Sublime stitching

I've come to the conclusion that Summer crafting needs to be mobile. I haven't quite reached the stage where I'm stitching on the beach yet (book me in for major therapy when that happens) and I've been banned from knitting in the car (too distracting I'm told) but with the kids at home for their Summer break and no chance to escape to my studio, I'm feeling the need for a little portable something to restore my craft nerves. (Really, I'm that addicted. Maybe I should book in for the therapy now).

I love to knit but my wrists just can't take it so I've decided that embroidery is the ideal 'pocket craft' for that crafting on the move. The lovely sublime stitching blog has proven to be very inspiring and confidence building. How can you argue with:

I already have a substantial stash of threads and plenty of calico to play with so time to get stuck in! (Maybe I should take the Christmas decorations down first or they will be up for at least another week).

I've been scanning the wonderful sublime stitching flickr group and I think something small and simple is the place to start.

I'll just take the decorations down first.

Better late than never

Well I never got round to posting those photos of Mum's Christmas table and I had some very good reasons.

1. The sun was shining and there was a pool outside.
2. My Mum is a pretty amazing cook and I was unable to move for substantial periods of time after her wonderful meals.
3. It was Christmas and we were having fun.
4. I was on holiday.
Okay. Excuses over. You are probably completely over anything to do with Christmas by now but I am going to share anyway.

The gold plates are 'chargers' which go under the normal plates and make the whole table look rather gorgeous.

I loved the gold tassles Mum used as napkin rings.

Here's one of my gifts. The fantail was one of my practise pieces from my screen printing course which I couldn't bear to throw away.

Another one of my gifts. The hearts were made by Stephanie of Liberty Lane. She is due to have a baby tomorrow (good luck Steph!) but she will be back with us at the Devonport Craft Market later in the year.

This is what I made my Mum for Christmas. The words around the edge read "I am your Christmas Angel at this special time of year. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year". I used some beautiful red raw silk to back the cushion. I adapted the pattern from one in an old issue of Handmade. If any of you are interested in knowing which issue so that you can track it down, let me know and I will look it up.

I'm back home now and ready to get stuck into some serious crafting so watch this space!

Christmas at home

I feel so lucky to be able to spend Christmas with my lovely family this year. My Mum always goes all out to make Christmas a very special time for kids and adults alike. The house always looks incredible and she saves all the little bits and pieces off each years gifts to add to the wrapping and decorations in following years. I love that old is mingled with new.

Because she does all the hard work with the food preparation well in advance, we are left to enjoy ourselves and our children (and I get to spend more time making my gifts look pretty). I found the wonderful jingle bells in Countdown supermarket of all places and the felt personalised hearts were made by Stephanie of Liberty Lane.

Mum always decorates her cakes so beautifully, there is a lot of egging on for someone to be the first to cut into it.

I'll post more photos of her beautiful Christmas table later. Merry Christmas everyone!!

Pretty skirts

One of my lovely friends commissioned me to make four skirts for her daughter and neices for Christmas. I've just finished them and grabbed some quick photos before I give them to her tomorrow.

The bow is sewed on to a safety brooch so it can be removed for washing or for a different look.

I love the fresh colours and retro look of this one.


I made matching t-shirts for the little skirts. The embellishments are covered buttons in contrast fabrics. I'm thinking of doing this on a couple of my t-shirts!

Two Day Special

Grab him quick. He's on sale in my Felt shop until Wednesday.

Domestic bliss

Today I have been busy in the best kind of way.

I made mince pies from scratch with Maddy's help and raspberry and mint vinegar (yum!)

I used some gorgeous Alexander Henry puppy fabric to make skirts for my girls last night.

They wore them to the BEST puppy themed birthday party this morning. I loved the puppy birthday cakes and the shrinky dink dog tags the kids made. The party food was hot dogs (of course) and gingerbread dog biscuits. They played puppy training (for treats) and pin the nose on the puppy. Just fantastic! Happy Birthday Skye!!

Tonight is Craft Social and I've made a beach house for the swap. Some of the mince pies are coming too. Hope to see you there. 7.30pm. Devonport Community House. The swap theme is Summer Holidays if you want to join in.

Summer Holiday cushion covers

I've been loading up my Felt shop today and I'm offering a Christmas Special on these two "Summer Holiday" patchwork cushion covers. The special runs until Monday 14th December so get in quick. Click on the picture to go to my Felt shop.