Wednesday 30 November 2011

WOYWW - all neat and tidy!

Good morning all.
Its been a wet and windy few days but quite mild for November.
We have lots of oak trees around here so the colours have been gorgeous but now the leaves have been blown down and keep filling my flowerbeds. That's Autumn for you!

Today my table looks neat and tidy because I had a mammoth clear up.
I have printed off a few more dumfed robins and doves for some more Christmas cards.
The hankies were a car boot bargain - Bruges lace.

I decided I wouldn't make any more little frocks for the "Dress a girl around the world" scheme until after Christmas. So I have put away the 34 finished ones ready to post to Louise at Sew Scrumptious (She has had over 500 little frocks sent to her so far!!!)
Here are my latest creations.......




Apart from those, I have made the other little hoodie (same as last week) and I am now knitting another in blue and white random wool.

I have made a little check pinafore for baby L and now have similar to make for P & L. as well as another set in pale pink babycord.
My daughter M also sent me home with some fabric to make a tunic/dress for her too.
Never a dull moment in this house!

OK folks let's nip over to the lovely Julia's Stamping Ground and see what all of you have been up to this week.
Thanks for calling here and leaving such lovely comments. I will try to see a few more of your desks this week - I don't know where last week went!!
x Jo

Wednesday 23 November 2011

WOYWW - a busy week's worth!

Good morning happy crafters and WOYWW followers.
Lots of pics for you to enjoy today!!

My table is overflowing with exciting items!
  • My latest little peace dove Christmas card - I might make a few more of these as I quite like the lace/embroidered flowers etc and the print from a little "dumfed" dove that I made last year some time.
  • The calendar is one that I made through Vistaprint - a free offer (well apart from postage)          I just uploaded 12 of my "free-machine collages" to their website and they printed it and sent it to me within a fortnight. I love it.
  • At the top of my table you can see my little "Katie Morag" style doll. I had rather a special request for this one and was thrilled to be able to oblige.
  • I also have the lovely pale pink babycord fabric that was sent to Annie to make little pinafore dresses for her little grand daughters. She has a lot of work on at the mo so I am going to make  small, medium and large for L, L &P. What fun.
  • The check fabric is also for them and today I made a tiny little frock for the tiniest little L.
  • On my window sill is gorgeous pin cushion sent as a lovely surprise gift all the way across the Atlantic - from Sylvia. What better gift for a sewing gal like me! Thanks so much Sylvia - it will be put to good use here and it is really beautifully made with a pretty little tag too.

Here it is in close up..



My little knitted item of the week is this little hoody for the latest little boy added to Annie's family.
It's knitted in Sirdar Baby Crofter is is so soft and cosy. I have done my usual trick and have nearly a ball left over so I will buy another couple of balls and make one for little twin S. They are all growing so quickly I am sure he will fit this one soon.


AND just a few more frocks...
I think Louise of Sew Scrumptious says she has a total of 475 frocks collected for the " Dress a girl around the world scheme" now.












Quite a busy week then!

Must go - looking forward to a trip round your desks after my dental appointment!
x Jo

Wednesday 16 November 2011

WOYWW - Christmas cards!

Just a quick post today.

I have had a busy day or two making a few Christmas cards.
Now, as you know, I am not really a card maker.  I love textiles and find it really difficult to work with paper and card.
So.....
All my cards are designed with mostly fabric, lace, ribbons and  stitching.

The old Cuttlebug came in handy for cutting fabric flowers (Thanks to Crafty Dawn). Annie and I both used it on funday Monday. I just hope she has time to make a few cards with the lovely flowers she cut out. (Life is very busy for her at the mo).

The other other idea I had was to create a Victorian robin
design using a transfer print on linen
of one of my little dumfed robin pics.
 I was quite pleased with the result.

UPDATE -
Neet asked me to show my robin card in close up.....
If you want to see more dumfing - follow this link to a few of April 2010 posts.
http://twiglet5.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html




My table looks quite pretty doesn't it!

Just don't look at the window sill, shelves and under the table! I am such a messy worker. At one stage I had every unit in the kitchen covered too! There is so much stuff needed - guillotine, Cuttlebug, iron, sewing machines, card, glue, lace, buttons........... Now I know why I don't make too many cards!

Have a great day everyone and if you want to join in our mad WOYWW bloghop, then follow me to Julia's Stamping Ground and see what all the other crafty folk have been up to.

x Jo

Saturday 12 November 2011

Tiny frocks and more frocks!

Version 1
A tiny frock in cosy Vyella type fabric for baby L.
She thought it was lovely but just a tad too big across her chest so....
Here is
Version 2


Just a tiny bit smaller and with deep pink floral buttons and tiny free machined flowers.
I am sure baby L will quickly grow into Version 1 so nothing is wasted.
I have loads of fabric left and will probably make similar for  Annie's older grandees P & L.

Here are a few more frocks for the "Dress a girl around the world" scheme.
I think I have made 142 now.


They just need a few trimmings so I am taking them down to Annie's.

Adrian from Cari crafts has sent us another fab bag of tiny bits of ribbon/lace and trims so I shall choose a few bits and stitch them on later.
I know a few of you have been using Cari crafts since we blogged about them. If you need crafty bits and bobs then follow the link on my side bar. They have a good range and offer a very fast efficient service.

Right, must get back to my Christmas card making.
(Might blog them next week)
Have a great weekend.
x Jo



Wednesday 9 November 2011

WOYWW - My 300th post give away!

Good morning all!!
Rain, low cloud and gloomy here but that can't dampen my spirits!
Wipso and I were taken out to the theatre and had a great time last night - what a giggle - I expect she will blog it later!
Here is my table today - a bit of a mess.
  • A little dress cut out ready to sew for baby Lexi.
  • A pretty tin to fill with vintage buttons.
  • A blue make up bag, ideal for all sorts of crafty bits and bobs - new bargain from our local car boot sale.
  • My pile of magazines - I need to put them away really but I just love stopping for the odd minute or two and browsing through for ideas and tips.
  • Loads of elastic and bits for making my little frocks.

NOW - As this is my 300th post and I have well over 100 followers I am happy to announce that the winner of my celebration give away is.........

                                                              JOZART
 It couldn't go to a nicer lady!

So, Jo - I will email you with a few suggestions for one of my free machine collages and let you decide what you would like me to do for you! Congratulations!


I would like to add that I have made so many lovely friends through blogging but especially through our WOYWW fun.
Kindness and friendship is in abundance out there and I love the thought that, even though we haven't met, we still feel we can help each other and share our good and not so good times.

Just a little example of kindness......
I asked Di where she bought her cello bags from and the next day she sent me these through the post - what a little gem. Thanks lots Di - (another lovely lady)  and your card is so pretty too.

Also, through blogging, I can keep in touch with all my Yorkshire friends. Most are not bloggers but I know they read my blog and love to know what Wipso and I have been up to. So a special hello to them.

So there we are. Thanks everyone for popping in and for all your lovely comments over the last 300 posts. Now to join in the blog hop over with the WOYWW bunch at Julia's Stamping Ground...

Tuesday 8 November 2011

Post 299!


We had a happy fun day Monday yesterday with lots of craftiness and laughter.
T mentioned that she needed a Diamond Wedding card so we raided Annie's stash and created this little card. It was a bit of a rush but the finished card looked OK.
I was inspired by the gorgeous work of Jackie at dogdaisychains blog.
Jackie's work is really beautiful and she creates lovely brooches using velvet and machine embroidery.
Pop over and have a look at her blog and her Etsy shop.

Well folks this is my 299th post.
When I write my 300th post I will be adding the winner of my give away. So, if you would like me to make you a little fabric collage of your house then, as a follower, you just need to leave a comment telling me you want to join in!. (See this post for more details)

See you tomorrow for my 300th post!
x Jo

Sunday 6 November 2011

Rainbow days!

I just had to share this rainbow picture from last week.
Sometimes the beauty of these natural marvels takes my breath away.
This one was stunning and, at one stage, was a double rainbow spanning "my hills".

The left hand side of the rainbow ended over Annie's house so I will be popping down for funday Monday expecting to find her holding the pot of gold!!




And as if you haven't seen enough.....


The latest five of my little "Dress a girl around the world"  frocks.
Sue H sent us the fab daisy fabric and its amazing how those little flowers perk up a plain frock.
I think Tricia from triciasconfetti blog sent us the bright coloured pillow cases and duvets so thanks lots both. I hope you think we have done them justice.

Well folks this is my 298th post.
When I write my 300th post I will be adding the winner of my give away. So, if you would like me to make you a little fabric collage of your house then, as a follower, you just need to leave a comment telling me you want to join in!. ( See this post for more details)

Have a great week.
x Jo

Wednesday 2 November 2011

WOYWW - there is nothing like a dame!



Good morning all!
I hope you are all well and enjoying these nice bright mornings and dark early evenings - it takes me a week or so to get used to the clocks going back.
It worked out well for me this weekend as my fab daughter M whisked me off to Manchester for the weekend and we got an extra hour in our hotel room after putting the clocks back - he he the way to get value for money ha!
It was all part of my birthday treat as she had bought tickets for us to go to see South Pacific and have a bit of retail therapy too. We had a really great time and I loved every minute. So a big thanks to M for that and a big thanks to hubby G for treating us to a night in the Manchester Hilton.
South Pacific was one of the first films I ever saw on the big screen in technicolour as a 9 year old and I remember how exciting, romantic and beautiful it all seemed to be. It has remained a favourite and I love all the songs - Some enchanted evening, Happy Talk and There is nothing like a dame..etc
So, the musical stage version was a perfect treat for me and it didn't disappoint. The cast did a great job and Samantha Womack was a fab Nelly Forbush.

Other bits and bobs round my table....
  • My latest Molly Makes mag - I won't be buying any more - not enough content and far too many wasted pages.
  • The little cardi I finished for one of our girls.
  • The box of fabric all cut up for our little frocks for our "Dress a girl around the world" scheme..
I think I have made 10 since last week.
Now lots of folk have said "What about the boys?".
So I have used a few T shirts and made some little boys' shorts.
Follow this link if you want to try one.
http://www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com/boysinbritchespattern.htm

What do you think? They cost nothing, so well worth a go. (Just hope hubby doesn't miss his T shirts - lol)

And my latest little frocks.......


OK folks - I am off to find out what Julia has been up to and then take a sneaky peek at a your WOYWW desks. Have a great day.
x Jo

PS. Don't forget - if you are a follower and want to join in my give away - check out my last WOYWW post and leave me a message to say so. Thanks.

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Two more little frocks.


Just a quick pic of 2 of my latest little frocks for the "Dress a girl around the world" scheme.
More tomorrow and news of something for the boys!!