Needlecases

Using up some of my stash of felt I made these 'quirky house' needlework cases! They are all ready to go to the craft shop which opens up in the spring. Compact enough to pop in the suitcase for a stitcher, a pressie from Scotland.

 Nice and bright, both the felts and the houses.

Inside with plenty of spaces to keep all those pin and needles stitchers need.

                                                       
                                                             Outside cover

                                                             All packed up

A lovely lady on a forum has given me some red spotty felt, so I am going to have a think about how to use that.

finished blanket

Winter seems to be the time for getting the knitting needles out. I've finished the patchwork knitted blanket that I started in October, I think. It's been really overcast here for a few months and today was no better, so there wasn't a good light to take a photo, the colours havn't come out quite how they are in real life, which is more of a sage green and raspberry red.

It's nice and cuddly and I've decided not to put a backing on it for now because..... 1) am now using the backing for a cotton patchwork....and 2) havn't got a suitable  replacement, so will keep my eyes peeled out in charity shops for maybe a double duvet cover or similar.

Nice and handy next to me on the sofa, already for when the draughts are draughty!
It was a good blanket to knit as there was enough different patterns so I didn't get bored knitting the same
 pattern. The edging was a simple leaf pattern.
Keeping the knitting needles out as I'm going to be making some more rabbits!

Overload of Bunnies!

This post is photo heavy of ballerina bunnies so be warned!


Here is a little visitor.....she is a bit shy tho

Here she is Lily the Ballerina Bunny she sports a pink and white tutu and pink pumps so she can dance the day away.

My niece has just had a baby girl so I think she is going off to her new home pretty soon. Here is her young cousin Jack, who is also a bit shy and is hiding!

And out he pops, with his little jumper and shorts he is a fine figure of a rabbit.

                                                                           Sold

And then who should turn up but  Lily's sister Belinda, who also is on her way to ballet class.

                                                                            Sold

Showing off her under outfit which is an all in one suit.

All best friends together.....

Jack has a red jumper but it was a bit to big and no shoes so I designed an outfit that fit him properly and he was really pleased about that!

The red jumper has been put away until he grows a little bit!

 They are about 8" tall with Jack being shorter at about 7"
I really enjoyed making these, they are sooo cute. Maybe I will do some more tutus in some different colours.

Knitting the edging

This is the edging that is to go around the knitted patchwork quilt. Have finished all the patches and sewn up into the blanket and just got one more side edge to do and then its 'do I add a back or not'? The neater side of me says yes, it will hide all the lumps and bumps, the lazy side says, no, don't bother! I do have some paler green fabric gleened from a duvet cover so maybe.....hmmm....oh the dilemma!

 It is a very nice raspberry deep red and is a leaf pattern.  I did copy the pattern from the patchwork book, but I remember making this as edging over 20years ago for my daughters cardi that I knitted for her. So nothing new eh!
It's easy enough to knit, but you have to focus and keep counting which is a bit difficult if there is a good film on.....well that didn't happen this holiday so I made good progress!!

Red sampler cushion

Yes, Dear Readers, I know I said I had done my last  cushion, but as I was searching through my stuff looking for something else, I came across the red cross stitch sampler that was made a long while ago.

 Having all the materials needed to make it into a cushion it would have been silly to have stuffed it back into

 the drawer wouldn't it!                                                                                                                                                                                                    

When I was originally sewing it, I did think of turning it into a  picture, but as I was on a cushion mission here it is.

The back which is my favourite envelope style and with a little label to complete the look.

                                         Final resting place, ontop of my bed.

And that IS the last cushion.......for this year!!

Watercolours

A few years ago I went to a painting class to try and learn watercolours. This was my first ever attempt. Being a cheapskate and not wanting to purchase proper watercolour paper, I bought some cheapo paper to start off with. Have to say that was a big mistake, you cant see it very well in the photo but it's quite grainy and didn't take the paint very well so I ditched that paper and got some big girl stuff!

I then became obsessed with pansies and trying to catch their friendly little faces. I did so many the teacher got fed up with me. :0D

These are the two that are the last ones I did before I threw in the towel and not painted a pansy since. I'm always saying practise, practise but dont always use that advise meself!!

    I really must dust off my paint brushes and have a splosh around as I havn't touched them for ages. So many projects....so little time.


   Anyway be careful out there......you never know who's watching :0D

Red and linen cushion cover

This cover is made from red patchwork fabric and linen material. It has, of course, a couple of Quirky houses sewn onto one of the corners! I have hand appliqued them and then oversewn with the machine. Took longer than I thought but was enjoyable to make.
                                                              
                                                      The Begining.....

                                                  
                                                             Finished......

                                                               Back view which is a simple envelope design.....

                                                                  Now  sold.



                                                     All three together........

Hope you like them!

The Terrible Twins!

Let me introduce you to Onslow and Oswald the terrible twin monkeys!!
They have their knitted jumpers, hats and scarfs on as it is getting very cold and they were getting goose bumps.
With their little watches on they are never late!

                                

                                                            Best mates as well as brothers!

Quirky Cushion

Finally finished the Quirky cushion cover that was in the pipe line. I used some material for the backing that was bought from Dunhelm Mill, which is a heavier weight of material, it has also added a bit of texture which I rather like.

Here is the cover before it was stuffed.

              Some close up. I have embroidered some flowers at the windows of some of the houses.

                                     And the back which is done in an envelope style.                    

            

           Tis nice and cheerful and makes me smile.....I baggsy the long tall building cos you can put g'kids up there and wouldn't hear them! lol  


                                                     And now onto the next project!!

Peek a boo!

Here's a peek at something that I'm making at the moment. Hopefully it will be finished by the weekend and then if it's turned out right, will show you then. (Tis a bit bright white as it was taken at night with a flash!)

Quirky Quilt Patch

What does one do when the electric is switched off for the whole day?(We were given prior warning that the power would be off due to repairs)
  Normally  that day would have been filled with cooking, cleaning, ironing, washing etc etc.......NOT! haha
 But I was going to use the sewing machine. Still not one to be outwitted I carried on with my knitted quilt which only requires me and two needles! But I had to make a label for when it's finished....eventually..... probably next year.
So here is the label.....

Yep a little house....did you think it would be anything else!!! It's not been ironed yet. And it will go on the end of this (the photo is picking up the wrong shades of green) It's been hand appliqued so took ages. I have to say it looks really nice in real life. This house has some window boxes full of flowers and some apples growing on the tree.

It is a nicer green than the photo, more like the small patch in the first photo.

                                                                         Close Up

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

There are quite a few patches to go....or until I run out of the wool as I wont be able to get any more. Lots of different patterns, some of which are my own and some are taken from the book '200 patchwork blocks'. It's taking me back to when I used to do lots of knitting for the children (in the olden days!) and some of  the patterns that I would have used. Oh well, the electric has been re-connected so no excuse to sit about :0D