Handmade Monday

Well we have reached number 32 in the Handmade Monday's since the lovely Vicky of Lucy Blossom Crafts too over. Each week I visit the blogs and love reading what you have been up to, would also like to send special thanks to those of you that take the time to comment. Yours comments mean a lot to me and I appreciate everyone.

Okay back to this week, not a lot of makes as took ourselves down to our favourite seaside village of Emsworth. DH and I do not often go out but did treat ourselves this week. The sea in the harbour was like a mill pond, sun out in force and quite warm to say the least.

This is the small street than leads down to the harbour, so quaint and love the colours of the old fishing cottages.

Back to the square an Heidi's Patisserie

A wonderful trip and maybe some day will live down here although tbh only takes about 25 minutes to drive down so not impossible. I do find it so relaxing though and tranquil to hear the rigging on the yachts, bliss.

Saturday - Liphook Village Market

This is an Artisan event for food and hand makers alike. A friendly venue and new and old hands are made to feel very welcome.

Have my sister coming up early in the week to collect some stock to show her sewing circle, in the hope she can get some sales.

Did make myself a lunch bag for day events, has a plastic lining and insul bright (keeps cold or heat in) between the plastic and outer fabric.

Talking to one of the other sellers yesterday, she thought I should make some to sell, another item added to my 'To Do List'. Took an order yesterday for a company name to be stitched onto fabric so Linda can hand stitch onto her new fleece for her fairs. could this be another string to my sewing bow?

Hopefully some more makes next week

Enjoy

Handles Discovered and Using Up All Of A Fabric Length

A quiet week here at chez Ocala Towers, after all the toing and froing of workmen, good to have the house to ourselves. A big Fall clean has taken place and the house is now sparkling, not too sure how long that will last with a fur baby and a husband.

Have been making this week though as have to keep up the good work:

Mini Bags

Found these handles all glittery in a box, forgot all about them but had the perfect in the hoop project for 2 mini bags. The first shooting stars and the second Paris in Springtime.

Again going through my fabric stash and found a of length of cotton, had bought about 8 months ago to make myself an overtop. An overtop has been made but somehow ended up with more fabric than I needed. Think could have been a case bought online and they did not sell part metres. Anyway waste not want not.... managed to get out a child's pinafore or sundress for a 3 year old, plus some pretty budget mug rugs,  some cute dolly bags and borrowing from Vicky some cute hair bows. Have a length of blue fabric the same to make up but will do that in a few weeks.

Love being able to take a length of fabric and use it all up, in the old days remember keeping all the offcuts and storing them up, when they got too much sent them to a local quilting group but now have to keep every last scrap fro applique work.

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That is all for this week off to have a planning session for next week and as have started an online course to decorate cookies, need to make a shopping list of all the bits needed for my first project. Think this may get expensive, lol

A new kitchen and more for Christmas

My new kitchen is finally finished and so chuffed with it, gleams as it should the cupboards are an green/grey pain effect made in solid wood and the worktop a quartz steel, white with grey flecks and glittery bits. Mosaic tiles with tongue and groove cladding painted by Lee in a chalk paint white with the walls in Willow green. Simon and his lads did a wonderful job and cannot be happier.

Went better than we expected and not as hard as bought a load of microwave ready meals for Lee from Waitrose, he does not do salads as apparently real men do not eat salads, hmpff think that is a load of rubbish but he said if he wanted to eat water would have a glass out of the tap.

Shiloh was a bit miffed and behaved? well not that well at times. he hates to be locked out of rooms and always want to go into the rooms that are off limits, why? goodness knows.

After the red Poinsettias decided to add some pink and white, again these are so pretty and large enough to go on the tree and be seen.

Scandinavian tree ornaments in a glitter felt, almost Jacobean in style.

Continuing with the flower theme some bobby pins, this time with a crystal button for the centre.

More ideas buzzing away for next week and a whole week with no workmen in the house....

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Birthday Card and Christmas in August

Well a month out for Christmas in July but got there in the end. Have been making so many other things, catching up on gift making that Christmas was put on the back burner, apart from gifts to give. These have all now been done, along with the cards.

Birthday of a boat lover

My Brother in Law had his Birthday on yesterday and had made this card a few months back. An applique boat stitched onto card, mounted onto a main 8" square card. Lace embellishment and a button and eyelet detail.

Christmas in August

Had a wonderful embroidery design through from EMB Library along with a suggestion of a sack. Sourced some vintage style fabric, added the design to the centre, fleece trim for the top and a double drawstring though the top. The sack is stitched across the corners to make a deep gusset. Lined with calico as firm without being to starchy. Have only made 2 of these as the design takes 192 minutes to complete.

Merry Christmas cones, made in a fun pink and blue candy cane fabric. Bought this last year and only got around to using. Think the main problem was saw too late for use last year but does not eat or drink, so worth getting to stash away. These cones can hold a small gift or filled with sweets and hung from the tree.

Working on some more poinsettias this time in pink and white. Waiting for the centres so should be finished next week. Made a start on some Scandinavian style glitter felt ornaments to hang from the Christmas tree. Love the Scandi style, as with the Poinsettias should be finished next week. Just need some snow, Christmas Music, Mulled Wine and will be well away.

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Have a great week and hope after 3 weeks we will have the kitchen finished tomorrow. The worktop was the problem and only had fitted on Friday. Will be so pleased when all done.

Flowers everywhere

I love these organza flowers and in particular this Aster design, reasonably quick to stitch out.  With the pearl or diamante centres, a bar back ideal as brooches or to dress up a plain bag.

Have made rather a lot then got distracted with Poinsettias to add to a garment or the Christmas tree. May order some velvet covered headbands, I know could do myself but tbh they are so reasonable to buy would work out so much dearer by the time added all the bits needed. Just got to decide what colour to choose, the red may not match and could clash, the same goes for the green so thinking black would be best as sort of neutral. These would look good with the Poinsettias on for Christmas.

Perhaps some pastel ones for the Asters, the ideas are picking up speed, now where is the bank card, lol.

This lace necklace design is so pretty and adding the Swarovski crystal beads to it, with vintage style steampunk chain and rings, just perfect. Think may be going to make some more of these as well.


Check out the other blogs at Lucy Blossom Crafts for Handmade Monday.

Not much else to show this week as been busy painting tongue and groove panelling on the kitchen walls. Hopefully the worktops will arrive on Wednesday along with the tiler, Simon to fit the sink and hob and you never know, this time next week may have a finished kitchen to show you.

Have a great week and while the rain has been good for the gardens, would be good to have some dry spells to sit outside.

Tea Time and triml

I love to work in 'collections' and my website is split mostly into rooms. However working with collections is fine but I never finish what I have planned as like a butterfly, flit off to another project. This collection is not yet finished but have made a restart on gift bags. These are ideal for popping in a pretty mug, maybe with a box of delicious tea bags such as Twinings Rose, come complete with a mug rug in the same theme. As usual this is fabric from my stash and can only make a limited number but happy with the way they turned out.

Tea Time Gift Set

Mug rug in the same theme

Time mug rugs thought these would be good for men, do not make much for men as more a girly girl

Finally some burlap and patchwork ribbon trim, a metre per card. 5cms wide perfect for so many things. Only problem with burlap is the smell this does go if hung on a washing line for a time in the fresh air, and worth it for that shabby chic look.

Still working on plenty of ideas but this next week could be slow as having the kitchen ripped out finally. Hope will all be done by Friday, do not like workmen in the house and feel my home is no longer mine, plus Shiloh gets stroppy as he will be blocked from certain rooms. So in between constant cups of tea or coffee and a petulant dog going to be a joyful week.

Check out the other blogs as Lucy Blossom Crafts.

Will leave you with a picture to give you a laugh and to show how stupid some dogs can be, he goes in behind the Camellia by the shed but then cannot turn round or get out the other side until Lee moves a very heavy lawn roller. The funny thing is he never makes a sound and then we realise he is missing. When someone goes to the front door now that is a different matter and all hell breaks lose.