Fabric ATC Swap

I promised yesterday to post about the Fabric ATC swap, hosted by Ali at Very Berry Hand Made.

I meant to post this the first week of June but, as they say better late than never don't you think? So, above is the fabrics I had to selected from, the fabric ATC was 2.5"x 3.5"quite small.Mine was made for Dawn Nelson over at danslespointsdesuture.wordpress.com

This is what I came up with. In the details of my partner, I found out that she liked dark colours, hence the black and white, plus she likes gardening. The brief from Ali, was something new, well I have two of those, this was my first swap plus the first time I made yo yo's and such small ones. I adapted the idea from Country cottage quilting by Lynette Anderson, all be it on a very small scale, I added the red to give it a bit of a pop, I name it Mono Garden,  I've heard from Dawn and she loves it which is all that matters.


Now I bet you can't wait to see the one made for me, I was really looking forward to it popping through my letter box.

As you can see I wasn't disappointed, how cute is that? I love it,  and how adorable is the bunting. I was made for me by the Becca over at Becca Lou Creates pop over and see her.

Just had to show you the card that Becca enclosed so she could say hello, lovely huh?

Just before I go I want to say thank you to Ali for hoisting such a fun swap and if you want to see more of the Fabric ATC cards,  pop over to Very Berry Handmade ATC swap group

Bye for now

1 Xams item a month - May

Pins and Whiskers

25th of the month can mean only one thing, time to show we I've made for this Mays 1 Xmas item a month. hosted by the lovely, Narelle. 

This is when I'd made a start, ready to see it finished? Of course you are.

Here we go, its a little Christmas Ornament, the chart was in Cross Stitcher a while ago now I think 

I added the date on the back, I think its nice to know when they are added to the collection. 

Going to pop and see what the others have been up to this month

Bye for now

Judith's Birthday

Today is my pen-pals birthday, well I say pen-pal that's how we started out a good few years ago now, but we hare much more than that, we have contact nearly every day, but we still put pen to paper. Judith has always been there for me but this last year she has really pulled out all the stops and I am and will be forever grateful and blessed to have her as my friend, these are the little things I made for her to go with the bought presents.

Applique  card I made her, the watering can and he heart is idea is from the quilt I want to start making later this year, but this is my own version I had to draw it to get it to fit  the card, drawing isn't my strong point, I'm amazed when I manage basic shapes.

This is something I stitching a little while ago, 

I turned it into a notebook cover,

The inside

Plus I popped in a little tissue case, I have a feeling I will be making a few of these.

Happy Birthday Judith, I love you my dear friend. x

Bye fore now

Textile ATC Swap

It seems the month of May is going to be a busy month for me, as well as a month of firsts, I have joined a swap, textile ATC swap, hosted by Ali over at Very Berry Handmade which is a fabric artist trading card swap, the image above is a ATC. The 'card' which isn't a card but fabric is 2 1/2 by 3 1/2, I have May to complete it and it has to go out the first week of June. 

These are the fabrics I will be choosing from are black and white and a little bit of grey thrown in. It's a secret swap, so I can't say who my partner is, but the theme is Something New. I'm pretty sure I know what I am going to do, so watch this space as they say. 

Bye for now

Country Cottage SAL

My first SAL how exciting is this?

The main reason I bought this book, is because I love the quilt that matches the pillow on the front, Val Spires from Val Spires Sews and I are doing a SAL. We are starting with the cottage garden sewing set, and we will be reporting in every two weeks. 

I must admit I thought I would be further along that just having the fabric and threads I only just got them all together this week, next time there will be more happening it's a promise. 

I just wanted to say thank you for all your kind comments to my last post, and all the crafty facts about yourselves, its fun getting to know you. x

Bye for now

Book cover

Remember this? I finished it a while ago, bet you'd thought I'd forgotten all about it. A lovely free gift on front of a stitching mag,  I had kept in in a box for years, although I always like it, don't know what stopped me from stitching it, 

I said I would turn it into a book cover, under the fabric is the most tatty book you could ever come across, it's a Delia's and I have had it for over 20 years. Did you know that you can tell a good cook book by how tatty it is, because it means you have used it. 

I actually made it twice because I wasn't happy with the way it turned out the first time,  along the way I found a great way to do reverse applique. 

I have a question.
I have looked up different ways to do it, but I'm wondering what is your favourite way of transferring an embroidery picture? Something I will be doing in May for the first time.

Bye for now

Happy Birthday Jean

Today is my friend Jeans Birthday, she is such a lovely lady. Jean reads my blog so I couldn't post these until today. These are the things I made her along with her main present.

I did share the mug but not what it turned into, Jean's card.

I made her a patterned daisy, with a pink flower Jean likes pink

Plus a tissue case. 

The back.

Jean sent me a text she has the flower on and the tissue holder in her bag so I would say that means they were a hit, I'm so pleased. 

Happy Birthday Jean, have a great day 

By for now

Shirley x

Wip update

Craft Snippet N°15

It's now ready to add the border, but there has been a change of plan, you know how it is you have it pictured in your mind, and when you get to that point, you take a step back and think you know what, isn't not going to work, so instead I am going to add green fabric to the bottom, wadding backing and edge it with purple bias binding, I think.....

Bye for now

Shirley x

WIP ~ Colours of a butterfly

Craft Snippet Nº14

This is a wall hanging I have been working on for the sewing room, it's a still very much a work in progress, took me  a while to figure out what the butterfly was going to be, toyed with cross stitch then though no, going to make it fabric, next decision was which fabric but in the end it had to be polka dot. 

Up until yesterday, when I had a practice run, I hadn't blanket stitched for about 40 years and it was the first time I had round a shape. 

There's still a bit to do, plus want to add a fabric border, I wasn't going to share, until I had it finished, but I couldn't resist. 

Bye for now

Shirley x

Happy Easter and cards

Remember these?

I promised I would tell you what I turned them into.

They became Easter cards.

Not sure how well it shows up, but they are padded, I really liked the way they turned out and I think I will be trying the idea with other cards.

Wishing you all a happy Easter.

Bye for now 

Shirley x

Night-time sewing

Craft snippet N°11

After moving the room sewing room round yesterday I did manage to get some sewing done. Part of my purchases on Thursday was a rotary cutter, which I am loving by the way. I think you might guess what I am going to of made next.

Yes, you're so clever, yes a rotary cutter case.

I really enjoy stitching the felt, funny how simple things make you happy.

This fabric was in a lucky dip bundle I got and to be honest I wasn't that keen on it but having used it for this I've changed my mind.

Of the three cutting cases I made, I think this one is my favourite
Bye for now
Shirley x

Egg cosies

Craft Snippet N°10

Today I have been finishing our egg cosies, I had one mis-hap where I was sewing the wrong ends together sigh... luckily I notice I before, I had sewn all the way round so only had half to unpick. 

They are very different to the ones I had made before, these were Easter presents and are now with their new owners who are very happy with them, which in turn makes me happy

. 

I stitched the Egg in different colours so we each had our own as they are the same in fabric and ribbon so they looked part of a set. 

Guess what, tomorrow I am going to Cotton Patch for the first time, so if I don't come back you know where to find me.

Bye for now

Shirley x

Tissue case

As I said yesterday last night was my first FNSI, which is run over at, Handmade by Heidi I enjoyed knowing there were other people out there sewing along. 

So wanna know what I got up to? Of course you do why else would you be reading. I made something simple a tissue case, you know how it is you see a tutorial and think oh that's cute, useful on and so I must make that and somehow you don't get round to it, but last night I did. there are lots of tutorials out there, but I used this one from A spoonful of sugar, plus I added some wording. 

I do have a question to do with pictures, do you store yours on line and if you do who do you use? I do have a Flickr, which I opened a few months ago added about two pictures and haven't been back.  Bye for now Shirley x

Patterned Daisy

Snippet Day 6

I seem to be doing a lot of firsts lately, today I made my first fabric flower, a patterned daisy to be precise. plus I used my first self-cover button. It's from a book called Twenty to make Fabric Flowers by Late Haxell, there are a lot of other books in the series, I bet whatever you like to craft there will be a book about it,  I have 4, rrp is £4.99 but they are cheaper on Amazon. 

from 5 circles of fabric

to 5 quarters

Gathered into 5 petals and turned into a daisy. 

Peony the bear said she wanted to help show off the daisy and who am I to say no, I think she does the job pretty well, don't you? 

I'm linking to the Monthly Book Challenge and Giveaway over at Heart of Charnwood pop over and say hello to Ange.