Getting into the spirit of things

 

Whilst the rest of the country (if you believe what the media says) has been going Royal Wedding crazy, I have managed to stay relatively uninterested (apart from wanting a peak at the dress) in the whole thing. Until yesterday...

We were going to go head up into central London to have a look at the preparations, but by mid afternoon had been distracted by Thor (the new film out – its a bit silly, but the lead is very easy on the eye!). So when I got home (minus pictures of festive bunting), I decided to make some of my own...

So I took a few scraps from this...

To this...

I love it! Admittedly I've taken a bit of artistic licence with the Union Jack colours, but I love the crafty look of it.

Whether you are enjoying the wedding on Friday or not, have a good bank holiday!

My Creative Space – Completed work!!!

In my creative space this week, I have actually been creative! Woo Hoo!!!!!!

It comes as a very welcome relief after quite a long break between me and my sewing machine to actually of had time to finally finish several of the projects I’ve been working on for what has felt like an eternity!

First up, do you remember I bought some linens to use for a new bag (I put my ‘design’ up a few weeks ago)?

Well, I started work on the linen bag. As it turned out it wasn’t sturdy enough (even with a sturdy interfacing) for the messenger bag I wanted to sport this summer, so I started again. This time I used some denim and some left over scraps of a very cute flower fairy cotton print. Heres the result...

As you can see, I put the detail which I had planned to hide under the front cover, on top. I also went for stripes rather than panels. So actually, the bag I ended up with is nothing really like my original design, but I LOVE it anyway. Its the perfect size, shape etc etc. I cant wait to use it and get some ‘bag in action’ shots.

Buying the bright linens didnt turn out to be a complete waste of time as I used them to make a bit more of a tote type bag instead. But I’ll pop that up over the weekend.

In other news I am still working on my shrug...

Its definately getting there, but I still have a way to go!

I hope you are all having a similarly crafty week. For more creative spaces you know where to go - Kootoyoo

Scraps

Been having a bit of a sort out today (it feels like a good day for spring cleaning), so I've been shuffling through and sorting my collection of scraps. I came across these...

Isn’t the cowgirl one awesome! I'd love to be able to do my hair like that. Very 50's! Got to come up with something really good to use them on now!

Easter in the Countryside

Very little crafting going on this week as the eating of holiday chocolate and spring walks in the country with my family have taken over.

We had lunch out a beautiful country pub in a beautiful old village...

had walks through fields ...

at country houses ...

along canals...

and through bluebell woods ...

Gorgeous!!! A perfect antidote for the work weary. I also giggled more this weekend than I have for about a month (and thats saying something as my husband makes me giggle daily!). Time with family is definately good for the soul!

Photos aren’t up to much this week as they were taken on my phone... still not sure why they look like they have been taken behind a film of Vasaline though!

Hope you had a good Easter too. x

Cherry Snow

We are lucky to live in one of the prettiest bits of London (so I think anyway). There are blossom trees everywhere and the past couple of weeks have been gorgeous.

 


Sadly the blossom is already coming off the trees – Boo!

The up side is that its REALLY pretty! It’s like a thick carpet of cherry pink snow everywhere.

I haven’t had time to get out there with my camera yet, so hopefully you'll enjoy these photos from last year.

 

Pretty eh!

Nursery Rhymes

If you have read any of my previous posts you’ll know that I’ve been thinking a lot about paper crafts. There seems to be a whole different world out there of things to make. So as I was junk shop foraging at the weekend I kept my eyes open for anything I might be able to experiment with. This book was my top find…

Its not a particularly old book, but the pictures and rhymes inside are absolutely gorgeous - of a completely different era. These are some of my favourites…

This little rhyme was one of my favourites when I was little (it was the curly hair thing)…

I’m really torn now as to whether to cut it up or not. I’m erring on the side of cutting rather than not as I’ll be able to get the book as new if I want a proper copy. I just keep thinking of all of the little baby garlands/ decorations that could be made up from it. Hmmmm…

Paper Crafting

Wow, its been a busy week! It seems like an age since I last posted, but I’ve been making up for lost time this weekend and have finally completed a couple of bags I’ve been working on, done some paper crafting and have also made some buttons. I’m feeling very pleased with myself! I’m going to put my bags up a bit later in the week, so today is all about the paper…

I posted a few weeks ago about some pretty paper garlands I had found as decoration ideas for my sisters wedding next year. Since then I’ve been nosing around a few junk shops to try to find some old sheet music (you know the stuff that has that gorgeous creamy/ brown slightly tea-stained look to it).

I found myself this… 

 It seems like old music from the 1930’s and it looked really cool. I felt quite guilty knowing that I was just going to chop it all up, so I had to dive straight in with the cutting. I cut up some little strips and stuck the strips together over some old bakers string (if that’s what you call it) to make the little flag bunting.

To take things a step further, I  also made a few drinks stirrers to see how they’d turn out.They seem mega popular in American 'backyard weddings' at the moment.

I think they are really cute! Admittedly, they’ve been made from chopsticks rather than straws or something else more appropriate for drinks stirrers, but it was just to see how they’d look. I tried a monogrammed one too.

 
What do you think? Good for a spring wedding?

Pops of Colour

Spring has well and truly sprung!

In the past week or so the trees seem to have POPPED like a firework, and all of a sudden there are lime green shoots of spring and blossom all over the place. It's so strange, one day there was nothing, the next there is colour everywhere!

Speaking of new colour (genius or tenuous link - you choose), how gorgeous is the colour of these threads!

I came across these vintage threads a while ago. Some of it is J & P Coats 6 cord thread which I think might be pre 1950's (they merged with another company after that), maybe even 1930's. The rest is Dewhursts Sylko Machine Twist. Dewhursts isnt quite as old, but all of the threads have been discontinued, so I buy as much of it as I can when I can find it. It has a strength and depth of colour to it that I haven’t found in any other threads. The names of the colours are just lush too, with names like'Pomegranete' and 'Blue Jade'. They are just perfect for bits of special bits of hand stitching or doing bits and pieces of decoration.