New Garden Furniture

I know that, at the end of my last post, I said my next one would probably be about another quilt I made for Bo. But then I remembered that I'd taken some photos of our new garden furniture - and the bits and bobs I made to prettify it.  

So, a change of plan.....  I've decided to post a show-and-tell about the garden stuff first, before it feels too autumny to write about that kind of thing!

Knowing that we'd be staying at home for the summer this year (and that we'd be having several sets of visitors), we decided to buy some new garden furniture so that we'd be able to enjoy the sunshine right here.  

We found a set that we liked in IKEA (of course).  But it needed brightening up, I thought (actually, I was just in need of a new sewing project at that time).  So I made some patchwork cushions for the seats, and some coasters for the table.  Here they are(along with a couple of flower photos).....

When I'd finished making the cushions and coasters, I planned to make a couple of lengths of bunting to match.  But little Bo arrived before I got the chance. It's on my 'to-do' list for next spring.....

Happy Friday!!!

Carly

x

Our Fairytale Forest Bedroom

A few months ago, we decided to redecorate our bedroom.  We saw this amazing wallpaper, and HAD to have it.  And it was the wallpaper that inspired the rest.

Simon did all the decorating, and I contributed by sewing some patchwork cushion covers and making some papercuts for the walls (and by doing a bit of shopping, of course).....

I LOVE:

• papercutting
• making parchwork cushions
• shopping in IKEA
• red paired with bright blue
• Russian dolls
• little wooden ladybirds
• magical, glowing bunny rabbits

But I DON'T love:

• visiting DIY stores
• getting covered in paint
• hanging pictures
• hemming curtains

Luckily, we BOTH LOVE our new bedroom!!!

Carly

x

Better Late Than Never

Ooopsie!!!  It’s almost the end of January, and I haven’t made my new year’s resolutions yet.  I guess it’s not too late (as it’s still January).  And I’m sure a wise man once said “BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!”

Deciding to ONLY set fun, crafty resolutions last year was a brilliant idea – no worrying, no guilt, no disappointments, no shame, no stress! 

So, there’ll be no dull diet plans or excruciating exercise itineraries for me in 2013.....  just lots of crafty capers and arty adventures - AGAIN!!!

How did I do with last year’s resolutions?  Here’s a quick review:

1.  Learn to crochet. Well, I did!  I’m still just a newbie, but I’ve completed a few crochet projects now – and you can tell what they’re meant to be.  So, tick!

2.  Make more things for myself (including some clothes).  I’ve knitted myself a few bits and bobs to wear, and I’ve made myself some jewellery.  But I haven’t sewn myself any clothes (which was what I intended last January).  So, yes and no to this one.

3.  Make more (and hopefully buy less) greetings cards.  Tick!  I have made more cards (especially Christmas cards) and bought less. I could still do better, though.

4.  Have a go at knitting things that are not just sewn-up rectangles.  Yes!  I’ve knitted a few things using circular needles, and a few things that aren’t rectangles or squares.

5.  Experiment with making more home accessories.  Tick!  Lots of cushions, a few papercrafty things to hang on the wall, baby quilts, different kinds of Christmas decorations.....  I would have liked to have experimented with more new patterns and ideas, though.  

6.  Improve my photography skills.  I think I have.  I feel more confident in using my camera now.

7.  Post more tutorials on my blog.  Sadly, no.  Sorry!  I only posted one last year.  That’s shameful, I know!  Must do better!!! 

Bearing my review of 2012, and thinking of what else I’d like to achieve, I came up with my CRAFTY RESOLUTIONS FOR 2013:

1)  Post more tutorials on my blog!

2)  Make some clothes for myself (sewing).

3)  Learn to follow a proper crochet pattern.

4)  Make more greetings cards – for different occasions.

5)  Expand the range of things I make to sell (including adding more home accessories).

6)  Venture into the kitchen to do some baking.

7)  Try out some crafts that I’ve never tried before.

If you have any suggestions for number 7, I’d love to hear from you!

Let’s see how this year’s resolutions go.....

I’m off to make a start right now.....

Carly

x

P.S.  Who else is IN LOVE with their Mollie calendar?

Cushion Commission

Aaaages ago, a friend asked me to make her a set of six patchwork cushions to go in her living room.  Of course, I leapt at the chance!  I completed them some time before Christmas - and remembered to take some photos - but I completely forgot to do a show-and tell!  So here they are, being modelled by our beloved IKEA sofa:

I thought they looked great in our living room, and secretly didn’t want to let them go to their new home.  I often get attached to my projects and don’t want to part with them.  Does anyone else ever have this issue???

Until next time.....

Carly

x

P.S.  As a complete aside to the rest of this post..... IT'S SNOWING here!  YIPPEEEEE!!!

More Patchwork Cushions

Apart from making button bracelets like a madwoman (how many can one button-lover possibly need?!?!?), I've also been making more patchwork cushions.  I enjoyed making my first 'batch' so much, I thought I rustle up a few more.  

Here they are:

Which one do you like best?  My favourite's the top one.  I'm liking red with purple at the moment!

I'm hoping to re-do our bedroom soon - then I'll have a great excuse to make heaps more patchwork cushions!  I'll keep you posted on that project.....

Would anyone be interested in a tutorial for these? 

See you soon!

Carly

x 

   

Crafting Crusade Victory

I have a crafty confession to make.....

I have this obsession with trying to turn non-crafty people into crafters!  I just can’t help myself!  I think I’m trying to help people but, alas, they don’t always appreciate my efforts – oops!  Does anyone else ever feel that others are missing out by not having caught the crafting bug???

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I had a small but significant victory in my crafting crusade.  My little sister, Jessica, came over for the weekend.  She doesn’t do ANY crafting, and has NEVER shown any interest in my suggestions that she might like to try knitting, or sewing, or felting, or card-making, or crochet, or..... (well, I did try suggesting a LOT of activities).  I’ve always thought that this was a great pity, as she was always amazing at things like Art, Design Technology, and Creative Writing when she was at school.  Clearly, she’s VERY creative, and has some natural talent for arty things. 

While she was visiting, she spotted my little pile of patchwork cushions, and said how much she liked them.  I had a cunning little plan, and suggested that she should make her own right there and then.  I’d tell her what to do, and she’d be finished in an hour or so.  And she agreed!!!  Hooray!!!

We had lots of fun during our ‘sewing workshop session’.  She picked out some fabrics to go with her bedroom, cut them out, sewed them together really carefully, pressed them, put the cushion backing on, and stuffed the pad inside. 

Here she is, working on her cushion, and being camera-shy:

And here she is with her finished cushion, still being camera-shy:

Her first attempt at sewing EVER!!!  I was SO impressed!!!  What do you think, dear readers?  I’m sure Jess would love to hear your thoughts on her cushion..... 

Well done, Jess – I’m really proud of you!!!  What shall we make together next time you visit???

And who will be my next craft-conversion victim.....  ;-)

Carly

x

Patchwork Cushions

I’ve been LOVING all the patchwork things I’ve been seeing on people’s blogs lately, and wanting to do a bit myself.  I’ve only tried it once before, making a baby blanket for a friend last year (you can see my post about it here).  As there are no babies on the horizon at the moment, I thought I’d try making some cushions.

What fun!!! 

As you can imagine, I spent HOURS picking out and matching up fabrics.  That’s ALWAYS my favourite part of ANY project!!!  Most of the squares were taken from two Moda charm packs I’d bought a few months ago, but some were stolen from other areas of my stash.  After that, I spent HOURS more testing to find the best possible arrangement of the 9 squares for each cushion front.  Such important tasks, you see, can’t be rushed (especially when they’re sooooo much fun, and you’ve got lots of crafty-podcast-listening to catch up on).

Sewing the squares together was fun too.  The process of sewing the pieces together and ironing them nicely, then sewing on some more, then ironing the seams again.....  was really quite relaxing.  If anyone has any tips for keeping the pieces exactly square and straight (when some are stretchier/wonkier than others), I’d love to hear them.  This was the only frustrating bit!

Then, to finish off the cushions, I just used some matching fabric to make a simple envelope-style back, and put little IKEA-bought cushion pads inside.  Ta-daaaaaa.....

Now, when can we go back to IKEA to buy some more cushion pads???  I can see this patchwork-cushion-making turning into my latest sewing addiction!

What’s your latest crafty obsession???

Until next time.....

Carly

x