Strawberry Sampler

I am joining in The Ribbon Girl blog challenge this week, so many wonderful entries. 

The title is the colour Red. 

My offering a new start to a collection for 'Country Kitchen' a linen gingham pillow with an alphabet sampler and strawberries stitched onto white with a hint of silver. Can just see pine dressers piled with mismatched china, replicated on the solid kitchen table all ready for tea. An Aga with the dog asleep taking all the warmth, waiting for a hungry family to descend, a vintage feel all around.

Rain, Rainbows and a Challenge Winner.

A mixed week both on the weather front and the creating. I have decided to enter the Craft Forum summer show in the section: Over the Rainbow sponsored by Jane from Just Soaps.

The CF hold these shows at least twice a year but this is the first time I have been brave enough to enter, I do sponsor a section this time: Gardens of Delight. Open for exhibits until 31st August at which time the curtains will close and then the voting commences

Rainbow Butterfly Personalised Plaque

I love the cheeky rainbow winged fairy can just imagine her/him zooming around the garden causing mischief all day and think this one could be the culprit for missing garden tools that you know you have only just put down but not where you left them.

I entered a blog challenge in July with Terrys Fabric's submitting 2 cushion covers shown previously on my blog. Forgot all about it, as you do,  then got a wonderful email to say I had won, first and 7th placings, more details here: Terrys Fabric's

Have done a bit more creating for Christmas Fairs, oh no I have gone and said it now the dreaded 'C' word this means in a blink of an eye the goose will be fat, decorations up and the day upon us. My plan had been to do Christmas in July but think this may creep into September. Trying to be super organised this year, okay get up off the floor not that funny! and do Birthday cards and gifts well in advance of the due date along with yes you heard it here 'Christmas Gifts'

For inspiration in the card making front take a look at Apple Crafts Card Gallery and if in Lincolnshire pop along to Kim's shop in Chapel St Leonards a haven of creating goodies and great customer service. I know I am biased as Kim is such a dear friend but she truly makes wonderful cards and she has worked so hard at her shop that she deserves all the praise  and promotion I can give her.

Off to add to my 'To Do' lists and plan for next weeks projects.

Birthday Cards and a walk through our village

This past week has been odd one minute wall to wall sunshine and hot, hot, hot then in a blink of an eye overcast and muggy then turns dreary and rain with thunder and lightening. Wish the weather would make up it's mind but grateful for it being a bit cooler, just cannot work when too hot.

Preparing for a couple of Birthday's and trying to be ahead of the game, or in this case ahead of the date. Twofold as 1. The post is appalling at present, think must be the school holiday's and 2. If I do not do when I remember will panic 2 days before the due date.

One for a sea lover:

Folk Art Flowers:

I love the simplicity of this design without being too busy.

We walk the dog 3 times a day and try to vary the direction each time, just for interest for us rather than Shiloh as sure he is not bothered which way we go. So join me on our first walk of the day through the Ford by the Mill, then back across the river before heading for home, approx 2 miles in total and when warm this is such a cooling route, love the sound of water. 

Walking makes me appreciate where I live and amazing what you can find on your own doorstep if you abandon the car and let your feet do the travelling. Off to research some more walks thank goodness for Ordnance Survey maps.

Have a good week Folks

The Final Projects

Having found so many beautiful fabrics on Terrys Fabric's I have certainly had to put my thinking cap on as how to use them at their best. My offering in this post for the final lengths includes one for the children.

The Coccy Rouge

The ladybird or ladybug if from across the pond spoke to me of tidy bags and let's face it can never have too many of these. As with all my designs I have to add machine embroidery as my machine is my new BFF. This time a cream cotton square with a cheeky ladybird in the centre,  edged with a fun blue fabric from my stash finished with cream drawstring.

Danseuse Rose

Funky ballerina's a handy bag for after those ballet classes with a washing line full of ballet gear edged with a vintage lace and lace bow



Paris is always a good idea....

Love this fabric in Bird Trail Chintz

So pretty, the centre panel is in an ivory with sparkle of silver, embroidered with the Eiffel Tower, wrought iron fencing, birds, post mark and Audrey's saying of Paris is always a good idea.

Handy Tote

Cushion Cover

That is it have come to the end of my fabric find from Terrys Fabric's, it's been fun.

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.