It's hip to be square....

God help me, I just quoted Huey Lewis and the News!

I made a square pin cushion, because basically I got fed up of sewing in circles to make the round ones!

But, and now be honest, should I make more of these or does it look like a baby's toy block. Mr.M agreed just a bit too quickly that it did so I'm leaning towards yes.

What do you think?

And does anyone else have Huey singing away in their head?

Eye Spy...Something Delicious!

This weeks Eye Spy theme comes courtesy of another Sharon over at Handmaiden .
My something delicious is a panini, made by Mr.M full of cheese and pastrami. Sunday lunch always tastes so much better when someone else makes it. And the headline in the background is a complete coincidence, honest!



I've only just realized this is my first post of February, I seem to have lost my blogging mojo this week. Don't know why. I've been busy playing in the snow, but I haven't done a lot else (just looked out of the window and it's snowing again! YAY!!) I tell, you I've become weather obsessed this week, fascinated by the chaos caused , Britain at a standstill and all that. Mind it's a bit extreme taking a snow day when I work from home. Mr.M is threatening to do a time in motion study on me. Good luck finding the motion I say!
I did managed to squeeze in a New Baby present for a work friend of Mr.M, a heart garland made from gingham and a card with a little pram embroidered on it. Oh and I listed some Valentines cards on Folksy and sold one! Still amazes me when I sell anything!
Well, I must dash because, true to form, the chicken is burning...!

Printin' & Stitchin'

Been a-printing and a-stitching...

Ta Da! I made a pod of pin cushions...

This one's over on Etsy and Folksy...
This one will be joining them any day now.....

And this one SOLD!! Overnight! (Cue over-ecstatic dancing around the front room)
But...go here...the lovely Cuteable is having a giveaway, and there is one of these babies in the great giveaway basket. Don't miss out, get yourself over there!

And just because I printed giant pins and needles I made a giant pin cushion, for giant sewing... with a pocket to hold scissors and stuff (just look at that print alignment Mrs.Cloudcake, doesn't it make you proud/ bring back nightmares...)

Just needs a weight in it's bottom for ballast.

That's been me excuse for years....ha ha ha how I make myself laugh.....!!

Red, white & blue....

Red...
white....
and blue.....
screen printed t.shirts for a little boy who was 1 at the weekend. The same little boy that I made the baby bibs for when he was born, remember? What do you mean you weren't visiting here then? Cheek!!

New on Folksy!

I've just listed this lovely ballet shoe bag over on Folksy. It's got the cutest little ballet shoes made from felt applique, complete with satin ribbon 'lacing' on a lined calico drawstring bag.
Obviously the perfect Christmas gift for any budding ballerinas, but these are strictly limited edition .......
took an absolute bloody age to make, so I won't be going into bulk production on these!

Spoon Peg Bag

My Spoon Peg Bag has been included in a shopping list over at November Moon! It's the blog of Cathy Cullis an artist who creates beautiful textiles (you know I'm a sucker for a bit of stitch) and mixed media art pieces, and it's well worth a visit!

Oh yea, it's my blog and I'll self promote if I want to! Spoon Peg Bag is for sale over at Etsy and Folksy if you're in the UK!

The Rainbow Fish

It must be the season for making costumes for randomly themed school days! There is a promise of it over here and Smallski had to dress up as a character from a watery themed book on Friday.

"Great" me thinks, "Pirate! Easy-peasy, bandana, scarf, maybe an eyeliner scar..."

"Actually, I want to go as the Rainbow fish"

"That's nice.." I say aloud, "But you'll probably go as a pirate, like everyone else" I quietly mutter, rather hopefully.

So, as is traditional in these parts, I wait until 7.30 on Thursday to make a start. Don't get me wrong I'd thought about it quite a lot and had formed a plan of action, in fact I thought about doing a documented tutorial, but it was getting late-you know how it is!

So, this would be the edited undocumented tutorial.....
Get old T-shirt, (but make sure it fits!) Slash up the sides/underarm so it lays flat, cut strips of cloth (I have an unofficial policy of using stuff I already have in the house in these situations, hence the umm, interesting, colour scheme...) and scallop one edge to make scale shapes - a handy baked bean tin turns out to be the perfect template. Stitch them on the T-shirt so they overlap in a scaly like fashion on the front, back and sleeves. Cut up a too too small tutu to make fins and pin them in at side seams , close side/underarm seams , chop up another old tutu that's too too small (alright I'll stop the bad puns now!) and hand stitch in place down the centre back to make the big fin at the back. Fill in any gaps around the neck with individual scales and voila! you have one happy tiddler!

" So what made you think of going as The Rainbow Fish?"

" Well. Me, Lauren and Alex are all dressing up as fish, you know, like a SCHOOL of Fish......!"

Well it made us laugh.......and that's what counts.

Blogtoberfest. Day 10 (for me. I think..!)

Thursday's are a good day. A college day. Time in the print studio. A few hours just to be me. Even though every Thursday morning I have the same thought at the back of my mind: "if I stay home I could finish Mrs. Soandso's trouser/jacket/skirt/clean the bathroom/make the costume thing for school tomorrow/clean the oven" (actually that last one is just a blatant lie!)

But I go, burying that feeling deep inside, right next to the spot of guilt for paying £300 a year in fees. Remembering it gives me a creative balance to the sewing alterations, and working in the wedding shop, and besides, it's much cheaper than a studio!
It's something we all struggle with as women, wives and mothers, allowing ourselves time to do something for ourselves. Us ladies are just far too good at guilt!

We feel we need to justify ourselves. And then there are those that think we (semi) stay at home Mums just sit around and drink coffee all day. To you I say, "Yes, we do and you're just jealous!!!Ha, ha, HA!" There are a number of other things that I could say to them, but hey I haven't got all day and the kettle is a boiling....;)
So anyway, I went to college, leaving the wake of disaster that is breakfast time at Chez Shaz and spent a happy morning marbling maps and paper. I'm off to work in the shop soon. I was just wondering, you wouldn't happen to know anyone that wants to buy a wedding dress off a lady with very blue fingers, would you?!

Blogtoberfest. Day 4. Look what I found in the attic....

Well technically it wasn't me that found them, but Bigski. Rooting around up in the loft she found my final collection from college shoved in an old holdall. I'd really forgotten all about it, it was after all 22 years ago ( What's that?I don't look old enough?*blush* Why, how kind of you to say!! Denial has been my good friend these past few years...)

Wool jersey tops and dresses ( so short they really are only tops, what was I thinking?) with inset lace booby bits (you can tell I was a technical pattern cutter can't you...) The moths have had a good feast on the jersey, but the lace, oh yes....it's still good! Proper vintage stuff!!
It was from an old antique shop when I bought it all those years ago, so I really couldn't hazard a guess at it's true date. Even after all these years, I still really like my final collection, but that's not going to stop me ripping these apart and salvaging the lace! The only question is what shall I do with it??

Blogtoberfest Day 3.

Bag to match the "she's got bottle!" Apron, slightly grubby and creased because I'm using it! The idea is to make a small range of 'bottle' aprons, bags, tea towels and possibly just a couple of prints to sell on Etsy or Folksy. It's the usual problem of not enough hours in the day, (I know I'm not alone there!), which is frustrating, but I've written it down now in black and white just so I'll HAVE to make time and do it!

This is...A WINNER!!! (Who's showing off!)

Image from the Folksy Blog

Oh bugger it! I've just tried to write this while being all modest and humble, well I'm far too damn excited for that I tell you!! What's got me so excited at 11.30 on a Friday night? I hear you ask. I only went and checked the Folksy blog and they've announced the winner of the Howies competition and it's only ME!!!!!!!! Me, I tell you, ME!!! Go here and check for I suddenly fear in my abilitity to understand English and worry that I've misunderstood and I'm making some kind of hideous embarrassing mistake publicly to the blog world! I've checked again, for about the 27th time, and it's true!! It's ME!! I'm amazed, I feel like I've been allowed to play with the big girl crafters!
Ha Ha Ha!! World domination is surely only a few printed fripperies away!!
(Queue manic laugh...................)

Craft for Breakfast

Made a bracelet this morning, before breakfast, before even the school run from pearl buttons. Now, please don't have an image of a woman so organised this is possible, the reality ia a slovenly not quite awake pyjama wearing coffee addict (that's picture was taken on the kitchen floor and I've just croped out the dirty bits, quicker than washing it) that just needed to make it, NOW. So I used shirring elastic, because that's all I had. Not sure that was a good choice. It's quite a heavy bracelet. Will it/won't it break? Ooo! It's like russian roulette, with button jewellery. Living on the edge, I'm just so rock and roll.

Folksy update!

Bottle Apron (catchy name, I know. Any further suggestions on a postcard please....) has just been listed over at Folksy (and I secretly hopes that no one buys her, because she's a favourite and I haven't got time to print and stitch a twin). I've listed her as part of the Howies 'Life is complicated. Sport is simple.' competition. Because you KNOW housework is an extreme sport......
In other news, not much crafting going on here, too many alterations (why are there so many short/oddly shaped people where I live?) and stripping instead (wallpaper, what were you thinking?) Quite frustrating actually, thought it was the summer holidays disrupting me, apparently it wasn't, it's just me. And somebody somewhere decided to only put 24 hours in a day. Idiot. Bet it was a man.

UPDATE: Bottle apron has got a new name , now officially called

"SHE'S GOT BOTTLE!"

Thanks JODIE!!!

This is ...A bit of a catch up!!

Now I sat down with loads to say, but two hours of surfing later, and it's still all a jumble of nonsense in my head with no real discernable shape or form. So no change there then.
The summer has almost gone, in a flurry of camping and giggles. In a week they'll all be back at school in new shiny shoes and slightly too big polo shirts ("Room for growth/shrinking in the tumble dryer" I'll say), the house will be so quiet. Normal service will be resumed. No more sharing the computer or the chocolate -Yippee!!
I've managed to miss a few of the 'This is ...' topics over the summer, so I'm going to shove 'em all in one post.
Are you sitting comfortably? Good, this could go on a bit!


First up: This is my... trade secret.
Now I should cover something to do with pattern cutting or sewing, but no it relates to camping! Because I'm obviously such an expert after three trips.....
Top Tip No.1: Take an umbrella, it WILL rain.
Top Tip No.2: When you pack away your tent, DON'T pack your handbag INSIDE the tent. Proves to be inconvenient. Especially if that's where you keep your front door keys. Oh how we laughed and laughed.....

Next up: This is...a Work in Progress ( or Operation Tea Cosy)

1. Wait to the last available day to begin Tea Cosy ( the day before it's needed is my preference, even though I had a special request last March for one after this one appeared at my house...) and then trash house (even more) to find every loved scrap of print, trim and fabric....

2. Drive self potty (ha!ha! geddit?!!) picking and arranging said fabrics. Ask Kids for input for Aunty Helens Tea Cosy. Ignore kids, what do they know anyway..
3. STOP! Hang out washing and feed people.
4. Make very professional pattern out of wadding ;) Realize taking picture of white wadding against white wall is never going to have a happy ending, DOH!

5. Chop and stitch merrily away creating a front and back.
6. STOP! Go get in washing because it's bloody raining again..

7. Try to take 'arty' creative shots of WiP. Give up and just take bad photos.

8. Go to work and leave kitchen looking like a health and safety accident....

9. Come back 4 hours later and embroider bits and pieces of text (Tea...a drink with Jam and Bread.....) , applique some spoons while talking to recipient on phone and tumble drying wet clothes. Forget to take any more photos.
10. Stitch front and back together, add wadding and lining.

11. Ta Da! Finished!
12. Go and dye hair, after all it's only 10 o'clock...Remember to wrap present!

Well just time to say This is...How I Like to Spend my Weekend.

Helen (the-cat-hater), moi and Rachel (Iris)

The tea cosy was made for Helen-the-cat-haters 40th birthday, and to celebrate she organized a girls weekend in Brighton! Now this doesn't happen every weekend, but we shopped, ate, found lovely tea shops, visited the Pavillion, shopped a bit more, went on The Pier, paddled in the sea and went to a very glamorous club with banquette seating (bonkette seating my Mum called them innocently once, wondering why I looked horrified..) and a live Salsa band! We salsa-d till 2am!! 'Twas the most fabulous time, great to make new friends (hello ladies!) and great just to be with two friends that I've known for more than 20 years, you see we three were at college together, and I have a suspicion in 40 years time if you're on Brighton Seafront you might spot some 80 year-old-babes laughing their heads off. We'll be the ones with the handcrafted Zimmer frames....

this is... my most favourite outfit that expresses my individual style

This is me, most days, on the school run or sewing in the house, only I've got a head and chunkier legs. Yea, I know, I've cheated and it's not me wearing it, but last time I tried taking a photo of myself I ended up jumping up and down on my bed with a lampshade on my head.....

So, green t-shirt from Peacocks, with the addition of Lobster print from me.

Gap crop Jeans from two summers ago, that I keep having to darn at the, Ahem, crotch area. Either Gap are using super soft denim or I mince alot when I walk!

Wedge sandals from Clarke's.

Necklace bought from Jennifer Collier at Origin Craft Fair about 18 months ago. It's looking a bit chipped due to the fact that I dropped it on a French cobbled street. I like to think that gives it a vintage look!

Additional styling of the tape measure courtesy of the 13year old, you can't see the pair of scissors she put hanging out of the pocket, or the fact that I told her off for shoving pins and needles in the t-shirt - before I realized that's actually what I do when I'm sewing!!

This would be my summer outfit, my winter wardrobe being exactly the same but with boots and a jumper!

Thanks to Kitty's Kaboodle for this week's theme and Angela for the meme!

Open All Hours....

Evening!

Now I know for a fact that no-one will be reading this, I mean it's 11 o'clock on Saturday night, you're obviously all going to be out partying! But I'd just thought I'd make a small announcement....

THE SHOP IS OPEN!!!

Oh yeah, at LAST! Look, I've even got a link thingy in the side bar!

So the ribbon to the front door has been ceremoniously cut and you all are welcome to come and join me for a glass of the best champagne (for best read virtual)!! I've got one whole apron (actually it's a half apron) in there, which will be joined very shortly by a few more lovelies , just building up a bit more stamina it's taken a most of the evening thus far!

And to celebrate being on Etsy I'm going to do a GIVE AWAY!

This lovely raspberry apron is the sister to my first Etsy listing. She has my 'Vintage Spoon' design handscreen printed onto recycled raspberry linen, featuring button embellishment and hand embroidery with a fat tie made of the most delicous green/grey linen fastening into a bow,at the front or back - whichever you prefer! So if you fancy glamming up life in your kitchen leave a comment, just telling me who your favourite blog is, to go into the grand draw! (I say grand, but you know I mean pulling a name out from my rather under-used mixing bowl....). I'll post the name of the winner, along with the most popular/interesting blogs, in a week (Sunday 15th).

Phew! It's all going according to Plan!!

Spoon bag

I'm sure you'll forgive me, but I've been having so much fun with the 'This is .....' meme that I've been a bit slack about posting my creative endeavours! So more to remind myself of 'The Plan' than anything else, here's the 'Spoon Bag'..... you're amazed at my catchy titles, I know.....

Spoon Bag (spu:n baeg) noun : a handy device for carrying junk from one place to another! Made from dark denim, hand screen printed spoon design, button embellishment, smidgen of hand embroidery, pink gingham lining. Now residing with Helen-the-cat-hater (in her defence, she's highly allergic to cats) and making frequent trips to Sainsbury's for the purchase of bagels, tea bags and wine!

Cosy!

Look what I was lucky enough to receive as a birthday present!

A handmade cafetiere cosy!

The inspiring friend that I spoke of in my last post, I shall call her Maria ( because that is her name ) is a textile artist and the lovely lady that showed me the way to screen printing , for which I shall be eternally grateful! Maria often makes the most gorgeous tea cosies that I have been coveting for sometime, but as I don't drink tea she made me this cafetiere cosy! She's used recycled textiles, in my favourite greens and blues, along with applique and machine embroidery, all the while looking after a four month old baba! Who, I must just say, does wear rather nice bibs! ;) (can you tell that Maria and I bonded over a love of old denim?!)

Thanks Maria,I LOVE IT!!

Maria does take commisions but doesn't have a blog yet ( hands up all those that thinks she should! I am working on her!), so if anyone is interested in one of these beauties email me and I'll put the two of you in touch.

This is my.....Creation

Another Friday afternoon creation knocked up in an hour or so, this is one of four I whipped up at speed for Bigski and her friends as they were going to a birthday party, the others had to make do without the black underskirt, just for future reference one layer of net doesn't really make a great tutu but 13 year olds don't really care! And do you like the white elastic? That's a special design feature, I kid you not...
Well, must dash.... it's Monday morning and there is tu-tu much to do! ( Sorry, couldn't resist!)

Pebble print

Another present post......

Bigski didn't want to give her friends aprons ( 13 year old twins) for their birthday, so she came up with the idea of pillows. She started off with the idea of a (rather complicated) applique, but I suggested (read brainwashed) that we screen print some fabric instead. The print design was developed for last terms college project and based on gorges and costal rock formations in Brittany, France.

She decided on a pink colourway for one and I think we were going for purple/lilac colourway for the other. My colour mixing being what it is we ended up with grey (vaguely lilac-y -nice -kinda -grey in my defense, your honour), but I forgot to take a picture before it was wrapped, aah well, never mind!

We had a great time printing on the kitchen table and it was really nice to share the process with her. And that old curtain came in handy again!

Another case of step away from the embroidery thread and needle resulted with a quick running stitch embellishment ( Oooh! Get me, I almost sound like I know of what I speak)

and Bigski finishes the day by saying "Can I use this leftover bit to make a bag?" which she did - beautifully, complete with overlocking. Which equals VERY proud Mum and happy friends! (and trashed kitchen...)