Button Hunting

Buttons! Vintage ones!

Pop over to my folksy shop to view the other sets I have for sale :)

More to come soon...

Good old altoids tin helping out!

Tutorial: Felt Bows

These are of course, horrendously easy!

1. Cut yourself a little rectangle and a smaller strip out of felt. I used: rectangle - 5.5 cm by 3.5 cm and strip 3.5 cm by 1 cm

2. Use a running stitch up the centre of the rectangle to ruche it up by pulling the thread tight once stitched. I used a double row of stitches to add strength.

3. Take the little strip of felt and wrap it around the ruched rectangle, stitching it to itself at the back of the bow. Make sure this is relatively tight also.
4. Sew or glue your kirby grips on - i sewed at three points so that my stitches wouldn't come off the hair slides.
5. Wear with pride!

Thanks Postie

OWOH giveaways have been given to the postie and are off on their way...one to Australia, two to the US and one to the UK!

I re-use jiffy bags all the time - and it saddens me slightly to see them in such a sorry state...But this little guy makes me feel a little better.

'I'm not scruffy, I'm recycled'

Precisely :)

EDIT: after many hours of trawling through internet sites i found this little guys home! He came from here! I simple copied him and used Microsoft Word to make the labels :)

Bread Making

Did I mention bread making?

Soda bread. For when the cupboards are bare!

Mm...
Oh and I totally miss cuddles from this one...

Robin Hoods Bay

I had the most wonderful weekend. I think I've mentioned this three times here already but I DID. look...

We had an eco lodge for the night in Ravenscar just down the coast from Robin Hoods Bay.

Tom organised the most beautiful flowers and chocolates!

We had a log burning stove and 2 floors with a kitchen and the most decadent wallpaper and chandeliers all to ourselves! Gorgeous lodges with the most spectacular views...

We went for a swim at the hotel, wandered down into Robin Hoods Bay and went fossil hunting and found an amenite fossil! And some cheats fossil hunting...which was too pretty and touristy to refuse! Isn't it inspiring??

Oh and we went out for the yummiest dinner at the Wayfarer Bistro also in Robin Hoods Bay which had the most gorgeous abstract artwork. I had lemon sole, and Tom had seabass - it seemed rude not to have fish when they were so famous for it.

We giggled all weekend, had tea and cakes at every tearoom we passed and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! Of course going back home to MummySew was lovely too. Amazing home cooking, crafty times and bread making...I didn't want to leave :(

OWOH winners and a little crafting

Before I start - Happy Valentines Day! I've had the most wonderful weekend...but first things first - OWOH winners!

1. 1 40 piece paper pack is going to: Sherry
2. 6 felt covered drawing pins are going to: Sandi M
3. 4 little hair bows are going to: Ozlynda
4. 6 animal pencil toppers are going to: Kristal

Names link to blogs :) I chose who got what based (after Random.org did its job) on what they liked best in their comment :) emails will be going out shortly!

And on a crafty note, MummySew and I found some inspiration over at poppytalk within their 'Polymer Gift Tag' tutorial. Out came the Fimo and the oven was warming...in time for these little tags to be made up...

...cut out with cookie cutters and with a cocktail stick, make a little hole...

...for tying up with rafia for a rustic look...

...i cut some teenyweeny shapes for making little cards with, like this maybe? I have hearts and other cute little shapes too

...i tried indenting the larger shapes with the smaller cutters worked well...and acrylic rubbed in well. As its water based, if you don't like it at this point, simply wash off the acrylic and try again :)

...won't they be lovely for adorning pressies?

Cosy Gloves

I can't remember if I ever showed you these? They have been my salvation this winter. I wear them almost everyday - revelling in the fact that i can text with gloves on! It was Mummy Sew again of course - they were 2 christmasses ago now i think and they're still going strong. I do adore bright colours :) they cheer up dull days sew quickly! Magically easy to do too - knit a square and and when you sew the sides up, leave a hole in the seam!

I also have a couple of little people waiting to meet their buttons. Maggie and Samantha will have a sibling or two soon!

Feeling heArty

Valentines approaches and I'm getting excited about going home to Mummy Sew for the weekend. Plus a night in Robin Hoods Bay in a luxury eco lodge with the man - cue walks on the beach and touristy shopping! It'll be wonderful :)

In the mean time...i noticed a tiny little string of hearts here and loved how simple and effective it was! I enlarged it a little and have made quite a few! I have them hanging above my radiator so they dance in the warm air, sending shadows over the walls :) cute!

Stanley and Snuggles

I had a bit of a blog shuffle a few days ago - very traumatic! I added a third column on the right with a fantastically easy tutorial from here (after wading through the terrifically unhelpful and complicated tutorials everywhere else!).

I also added Maggie to the header...she'll have a few friends soon i hope. I have two themes in mind...watch this space :)

Its snowed today - lots of lovely beautiful snow! Everyone here is annoyed...but i don't think the novelty has worn off for me yet - i love it.

Anyway heres a few things i've been meaning to show you...

Remember I oooh-ed at these?? Well look what arrived in the post! Its amazing - sooo warm and snuggley. Its looks a bit mad!

I had no idea how to photograph it - i think ot looks like a nest. Or a large furry animal!

Oh and did i tell you about Stanley?? I got him for Christmas - here he is coming up to Glasgow...i think we shocked a few fellow motorists, but he nursed the picnic well all the way!

I'm still amazed at the response to my giveaway - not long to go now. Its nice to know sometimes, that i don't just ramble to myself.

Pins and Needles

I'm thrilled at the response to my first giveaway and at all the other giveaways going on at OWOH - there's so much generosity and inspiration out there :)

I was browsing through the other blogs that have entered over the weekend and I came across Happiness is Cross Stitching. I absolutely adore her little bottle-top pincushions - they have swarovski-like jewels on - what a gorgeous idea! Her pins are fabulous too - sew jazzy!

Anyway I've been in great need of a pincushion for some time...I've been using either this little needlebook or the tassel on my scissors...

Now as lovely as they are I decided a little miniature pincushion for my needles was desperately needed.

Sew this little thing appeared :) just the right size for me here.

I'm also working on a bigger patchwork pincushion...I'm umming over whether it needs a lace trim? I don't think it quite goes...

Oh and i'm also working on some labels that pink penguin inspired me to have a go at here. Sew i won't finish this up until i have a label to add :)

p.s. I know its wonky :( First attempt at patchworking AND i have no sewing machine...great way to use up scraps though

Giveaway: One World, One Heart

A Whimsical Bohemian has been collaborating hundreds of give-aways once a year for quite a few years now. This year is the first I have heard about it (via On the Rhode To Art) and I jumped at the chance to participate! My first give-away!

First of all, in introduction to all the OWOH visitors: I am Tara - a crafter and sewer by nature and a medical student by day! I blog about the things i make and the things that my Mum makes (MummySew). She has quite a feature here :). Something to tell you about today? I walked to uni through Glasgows Botanical Gardens in the snow this morning...and it made my day!

Anyway, I have more than one give-away for you here...although they're slightly limited as I'm not with MummySew and all her wonderful rooms of goodies to explore...I cooked these up over the weekend for you, I hope you'll find them fun! I could have made up some wonderful themed paper packs or themed buttons and fabric if I were at home...next time maybe.

#1 - a set of felt bow kirby (hair) grips - about 2 inches across

#2 - a sample set of 6 felt covered drawing pins to liven up your notice board :) like these.

#3 - (ok i don't have a picture just yet) a set of felt pencil toppers, 2 cupcake, 2 owl, 2 monsters!

Like this...! I'll update ASAP for you all.

EDIT: oh and a little extra...the first persons name out of the 'random number generator' (doesnt quite have the same ring to it as 'hat') will also receive a 40 piece paper pack full of designer paper, textured, handmade, printed the lot! Quite a mix :) It would be good for any scrapbookers or cardmakers out there :)

To enter simply post a comment! You need to have an active blog to enter this give-away but apart from that, I require nothing of you :)

3 winners will be drawn on February 15th by random number generator and my goodies will be shipped off to new homes.

Thanks for visiting!

EDIT: AS OF NOW, FURTHER COMMENTS WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE DRAW.

its past midnight here on Valentines day. I've had the most magical weekend with Mummy Sew and a romantic 2 days away with the boy. Stay tuned for gushing!

Anyway I have an early morning tomorrow and will be home about 8 - sew i will announce and email winners then :) How exciting! Fingers crossed for all you lovely commentors - the Magical Carpet ride this year was lovely - please come back and visit and i will be sure to drop by too. Here's to next year being as much of a success as this!

Thank you OWOH

Dangley's

Just showing these again from way back when - they surfaced again this week and received a few interested looks. They're one of jewelery pieces that always get a mention :) I do like them...a few other pairs have been given away as gifts too over the last year. They're a bit raggedy but i quite like them that way. Very simple to do.

I've been studiously avoiding studying this week, instead writing back to sorely missed family members and making myself at home.

This arrived at Christmas too - there are tutorials all over the shop for them and they're so cute on a bedside table or a bathroom shelf. I would definately recommend knocking one up for yourself!

Valentines approaches...I tried my best to be here or here over valentines weekend but that needs months of forward thinking (and booking) apparently...*sigh*

Vintage Jar Labels

I emailed Jessica of howaboutorange a few days ago asking about label designs and she had a reply at her fingertips.

She sent me this link which I adored immediately. Sew beautiful!! I thought they looked a little like the labels you used to see on bars of soap?

I got to work and printed off one experimental sheet which I did very simply with a Microsoft Word application. They work wonderfully see?

The next step is a set of little ones for my spice/seed jars. I think they may take a little longer though. I will have to have my cut/paste wits (and patience) about me.
All that is left to do with these lovelies is a bit of trimming with a scalpel and then some sticking.


Perfect :)

Presents from the Postie

Mr Postman brought me presents yesterday :)
Some more ridiculously soft wool from, of all places - Amazon! (here) Here's what it looks like as an addition to the blanket...its slowly growing inbetween revision and salsa-ing...

I think it matches quite well and I love crocheting it, its so soft! I'm up to about 60cm across - such a long way to go! A ball of wool only goes around twice now so i'm wondering how far i will get with my current stash! There may have to be some more sneaky buys along the way.
I'm currently contemplating whether i can pull off a little patchwork pincushion without a sewing machine. I do need something to stick pins in - needle books aren't quite as useful as a good old pincushion. We'll see...watch this space eh!