Tuesday 31 August 2010
Tuesdays Treasures - Needle Felted Picture
Sunday 29 August 2010
Beaded Bag Treasure
Handmade cord with a bit of gold thread running through it added to the effect. I was not able to make cord for the pink wedding bag as I could not find the right colour. Odd really as I thought pink was really in for everything at the moment.
Friday 27 August 2010
Blog picture copying....
Exam Results
That time of year came round on Tuesday when nails are bitten up to the the elbow and tension in homes across the country is high.
Yep....GCSE results.
I was delighted with what they achieved and one has now moved on to studying Fashion at a higher level. I have asked her parents to keep in contact as I would love to now how she gets on. They leave school and we rarely hear what happens afterwards unless they get married or get themselves arrested!!
So my little group achieved:
Wednesday 25 August 2010
Wedding Gift - Beaded Bag
This is based on a Victorian beaded reticule. These are more like little purses and originally they would have contained maybe a special hankie, tiny bottle of perfume or a little trinket.
I really enjoy making them and no two are ever the same. I got started on these after my hubby's Aunt made one for me for my wedding day, I used instead of those plastic horse shoe things.
I made one for my best friend and had a real job trying to find out what the bridesmaid colours were. Nearly got myself into bother there but once the bride saw it on the day she picked up on the fact and said that my questions made complete sense and loved the fact it linked to her wedding colours. Phew! I kept the info to myself anyway, I did not even tell my hubby what the colours were as I made it in secret.
It has a draw string fastening and the ribbon is left long enough to hook over the brides arm and hang down but not get in the way. Much nicer that those plastic horseshoes!! Luck can be added instead by adding a token inside. Oh, I forgot to do that, oh well.
A pretty gift box was found. Sophie helped me to decorate the lid, and there you go.
The brides reaction? More than I was expecting which made up for the panic during making which resulted in needing to start again twice and staying up until 1.30am on one night until I had sorted out what had gone wrong! However, it was worth every second just for the look on A's face when she opened the box. That is after all why we prefer handmade, isn't it?
Tomorrow I shall show you the very first one that I made.
xx
Sunday 22 August 2010
My name is Toffy..................
He likes football!
Practising his pounce position.
Investigating the garden.
After a day of all this all he then needs................
....is a good sleep!
Now folks, please tell me how can this possibly be relaxing?
Toffy appears to be made of rubber and yes, he does sleep like this most of the time. He also likes to be cuddled in your arms too, a very affectionate cat who seems to genuinely like to have human contact, the ideal family cat!
xx
Saturday 21 August 2010
Wet summers day.................
Friday 20 August 2010
French Cakes
Sophie and my sister-in-law spent much time making the table look lovely, complete with special cups and plates. Plus a flowery table cloth from a charity shop.
Wednesday 18 August 2010
Origami for the Littlies...............
Piano and chair.
On a rather dull and showery afternoon the subject of Origami came up again and Sophie and I found this excellent website.
Handbag and Purse
Origami-Instructions is a website that has a range of origami items with clear step by step photographs for the youngsters to follow with some text to keep it moving along. The photos are enough on their own to get a good result. The examples above Sophie made all by herself and right proud she is too.
So if you are in need of a little something to keep your youngsters occupied for a bit as we move into the latter stages of the Summer Holidays, take a quick look at this. I did make one or two to start with to encourage Sophie and then off she went!!
Tulip
Took them over to the in-laws, she was that pleased with them.
Any paper can be used really or wrapping paper would be good. You need squares and make them a reasonable size as it does make it easier for folding etc.
xx
Tuesday 17 August 2010
Tuesday's Treasures
This necklace is very special in that it belonged to my Grandmother. I never really met her as I was about 6 months at the one and only meeting that we had. It is very delicate in appearance and has pearls and amethyst, which is my adopted birth stone. My true birth stone is turquoise and to me it always looks like it has come out of Christmas cracker and I really do not like it.
I wore this on my wedding day and spent months trying to find little earrings to match which I eventually did. Pearl drop with little bits of amethyst above. Not as precious as the necklace but it did the job on the day.
This necklace is often worn as I do feel that it should not be shut up in a box, but I do check the catch regularly. It is to be passed on to Sophie when I am gone and it is to stay in the family.
So this is my first Tuesday Treasure no story attached to it really, just family links but I think that is all there needs to be.
xx
Monday 16 August 2010
Holiday 2:Sheffield Park Gardens
There were several large ponds and lakes which were covered with water lilies. I have never seen so many in one place and all out in bloom at the same time!
We like National Trusting and so does Sophie (well at the moment she does) and it gives us a chance to learn a little bit of history in that particular local area. Some fresh air as well.
Sophie could not believe her eyes when she saw the size of this lovely old tree! I tired to find out how old is was but sadly I failed.
These days out are also a chance for us all to take photographs. Sophie especially likes to do this and then show anybody the pictures who is prepared to look at them. I could not resist taking this picture of the budding photographer!!
This is a lovely park and well worth a visit if you are in the area.
We borrowed my sister-in-laws picnic basket and had a lovely little lunch just outside the property. We enjoyed doing this all week so much that we ended up ordering our own picnic basket from a local farm shop. I just hope it arrives before the weather turns horrid!
I have one more place to show you then a wedding story later in the week.
Take care and have fun.
xx
Thursday 12 August 2010
Holiday1: Clergyman's House, Alfriston, Sussex
This house is 14th century and is called a 'hall house'. It is a thatched, timber-framed house with lovely gardens. The allotment section is certainly worth a visit on its own.
We have visited several times before when coming to Seaford and there is something new to see each time. On this visit there were two ladies showing visitors how to spin sheep's wool into yarn. They asked Sophie if she would like to have a go and after a rather shy reluctance (shy? Sophie? Not really anyway....). Sophie had seen one at the Royal Cornwall Show in June and named it straight away hence the offer to actually use the spinning!! Gosh if only I was cute and 7 again!!
After Sophie had finished the lady gave her the wool that she had spun plus a bit more to look at at home. I have some hand spindles at school and I shall borrow one so Sophie can finish making her yarn.
That was not all.........................
Monday 9 August 2010
I am in print!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday 6 August 2010
Button Feature.....
I hand stitched a brooch back to the crochet flower first. I got the brooch back from Paper and String .
I then attached the wired buttons to the large pink button and put this on top of the flower to hid all of the joins etc.
I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out and I intend to make some more as stocking fillers this year. A great way to recycle old and new buttons.
xx
Thursday 5 August 2010
Toffy dreams.........................
Monday 2 August 2010
Sophie's First Softie
Sophie decided that it was time to make a softie and here is her design!! Complete with strips.
We still have the second T-shirt so another softie may be on the cards. It has a name too............