WOYWW

 Good morning all.
This week we have mostly been needle felting!
On my desk is the big bag of wool rovings that I use for wet felted backgrounds and needle felting.
Maxine came over for a "dumfing" day on Monday. (Dumfing is our name for needle felting because it's the noise the embellishing machine makes as it dumfs through the rovings into the background piece).
We had a lovely day - chatting, dumfing and oo-ing and ah-ing over the scan pics of my grandchild to be!
As usual Maxine did most of the dumfing and I was the "facilitator" ie made the lunch, the drinks, set out the crafts and packed it all away again. I don't mind. It is so lovely to watch her being crafty and chilling out.
Now here is the question....

Sunflowers?

 Or.....

Poppies?

I love both but wondered which you like - just a bit of market research. We are going to do an exhibition of our textile work in Montgomery at the end of July and I think we need to stock up on a few different designs.

So please tell me which you prefer - in fact any comments would be appreciated.
I know you will be honest and say what you think and we love to hear from you.

Don't forget to let me know if you want to swap ATCs this time too.
It will soon be our 5 year anniversary of this wonderful blog sharing WOYWW and a good time to share some of our crafts around the globe!

Have a good week.
Thanks for calling.
x Jo

Friday smile

Well it was going to be a Finished by Friday post too but this bear of little brain gave her latest knitties to her old school buddy without taking photos!!!
A shame because the little arran effect hoodie and pretty lemon spotty cardi were so cute!!
You will have to use your imagination!!!

So instead I am posting a beautiful needle felted picture that Maxine made .
She has enjoyed dabbling with the needle felting machine and has produced some gorgeous little pictures.
You can see more here- Tilly Tea Dance on Etsy

She has needle felted wool rovings onto a wet felted background and then machine embroidered and beaded it to bring out the detail. She has had lots of interest in her work so hopefully 2014 will be a good year for her projects!
Well that's a proud Mum talking!!

Thanks for calling by.
Join in with Annie's Friday Smiles over at her blog "A stitch in time"

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

Stocking fillers

 Day 4 of my advent blog, countdown to Christmas

 What do you like to pop in Christmas stockings?

I always try to find a few little gifts to pop in Maxine's stocking - she still likes a stocking full of tiny surprises even at her age!!

We have lots of gift items in Sisters Crafty Creations blog shop.

Just in case you are looking for tiny gifts - how about these.......

Brooches in all shapes and sizes made from felted wool and embellished with beads, embroidery, buttons etc







Little poppy "dumfling" mounted on red board mount.
This is one of Maxine's - leave me a comment if you would like to buy this one. Or check out the lovely felted pictures and mini felts in the blog shop.






Tiny teddies - all with their own little poem.
Even some little Christmas teddies to hang on the tree.

How about a "Hang about" for popping your crafty bits and bobs in whilst you are crafting in your armchair. It will also sit on a table edge to catch all the scraps as you work.

Little Rose is one of Annie's little needle felted animals.


Go on treat yourself to a little window shopping over at Sisters Crafty Creations!!



AND if you want to see some lovely Christmas stockings - check out
http://boxoftrix.blogspot.co.uk/

More festive cheer for WOYWW tomorrow!!
x Jo

Finished by Friday 5

Just a quick "Finished by Friday 5".
I am busy with all sorts of odd jobs, labels, bagging and boxing up all our craft fair goodies etc.

So......

Here are the dollies all ready for their travels.
I pinned them into my wicker/tartan picnic basket - I knew I would find a use for it eventually. We certainly haven't had a summer for picnics have we!!
They are all very excited and much giggling and whispering is going on in there!

 Below are just three more little items for the craft fair.

• A little framed needlefelted picture.

• A poppy "dumfling" mounted on card

• A needlefelted/beaded collage mounted on the front of a little notebook. 

Just one more day to get those last bits finished before the craft fair.
 If you live anywhere close enough, why not come and see us at

Marton Village Hall Craft Fair

Saturday 24th November

10am - 4 pm

(About 18 miles from Shrewsbury on the B4386).

 That's it for this week - see you when all my craft fair goodies are sold out -next week!
x Jo

WOYWW - cards fest!

 Happy Wednesday to all who like to pop in here for a snoop at my crafty corner!! Join in the fun by checking out the goings on at Julia's Stamping Ground. Go on - show us your workdesk this Wednesday!!!

I thought I would show just a few of my fab birthday cards.

Annie gave me this gorgeous poppy card which she had dumfed specially for me. She also included a poem - such talent!!
I am going to frame it.


Below are a few of the hand crafted or funny cards I was sent.
How well my friends know me!

 Maxine made this card for me from a real vintage knitting pattern. I love it.
If you fancy the hat and mitts then send me some
Patons Fuzzy Wuzzy and I will give it a go. lol!!!

I made 3 more little frocks for the "Dress a girl around the world scheme", this week.
I bought this lovely green cotton fabric at the car boot sale and trimmed them up with some of the bits and bobs left from our last session. I think we must have made about 410 frocks now.

 These are the little shorts that I made this week for the boys, who must be feeling a bit left out.
I hope they like the fabric - I thought it would be fun.

This monster dragonfly was in our garden this week and obligingly settled on our conifer - it was nearly 10cm long!

AND - specially for Annie.... anything you can do..........
Yep - bread buns!
They are delicious and so easy to make.
This batch was a Wrights bread mix - Parmesan and sundried tomato but I often make my own recipe.

Shall I butter one for you now??

Thanks for all your kind birthday wishes
I had a lovely birthday.
Have a great week
x Jo

WOYWW - long flight for little owl

Good morning all - Happy WOYWW!!!

Just before I show you my work table today let me show you the little character waving from the creeper.
He has a long flight to Oz ahead of him so he is soaking up the sun before he sets off!
He is about 4 inches tall and made from a recycled and felted Laura Ashley woollen jumper. He has hand stitched feathers and beaded claws and beak with little button eyes. Cute!!





Next - a quick look at the really lovely ATC that Sue H made specially for me. It has a beautifully embroidered flower head, worked in silver thread and beads. I love the colour and the stamping, sentiment, embellishment - well everything really - it's fab isn't it. Thanks lots Sue.







And lastly lots of gorgeousness on my table today!!!

• Pretty hand embroidered napkins and tray cloth - car boot finds
• Little dumfling cards that Maxine has made - each one is a tiny dumfling with a miniature scene of hand embroidered flowers. 
• Tiny seascape dumflings waiting to be mounted
• Framed pics on the window sill are now in the blog shop - click here if you are interested.
• My favourite magazines -  Stitch and Quilting Arts 

 Ok folks short and sweet but plenty to snoop!

Thanks to all who popped in here last week and for all your positive comments - you really are a lovely bunch. Now let's get over to see what our good buddy Julia has in store for us today!
x Jo

Dumfing workshop.

Saturday was dumfing day!!
When M came home to see her Dad for Father's Day we had time for an hour or two in the sewing room.
She loves to craft with me and uses it as a good stress buster.
Having seen my poppy picture (last pic on this post), she decided she wanted to make some.

She had already made the tiny dumflings in the picture but fancied a different style.
So with a little direction from the one who knows......
She made the 3 gorgeous little poppy dumflings in the front of the pic above.
They are made with wool rovings and yarn, dumfed with the needle felting machine into felt.
Then the detail is added with free machining and beads.
Here she is at the sewing machine..
 


















And here are my little poppies that I made earlier.

It was just lovely to spend time together and share a crafty session.
She went home happy, with a box of baking that we made for a fund raiser for the charity she works for and her 3 little dumflings.
I just cleared up the mess and then carried on where I left off......... pop back tomorrow to see a few more dumflings.

Thanks for calling by.
x Jo