspot.
handmadeharbour.blogspot.
Monday;
watchoutmartha.
the-chicken-chick.com/
sewingbarefoot.blogspot.co.uk/
.sylviasstitches.com/
Tuesday;
thediydreamer.
primpjunktion.
Wednesday;
lavendergardencottage.blogspot.
]finecraftguild.

Another quilt for daughter

This week I have been making the promised quilt for daughter (she was keeping an eye on this one!) She wanted a cream coloured one, which is very different from the other quilts that have been made, and was thinking it's going to be a bit bland! Anyway I love it (I wonder if she will accept another excuse from me so I can keep it, lol)

I forgot to take photos of it being made up but here is one that has all the blue transfer pen on and the start of the quilting. The sashing was made up of some curtains that were hanging up in our old house and no longer used. (knew they would come in handy one day!)

                                                    Back

Finished product .With heart quilting all the way around. The photo is a bit rubbish due to the light (or my technical skills or lack thereof!) The quilt is much nicer looking in real life. It measures about 48" square so a nice size to snuggle under.

I was playing around with the applique bit of the sewing machine and trying to do a nice blanket stitch around the fabric heart. I think I will have to phone the shop and see why it does a double stitch instead of single which is what I wanted. But neither HH or myself could see which button to push for that option (if indeed there was one)

 The back which was made from a duvet cover picked up in a charity shop.

                               
                                       Folded up

This time I remembered to put in a little 'quirky' patch on the back of the quilt. (must remove the blue transfer pen.

On a side note when my blue pen ran dry, which seems to happen fairly quickly, I took the top off and dribbled some water in it and it gave it a new lease of life. Now it's run dry for the second time I repeated the process and hopefully will continue to do this until it the ink runs out properly.

So that's my make for this week. I hope dd likes it....if she is not keen, well saves me making another one for myself.  Got just the spot for it ;0D

Need to get cosy and warm for when this sort of weather hits us.....

This weeks linky parties are;
Sunday;
flamingotoes.
.navywifeypeters.blogspot.
handmadeharbour.blogspot.
the-chicken-chick.com/
Monday;
watchoutmartha.
sewingbarefoot.blogspot.
sylviasstitches.com/
Tuesday;
thediydreamer.
Wednesday;
lavendergardencottage.
handymancraftywoman.
Thurs;
michellestastycreations.

Percy Postlethwaite - Hanging Birdies - Ballerina

I think it's time to get knitting some more nose warmers as it certainly is turning cold enough to warrant the wearing of one! haha

This week Percy Postlethwaite had his last dab of paint. He has been sitting on the side for the last couple of months waiting patiently. Percy was made just for fun and for no other reason. Sometimes you just gotta go with the flow!

Percy has a large basket of hearts that he just bought from the bird seed station for his wife Mrs.Postlethwaite. Which is very thoughtful of him.

I have used some of the same paper clay that Florence the folk art doll was made from. Do you like his winter scarf? Just in time for chilly days for when he's out and about, collecting worms and other yummy stuff, and he looks quite dapper in his black top hat. We do get some strange looking birds in our corner of Scotland, but blink and they've gone and you wonder if it was your imagination, haha!

His stripey stockings are cunningly made from bamboo skewers which are drilled into the little wooden offcut so he is firmly anchored down and can't tip over. I am going to put a feather in his top hat but wanted a real bird one, so will keep my eyes peeled when I'm out and about just in case one flutters down from an overhead birdie. From top to toe he measures just over 7" tall. Percy will take up residence on my 'quirky' shelf with the other eclectic bits and bobs and you never know he might eventually be joined by his wife and eggs!

Also this week I have been making another Pippa Longstockings who has now flown to the US where I'm sure she will be very happy.

                        
      Here is some hanging birdies that I have been making. I hang them on my cupboards and wardrobes but they can be put anywhere. These are made to order, if interested please email me at the addy on right hand side. Made from linen and cotton, they can also be made in different colours.

                             
                                             Showing the underbody.

They are approx 7" long, so a nice size. Fastened with a love heart button and ribbon completes the look.

This weeks party linkys are:
Sunday;
flamingotoes.com/
sewmanyways.blogspot.
navywifeypeters.blogspot.
handmadeharbour.blogspot.
Monday;
the-chicken-chick.
watchoutmartha.
sewingbarefoot.blogspot.
Tuesday
thediydreamer.com
Wednesday;
lavendergardencottage.
finecraftguild.
Thurs;
michellestastycreations.

Friday;
blissfulbucketlist.
                             

'Quirky House' wallhanging

When is a quilt not a quilt? When it's a wall hanging! Yep, the 'quirky quilt' is now a 'quirky house' wall hanging.The saga of the quilt for daughter changed when I started to quilt and realised that it was not suitable to drap over chilly legs when snuggled up on the sofa.  With the material that was used for the blocks and backing and the heavy quilting on top, it is quite stiff so not snuggly to put over your legs. (I did say she could still have it or I would make her another one, she opted for another one as she wants needs one for the winter drafts) Am I disappointed it didn't go quite to plan...heck no!

The squares look darker in the middle, but they are all the same cream. With a darker cream for the sashing. I used red bias binding to finish it off.

It measures approx 35" square and fits above the sofa with cat quilt underneath.

You can see the texture a bit more in this photo.

The next few photos show close ups of the houses.

Wouldn't it be great to have a tree shaped like this in the front garden and to live in a wonky, bright house!

All the blocks were hand appliqued and some hand and machine embroidery. The quilting was just a meandering stiching with the feeddog down on the machine. I have incorporated lots of little hearts all around, so if I ever get bored I can sit and count them!

                                              Neatly folded.

                                          Last photo.

It adds a touch of cheeriness to this corner of the room. Especially needed for winter!
Now I need to sort out some 'proper' patchwork fabric for my daughters quilt.

This weeks linky parties are;
Sunday;
flamingotoes.
navywifeypeters.blogspot.co.
blissfulbucketlist.
sewmanyways.blogspot.
handmadeharbour.blogspot.
Monday;
watchoutmartha.
sewingbarefoot.blogspot.
tuesday;
thediydreamer.
Wednesday;
lavendergardencottage.blogspot
finecraftguild.
Thursday;
michellestastycreations.

Timmy Mouse has a visitor. Update on cream quilt.Nose warmer

Hello, fellow bloggers, hope you have all had a super crafty week. Timmy Mouse had a visitor a couple of weeks ago, his cousin Oswald.

They were so excited to see each other! While the crafting daughter was here she was determined to make a mouse of her own. Poor little Timmy has been pulled from pillar to post by visitors who want to pop him in their pocket! (But he remains firmly on my mantlepiece!)

They had lots to talk about and Oswald got his own suitcase so he is comfortable while travelling back home.

Now while no mice were hurt in the making of Oswald.....daughter did break 5....yes 5....of the felting needles!! (Good job I had a good stock of them that's all I can say) I think he came out very well and is now proudly sitting on her desk and looking super cute. Tim and Oswald can see each other over Skype and have a yakety yak together, so, even tho distance is a problem, technology can be a wonderful thing!

Here is an update on my cream 'quirky house' quilt.

I have done some free motion embroidery on some of the blocks, which was fun to do. Still got lots more stitching before it's finished, which, I hope, will be very soon.

I was asked to make a nose warmer in the shape of a mouse. No, I didn't know they existed either! I had a look on google to see what that is all about, there are some funny ones and I don't know when people would actually wear them. But I like a challenge and made up my own pattern.

Matches the wrist warmers.

Still if we have a winter the same as 2010 I'm sure everyone will need one!

I've been featured! 

This weeks linky parties are;
Sunday;
flamingotoes.com/
navywifeypeters.blogspot.
sewmanyways.blogspot.
.blissfulbucketlist.
handmadeharbour.blogspot.
Monday;
the-chicken-chick.com
watchoutmartha.
sewingbarefoot.blogspot.
Tuesday;
thediydreamer.
Wednesday;
lavendergardencottage.blogspot
finecraftguild.com
Thursday;
michellestastycreations.
Friday;
craftionary.net

Cross Stitch Box

Another week has just zoomed past, they seem to go quicker and quicker.

This week I can show you the finished box that has cross stitched fronts. A while ago I purchased a plain wooden box from Lidle's and it came in very handy for storing those small crafting bits and bobs that get lost, but, it was pretty boring to look at. I used my favourite red and white fabric to cover the sides and top and dyed some aida (16ct) with tea so it has a nice browny look and adapted some googled cross stitch images, and out came the red embroidery thread.

Now, the first three drawers were very straightforward, but after that it went downhill! One of the patterns bled the red colour when I pasted it with glue, so had to do another one and although the cross stitch on the front of the bottom box was a very simple pattern I kept making mistakes....grrrr.

HH made me a little shaped back and sides for the top of the box to finish it off. There are  little fabric pulls on the top of each drawer, with the bottom one having two pulls. I wouldn't make another one it was more fluffing and fiddling than I care to do, and even now, I keep prodding and poking it as it hasn't glued very well. The paper rose matches it very well tho, I think, so that's an upside as well as keeping the crafty bits all in one place.

While my visiting daughter has taken all her crafting bits home with her and emptying some of my supplies in the process, another daughter was busy making herself an all purpose bag.

She had a jacket that didn't fit anybody so it was taken apart and this is what she has come up with. Dd needed an everyday lightweight, washable, sturdy, small bag. Even tho its not a large bag, it certainly holds an enormous amount, bit like a tardis inside! I'm not kidding you she could easily pack half my cottage in there! Inside it  has a couple of useful  pockets and a hidden pocket in the shoulder strap (ingenius cos even when she pointed it out I couldn't see it!)
Hmmm need to keep an eye on my jackets now just in case they re-appear as a bag!!.

Hope you all have a good crafty week.
This weeks linky parties are;
Sunday;
flamingotoes.com/
handmadeharbour.blogspot.
navywifeypeters.blogspot.
sewmanyways.blogspot.
blissfulbucketlist.
craftionary.net/l
Monday;
the-chicken-chick
watchoutmartha.
sew
tuesday;
thediydreamer.com
Thursday;
#.michellestastycreations.