Thisel and Bean

Babies on the brain

2012-05-17T10:07:00.000+01:00

When crafting, I tend to make stuff that will either be pretty/cute or practical/useful. So... whereas in the past I have made things like bags, coffee cup holders, camera cases, badges and bunting, I now find myself orientated to making things for babies (natch!).

Up til now, I've been doing rather dull things like making sheets, lining nursery curtains and covering the moses basket etc, but this week I came across the cutest dinosaur fabric which I knew would end up being put to good use...and it was!

Firstly it got made into a little dribble neckerchief type bib, modelled beautifully by little Owen!

It has a terry towelling backing and a simple elastic hook and button at the back.

Next it got made into a little draw string bag (to house a spare set of clothes for the inevitable 'out and about' nappy accident!).

A super cute addition to Owen's nappy bag, even if I do say so myself!

To see what some other crafty peops have been up to this week, head on over to Our Creative Spaces new home on Kidspot.

My (short but sweet) Creative Space

2012-04-17T21:30:00.000+01:00

I’m thinking that bitesized blogging might be the way forwards given my current situation so hows this…

My sister wanted an ipad cover… so I made her one!

Its basically a larger version of the phone/ camera cases I made a while ago, with a double layer of padding.

She loves it! What do you reckon?

To see what a few other crafty peops have been up to this week head on over to Our Creative Spaces

My (swiftly changing and much more disrupted) Creative Space

2012-04-11T14:30:00.002+01:00

So my creative space has been turned upside down in the past few months for two very big reasons...

Firstly, we moved house!

We not only bought our first ever property, but we also moved out of London!!! Only half an hour out of London mind, but its like a different planet. On the plus side, we have a whole house to ourselves (plus garden) and are surrounded by countryside. On the downside, dining options and access to the materials I was used to getting my hands on in London have become incredibly limited.

Its all worth it though, mainly due to reason two for my lack of crafting

... this little chap!

Little Owen joined us in February and has totally taken over life as we once knew it. He’s gorgeous and I love being a mum although hilariously, I thought I would have hours of free time on my hands to make stuff during my maternity leave, but things havn't really panned out that way - shocking eh!

So as I said, my creative space is more chaotic than normal but I am still managing to get a few things done.

The priority this week is finishing these some flowers/ bridesmaid hair decorations for my little sister who is getting married on Saturday!

She wanted something not too big, not too small to attach to hair combs. She also wanted a slightly frayed look to them (which they will get as soon as worn) to mirror a detail on the bridesmaids dresses. They have been re-purposed out of offcuts from her wedding dress. They will look something like this (cue dodgy self portrait)...

She seems really happy with them which is always pleasing! I’ll post a piccy of them in action next week.

Whilst I'm unlikely to be blogging with any regularlity for a while, I am still going to try to keep things updated when I can. However I do hope to be catching up on other peoples blogs in the next few weeks as I have plenty of time during the middle of the night feeds, when my phone and the internet are my only company, so I'm looking forward to that.

For more crafty and creative projects pop on over to Our Creative Spaces. Its always well worth a visit!

Feeling Snuggly

2011-11-10T17:49:00.000Z

So after feeling so totally inspired for some time on the crafty front, the autumnal days and dark wintery evenings have been making me think about knitting again.

So that’s what I’ve been doing... well that and some Christmas crafting planning. I don’t know about anyone else, but whilst I publically curse the fact that there has been Christmas stuff in the shops for the past month, there’s a little bit of me that inwardly leaps for joy at the fact that Christmas is just around the corner! Bit to early for posting about Christmas though so more on that at some other point!

It was mums birthday not too long ago. I spied this gorgeous point 5 Colinette yarn…

and turned it into this snuggly high neck cuff (please excuse the dodgy ‘its me’ shot – wasn't feeling my best on the day of that photo)...

Love LOVE high neck stuff. So simple yet it turns into snuggly loveliness. Perfect for easing me back into the crafty groove.

My new teapot

2011-07-31T20:52:00.000+01:00

Today I wanted to share my love of my beautiful new teapot...

ahhhhhhh... isn’t it pretty!!!

It was a surprise gift from my parents and is specially for making green and white tea. If you dont know, I'm a huge fan of green tea, so I can’t wait to try it out. In the mean time I’m more than happy for it to just sit there looking as lovely as it does!

Very Belated Thanks

2011-07-29T11:00:00.001+01:00

About a month or so ago (possibly longer) I was the lucky recipient of a fab giveaway. I am deeply ashamed to say that in my blogging funk I didn’t blog about (sorry sue!).

So, very belatedly, but with the same amount of excitement as when I first recieved it, here's what I won... this awesome selvedge cuff made by Sue at Laniappe!

Cute isnt it! My favourite side is the one shown below with all the pinks. You can even read ‘yummy cupcakes’ on one bit. I bet that print rocked!

Plus it came wrapped with a little note on some very cute button writing paper!

If you are inspired by the cuff (and why wouldnt you be), take a look at the entire chair that Sue covered in selvedge. Its awesome!

Anyway thanks again Sue. I love it!

Catching Up with my Creative Space

2011-07-27T13:56:00.001+01:00

After my rather extended hiatus, I have decided to throw myself back in the deep end with a new craft. Stamp carving…of sorts.

I have been needing a name stamp for labels and things for a while, but haven’t found one I have been happy with. So when I stumbled upon a fab little craft shop in Winchester at the weekend, I decided to get all the bits I needed to make my own.

This linoleum stuff is newer and softer than the stuff you used to be able to get (apparently) and it cuts like butter.

I tried a couple of different approaches. The first was this one.

I used some letter stamps I had to create the outline of the text but it was very fiddly and ended up looking much more like an Asian print than I had anticipated. The ‘S’ is a bit wonky unfortunately. But its kind of okay.

The second one I did in about a minute.

I was just trying out one of the fatter blades and in truth I didn’t think it was going to any good, and it is a bit wobbly, but actually I think it might be my favourite! What do you reckon?

In a bid to get back into the swing of things I'm joining back in with Our Creative Spaces. Have a look, its always well worth a visit!

AWOL

2011-07-26T18:27:00.000+01:00

Slightly shame facedly, I’m sneaking back onto my blog after, oh, about…7 weeks away!!???!!!

I’d love to say that I’d been on a fantastic holiday, or just enjoying the British summer, but sadly there has been no sign of either. I have just been tired...really, REALLY, tired, and really not in the mood to make much of anything ... with even less inclination to blog about it (sadly).

Still, I’m back – kind of... I have plans to be back anyway, and I guess that’s better than nothing!

I am also still holding out hope that something approximating a summer reaches us soon (hence today’s rather wistful picture that I took two years ago in a very dried out Greenwich park – ahhh, for a few dreamy hot summer days like that one!). A glimmer of hope poked its way through the clouds yesterday so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Vintage Glassware

2011-06-12T09:00:00.002+01:00

Again this is a slightly belated post as I didn’t find these this weekend, but they are well worth sharing.

I have always wanted a set of shot glasses, and had had designs on some like the ones they drink out in Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones). I always keep a look out on my thrifting/ junk store rummage days and have always been disappointed until I saw these…

Aren’t they beautiful?! Granted they are absolutely nothing like what I originally had in mind but they are infinitely better. Not only are they so much more me than anything Indiana Jones wise, they cost all of about £6! I have to admit I hardly ever use them, not being the hugest shot drinker, but I they are super pretty to I always have them out.

For more vintage/thrifty finds pop on over to Her Library Adventures

and Apron Thift Girl

More Preparation - Hair Bobbles

2011-06-11T11:12:00.001+01:00

So I’ve been doing a bit more preparation for the fete. As there are going to be lots of little girls there, I thought that hair bobbles might go down well, so I’ve been making a ton of buttons to turn into bobbles.

I think I need a few more colourful pinks etc but there’s still plenty of time for that. Its quite therapeutic making rows and rows of little buttons. Not I just need to get the elastics.

Look at what I got!

2011-06-09T21:23:00.000+01:00

For someone who never wins anything, I have had a very lucky week and am due to be the recipient of not one, but two giveaways! The first treat came through my door this morning…

Isnt it pretty!

Feildy (who makes all kinds of scrumptious things) was having a giveaway and I was the lucky recipient of this beautiful mirror. I even got to choose the fabric. It will be a really lovely addition to my bag and I can see it becoming a frequent travelling companion. Thank you Suzanne!

As my karma is so good this week, I'm just off out to buy a lottery ticket! :-)

My Creative Space – Preparations

2011-06-08T21:04:00.000+01:00

So I’m in full swing preparing for my first ever stall at my sisters fete in a few weeks. I have a huge list of things to make – some that I’ve made before, some that I haven’t.

One of my newest makes has been a camera pouch. I needed one for the ‘fun’ camera Mr T bought me for my birthday, so I came up with this…

I love it – especially the stripes and cool beige against the red (cute camera too eh!). It was pretty simple to make up – just an outer layer of linen, a felt lining for a teensy bit of protection and a cotton print inner layer. I liked it so much that I decided to make a few more – 25 to be exact. I did a variety of sizes for ipods, cameras and phones!

It will be interesting to see what sells. Have any of you sold anything anywhere? What has worked for you? What are your big sellers?

Anyway, I’ve got a ton of other projects to plough on through so I’d best get on. For more crafty and creative projects pop on over to Our Creative Spaces. Its always well worth a visit!

The British Summer Fete

2011-06-07T22:21:00.002+01:00

If I were going to a summer fete, it would look a little something like this…

(images coutesy of google images )

There would be games, and bouncy castles, crafts and cream teas. Aaaahhh the elusive British summer at its best. I am hoping that the 10th July will be something maybe just a little like that (although admitedly it does look slightly more like a picnic than a fete - but whos counting), as I am doing my first ever stall at teeny tiny fete at my sisters school – tee hee! It will be good practice more than anything at getting stock ready, thinking out what I need to take, seeing what sells etc in case I want to do anything more heavy duty in the future. It should be fun though! Maybe in some down time I’ll get to have a bit of candy floss and try my hand at the coconut shy! Lots of planning to do in the meantime!

Post Dated Thrifting

2011-06-05T11:49:00.001+01:00

I have been out wedding dress shopping with my sister this weekend so I haven’t had the to partake in my normal thrift shop/ market trawl. So instead of showing a new thifty find I’m going to share an old (and topical) thirfty find with you...actually its not even so much of a 'find' as a gift...so I guess I'm cheating slightly (eeek!) but I still count it as thirfty, so I'm going to share...

When I got married last year, I wanted thrift and make by hand as many things as I could. I had the most lovely surprise when my mum gifted the off cuts of her old wedding veil to me. It’s an old ribbon lace from the 60's.

Beautiful isn’t it! I was going to use on a garter or something, but in the end I just didn’t have time to make one. Instead I put a piece of it into her botton-hole, and pinned a piece of it to my jacket too.

It worked as my something old. When my sister gets married next year I hope to make her something out of it too.

For more Flea Market/Vintage or Thrifty finds pop on over to Her Library Adventures
and Apron Thift Girl

My Creative Space – cheating slightly...

2011-06-01T21:56:00.000+01:00

Photos: Second ever bag, first dress and top

In my creative space this week (today in fact) my blog has turned 2! Who knew! I had a shock when I realised. Saying that I don’t actually count it as a proper blogging birthday, as I didn’t really start blogging in earnest until the start of this year. So, instead of doing a traditional blogger ‘what I’ve learnt/ things I’m proud of’ birthday, I am tenuously using the occasion (and cheating slightly as I'm not going to show any crafting from this week) to share with you some of my earliest crafty/ blogging offerings. These are things so deeply buried that they’ll never see the light of day otherwise.

So here's my first and second bags.The first was made completely off piste and I basically made it up as I went along. The second (pictured above) was slightly more restrained affair and actually used a pattern. It was soooo easy to make that I have now made and given away quite a few!

Theres also my first ever top and first ever dress. I wear them both constantly and they are still holding together which makes me feel quite proud.

Finally, if you want a giggle take a look at my first ever post. I didnt have a clue what to write, and it shows! :-)

To hear from people who are undoubtably showing some more recent creative offerings than I have, pay a visit to Our Creative Space.

Another Share

2011-05-31T21:22:00.000+01:00

My machine has been going like the clappers (where does that expression come from?!?) since it returned home on Friday, but I haven’t had the chance to sort any photos yet, so they’ll have to wait.

So instead I have another share…look what I got in the post on Friday!

How exciting! Its my first ever Japanese pattern book! It was possibly the best wrapped ANYTHING I’ve ever had in the post. My mum bought it for me here.

Not only did the seller send a bonus pack of stickers with it, but the she also popped in the cutest handwritten note to say thank you for the purchase.

Hows that for customer service!

Its going to be a while before I get to make anything from (mainly due to the fact that I have yet to learn how to read Japanese patterns) but I’m in love with the book already.

Sweet Williams

2011-05-30T23:18:00.001+01:00

Its been a bit miserable weather wise this bank holiday weekend, but I’ve had a good one regardless (especially after getting my machine back on Friday. It was well worth the effort to get it!).

Anyway, I bought these flowers last week to make the flat look pretty. They have helped it feel cheery inside this weekend even when it was pouring outside.

Thought I’d share the prettiness. Hope you have had a good bank holiday too!

After the rain...

2011-05-27T05:39:00.002+01:00

Double rainbow!

ed. Sadly when I hear 'double rainbow' in my head now, I always hear this dude from utube. Brilliant!

Not raining but POURING!!!

2011-05-26T19:05:00.001+01:00

I dont know if there are any other London dwellers about in blogland today who may also have experienced this, but today i got soaked! I'm not exaggerating when I say that I was literally soaked to the skin - dripping in fact! I've not seen rain like that since living in the tropics.

Here was the picture that greeted me from our flat when I finally got home. Would you believe this is completely unedited. It literally was that dark and threatening out there.

In other news my poor sewing machine is being held hostage! Booooo!!! I was soooo looking forward to having it back!

I went over to pick it up this afternoon with wheelie bag in tow (the argument against having a car in London "because you can just get public transport everywhere and its just so convenient" doesn’t ring quite true on occasions like this) only to find the shop locked up and no-one home.

I was fuming! Not only had I left work 2 1/2 hours early under disapproving looks from my boss to get there, and travelled 45 minutes on the number 8 bus (‘fun’ at even the best of times), but I had also rung ahead yesterday and today to double check they’d be there and open - and then they wern't!!!!!!! The cheek!

THEN it poured!

...and poured....

...and poured some more....

I obviously have some bad Karma hanging over me today or something. Maybe its the assignment spirit sent to tell me that I shouldnt be lusting after my sewing machine or spending time in blogland but should be focussing on my assignment due in tomorrow.

Before I go appease the pesky assignment spirit, I'll say a quick thank you to all the lovely people for the fab feedback and comments yesterday. The orange dress is obviously a hit. Looks like I'll have to make cutting it up count!

My Creative Space – Thrifting and Planning

2011-05-25T21:27:00.000+01:00

Without my trusty sewing machine and awaiting new wool, I've not had huge amounts of crafty things to do, so instead I have been scouring local thrift/charity shops to see if there was anything I might be able to use for repurposing...purposes.

I found a couple dresses that looked like good contenders…

Dress no.1

Dress No.2

Now whilst the dress no.1 is just a little bit too ‘busty milk maid’ for me, I just I love love LOVE the embroidery on the bottom.

Goegeous detail isnt it! I'm going to have to find a special project for that one.

As for the other top/dress thing - i kind of think its... well... pretty awful actually!

However, taking aside the fact that I wouldnt ever wear it, I reckon that the pattern itself, is pretty darn AWESOME! Its got something of a vintage sheet or set of curtains about it. Imagine seeing a little flash of that from inside a linen purse or something. Yummy!

Luckily my machine is due back from its spa vacation tomorrow – hurrah!!! I have all kinds of plans to get it back into the swing of things. Nothing madly inventive, but a few purses (lots of birthdays coming up) and a few phone/camera covers (I got a ‘fun’ camera from Mr T. for my birthday that needs a home!) will do the trick. Plus it’s a bank holiday this weekend so EXTRA sewing time – double bonus!!!

For more creative spaces have a peak at the new Our Creative Spaces page

Vintage Leather Buttons

2011-05-22T14:55:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I spent some time in my favourite thirft/ vintage markets and junk stores. Typically I went looking for one thing and came away with something entirely different! I was especially pleased with my find though...

...these gorgeous, vintage leather buttons!

Arn't they great! With that gorgeous, glossy, chesnut colour they almost look like conkers!

I've got no idea how old they are, but they have a really worn, shiny look and feel to them. I love that fact that they genuinely look like they have served a purpose in some previous life.

They are that old school that the fixings on the back are made from leather too!

Not sure what I'll use them for yet. I'm leaning towards coupling them with some chunky knitted thing, but I'll have to see.

For more Flea Market/Vintage or Thrifty finds pop on over to Her Library Adventures
and Apron Thift Girl

Paper Bunting

2011-05-21T22:12:00.000+01:00

Was a bit bored this afternoon (and was procrastinating because its assignment time again) so a made some more paper bunting to cheer up the living room.

Mr T. used some gorgeous double sided wrapping paper on my birthday presents last week so I used that.

Hope you are having a good weekend!

p.s. Comments are back – hurrah!

My Creative Space - Snippety Snip Snip

2011-05-18T21:48:00.004+01:00

So I’ve done it, I’ve made the cut!

No, not my coffee habit or the hair, the nursery rhyme book!

If you read the nursery rhyme post you’ll know that I was so taken with it when I first got it that I was considering keeping it as it was, and not using for the express intention I had bought it in the first place (to paper craft with like i did here)! I was clearly in danger of adding to the stockpile of books and other ‘nice' things that currently ~~clutter~~ decorate our flat.

So to aid my decsision and knock me off my perch on the fence, I ran through a quick mental checklist:

Do I have children...? No
Do I ever have children visiting who would enjoy the rhymes...? Very infrequently... so no
Will I ever read the nursery rhymes to myself... ? Errr, no
Will I ever read the nursery rhymes to my husband...??? Definitely no
Do I like crafting ...??? Silly question - next!
Do I want to experiment more...? Why yes, yes I do

So the answer was clear and danger averted - I chopped up the book!

I have to say the first snip was incredibly painful! It went against almost every fibre of my being and felt soooo wrong (to put this in context, my parents house is almost a library, I have a literature degree and if asked what I'd grab first in a fire, there are definately a good few books that would rate high on the list!). But after a while of just getting on with it, it actually felt quite liberating and I’d created enough nursery rhyme strips to start sticking.

Heres the results...

(Sweetheart Mobiles. Note to self, put window cleaner on the house 'to do' list asap!)

(Mini Flag Bunting)

(Whirly Twirly Whirly Mobile - or nursery mobile as I'm calling it)

They spin in a really pretty way in just the lightest of breezes. I have packaged a few of them up as a little gift box for an expecting friend. I hope she likes them.

I cant wait to see what other things I can find to chop up now!

For more creative spaces have a peak at the new Our Creative Spaces page

One year older...

2011-05-17T16:46:00.001+01:00

{cue singing}

Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday dear Katie.
Happy Birthday to me!

{cue clapping and whooping noises}

If I owned my own house and had the time to plan such an affair, this is what today would look like… or maybe this, depending on my mood.

As it is, I’m having a sneaky day off work and enjoying a blissfully peaceful flat with pampering and baking indulgence.

(Birthday Carrot Cup Cakes - yum!!!)

To be honest, its nice just not to be in work with the phone ringing and email pinging onto my screen every two minutes. If that makes me seem a bit old, I’m having Mr T. take me out for midweek cocktails later which should reset the 'I'm getting old' balance of things!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Work in Progress and Biscotti

2011-05-15T17:57:00.000+01:00

Its another lazy Sunday here in Greenwich. I started out by having a shoulder and neck massage in the market (I’d highly recommend the guy with the ponytail if you are ever over this way) which set me up very well for the restful day ahead!

Next I moved on to the biscotti. Amy from Angry Chicken posted about her biscotti recipe the other day so I gave it a whirl.

Its a really simple recipe to follow (I went for the chocolate ones) and the results are lovely. I went for the chocolate ones. Admittedly they could have done with being a touch sweeter, but that was totally my fault for using granulated sugar and not putting as much in as Amy had specified in a bid to make them “healthier”. Why on earth do I bother!?!

Anyway I’d recommend them. The white chocolate and cardamom sound gorgeous too so they’re next on my list of things to bake. I have been enjoying the results with my tea whilst knitting up a storm this afternoon.

Whilst waiting for more stocks of Debbie Bliss to finish off the endless journey that is the creation of my summer shrug, I’m going completely off-piste with the creation of my own pattern. Probably a stupid move for a novice, but I don’t enjoy patterns quite so much! I’m going for a kind of summer vest top, something this one that I got some time ago...

I’m using a garter eyelet stitch to get lacy/ crocheted look (as I just cant crochet yet) and am kind of making it up as I go along.

So far its quite shlumpy feeling which I am taking to be a good sign. Hopefully I’ll be able to post the results up next week.