National Craft Month

March is National Craft Month, a month full of blogging and events where crafters can show off their makes, open to any age or medium.

 I have been inspired by Patience Brewster to celebrate National Craft Month and blog about why crafting is so important to me, so here goes:

Since an early age I have been sewing, had my first tiny Singer at age 6 and never really looked back. Making is in my family going back generations with my Mum making silk blouses for herself from used parachutes during WWII, my Grandmother stitched, knitted, crocheted and tatted lace. A great Aunt was a milliner and a Great Great Aunt lived in the Grace and Favour apartments at Hampton Court Palace (now the Royal School of Needlework) a seamstress for Queen Mary. My Father was an artisan builder and house designer. So you could say creativity is in my blood.

Making is a passion and something that I have to do, am at my happiest in my sewing room coming up with ideas to stitch. Choosing fabrics from linen, cotton and lace. I am a fabric, trim, button, beads and more collector. Can never walk past a fabric shop, antique market without a browse, hunting for vintage laces etc. always searching the internet for suppliers of fabric that just has to be bought.

Making is my life and makes up who I am and can never imagine not having some project on the go. Making is also my business and each item has been made with love and care. Every product I produce has a bit of me added, each piece is personal.

I love to make OOAK (One of a Kinds) for 2 reasons,

1. I never buy long lengths of any fabric or trim, so once used that is it.
2. Could never work in production line method love to move onto something new and different.
3. This means any item bought from my stall or website will not be found elsewhere and with limited quantities unlikely to be a duplicated gift.

I also love to buy and make handmade gifts and cards to give. A friend said recently she loves to receive a handmade gift from me as she feels she is getting a part of me and knows it has been made with love and thoughtfulness. If something I cannot make will source out a crafter to buy from and there are so many around so worth the effort. Most crafters will bend over backwards to help you and always going that extra mile something that cannot be found in the high street shops.

Hand making is part of my past, present and future and hope that I will be able to continue with my passion for many years to come.

Check out Patience Brewsters website by clicking on the title and picture below. Patience is a crafter of unique ornaments and home decor. 

Must be a month for invitations as also invited by Stampington magazine to pin a handmade item daily through March to their National Craft Month Pinterest board, take a look at the wonderful variety of makes on offer.

Also not forgetting joining up with Handmade Monday and the wonderful Vicky this week. Cannot believe we are on week 10 already. Remember to click on the avatar to check out the other participating blogs.

Have not done as much sewing this week as would have liked, two reasons firstly got stuck into some gardening, well directing Lee where to plant plants etc. not to mention visiting garden centres. Secondly realised part way through the bags had ordered the wrong sized zips, oh bother. Reordered on Thursday and my fantastic supplier delivered on Friday, hence the first sample of the Paris label bag, shown here in duck egg blue. 

The smaller zips have not gone to waste as they fit perfectly in my new purse/wallets. Made to compliment the Paris label bags or on their own.

That is all for this week and hope to have more handmade offerings next week. Have a good week and a very Happy Easter.

Last Minute Easter Gifts

Last minute Easter gifts, pretty bunny egg cosies, cute daisy chic pins and zero calorie earrings. Check out my Easter collection: 

Summer is coming and the wonders of what can be made in a week

I would firstly like to thank all my blog visitors that visit me each week and take time out of their day to comment. Your comments mean a lot to me and love to read what you have to say.

Okay maybe not summer for a few months but have to get busy making now and be ready when the time comes. This week finally got around to my large bags in stripes which I think could be Hamptons and the boardwalk of course Nantucket. My neighbours gave me a large pack of brown paper to use up, had been holding for wrapping but found a new use, for my patterns. Funny as we used to use brown paper at college for pattern cutting, must have slipped my mind. Very strong unlike pattern tissue which is a pain to draw on.

When I start out to design, always start with the finished item in my mind and work backwards, cutting out pieces  of fabric as I go. Then I transfer to the brown paper for future use. I know sounds odd but works for me. Perhaps this gives an idea as to the state of my mind, one big muddle, lol.

Hamptons

Nantucket

As you know I never waste fabric and after my pink linen top and the waistcoat still had some bits of linen left. Brain into gear and turned them into lavender sachets with pink satin ribbon and a diamante buckle trim.

Butterfly Handbag/Purse

Found this fabric and whilst not pink do love lilac and with French wording had to buy. Already had this project in mind and just love the butterfly embroidery, think it adds a bit of joie de vivre.

No waste with some more diamante sachets and a couple of lavender bags

Bought this cotton ticking style fabric and as love swallows thought embroidering onto off white linen and adding to the front of the sachet, filled with lavender are so sweet.

Think that is about all for this week but do pop over to Lucy Blossom Crafts to see the other wonderful blogs in this weeks Handmade Monday, I am off to start a new project of chevron circle purses all will become clear next week.

Chief of Staff

Thinking what he can HELP!!!! with next....

A Beautiful Week

Wow have we been lucky with the weather this week, have spent most of the time in the garden supervising DH, well he has to do it right and plant things where I want them. Have even ordered a metal chair for the front porch, which will make supervision of the front easier. Going to buy a couple of dutch wood boxes in green and 2 bay trees to compliment the chair and the hay basket.

Onto making this week, not so much done but have completed a birthday gift and card for later in the year. Plus made myself another overtop in a pale pink linen, ideal with white trousers for the summer. Apologies for the photo think I had the setting on close up.

Had some linen left over and something I have been wanting to do for some time is add OOAK clothing pieces to my site. This lent itself well to a shabby chic waistcoat, adding cut work designs, lace and more. Started a new section for the clothing named after my Grandmother, Amelia Rose.

Liphook Artisan Market on Saturday and quite happy with my sales. The organisers, stallholders and visitors are always so friendly. The organisers (who are also stallholders) do a fantastic job to make this event great for sellers and buyers alike. One lady does the most wonderful bakes and had to sample a cinnamon roll still warm from the oven, delicious washed down with a cup of coffee. Took a  photo of my stall, funny never the same. I do try to vary at each event hoping that way does not get stale.

Don't forget to check out the other blogs on Handmade Monday, just click the picture below

Until next week....

Positively Spring Like

Well it feels like it, have had a beautiful week although with a nip in the air but the blue skies and sunshine make me feel so much better. Woke this morning to the sound of bird song and a hint of sun, then got ruined by the rumble of tanks on the ranges. You could hear them accelerating over the hill sections. Mind you better than the Chinooks that go over the house, you sit there thinking will the house still be standing as every item including windows and bricks seems to shudder.

Have been browsing and found the colours I am going to follow on my products, always been drawn to this colour range  and think will suit the vintage styling:

Will have to change all the font colours etc but will get there, it is somewhere on my to do list, lol.

As I am making clothes for myself and planning to add one offs to my site have purchased a dress form. Wanted one on castor's and not those flimsy metal prongs that topple if knocked, finally found what I wanted ordered on Wednesday and arrived Friday, so happy with it. Has an adjustable neck as well which is so useful. 

Made a rosebud t shirt for myself, not happy with the fabric as a 4 way stretch and a real pain to stitch the neckline, must remember to read the description at some length in the future. What better way to display for a pic than on my new dress form.

On the other making front been busy catching up with all the Christmas gifts which I wanted to make for this year. I know early but find it easier to do this now in case I get busy later. Have also started a plan where by when I send a card or gift this year, make to replace for next year. One birthday at the end of February and have made the card for 2016 already. This organisation is giving me a headache, cannot believe I have all this in hand, think may have to have a lie down to recuperate.

Apart from the gift making, which cannot show atm for obvious reasons, made some Felties. This design was a first from a US lady and think they are fun for Easter. Made in polka dot felt (just head and feet) placed onto a yoyo of fabric with a brooch bar on the back. The daisy is a flower design made on my machine. Just in time for the fair next Saturday at Liphook. Got to use my yoyo maker for the first time and must admit easier to keep perfect with this Clover device.

Have joined up with Vicky at Lucy Blossom Crafts for Handmade Monday, check out all the wonderful makes from the joining bloggers

Have a good week Folks

A funny week

This last week has been odd, started off okay and did a few bits and pieces. Wednesday DH started his prep for some tests on Friday, there in lay the problem. The prep is quite intrusive and needless to say he felt sorry for himself, so I had to keep his spirits up and keep him from stewing about what they may find. Trying to be optimistic when someone has a downer is hard, just glad I am on the Anti D's or would have be nye impossible. His hospital visit went fine and apparently he is normal!!! did question the surgeon had he got that bit right, which caused some hilarity, lol.

Back to crafting a Birthday card for a friend, she will have opened by now so safe in posting. The fact that I actually remembered to photograph before posting was a miracle as normally remember when the envelope is sealed and too late.

Used 1 of the Joanna Sheen CD Roms, I love Joanna's CD's they are vintage and just up my street.

Covered some journals and had a strip of fabric left, hard to think what to do with it as though long narrow. Idea some lavender label sachets.

Almost forgot to post the journals added a couple in plain linen.

Final make of the week another t short for me in white, so useful.

Don't forget to check the other blogs on Handmade Monday

Hope to have a more normal week and achieve a lot more.

NEWS FLASH**** My embroidery machine is back, Yippee!!!! and working better than ever, not sure if I will get any more stitched today but then you never know.

Have a Happy Week Crafters