Lazy week with a bit of dry felting!

Posted on 25 August, 2013 by patchworkfairy

Had a very lazy week crafting wise so not much to show! Last week I just couldn’t get my comments to work on lots of blogs so I am really seemed to have ignored blogs who had visited mine. Hopefully this week blogger will have sorted out the error?So this week I tried out two projects I bought at craft fairs and haven’t even opened till now! (this is not an isolated incident I am ashamed to say!) Things look sooo interesting and exciting I want to try them all!!

felted flowers attempt

I tried my dry felting kit and managed to make some felted flowers which will be good for embellishing bags or quilts, when I have perfected them a bit more that is!! However at this rate I will never have enough stock for our stand at the Handmade xmas at 02 fair!! Has anyone else managed to get going on xmas stock yet? checking over at Handmade Monday!!

Liberty Tana Lawn Wedding Bag!

Posted on 18 August, 2013 by patchworkfairy

Have I mentioned that I love Liberty Tana Lawn fabric before? 😉 Yes I thought I had! I realised this week that when writing about the wedding last week I’d omitted to say that I’d also made myself a special little wedding bag for the day from my favourite fabric – Liberty Tana Lawn! I just adore the colours, the ditsy prints and the feel of Tana Lawn and I have been collecting pieces of it for a year or so now. I make mobile fone covers in it to sell on Folksy and every time I buy some I have been squirrelling away bits to make myself a bag. It is a very simple clutch bag with interlining and fusible fleece for support, a magnetic closing and floral buttons just for decoration. It all echoes the lilac colour scheme from the wedding. I loved making this the day before the wedding – it was a special bit of relaxation and ‘me time’ in the midst of all the preparations!

clutch bag in assorted lilac floral Liberty Tana Lawn fabric

My wedding bag in Tana Lawn patchwork

inside of clutch bag showing pretty pink floral fabric lining

pretty pink lining

I’m linking up with Handmade Monday now so I am off for a read around the crafty blogs over there, why not pop over too! UPDATE- I can’t comment on lots of your blogs – I keep getting an error code – I assume this is a google/blogger problem as others are ok.

Bunting in the Dandy!

Posted on 4 August, 2013 by patchworkfairy

Well just back from camping holiday and had no signal for most of the time so it was a strange but quite liberating feeling as I wasn’t obliged to text and couldn’t check emails or facebook! The weather was mostly good and I had some great swimming in the sea! I am sorry about not commenting on many blogs last week as I ran out of time before we left on Monday morning. I have now managed to reciprocate all those who commented on mine I think!

So I haven’t done any crafting this week but I did loads before I left as I made some bunting for my Dandy and completed some things I am doing in conjunction with creative blogging for Abakhan, but more about that in a future post! It looked very pretty at night in the camper with the flower lights and a candle! I also made curtains for the windows and the door with some Abakhan rose print fabric from the big dumpers of vintage dress fabric! Nothing left for my dress now though!

pink and red bunting and a multi colouted quilt.

My Dandy camper with the bunting and the rose flower lights. My quilt is over the settee back!

The Dandy with the new rose fabric door curtain

Anyway, over to Handmade Monday to see what you’ve all been up to!

Hippy Quilt has Ears!

Posted on 28 July, 2013 by patchworkfairy

Well this week I have been quite a lot busier crafting wise. I have been making things for my camping holiday as every year I go away for a few days with my old friend and our assorted children and grandchildren. I go in my Dandy camper, this is a cross between a trailer tent and a camper and can be put up in 15 mins! It has a proper bed, a settee and 2 proper windows so I have just made some new curtains, cushions and bunting for mine and finished off the hippy type quilt I have been making. I posted about making the top from a jelly roll a few week’s ago in this post here. Now it has a fluffy inside and a soft fleecy backing! The fleece is from IKEA and is quite heavy so I should be really warm on chilly nights in a Welsh field! I don’t know about everyone else, but I tend to rush things which are for myself and end up with something which isn’t quite how it was intended to be. I make so much for selling which has to be perfect that I get sloppy when it’s only for me.

quilt with fleecy backing sewn into pointy ears

my hippy quilt with it’s ears!

Hence when sewing on the fleece backing I ended up with it sort of twisted and misaligned as I came to the end of the row (I never pin in place when it’s my own stuff!)

Anyway fortunately I had a brilliant idea and made the extra fleecy at each corner into a feature – the quilt now has ‘ears’

I have been thinking recently that I should be more careful with things I make for my own use as it doesn’t make a very good advert for my business really!

Well I’m off to continue packing – it’s a thunderstorm outside at the moment – I really hope it’s not like this tomorrow on the Lleyn Peninsula!! My plan is to be sunbathing and swimming this coming week whilst my husband gets on with all the jobs here that need doing! 🙂

But first it’s over to Handmade Monday for a look at what everyone else has been doing! See you next week with some pictures of my glamped up Dandy!

The Glastonbury Effect!

Posted on 21 July, 2013 by patchworkfairy

Well sorry I missed last week’s Handmade Monday but I was away with my DH having a much needed break! We have been in the Forest of Dean for a couple of days and then spent 5 days in a cottage in Glastonbury! Plenty of scope for coffee and cake adventures!

I love Glastonbury and used to come here 3 or 4 times a year with friends, but because of health issues I haven’t been for 3 years now, which is why my lovely husband suggested it as a holiday for us! Glastonbury always had a recharging/de-stressing effect on me when I came here touching me spiritually, deepening my sense of oneness with the earth and my ability to tune into the magical/otherworldly realms. Since becoming ill and having to take pain meds I have felt a loss of connection to my spiritual side and even an inability to enjoy meditation as I used to do, so I was very much looking forward to experiencing a rekindling of these lost attributes by being once again in Glastonbury.

We had a view of the Tor from our bedroom window! Sadly I can’t walk up it any more but maybe one day I will manage it again.

Glastonbury Tor

Well I enjoyed my time away, I feel rested and more relaxed, but I didn’t experience the ‘Glastonbury Effect’ – not any of the ‘connections’ I used to feel at the sacred sites such as the Goddess Temple and Chalice Well. I drank the well water and walked through the healing pool, I enjoyed the sensation, but it seems that nothing can get through the blanking effect of taking heavy drugs long term, no tingling excitement or special awakening occurred. I did read some very interesting books though which the hosts left in the living room and from these I remembered some of what I used to do naturally. So now I will be working on reawakening my chakras, trying to reconnect with my higher self and deepening my connection to natural world around me to see if I can regain some of my sense of goddess spirituality.

The cottage was wonderful though, comfy bed, interesting garden with a raised patio in the garden overlooking the Abbey grounds. We had some nice cider and wine sitting up there! Not much intake for me though – another consequence from taking the drugs 🙁

I took my sewing bag with me, expecting to have plenty of time to do some knitting, crochet and hand sewing to make things like the hexagon patterns for quilts, but didn’t actually do any! Amazingly, it was too hot to sew or knit or crochet!!! Everytime I sat down in the garden recliner or on the sofa to read or craft I fell asleep! They had amazing garden rolling recliners which are the best thing I have found for back/neck support in a comfy reclining position. They were so good I ordered one online which my son picked up and had waiting for me when we got back last night!! The holiday ones, Tuscany Recliners, were from Greenfingers online store but they have sold out so I got a Malibu rolling recliner from Argos which is very similar. If you have any back, neck, knee or hip problems and can’t get comfy outside I really recommend trying one of these! http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Search/searchTerms/ROLLING+RECLINER+.htm

Floral binding and Rainbow Wool!

I did also manage to feed my fabric addiction in a beautiful little craft shop in Lydney, and a wonderful emporium called Sew Vintage in Wells. Here is the ready made quilt binding I bought and some lovely wool I just couldn’t resist.

So now I have even more of a stash and haven’t made any progress at all with making things!! Oh well, par for the course for fabric fanatics!

Now I’m back home I have decided to make some summer resolutions!

make time for daily meditation and mindfulness
work on my craft projects whilst listening to some beautiful music
keep my craft room workspace tidy but have some pretty things in there to uplift my soul whilst working
keep up to date reading craft blogs and writing my own

That shouldn’t be difficult, should it?!! Think I’ll start by popping over to read the other blogs at handmade harbour!!

Swingy Seat Covers and Cloutie Bunting!

Posted on 7 July, 2013 by patchworkfairy

Oh gosh I am too hot! Yes I one of the very annoying people who hate hot weather, give me a ‘might need a cardi’ spring day anytime!

Anyway, thank you very much for all the lovely comments and sympathy left on last week’s memorial post to Jess, it was lovely to read them. We are adapting to life without her slowly. I think I have ‘seen’ her twice already, which was slightly startling but not scary in any way.

I have done a lot of sewing this week. It is my sister’s 50th birthday tomorrow and I made bunting for her party and two cakes! I also recovered her swingy seat cushions and made matching patchwork cushion covers out of the leftover scraps of fabric.

garden seat with green and brown covers and bunting hanging on yhe top rail

Swing Seat new Covers and Cloutie Bunting

The coloured garland hanging on the seat is my ‘cloutie bunting’. I did make some fabric flag style bunting as well, but the cloutie bunting uses up all the scraps of fabric leftover from any project sewn onto a strip of fabric or tape – like the fabric clouties tied to tree branches as a Beltaine/May Day celebration.

As well as sister’s 50th I also finished a pram quilt for my daughter’s best friend’s daughter!

Patchwork quilt for Pippa’s 1st Birthday

I am now almost up to date with presents and so now have to start making items for our stall at the Handmade Christmas at the 02 event. It seems a long way off but if I don’t start building up stock soon I won’t have enough to sell for 3 days!

I am now going to have a cold glass of wine in the garden whilst the bbq cooks – ‘spose hot weather isn’t too bad sometimes 🙂

Later I will settle down to watch ‘The Returned’ – one of the best, scary series I have seen in a long time, and I will also be perusing the crafty blogs over at Handmade Harbour, see you there!

Goodbye Jess

Posted on 30 June, 2013 by patchworkfairy

This week has been a sad week.

Jess

🙁 Our lovely Jess for whom I made a new bed cover a few weeks ago became very strange last weekend – not eating and having trembling episodes. She was around 15, we are not quite sure as she was a rescue dog. Anyway we ‘phoned the vets on Monday and arranged to take her in on Wednesday. The next two days she trembled and stared vacantly intermittently but inbetween she was ok, although sleepy. On Tuesday evening she spent her time in the garden with DH as he sorted the vegetable plantings, and later went for her usual walk.

By 11am the next day we had learned she had multi-organ failure, was too ill to come back home and the vet recommended she be put to sleep. Jess had been bought 11 years ago as a friend for our teenage daughter so it seemed only fitting that she be given the chance to be with Jess at the end. She did want to, and work let her off early so she could make the 3pm dreaded time with me.

We had 5 minutes or so with Jess in a side room before the vet came in. We stroked her and patted her and she nestled into my daughter’s arms as the vet injected the potion into the drain in her leg. Then suddenly, to the words ‘Jess is a good dog’ she slipped sideways onto my daughter’s knee and seemed to be asleep. The vet confirmed she had gone as I asked him if she really was just asleep. There was no sense of a soul departing, no sense of life leaving, for me at any rate she appeared to be sleeping, just as she often had, on her side, legs straight out.

We stayed a few more minutes and then stumbled out, I was crying like a baby and my daughter was the adult, guiding me out and driving me home. I have done some sewing this week, I found it helpful in the quiet house. I’ll have some pictures next week and hopefully feel more normal to share things at Handmade Monday

Handmade Christmas at the 02 anyone?

Posted on 23 June, 2013 by patchworkfairy

This week I have had absolutely nothing that I had to do (apart from usual shopping cleaning etc) but no appointments or family to pick up/take out etc so I have pretty much been able to sew sew sew! It has been really relaxing and enabled me to complete my quilt top ready to start the quilting and binding next week.

I didn’t think I’d be doing any hand sewing on a patchwork quilting course but we did, we learned applique as well, and I found it very relaxing sitting in the garden doing some hand sewing. Here is the finished quilt top which now needs making into the quilt sandwich!

pink and purple fabrics made into a quilt.

My Wonder Block Quilt Top

I don’t know if any of you crafters who join in in Handmade Monday heard about the Folksy collaboration with the big Handmade Christmas Fair at the 02 in December?? Well I have taken a leap of faith and booked a market stall for the 3 day event!! I am sharing the stall and the costs with my sister who is a photographer and so I am quite looking forward to it as a sister road trip as well as the selling side. I am, however, a bit nervous of managing a stall for 3 days on the run and also worrying if we will sell enough to make it worthwhile! I will be selling quilts like the one above as well as my smaller items, the mobile ‘phone cases and Tablet cases and some of my jewellery.

There are concerts on at the 02 and the fair organisers have agreed to arrange a ‘buy now – collect later’ point in the arena so that concert goers can buy things more easily. 60,000 people are expected to visit so it sounds good!

Anyway I’d be interested to know if anyone else has booked a spot and what you think are the chances of anyone buying something as big as a quilt? Would more smaller items be better? Please share your thoughts – any advice welcomed!!

Wedding Bunting!!

Posted on 16 June, 2013 by patchworkfairy

So last week DD and I went shopping for fabric to make the bunting for her wedding. As anyone who reads this blog will know, I luurrvvve fabric shopping! 🙂 We spent a happy hour in Calico Laine in Neston which is only a few minutes away, but totally forgot the time and then had to rush off to pick up her eldest from school! Luckily we managed to find some lovely fabrics to match the lilac and white colour scheme before dashing off!

I made the bunting template really easily by folding a piece of A4 paper down into a quarter so that when opened out again it has folds making a cross.

draw lines from the middle side to the opposite top corner.

draw from bottom corner to point where first two lines intersect on the fold.

result is a bunting template cut out from A4 paper

Next I folded my fabric with the right sides together and pinned two templates to the wrong side and drew round them before moving them along.

lay template out and draw round it then move to side

Cut out the fabric about a inch from the drawn line.

You can now easily sew in a straight line and no worry about leaving perfect 1/4 inch seams as these are trimmed later! Don’t forget to leave half the top line undone to enable you to turn the fabric to the right side at the end.

sew along the pencil line

trim away the seams to leave about quarter of an inch

Now after turning the flags right sides out, fold inwards the edges of the hole you left and pin some ribbon or bias binding along the top to hold all the flags together and close up where the hole was. I also tried top sewing one of the flags to see if I like the look, not sure really.

top sewing on flag

flags with ribbon pinned on

Obviously I will have many more of these for the final wedding bunting and will sew on the top ribbon properly when I have decided whether or not to top sew every flag!

Just a few more to make now! First though I am off over to Handmade Monday to see what everyone else has been up to!

Additional Note!

Finished Bunting after the Wedding!

Wedding Bunting on the Top Table

Patchwork Quilting Course

Posted on 9 June, 2013 by patchworkfairy

So this was the second week at my patchwork quilting course and I thoroughly enjoyed it again. This course has not been what I expected at all – so far we haven’t used a sewing machine at the course – only at home! We have learnt to cut out and hand sew pieces of fabric which are sewn together to make up 12″ ‘blocks’. Each block is made up differently using varying techniques. Out of the 6 blocks needed, so far I have two blocks finished and two half finished.

One of the nice things about learning techniques by hand sewing is that it is very relaxing and quite therapeutic to have to sit and sew, away from normal life . It’s also easy to listen to the tutor whilst sewing by hand. I now have several squares, hexagons, diamonds and hearts made up, some of which are to be used as applique on top of background fabric. I have taken some pictures as I sewed at home for putting together a tutorial on some of the techniques I have learnt. I will be uploading these in the next few weeks but for now here is a peak at what I have been doing.

two hexagonal pieces of fabric, one is kight ourple the other is yellow with a purple butterfly

Starting to sew hexagons together

As the weather has been so warm and sunny I have been sitting in the shade at the bottom of the garden sewing up all my fabric pieces! – Bliss! Here is the hexagon doily first row after the centre completed

6 pale purple hexagons of fabric sewn around a middle yellow one. The yellow one has a purple butterfly on it.

Hexagon Doily – one more round to sew yet!

We have ‘homework’ each week which has meant a lot of sewing. Before the next lesson I have to buy some more fabric to use as the backing. Oh the hardship! A trip to buy more fabric :). But more about all that and the rest of the course in a future post, now I am off on my weekly trip round the crafty blogs over at Handmade Monday!