Pretty Nostalgic and the Pledge

I am introducing you to Pretty Nostalgic.

An independent vintage lifestyle magazine that celebrates the brilliantly British living. For everyone who wants to spend wisely, waste less , appreciate more and buy British.

Beautifully designed and printed, full of original, well researched features and art work and a profusion of genuine vintage illustrations.

Heart felt home and gardens, homemade and foraged food, British made and customised fashion, vintage collectibles, nostalgia.

Pretty Nostalgic magazine contains no advertising, just a useful directory of Brilliantly British makers and suppliers of British made and vintage goods and services.

Available inn WHSmiths and independent stockists worldwide. To find out more, order a copy or subscribe and save please have a look at the website prettynostlagic.co.uk

The Pledge:

Holly Golightly arrives

What a beautiful week we are having, wall to wall sunshine although a trifle too hot at times. I have been getting up at 4am to work in the blissful cool mornings, joined by birdsong and sounds of nature can almost hear the flowers sigh with relief for some cool air.

Continuing using the fantastic fabric from Terrys Fabric's this week a crushed raspberry with white spots, classic staple and appears in fashion every now and then but is really timeless.

As I have been watching the film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's wanted to make that the theme for this weeks makes and maybe next as well, have so many ideas but back to this week, a classic pose of Holly embroidered onto Fairy Frost Pink with a hint of silver, edged with a black and white spot organza ribbon and finished off in the gorgeous pink with white spots. The back not wanting to be left out has the Audrey saying embroidered, along with concelaed zip closure. Would look perfect on a cream leather sofa to add some Hollywood Glamour to a living room.

I Believe in Pink frilled fabric tote bag again with AH's well known saying and a kiss on the back:

Hope you are all enjoying the beautiful summer, that has finally arrived and when too hot to work what is better than to relax in the garden with a Pimms.

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.

Unleash your Creativity Cushion Challenge

Always up for a challenge and how could I resist when Suzie Newton, Interior Design blogger/writer for Terrys Fabric's, asked if I would like to join in.

I chose 2 completely different fabrics the first one Roosters, I love chooks something so homely about them plus love eggs and yes I do like to be woken by the call of the rooster in the mornings, makes me happy to be alive and in the country, so much better than the roar of cars on a motorway.

 Thinking cap on had this rooster embroidery design and with the country style gingham ribbon am happy with how it turned out, zipper enclosure and fully lined in cream cotton. Ideal for those lazy summer breakfasts in the garden.

The second fabric I chose shells on a blue background, again adding machine embroidery, and an anchor to stabilise the ship. This reminds me of quintessential English summers on the beach with cool ice cream, waves lapping against the shore just bliss.

This challenge has been such fun to do thank you Terrys Fabric's and Suzie Newton and I've another pile of fabric which is just waiting for me to unleash my creativity upon.

Check out Terrys Fabric's for a wonderful fabric collection and Terrys Fabric's blog for some fantastic interior design ideas for your home.

Vive la France

Wow Wednesday

A bespoke order for 3m's of french flag bunting, all made, packed and now posted to my customer.

Often orders come from the unusual places others more normal, the bunting came from a thread on a craft forum, there had already been a reply with a link but apparently the other lead could not do, so with trepidation I tendered to do the task. It was fun to do and different, hope my customer is happy.

Went to my first event of the year on Friday, very hot as in a marquee felt odd for most of the afternoon now realise I was coming down with a stinker of a cold. Whilst busy with loads of entertainment for the kid's buying was very low, this was not a craft fair but a mixed event.

Talking to a friend at the weekend (her husband is a photographer) they too have found craft fairs are not what they were, with less sales. Maybe the time of year and everyone is getting into holiday mode but such a shame if we lose some of the handcrafted talent due to being unable to sustain a living. No easy solution but as I love what I do will continue to plod along and maybe one day the tide will turn.

My fabric arrived from Terry's Fabrics for the cushion challenges and have made a start embroidering a rooster onto plain linen, this will be inserted into the centre of the cover, just waiting for the zips to arrive and to feel better. The second fabric is pale blue/grey with seashells. Have to submit my entries by the end of July but as we all know in a blink of an eye the month has gone already.

I cannot believe we are now half way through the year and must start making for Christmas. I like to do Christmas in July, getting all my Xmas stock made by the end of August, well that is the plan and you know what they say about best laid plans! Off to browse my journals for some inspiration.

Hope the weather is being kind to you apart from Tuesday this week we are due for some wonderful wall to wall sunshine, may just have to get the Pimms out, end of Wimbledon and perfect sitting under the roses chillaxing for a few hours.

Blogging Day at Last

Been a while, the house is finally quiet the bathroom finished and feel as if the house is now my home again instead of a noisy building site. Sorry missed a few weeks of blogging but have not been idle, getting ready for the NCT Cheeky Monkey Tea Party being held at The Royal School on the afternoon of the 28th June, so with thinking cap on what could I make?

Fairy Notebook Covers

So cute these are sure to take pride of place in a little girl's room for all her secrets

Petal Dancer Lavender Sachets

These are a new one colour design and love them, stitched onto Fairy Frost Wisteria coloured fabric with just that hint of sparkle what could be better

Flag Pockets

For a Princess or Prince these are such fun to hang on the bed for all those little treasures that just have to be kept

Tooth Fairy Wallets

These have been around my site for some time but again just had to make some more

Sweet Children Gift Bags

Printed onto calico these pretty pictures are just right for a drawstring keepsake gift bag and will not break the bank

Lip Balm Keyring Pouches

I go through so much lip balm but constantly find myself routing through the bottom of my bag searching for that elusive tube am sure it can hide in so many crooks and crannies, thought these were ideal to attach to the side of your bag and keep your lip balm always handy.

Fun Tote Bags

These small tote bags can be used for keepsake party bags or for everyday use, some with just the printed fabric as decoration but some had to have extra embroidered pockets added. One of the monkey pocket totes is being donated to the NCT raffle as felt being for Cheeky Monkeys this would fit the brief well




Pet Passport

This was an aside and a suggestion from the owner of Wow Thank You, made for my own fur baby not that he will be going further than the Isle of Wight but just love this fabric. The inner pockets hold the passport secure

Rose or Lavender Bouquet Towels

Rose or Lavender Bouquet Soap Bags

Add a bar of handmade soap with the guest towel what could be a better gift

Fun Coin Purses

Fabric message wrist keyrings

Shh... Peapod Door Pillow

Perfect for the door of a babies room, hanging from aqua ribbon with a dummy charm

Golf Towels for a fanatic

A bit late for Father's Day but perfect for  a golfing fan

As you can see have been busy and still making and still a lot more to do, my 'To Do' list of ideas is growing not diminishing and think if continue along this vein could end up filling a small shop. Not sure about this bulk sewing but must admit I do seem to get quicker with each item.

The Ribbon Girl June Colour Challenge

...All Shades of Pink

Well I could not pass up this challenge as love 'Pink' and all my makes do tend to gravitate towards this colour, plus love The Ribbon Girl website and all the delicious goodies to be found there.

My offering a pink ballerina banner stitched on pink and in shades of pink plus had to add the Ribbon Girl ballet slippers charm to the top and due to the excellent service as always ordered on Monday and used on Tuesday

Check out the other participating crafters at The Ribbon Girl Blog