Wednesday 30 June 2010

Patchwork "Boxy" Bag

I found the pattern for this bag at Creative Stitches about two years ago and it has sat in my sewing room ever since. last September when I visited the same venue again I decided to get a charm pack that would enable me to make the bag. The fabric had a bit of a Japanese style to it.

The bag pattern does not actually have a fastening so I decided to make a flap pattern which was stitched to one side of the bag and through to the front so that it would also help to keep the top of the bag even and in shape.
I had a large mother of pearl button left over from a necklace kit. I then put a button hole in the flap fastening.

I also top stitched the flap to help keep it flat and even.

The handles in the pattern did not seem long enough or in proportion with the size of the bag, so I made extra strap sections and added rings to help add to the length. The straps were also top stitched to add strength and texture.

On the sides of the bag are ties which keep the bag in the shape that you can see at the top of this post.

When the ties are undone the bag looks more like a tote bag and is actually really big!

An inside view of the bag when the ties are undone.

This is a view of the base of the bag. I want to make another version but slightly smaller. I have a smaller charm pack upstairs which would be ideal for this.

I have been busy at school this week so I have not uploaded any new pictures as i tend to do them in batches but I shall be back with further offerings.

Has anyone else had a go at making a bag like this one?xx

Tuesday 29 June 2010

Featured here.....


I recieved an email to say that my little 'ol blog has been featured here.
There are some other blogs that you may also recognise.
Been very busy this week so not much happening on the craft front. Back later.
xx

Sunday 27 June 2010

Angel Quilt Block

As you know I have signed up for round two of our Quilting Bee Group and it is based on the theme of Christmas. I know that it is only June, but to get it all finished by December we needed to start now. This is my lastest offering, an Angel. I have adapted the colours to suit the person who is going to receive the block otherwise I would have used more gold in the fabric. However, red and green was mainly asked for.


I found the block at Quilters Cache and there are lots and lots of block ideas there, a wonderful site to browse even if you are not a quilter. Some very clever designs. I have heard that the next two quilts are heading my way so there will soon be more blocks to think about and make.

Hope you have all had a brilliant weekend, the weather in Cornwall has been scorching and gorgeous, even if the same can not be said for the football. Enough said there I think!!

Have a great week and thank you all for visiting here especially the new visitors who have let me now who they are. I find lovely new blogs as a result. Click on the comments and you too may find a new blog to look at.

xx

PS, We have a new addition to the family, photos will be posted when I have uploaded them.

Friday 25 June 2010

ATWQB - Maria's Block

This is the last quilt block for Maria who I have been sending all of the other quilts on to.

Maria likes Cath Kidston so I used some of her fabric in this log cabin. Maria has since received her quilt and is thrilled with it. I am also sending on the Christmas Quilt blocks to Maria as well and I have learnt her address off by heart.



So I thought I would add a little surprise in the parcel as well. This recycled tea towel and one of my felt key rings which I forget to photograph (doh!).

There are only a few more to do and then my quilt will arrive back home to me. It is getting very exciting. Just in time for the Summer holidays so that I can stitch it all together.

It has been scorching hot here this week and it has been a very busy week too. I am very tired indeed but I shall be back over the weekend. Have a relaxing and sunny weekend.

Best wishes

xx

Wednesday 23 June 2010

ATC from Spring Lake USA

I received this lovely ATC from Elaine in Spring Lake MI. She does not have a blog or email so saying thank you is not easy. I am hoping that she will see this.


Elaine also included this cute card. She says that this is her first ATC and I think that she has done a very good job!
Many thanks for sending a lovely ATC to add to my collection.
xx

Monday 21 June 2010

Royal Cornwall show - Flower Tent

There were some fascinating flower displays in the Flower Tent and I really liked this one. Green rings which looked like they were tumbling off the table. It all started from a central point on the table with Lillie's.

There were several categories within the tent and the displays were very large! There was not really one that I could pick out as really liking as I really liked them all. Some of the judges comments were rather scathing/rude, which I did not think is really needed.

I did like the display/arrangement shown above. Due to the popularity of the Flower Tent it was really difficult to take pictures and many of the ones that I did take had bits of people in them as I tried to take pictures of the displays.

The use of the wide range of flowers was breath-taking and Sophie really liked this tent. She has become very interested in gardening since we started our little veg patch. She is also studying Plants at school too.

Once sifted through I could only find two decent pictures, sorry, but here is a nice one of Sophie's plant. 'Gardener's World' look out................

All this lovely sun plus just enough rain to fill the water butts and keep everything green, my garden is sprouting and growing all over the place. Our efforts actually look quite good this year.

xx

Sunday 20 June 2010

Royal Cornwall Show

We took a school trip to the Royal Cornwall Show on 10th June. Sophie came with us and we decided to spend time looking at the animals. Sophie has an interest in wool and knitting so this is where we decided to start.

Llamas were first and this chap seemed to like having his picture taken!

There were examples of the Llama wool which had been spun into knitting wool and then woven into cloth, see the picture above.
Sophie was fascinated by the Alpacas, especially the ones which had been sheared. I did not realise just how long and thin their necks were! Sophie watches a daft programme on Ceebbies called Nibble and Scratch about two Alpacas and she loved the fact that she was seeing the real thing. These two above were leaning slightly and in unison and stayed there for ages.

Again, there was examples of their wool having been spun and knitted into garments. and it was amazing just how soft the wool is. Very expensive too.

We then went to have a look at the different breeds of sheep.

Did not get a chance to write down the breads of the sheep but I really liked the hair style going on here!

The fleece on this sheep was sooooo thick he must have been really hot as it was quite a muggy day.

There were a couple of spinning wheels which Sophie had never seen before and would have liked to have seen it working, but it was only for sale, pity.

A table top loom was being used and I explained to Sophie what was happening. During half term we had visited a place in Devon called Coldharbour Mill where we looked at how fleece is taken from sheep to fabric. I shall post more about that another time.

The yarn was gradually growing and weaving the yarn into this piece of cloth looked fun. Could have watched all day but time was ticking.

There were bags and bags of raw fleece straight from the sheep which local weavers and spinners could purchase if they wanted to. Sophie was really surprised to see this and asked lots of questions. I think that day was really very educational for her.

Tomorrow I shall talk about the flower tent.

xx

Thursday 17 June 2010

Neopolitan Cupcake

I subscribe to an online Craft Magazine Daily and I found this lovely Neapolitan Cupcake. I thought I would like to have a little try at that.
So at the weekend I used the cupcake recipe that is featured in the side bar, added a bit of coca powder and had a go.

I used various bun cases and this one is one of the smallest. It was more successful with larger cases.
Every Friday my department at work we take it in turns to make or bring on something like this so we meet up and have tea and cake. Otherwise it is possible to go all week and not actually speak to your colleagues because you are too busy. Anyway it is my turn in a couple of weeks and I would like to do some of these with icing to decorate etc. I have a little time to work on it.
take care
xx

Tuesday 15 June 2010

Baby (Plant) Sitting

Our latest project from Sophie's school is to look after a Geranium and keep a log of what happens to it and of any changes.



It is meant to be a red geranium but we will have to see. It has been in our house for about a month now and is doing fine. It has grown quite a bit since these pictures were taken. It seems to grow when your back is turned!

It may not be very clear but there is a little bud just peeping through!!

Will keep you posted and there is a prize for the best plant journal, so of course Little Miss Determined wants to try and have the best journal.

Better charge up the camera then.

xx

Sunday 13 June 2010

Cornish Summer Time


One of our favourite walks locally is near Lanhydrock House near Bodmin and on this particular Sunday we hit on a really lovely day.

The purest of blue skies that you would have thought someone had coloured in with felt tip pens!

This is also a vey safe walk for Sophie to use her scooter or bike as there is no car access, otherwise I am on edge a little bit.

There is a river which runs through the estate The River Fowey, and with the sun shining down on the water I thought this was quite a nice photograph.

Lots and lots of flowers around, although picture is not quite so good, but the campion was out in full force. We like our Cornish summer walks and if the summer weather is on our side this year we would like to do a good many more this year now that Sophie is a little older and also enjoys them.

xx

Friday 11 June 2010

Kitchen addition.......

To finish off our kitchen we have been looking for a small dresser to go in the corner. This is version two as the first one, once opened, looked like it had been hit repeatedly with a hammer!


It is in a position in the kitchen where something was needed but what exactly! We found this by accident in Truro after having looked in many other places. It is pure white and has a rose design at the top which sort of goes with the rose tiles over the cooker hob.

There is storage underneath which frees up the other cupboards a bit. When we finished ti kitchen and unpacked all the stuff we did have a bit of a clear out and passed on some items to a friend who has just bought their first house and money is a bit tight. So I have much less in my kitchen anyway.

So, now the kitchen is officially finished!!! Yay!!
Many thanks for all the lovely comments about my Sew Hip article. Glad that the project has been so positively recieved.
xx

Tuesday 8 June 2010

'Sew Hip' hip hip hooray!!

A few weeks ago you may remember that I was working on a secret project. I had emailed Sew Hip asking them if they would like some article ideas. I did not expect to hear anything, so you can imagine how pleased I was when I got a reply email.
I submitted a couple of ideas and they chose this one.

My pink needle case is featured on the contents page. With Julia's help from Gone to Earth I decided to use Amy Butler fabric.
Some very stylish photography (not mine). I actually made the needle case which is featured in the magazine and it has since been returned to me. This will form my Summer Giveaway at the end of the month.
The idea is based on a mathematical theory which was shown to me by a friend ages ago. I dare say it you google this idea there will be loads of info on it, but no, I have not tried that. I have made several needle cases this way and even worked on other items using this idea. I have had a few emails saying that they have seen the article and I have found some new blog friends. Another blogger who bought the magazine got in touch and created the needle case below:
Her name is Alison and she can be found at Faerynuff. This picture has been put on the "Sew Hip" Facebook area. I was really chuffed when people got in contact and said they they saw the article and really liked the idea. It made me feel all tingly. Anyway, enough of that.
If anyone else has had a go at my needle case featured in issue 18 of 'Sew Hip' then please do email me a picture and I will feature it here.
I really enjoyed the whole process and having a deadline to work to, hopefully I will be able to do another one in the future.
xx

Sunday 6 June 2010

Cupcake Recipe- Easy Peasy

This recipe is not brand new and you may even have a better version. However, this works for me and is so quick and easy that I can make and have them in the oven in next to no time. Sorry the units of measurement may not suit USA visitors but they can easily be converted if I had a book that did that!
Ingredients
50g/2ozs Flour
50g/2ozs Margarine
50g/ 2ozs Sugar (preferably Caster Sugar/ Fine sugar)
1 Large Egg
9 Bun Cases
Method
1. Turn on the oven, gas mark 5 / 190 degrees C.
Place the cases in a bun tray.

2. Sieve the flour into a bowl, add all the other ingredients and beat well with a wooden spoon until light and fluffy (I use an electric whisk, brilliant).

3. Divide mixture between the paper cases and bake for about 20-25 minutes until well risen, firm and golden brown.

Queens Cakes
Make exactly as above but add 25g/ 1ozs of currants or sultanas to the mixture.

Cherry Cakes
Make exactly as above, but add 25g/ 1ozs of Cherries which have been washed, dried and chopped.

Decorating
I will admit that I do cheat here and buy ready made butter icing as I never seem to be able to get the taste right. It works well through a piping bag and comes in a variety of flavours. It is called Betty Crocker - Ready to Spread icing - Buttercream Style. you can get it in Tesco/ Asda etc. You can keep it in the fridge and it has a reasonable life span. Then I add smarties, sprinkles etc whatever is in my baking cupboard.
..................................................................
I have been asked about the cupcake stand. I found in on Ebay and just typed in Cupcake stand. You can find many different types, including more wedding style ones. For the last two birthdays Sophie has asked for a cupcake stand cake instead of a traditional birthday cake. Much easier to do and I think more attractive. Her friends and their Mum's loved it!
When I make another batch I shall take some pictures of the bits and bobs I use to decorate them.
Give it a go and let me know what you decorate your cupcakes with.
xx

Saturday 5 June 2010

Cupcakes and Radishes

A bit of excitement in the veggie patch!!!! Radishes galore. This was one of many more than we were expecting, being new to this grow your own lark.
One or two did get a bit too big and did not taste of much. However the smaller ones!! Nearly blow your head off they are so strong. We decided to pick the lot to stop them from getting anymore tasteless and they last quite a while in the fridge, then any left overs can go in the compost. Lesson learnt there, do not let your radishes get too big, so now you know and so do we. (Learn something new everyday).


At the other end of the foody spectrum...Sophie and I made a batch of these.


Sophie then found something else much more interesting to do so Mummy was left to have lots of fun decorating all of these!!! Yum Yum.

Ooooh lets have another look at those shall we?

I love decorating cupcakes. I shall post the recipe for these tomorrow, they are so easy to make and you can use the same mixture to make mini cupcakes as well. Off for a cup of tea and a......that's right a Cupcake!
Take care
xx
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