My Literary World

I love books and I mean real books not the iBooks or Kindle variety, whilst I understand they do have a place and in particular for holidays or commute travels they are ideal. For me at home have to have a proper book to open.

Over the years my reading has changed from Kathy Reichs with Temperance Brennan and gory murders to Debbie Macomber and Cedar Cove, with more authors in between. Still love the Agatha Christie murders with Miss Marple or Tommy and Tuppence as these let's be honest are gentle murders.  Also the murder books by Joanne Sheen, the lovely lady who produces fantastic CD roms for card making from Create and Craft.

My Latest read is The Teashop on The Corner by Milly Johnson

This book is about a teashop, yes on the corner, the lives of the people that meet up there but for me the most interesting part are the gifts sold in the tea room, all literary based. A light bulb went on for me and thought why not interpret into some fabric creations and jewellery. A new notebook started and filling up with ideas and sketches. May take a few weeks to complete but my brain is working overtime with ideas, let's hope I can pull it off to produce something that is of interest to other lovers of books. 

Funny the way things happen and I am a great believer they happen for a reason, this book found it's way into my online basket along with others similar and just clicked.

As you gathered this is my theme for May. The new plan and super organised me (lol) is to think of a theme for the month,start planning and ordering the month before, that way have everything to hand and don;t have to spend ages waiting for deliveries. 

I work well with themes as can focus my attention which does tend to be like a butterfly, flitting from one thing to the next. How do you work best? Themes, let the flow take you, structured. I have to have a passion and be fascinating in what I make and normally where possible to follow life or in my case the past as love vintage from Victorian era to about the 50's.

Well back to the makes done so far for the Literary theme starting with Alice in Wonderland. I am sure most of us have read the books and dreamt of falling down a rabbit hole to a new world, with all sorts of adventures. Well I did as a child, always the dreamer and wanted to go to Narnia.

Showed this length of fabric to you the other week, now all made up:

Frame Clutch bags with vintage gold tone A in W charm and a blue bow.

Pin Cushion books, fun to do and drafted my own pattern, plus worked out first time, miracles.

Mad hatter Tea Party tote bag

Lavender Sachets with faux silk crushed ribbon and a teacup or teapot charm

Couple of mug rugs one monotone the other design coloured

Alice in Wonderland Cards, printed onto fabric and mounted onto kraft cards

Vintage style Bookmarks

These will have more of a home in the Jane Austen collection, which will be coming soon, I hope. I say I hope as I get distracted and move on

Check out the other blogs at Handmade Monday

That's all for this week, hope to see you again next week,

Summer Holidays and beyond

Had our first coffee morning with the local Women Only Connected online networking site, it went so well and have booked for next month, same time, same place. Although small on this occasion in some ways that was better as we have started with a good grounding to the group. We decided to make the meetings informal but with the time to chat to the members and find out what they do. If you would like to know more take a look at the website. Free to join and advertise the only stipulation you have to be a woman.

Jenny Wagstaff who set up the site is friendly, approachable and helpful. Hopefully Jenny will be at the next Forest Lodge coffee morning being held on the 27th May, 10.am in the coffee lounge, just follow the Endeavour explorer footprints on the floor and look for a pink flower.

Summer Holidays

Another addition to the theme, this time water bottle holders with a strap that can go across the body, round the neck or on the shoulder. A fresh bottle of water handy at all times. The lining is of an insulating material to keep the water cool, roomy enough to add a small gel ice pack. Embroidered with a Spa label.

Rose Quilt Tote Bag

Back to embroidery with a girlie feel and a rose quilt block design, stitched onto peach shadow cotton and pieced together. Have only panelled the front, the back is plain, so pretty for the summer.

Embroidery/Small Scissor Holders.

Made one of these for my sister's Birthday and then got an order form her sewing group for 2 to keep for gifts. They have both been embroidered with an initial and using the last of my elephant print. Having the cord to hang round your neck is so handy as I am constantly losing my scissors when sewing.

Birthday Card

Another card winging it's way to Lee's second cousin and again remembered to take a photo, I am getting good, lol.

Check out the other blogs at Lucy Blossom Crafts

Thank you for stopping by and have a good week

Cherry Blossom & Birds all in a Geisha Mist

Following on from my last post. This is one of the other fabrics I found at Terrys Fabrics and Suzie Newton  in colour Mist, I love the look of the birds, blossom and bird cages and in these muted shades talks to me of Country Chic with Japanese elegance can almost hear the sound of bubbling water in a koi carp fish pool.

I wanted  to enhance the images by adding a machine embroidered design made up of cherry blossom with that hint of pink, a tiny bird with tones of blue and aqua, not forgetting the charcoal cage. Edged with cream lace scallop design and vintage lace, had the image and decided to make a boudoir sized cushion cover and a tote bag. The cushion and tote bag along with a book for summer days out under the trees dozing and watching the village cricket team. Nothing like the sound of a ball on willow with the wind rustling the leaves in the trees.

Off to discover some more fabric and hopefully to create something wonderful.

By The Sea

Blog Hop Friday

This is a new venture for SHC members a themed blog hop Friday to take us into the
Bank Holiday weekend of 'By The Sea'

My contribution is a seaside tote, fully lined with a zipped pocket on the inside for any valuables and an open pocket on the outside, the straps measure approx 30" with a 15" drop, overall size approx 10" X 10" X 3"also comes with a bag charm with sunglasses, flip flops and sun charms

Check out the other blogs with the Seaside Themes and let's keep our fingers crossed for some decent weather this weekend.