Lavender gift set

 

I just had a mad half hour putting a few of our crafty bits and bobs on ebay so I thought I would put the pretty lavender bag collection on here to show you.

 

Pretty isn't it.

 

This how I described it for ebay so you can see what is in it.

3 handmade lavender bags made with vintage fabrics and trimmed with embroidery and buttons

AND a Natroma handmade organic goat’s milk lavender soap

 

Filled with lavender from the Shropshire Lavender company

 

All contained in a fabric gift holder which can be used as a desk tidy or to hold “bits and bobs” on a dressing table

We have a few lavender sets left so I am putting them on ebay while they still smell beautifully of that lovely Shropshire lavender.

Hope you are all enjoying a happy "in between Christmas/New year" week.
x Jo

Friday smile

Happy Christmas Friday to all.
I hope you had a lovely Christmas and that you will be looking forward to a  Merry New Year!!!

Above are the little piggies waiting patiently to be wrapped ready for their big day.
They went sqealing and giggling into their Santa sacks and I believe they were well received by the 4 little ones who found them under the Christmas tree!

AND here are a few of our Christmas parcels that put a smile on my face this Christmas.
I think I shall have to ration them over the next six months don't you!
All yummy and much appreciated.
Do help yourself to your favourite and enjoy it with a coffee or glass of sherry with me!!
All the best
- Jo x x

WOYWW - A Very Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

 

I guess we will all be a bit too busy to spend too much time on our computers, but just in case a few of you pop by, I thought I would post one of my little embroidered tree cards for you.

 

Have a super time and thank you for all your lovely comments over the last year.

 

All good wishes

Jo

Friday Smile

 

 My daughter Maxine's display of beautiful needle-felted pictures at the craft fair certainly made me smile. They all looked so lovely and she had made a big effort to set her stall out so nicely.

Hopefully she will get a few more sales in the New Year. She has a few on her Tilly Tea Dance Etsy shop at the moment.

Now I know Annie will be recoiling in horror at this - sorry Annie.
This gorgeous slow worm was right outside my back door this week.
He was so beautiful and looked like an 8 inch molten copper bracelet.

I have never seen one close-up before.
He isn't a snake Annie - he is a member of the lizard family I think.
I think he is living under the paving slabs near the manhole cover.
Hope I haven't spooked too many of you today!!


Hope you like my Friday show and tell and that it has raised a smile too.
Join in with Annie's smiles over on her "A stitch in time" blog.

x Jo

WOYWW - Tree Fu Tom!

 

Here I am folks!!

A bit late - well very late as I wasn't even here last week!!

I seem to have had a very busy crafty time over the last few weeks.

Above is my latest little dressing up outfit.

I made two of these little Tree Fu Tom costumes for my friend's grandsons.

(Tree Fu Tom is a mini super hero on CBeebies)

I hope they like their little suits - I certainly had fun making them.

 

My work room is a total mess as I still have loads of bits and bobs left over from the craft fair. We did sell a bit but, although the venue was brilliant, I don't think it had been well advertised. The rooms were full of fab craftwork and Christmas stalls so it was a disappointment to all the stall holders I think.

Maxine had lots of lovely feedback for her needle-felted pictures and she has put a few on Tilly Tea Dance - her Etsy site. She has been invited to give a talk and a workshop at the local Embroiderers Guild so she was really thrilled and it gave her such a boost to know her work met with their approval!!

 

So my table today just has a few oddments!!

If you saw Peppa pig on my Friday Smile post (scroll down) you might also recognise her brother George. He will be well loved when he is unwrapped this Christmas, I know!!

 

I made the little Christmas trees with some scraps of Christmas fabric and some twinkly beady braid.

Friends and family will be getting one of these!

Below is my latest cosy infinity scarf. I found the idea on Lunch Lady Jan's blog and she was kind enough to tell me how she made them. They really are so cosy - I have 3 in different colourways now.

 

So that's my week.

Today I fetched my Christmas tree.

It was windy and as I opened my boot one of my carrier bags blew across the car park.

I didn't know if it had anything inside, so just picture me on my hands and knees grovelling under someone else's car trying to retrieve it!! I managed it but tweaked a muscle in my neck and got two wet knees only to find that it was empty anyway!!! Lol. Mad or what?!!

 

Have a great week.

Thanks for calling by.

Join in with the WOYWW fun over at Julia's Stamping Ground - there will be lots of busy crafters getting ready for Christmas.

 

x Jo

Friday smile.

 

Happy Friday everyone!

Just a quick Friday smile for you - I am busy getting everything finished and ready for the craft fair in Craven Arms tomorrow!!

 

I think little Peppa Pig might find herself tucked into someone's stocking this Christmas.

 

Hope you like my Friday show and tell and that it has raised a smile too.
Join in with Annie's smiles over on her "A stitch in time" blog.
Have a great weekend.

x Jo


Finished by Friday with a smile

 Three little finished items that make me smile!
Little Katie Morag dolly now has some hair - she complained bitterly about the cold until I finished stitching her lovely copper brown hair in place.
Each one seems to be better than the last but they take about two days to make so really I just make them for fun, because it's what I like doing.

Some folks wanted a better picture of my little needle-felted robin.

He still needs a bit more "dumfing" with my spiral needle-felting needle to tuck in all his stray fluff  feathers!

I made him at the workshop with Gretel - Middle of Nowhere blog - she makes amazing little needle-felted sculptures. He is just a tear shaped ball of brown wool roving needlefelted and then details added. He will be hanging on my tree this Christmas.

Lastly, the cheery little pink "In threes" cardi for Lexi.
It is made in DK and is just enough to give an extra layer of warmth without being too bulky.
She loves pink!

Hope you like my Friday show and tell and that it has raised a smile too.
Join in with Annie's smiles over on her "A stitch in time" blog.
Have a great weekend.

x Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all.

My desk is looking a little bit tidier this week - that's because all my bits and bobs and piles of fabric are tucked away under the table!!!

As you see - I have still been very busy.
I have a new Katie Morag style dolly to finish - she just needs hair and a face.

On the left are the little embroidered Christmas trees that will eventually become Christmas cards.

On the right is a little needle felted robin and the Christmas tree that I made at the workshop I went to on Saturday with my daughter Maxine. (Scroll down to my earlier post if you want to know more)

In the front of the picture is the juicy, raspberry pink sleeveless cardi that I am knitting for Lexi.

That's it for today folks.
I will pop in to visit later in the week - we have a funeral today.

Have a great week.
Thanks for popping in.

x Jo

Needle felting with Gretel Parker

Just a few pics to show from our lovely day with Gretel at a workshop in Rustic and White, Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury...

 

 A shelf with some of Gretel's books and little needle felted characters.

 

 

Maxine in action "dumfing" her Christmas tree

 

The array of finished trees at the end of the afternoon.

We had a brilliant day working with Gretel - she was a very patient teacher and we certainly developed our needle-felting skills - though I doubt we will ever reach Gretel's skill level. Her little characters are so cleverly made with such artistic flair  and, no doubt, many long hours spent working on each and every one.

Jo at Rustic and White provided us with the coffee and cakes needed to sustain a high level of industrial activity!! It was just brilliant to chill out and craft together with Maxine and other lovely crafters. I am sure Gretel will be doing more workshops so, if you are interested, pop over to her blog The Middle of Nowhere and see what she is up to this week.

Thanks for calling.
x Jo

Finished by Friday and smiley snippets!!

How much can I squeeze into this Friday post???

 Firstly five smiley faces on my little dancing dollies.

I am going to enter them in Di's Snippets Playground this week. I have never entered before but thought these little dollies made from tiny fabric scaps would be perfect for her Snippets Playground this week.

Secondly I thought I would show you the "princess" skirt that I made for a friend's grandson to give as a little girl's birthday pressie. I think she will love the lacey underskirt and swishy blue fabric with its silver bows.

 

Lastly, as promised on Wednesday, my latest draught excluders.

I have made them with cosy furnishing fabric and they will be just right for popping behind a door to keep out these cold winter chills!

 

 

So that's it for this Friday.
I am going to the Frost Fair at Attingham Park today.
It's always a good place to visit - lots of craft stalls and delicious foods for the Christmas season.
I might even take a few photos to show you next week.
Have a good weekend.

Thanks for popping by. If you want to see more Friday smiles then pop over to Annie's "A stitch in time" blog.

x Jo

WOYWW

Another photo of my work table stacked with ongoing projects....

This week I have been trimming my fabric boxes/desk tidies.....

Finishing off a couple of draught excluders...

Knitting a hoodie for little Sam.....

Getting bits and bobs ready for my fabric dollies.....

Up cycling a few photoframes...

I promise I will tidy up later today!! AND I will post a photo of the draught excluders on Friday.

Show us what your work desk looks like and join in the global blog hop that is Whats On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Pop over to Julia's Stamping Ground and link up with over 100 crafters around the world! Go on - they really are a fab bunch - you will enjoy it.

For my friends and followers who pop in here each week.. thanks lots for leaving lovely comments. I love to hear from you all and I will try and get round as many desks as possible this week.

Have a great week.
x Jo

Friday smile

My pleasures are simple!

I ordered some fabric from the Dutch Sisters   - I love their blog and the crafty items they make.
My parcel only took 3 days to get here and was just a delight to open.
As you see, I had 6 different pieces of Christmas fabric and 5 pieces of really pretty tiny print fabric - perfect for my little dolly dresses.
The lovely sisters Heleen and Corry had tied each little bundle with stripey string and one had a big cream button threaded through, the other had a gorgeous owl bead. Now how did they know I love owls? lol
So, thanks to Heleen and Corry - I am smiling even now just thinking about it.

Have a happy Friday and pop over to Annie's blog - "A Stitch in Time" if you want more smiles.

x Jo

WOYWW

Another happy Wednesday has come around – thankfully!

What a busy week we have had too.

I never really plan my crafty activities for the week, as I prefer just to tackle each day as it comes and do what ever takes my fancy – how lucky am I??

After a lifetime of work when every minute was filled and even my evenings and half my nights seemed to be spent thinking, planning and creating, it is lovely to be able to “cherry pick” the jobs I choose to do.  (And when I say jobs I don’t mean WORK – just crafty activities!)

So imagine my delight when I had an email asking if I could make a Katie Morag style dolly for a Christmas gift. (Scroll down if you want to see the finished dolly and travelling bag).

I had two days of fun making them and the pleasure of thinking how much the recipient will love little Katie.
 

click on photo to enlarge

Today my work desk has been my long kitchen unit where I have been mounting the gorgeous little dumflings that Maxine made.

We have used mostly re-cycled frames which I have painted/distressed and waxed.

I love them – I just hope Maxine approves – then they will go on her Tilly Tea Dance stall at Craven Arms craft fair on Dec 14^th. All together she has 20 pictures ready plus a few left over dumflings.

 

These little Christmas tree decorations were made with the little hearts Maxine and I made together. I think I shall make a few more as I think they are quite pretty.














 

I also knitted a little hoodie for Annie’s grandson – forgot to take a photo but it was knitted in Crofter baby wool in shades of blue and looked fab.

Well that’s it for this week.

Thank you for calling by and leaving such positive comments – it really does inspire us to do more!

Now -  over to Julia’s Stamping Ground to join in our blog hop for this week.

See you around!

X Jo

Finished by Friday and a BIG smile!

 

As it's Children in Need day today I thought I would show you the smiling little Katie Morag doll that I have finished today.
I had a request to make one and I decided that if I had all the bits and bobs needed then I would make it and donate my fee to Children in Need.
It has been lovely listening to Radio 2 as all the pledges came in today. I have had a super sewing session and it has been made all the better by the fact that Children in Need will benefit from it.

The little bag was my own design based on the island where Katie Morag lives. The bag has the name of the person it is going to but I blotted it out.
I just hope it is what's needed!

So this is my "smile" for today.
If you want more smiles then pop over to my sister Annie's blog "A stitch in time".

Thanks for calling by.
x Jo

WOYWW - the winner is.....

Firstly, thanks to all who left great suggestions for my little fabric desk tidy/ gift box.
There were some great ideas - scroll back to last week's comments if you are interested.
Just for fun and future reference - I printed off the comments, closed my eyes and stuck a pin in it!
The name that was "pinned" was.... Mrs D - thats Chris.
She left a brilliant quote too from William Morris, who said 'Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful' . I shall aspire to it but not sure I can promise on that one! lol.

So my little tesk tidy, tissue holder and lavender bag will come winging your way Chris - just email your details to me.

I made a few more little "fabric boxes" this week and will be selling them at the craft fair.
I am never sure what price to put on anything I make - much better at giving it away - lol!!!!
No doubt, daughter Maxine will get me organised on that one!

Here is my messy desk today.

I am in a "start a project but don't quite finish it" mode this week.
I always get lots of ideas and flit from one thing to another.
For example...
This week I have knitted a little shrug for a friends grand daughter, half-made lots of scrapbox dollies, crocheted some chunky infinity scarves and made my fabric gift boxes.
Never a dull moment.
Hope life for you is just as much fun!

Thanks for calling in to see what I get up to and for all your lovely comments.
Maxine was thrilled that you liked her poppy pictures on last week's blog.

Join in with our WOYWW blog hop here.
Have a good week.
x Jo

WOYWW and a "500th post" celebration give away.!!

 Well, believe it or not, this is my 500th blog post!
I decided a little celebration giveaway would be a good idea, so above are a few of my latest makes which will be parcelled up and sent to whoever wins it.
If you want to enter then just leave a comment telling me..........

 what you would fill the little desk tidy/gift holder with if you were going to give it to someone.

 

The little item on the left is a tissue holder for your handbag and of course on the right is one of my little woolly lavender hearts.

If you want a better look at the desk tidy then just scroll down to yesterday's post below.

My desk is covered with some of Maxine's needle-felted pictures that I have brought home to mount and frame ready to sell. We are doing a craft fair before Christmas.
Also, my fabric stash is still waiting for me to get going with!!

I will try to leave a quick message on as many desks as possible so you get a chance at the giveaway.
Popping over to Julia's Stamping Ground now to add my name to Mr Linky.
Have a great week

Thanks for calling.
x Jo

Desk tidy or fabric gift holder?

I have made a few of these little fabric desk tidies.

They are made with re-cycled grey denim and a pretty cotton print fabric.

They stand about 6 inches tall and about 6 inches square.

 

The design is from a blog that I follow - pop over to Threading My Way if you want to see the brilliant tutorial.

 

Pop back on Wednesday to find out more.

 

x Jo

Lavender hearts

 

I thought you might like a peek at the soft grey wool hearts that I have filled with Shropshire lavender.

 

Pop back on Wednesday to find out more!!

 

 

What a tease!

 

x Jo

Finished by Friday and a smile

Just thought you might like to see the little chunky cardis that I have made for Annie's two grand daughters.
They have a lovely light but cosy feel to them.
Hope they like them.

My smile for the day was the view through my kitchen window.

I know it's not a good picture - I was zooming in to the scene over the far side of the field.
Five magpies were hopping all over this young bullock, pecking at its coat.
I have seen film of Ox-pecker birds in Africa doing this but never thought it happened over here.

The bullock sat patiently whilst the magpies pecked, presumably at ticks or flies on its fur.
(It was quite a shaggy young thing)
Eventually they pecked too hard and he stood up and shook them off!!
That's country life for you.

Join in with the Friday smiles over at Annie's "A stitch in time blog".

Happy weekend to you all.

x Jo

WOYWW

Good morning to all who drop in here each week.
It's nice to know folk out there find my crafty table interesting!
Join in the WOYWW fun over at Julia's Stamping Ground - there are lots more crafty folk over there who are willing to share their creative desks with everyone.

My table is much tidier this week as I had a big clean up last week and totally re-organised all my fabric stash. I think I know where everything is but only time will tell!
This week I have put ready some Christmassy fabric which I will be using to make some scrapbox dolls. I made a basket full last year and they have nearly all gone now. I cut out and do all the machine sewing first and then sit in the evening stitching on hair and faces etc. I have 2 cardis and a hoodie to finish first but I like to have plenty at the ready.

Here are the little beads bags that I made for Jo's scheme at CHICS. The children keep their Bravery Beads in them as they progress through their treatment for cancer.

 

Well that is certainly a short post.

If you want a giggle then scroll down to my Friday smile.

 

Thanks for calling in.

Have a good week.

x Jo

Finished by Friday and a smile.

 

Well how about this for a Halloween outfit then?!!

 

I have been sorting out cupbards and drawers in an effort to get my fabric stash in order.

Now, my dear daughter has had her own home down here for about 4 years, so I wonder why I am storing all her school and college projects/favourite bits and bobs?

This item was her prize purchase in the market in Marrakesh!

It is a huge heavy woollen jalaba - extremely warm for those cold desert nights!!

Why then, is it sitting in my wardrobe and why oh why did I parade myself in it, looking like a massive bar code! Enjoy the giggle.

 

And here is a chuckle for Annie - I managed to get two sleeves almost identical from that lovely marbled wool - only Annie will know how totally brilliant I am - we spent an hour trying to get it right on Monday!! I know it isn't necessary for these random wool items to match up but I just can't make one with odd sleeves.

 

 

Lastly here is my Mark 2 version of my denim/velvet draught excluder. I gave the first one to Maxine for her charity office.

Have a good weekend everyone.
Join in with Annie's smiles over at "A stitch in time".

x Jo

WOYWW

Firstly today, I just want to say....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNIE!

 

My little sis is 21 - again!!!!

Have a fab day and a lovely weekend of fun and laughter.

 

 

 My table is  just a complete mess - covered with fabric left over from this week's projects......

Here are just a few of them

 

I made these little lavender hearts with some of my fabric bargains - I love this soft grey wool check and just added a few bits and bobs of vintage lace and buttons from my button box. They are filled with Shropshire Lavender - just follow the link if you are interested. Joanna has a brilliant service from her farm in North Shropshire.

 

These are the lavender bags that I made using my vintage embroidered cloth.

 AND believe it or not...
these little bags are made from fabric left over from my 70's wedding dress!!

Well that is all blogger will allow me to show you today.

I have had a busy week so far with lots of sewing jobs finished, including more draught excluders, a little skirt for Lexi and some patchwork squares for the Children in Need Quilts - see here if you want to know more.

Never a dull moment here and no time to get bored!!!

Have a good week and thanks for popping by.

I will be checking out all your crafty activity later on my WOYWW rounds.

 

x Jo



Finished by Friday and a smile

 

Another Friday rolls around and here we are again with a few things to share with you all.

Firstly, one of Maxine's little needle felted and embroidered pictures.

It's a tiny dumfling mounted on linen in a small re-cycled frame. The photo doesn't really do it justice as it was a bit gloomy when I took the picture on the patio table today. I really love the colours and textures she has used. I now need to find or buy frames for the other dozen or so that she has created. Any ideas on inexpensive framing?

 

 

I have lost count of how many little hoodies I have made over the last 5 years. They are just an easy little knitting project that I can do whilst watching tv so I am happy to keep busy with them. This one is for my neighbours little grandson.

 And here is my Friday smile.....

Every cloud has a silver lining. We had wild winds and torrential rain yesterday. It completely flattened these gorgeous little blooms so I decided just to cut them all and bring them indoors. What a beautiful cheery colour they are! (Some kind of Schizostylis - common name Kaffir Lily, I think).

Follow my link here to Annie's blog for more Friday smiles.

Have a great weekend.

x Jo

WOYWW

 Good morning to all our WOYWW blog buddies.
Just look at the pretty bits and bobs of vintage linen/embroidery heaped on my table today.
(Its covering  another heap of fabric scraps left over from the projects below)
I really do need to have a big tidy up before I start to work this morning!!
I am going to make some little lavender bags so I cut up some vintage linen and found ribbon and tape to go with them. Hopefully, I will have some finished to show you next week.

Below is a little cushion that I made to go with one of our draught excluders. I have had fun with Maxine designing them and just to prove I had actually learned from her tuition, I designed and made the cushion all by myself!!!

Then, because I needed a little card for a special new baby, I got going with my free machining and designed this one. Cute isn't he!!!

 Well, that's my show and tell for today.
I hope you are all well and enjoying your crafty activities. I will pop round the desks in the next few days - I really enjoy seeing your workspaces and all the things you are busy with.
Thanks for dropping in here and leaving your kind comments - you are such a nice bunch.

x Jo