Friday, 28 June 2013

Friday smile

Bathtime!
 
I keep topping up my bird bath and this fastidious male blackbird keeps emptying it!
I think the look says...
"Just pass the shower gel will you."

What do you think he is saying?

Join in with Annies' Friday smile over at "A stitch in time"

Have a great weekend.
x Jo

Wednesday, 26 June 2013

WOYWW

I know we all say it BUT ...
I can't believe it's Wednesday already!!
Where do the weeks go?
Here we are again joining all the other WOYWW bloggers who enjoy a good snoop round other crafters work spaces. You know who you are and if not, then pop over to Julia's Stamping Ground and find out more!!

Another tableful of vintage linen bits and bobs on display today.
My bunting and ring cushion are also on the posts below - so scroll down for a better snoop!

Some of you might recognise the pink and blue bits.
I took photos of my ATCs before posting them and have tweaked the photos to make little "Thank you" cards. I have printed them on canvas paper and I am quite pleased with the result.
I think they will look good mounted on some cream card.

I think I shall make a few more little stitched pictures as I really enjoyed making them and I have lots of scraps of vintage linen to use up.

Below are the little snakey hand puppets that I made for the twins this week.
They love the snakey puppets on CBeebies so I found a couple of my left over socks from sock dolly making and made two tiny snakies which just fit nicely on a little hand.


That's it for this week - see you next week!
Thanks for calling by.
Hope you are all well and enjoying the sunshine.
x Jo

Sunday, 23 June 2013

Handmade ring cushion

I decided to make my linen crazy quilt square into a little ring cushion.
It is a neat 20cm x 20cm square made with vintage linen and decorated with hand stitching, beads, a mother of pearl button and satin ribbon ties. (Ring not included!!)

Here is a close up of some of the detail.
I have really enjoyed the hand embroidery that I have been busy with recently.
I have now finished 3 lengths of white bunting made with vintage linen and decorated with vintage crochet and lace plus my own embroidery (here if you are interested)

I will probably put them in our Sisters Crafty Creations blog shop or ebay but if you are interested in the meantime, you can email me.


Thanks for popping in - I hope the day is a bit drier and sunnier for you than it is here!

x Jo

Friday, 21 June 2013

Finished by Friday and a smile.

Just a couple of photos of my white bunting that I finished this week.
It is made with 7 flags of vintage linen decorated with vintage lace/crochet/embroidery and my own hand embroidery stitches.
It is attached to 3 metres of white tape so is just enough to go across the top of a double bed and fasten securely at each side.
Here is a close up of one of the flags . There are several different flag designs.
 
I shall probably pop it in our blog shop (Sisters Crafty Creations) later - maybe in the wedding section.
 
Now for my happy story.
It certainly made me smile.
 
Yesterday evening, just as I started eating my tea, a young woodpecker (probably the one I showed you last week on my fence!) flew into my window. I think it was being chased by the sparrow hawk.
It tumbled down and landed right outside my patio door and lay panting, wings outstretched.
Then the panting stopped and it was still.
I was sure it was dead.
I know you are supposed to just leave birds in shock alone so, I just kept an eye on it whilst I had my tea.
It lay completely still, spread out across the patio.
About half an hour later, as by now I was conviced it was dead, I thought I would go and have a look at its beautiful feathers, take a photo to show Annie and then dispose of the little body.
Imagine my shock - as I opened the door-  it took off and flew to nearest oak tree chirping away as it went!!
A little miracle I am sure. I was so glad to know it was alive and well and had not been another casualty of the hawk or my windows!!
 
There now I bet you are smiling too!!
 
For more smile, pop over to Annie's blog " A Stitch in Time"
 
Have a great weekend.
x Jo


Wednesday, 19 June 2013

WOYWW

Good morning all!
I hope you are all well and that you are making the most of the occasional sunny day we have been having.
Today my table is awash with white linen bunting.
I started making it last year and even sold one or two lengths.
Yesterday I found it lurking in the bottom of my "needs finishing" drawer.
I thought I might add hand stitching to each flag - a bit like my crazy quilting square on the left.
Then I am going to sell them.
 
At the back of my photo is this little picture.
 
Maxine made it for me and I decided to pop it in a box frame to go in my sewing room.
I love it and it has a lovely message inside so worth saving and making something special with it.

And lastly - below is my latest LillyBo quilt for Jo's "LillyBo quilts for poorly children scheme". (see here)
Annie had all the fabrics, so it was just a case of using bits and bobs creatively!
I even found enough to make a matching tote bag and little bear.
I think someone will love them don't you!!
Short and sweet today.
Thanks for popping in here.
I love to know what you think and so many folk leave kind comments.
I will try to visit as many desks as I can - but I have a day with the twins tomorrow - great fun - so will maybe take a while to get round this week.

Have a good week.
x Jo