Doodle Stitch Along (week 3)

Hello again! I was a super lucky girl this Christmas and got lots of really awesome craft books including Amiee Rae's 'Doodle Stitching Motif's' book which I have fallen in love with! However having not done any freehand embroidery before I wanted to get some practise in, and as luck would have Amiee and her friends over at Lark Crafts are doing a doodle stitch along with a magical woodland theme!

Every week there are a few patterns to choose from, I missed week's 1 & 2, but have done both week 3 patterns and will hopefully ctach up. I am stitching mine into squares for a mini-quilt but there are loads of fab examples of what else to do in the flickr group and on Amiee's blog.

Here's my week three!

Scalloped Table Cloth

Hello All, have been doing quite a bit of making and sewing this week, but quite a few bits are presents so have to keep them secret for the moment. I did have a go at a really easy technique for scalloping I found in my sister in law to be (the crazy gecko)'s book collection. I plan to make a few more scalloped edged things soon so will make a tutorial to share as I go!

Christmas Blog Update

Hello All! It has been a little while in the making, buit I have returned, with a newly edited and decorated blog. There's still a few technical difficulties to overcome, but for now here's a few Christmassy pictures from my house to keep you going!

Present for Lily

Some of my lovely friends are moving this weekend so fingers crossed it all goes to plan, their new house is gorgeous. My wonderous friend Eartha also has a big work day coming up - am sure she will be wonderful so lots of love for her too xxxxxxxxx

I also spotted the most wonderful felt sewing machine on 'A Beautiul Mess' for sale for $50! Sadly with postage this is a bit much for the UK, so I figured I would recreate one, here's my effort! Will be winging it's way to my pretty niece soon so she can have fun copying her talented mummy (check out *the crazy gecko* for her makes)

That's all for today, off to eat curry! K xx

Ribbon Hair Bands

Happy Saturday! Have felt wiped out all day but did pop out to get some new buttons and ribbon for a secret project, and while I was there I picked up some extra ribbon and more buttons for these:

If you fancy making your own here are some brief instructions:

1. Measure your head, mine was 56cm.
2. Cut your ribbon, I cut 40cm, you could take away 15-18cm from your head measurement for yours, for kids perhaps 10cm.
3. Cut a piece of elastic, mine was 12cm, you could take away 4-5cm from the remaining distance around your head, 3cm for kids.
4. Stitch the elastic to the ribbon using a sewing machine, more stitches = stronger join.
5. Select some felt/some other ribbon/some buttons and hand stitch this over the join to make it neat. My decoration sits behind my ears slightly so is hidden from the front but visible from the sides.
6. There you have it, a completed headband!

Will share the rest of the buttons later! Kx

Tea & Art

Hooray it's UK Bank Holiday, does mean I have to go back to work tomorrow after an ultra long 6 weeks of nothingness, fabric and baking but I am kind of ready now! I apologise in advance for my lack of posting for a few days, we have guests and I always get a bit snowed under when going back to work.

Anyway, yesterday we took my lovely mans parents to London to have a look at the BP portrait competition in the National Portrait Gallery and for some lovely food in HIX. Both are highly recommended, will certainly be going back to HIX for some drinks soon, they have an amazing underground bar, really relaxing and serves punch! How fun :)

I really so many of the portraits, these 2 (by Tony Noble and Miriam Escofet) stood out, although I ended up voting for an amazing Oil on Wood by Raphael Rodrigeuz, if I could find a decent picture I would show you it too! Our guests are total tea addicts, so I also made them some tea flavour biscuits, they taste like you have just dunked them in tea and control their withdrawl symptoms pretty well! If you want to make them just whip up any standard shortbread recipe and add the contents of 2-3 teabags when adding the flour! Earl Grey and Chai are amazing, still need to try the rest of my tea collection!

Charity Shop Finds

Hello all, has a nice last holiday day charity shopping and baking! Black forest cupcakes and new jumpers make me very happy!






Are the stars amazing or what!

Companion Cube Tissue Box Cover

Happy Thursday everyone, I just had a cool piano lesson and cooked greek style stuffed peppers a la shutterbean (if you like to cook savory you have to read this blog it's amazing). I only have 1 more day of holiday left before we have visitors and then back to work! Summer goes so fast but I am a little stir crazy now, will be nice to be back at work.

Have a few things to share but have not taken pictures yet, although I did get round to photographing this crazy tissue box cover I made for a friend, this is serious nerdcore, if you don't get the joke then don't worry! K xxx

Thrifty Things

Happy Tuesday! I FINALLY made it to my local market today and bought lots of veg! My car is also better after it's MoT surgery so I am road tripping home tomorrow to get my driving head back on before I have to start the dreaded commute again next week at 'too early to be awake' o'clock :D

I said I would share my yesterday thrifty finds with you all, first up I found some amazing patterns, one for a basic dress and one for.... wait for it.... cullottes!!!! I am tres excited but need to buy suitable fabric first! I also found an amazing teapot, thinking of using it just for hot chocolate, and also a really pretty red throw. I also grabbed some curtain header tape and an old blouse and finally got round to making my sewing room some new curtains (from some lovely fabric my Grandma gave me) as well as another elastic waist skirt :)

My glass jar candle holders should be popping up on oneprettything soon, keep an eye out! K xxx

SPOTTED: Flag Caps

I am not ashamed to admit I LOVE flags and maps, I get so excited during any occasion where they are all on show (world cup, olympics, eurovision), so I found these bottle caps (found in an Austrian Spa Supermarket) absolutely amazing!!! I would definately end up collecting them if we could get them here! How sad, yet so pretty :)

Old Jar Candle Holders

I am not normally a horder but for some reason I keep glass jars an it's about time I found some pretty uses for them, so here's the first (of many hopefully), mini lanterns. Jars with many flat sides work best, I bought some picture wire to wrap around for the handles and used some charms from an old bracelet to make them a bit different. Glueing the candles in place also helps when you try to light them!

Jewel Colours

I normally am pretty colour phobic when it come's to nail varnish but having a slow and relaxing summer has given me some time to play! My lovely friend Stephanie over on Imperfectly Painted has given me lots of ideas, so here are some of the colours I am liking right now :) I am actually pretty unsure about the blue, is it nice, or does it just look like blue tac??



The glasses were from Woolies (I miss you), 6 colours, all jewel like - I believe Whittards do some similar :) They certainly look fun when filled with equally jewel coloured Robinsons Juice!

Oh P.S. just found that OPI has a trying on simulation thing for nails! Doubt the colours match but is pretty fun! I think I get a bit like this in B&Q with the paint swatches :D

Home

Me and my brother found this amazing photo when looking through old pictures! It's the view out of my parents house at night :)

Competition: Not Just Medical

Not Just Medical is running a competition for this fab lace dress from Rare, size 10-12! Free entry on her blog, just a leave a comment before next Wednesday - Hope I Win!!!

Edinburgh Dress

Yawn, almost bedtime :) Been having a busy making day! I also picked up this really amazing plaid fabric (was discussing with my friend and we agree Autumn is our favourite season and doesn't this fabric just seem the epitomy of Autum??). Anyways I copied a dress I own and voila, here is the Edinburgh Dress - really have to name more of my creations :D

How to Make a Skirt from an Old Tee

Evening all, just thought I would share my projects for the day, I made this jersey skirt from an old mens tee, and now you can do the same! Hope you like, send me a pic if you make it!

SPOTTED: Russian Doll Birth

Russian Doll Birth T-Shirt can be found here! Hehe

Strawberry & Cream Cupcakes

Yum!

SPOTTED: Cardboard Stampede

I have decided to add a new blog feature... "SPOTTED", every few days I will share anything cute and original I have found and love with you all. I found this completely randomly on google image search but absolutely love it! It's called 'cardboard stampede' and you can find details on Design Sponge.

K xx

Ebay Love

Have been having a lot of fun on ebay recently both buying and selling, here's a little summary of some of my favourite purchases from the last few weeks! I have been really bummed out this holiday as a recurring problem with my vision has returned but some lovely visits from my brother and seeing friends as well as my nice man being sweet, as well as my ebay fun, has made it much less frustrating! Am really loving my giant headphones and blue leather sack bag at the moment... more to share very soon

K xx