Pincushion Blue

Now on Folksy.
I decided to keep the Cupcake version. Sorry folks! Will make another soon. Quick post tonight as I want to catch up with some of your work.

Bye for now.

xx

My new Pin Pal...

My blue and white quilt has generated some good sized leftovers and because the fabric is good quality patchwork fabric I can no bare to just throw it out. So more pincushion pals have been made, I have some more in the pipeline. I did make this one a little differently this time. I stitched some of the pieces to make a larger bit, then put some fleecy interfacing behind it and then with silver embroidery thread I did some free-machine embroidery on the surface.

I think that these beaded pins look good in it. I always use these type of pins due to having a cat as well as a 6 year old because I can easily see them if I should drop any on the floor.
I then added one of my labels. I do not have many of these left and once they have gone I am going to design a new more eye catching label for my larger items and maybe keep this one in a darker blue for smaller items.

The base is ceramic which makes it stable and sturdy when sat on a table and I a good size.

This will be listed and I thought that I should start adding more items to my Folksy shop. Just need to find my password because I seem to have forgotten it!

I like making these and trying to come up with different versions. I have decided to keep my cupcake pincushion that I featured last week and make a different cupcake one for listing.

Tonight I think I shall do a little marking and then some patchwork. I have also started something more creative for my latest Creative Swap challenge and I painted the base fabric during lunch at work today. I have had to leave it at work to finish drying then I may let you have a little peek before I start the main work on it.

It has been yet another lovely day today, could we be lucky enough to have another good weekend or is it too soon to say?

Take care.

xx

Pincushion Pals

Last Saturday I wanted something that I could do sat in front of the Television. I went up stairs to see what needed finishing and spotted this little gem. I bought several months ago and the shop has since shut down. So I doubt that I will find another. I wasn't sure which felt to use so I got my hubby to choose. He settled for a bright flowery felt which he thought went well with the camper van theme. It is sitting on my mantelpiece at the moment.

Well it could not really stop there could it? Saw a pink ramekin sitting next to the camper van to that got the felt treatment too. I think that it would look great as a .......

Cupcake!

What do you think?

I have not made one of these for a few months and I really enjoyed it. Sophie soon had her eye caught with this little cutie and wants to know what I am going to do with it. I am going to list both of these and make Sophie a smaller cupcake which she is less likely to drop. The cupcake is quite large you see and therefore bigger than her hands to hold. I have three more lined up by my arm chair waiting to have the 'make-over' treatment!

I went to my sewing group tonight and finished all of the applique heart squares plus nearly half of the log cabin squares. So progress is being made. I hope to take some pictures tomorrow in better light.

Many thanks for all the lovely comments about Mr Tickle. Sophie is really excited to hear the competition result on Friday. Tomorrow she is wearing her pyjamas to school for a story and will be having hot chocolate too! Very nice.

xx

Cath Kidston Pincushion Kits

Remember this?

Over Christmas I was looking at my pincushions and taking into account the response that I have had about them that I thought that I would trial some kit versions.

The includes all of the fabric, buttons, trim, colour instructions, templates for alternative sizes. Stuffing is separate so as to keep cost down but can be obtained if needed. These are being added gradually to Etsy but my commission is taking my time at the moment. The fabric in the kit is shown in the smaller pictures on Etsy but can be viewed bigger if clicked upon. I am also going to try out other fabric combinations too. My resolution was to try new things and it is nearly the end of January and I have kept to this one so far.

Preview of other combinations:

Making samples is a problem for some of the fabric as I only have enough for the kits, but hopefully it is clear what is what.

Many thanks for the lovely comments about my cardigan I intend giving it an outing this week at work. Year 10 have asked about knitting so I thought I might show them, as long as it does not put them off!!

Take care, bye for now.

xx

Etsy up-date and Un-expected Sales...

I have just send off and Etsy order to a lady in California and we are both hoping that it will reach her before Christmas. Late last week I even had a sale on my web shop with only a couple of hours left before it shut down! Typical. Anyway it did give me a chance to update my Etsy shop and move some of the items from my web shop over to Etsy. Here is a sample. I am having a problem with Picassa that if I want to put multiple pictures on my blog they seem to be the wrong size and will not load.

Cath Kidston fabric pincushion. 1

Cath Kidston Pincushion 2.

(Crikey! SOLD already).

Cath Kidston fabric zippered purse.

I have three silk covered glasses cases left which are lovely and much better than the ones given when you buy your glasses. I have used mine for over a year and I love it.

Many thanks for the lovely comments and emails about my pincushion tutorial. I had over 50 hits on that post alone which is one of the highest I have ever had. I am thinking of making up kits with other fabric that I have for the pincushion, including other Cath Kidston fabric. What do you think?

Anyway, off for some much needed beauty sleep take care everyone and keep popping by.

XX

PS There seems to be a problem with the pictures so I will sort that out whenI get home form work. Or view them in my Etsy store in the mean time. Sorry. Right-to ho, I think I have sorted it out.

More cupcake fun & Giveaway reminder...

Yippeee, it is Friday!!!

Right, well I have got that out of my system lets look at some things I have been making. I am still on my pincushion trail, they are fun to make and something that I can do in front of the television, and of course it is the The Tudors again tonight at 9pm so I must be settled with something to sew by then. I have completed some more cupcakes and I have sold one of them on Etsy already so I am now down to just two of them...

Whilst on holiday in August I came across a lovely cook shop in Lewes that had these mini white fluted dishes which sang out cupcakes cases to me. So I bought three and now wish that I had bought more!! One cupcake has flown off to a new home last week.

This flower shaped pincushion is a fun one to make as well with quite small amounts of fabric and lovely buttons. I like to make the two sides different.

I have even managed to find some boxes for the more breakable pincushions for them to be packed snugly to go to their new homes. I have just started my annual pincushion project at school and showed the students my wheel barrow and sewing machine pincushions that I made last year..

I had a few others that I have made over the years, including a hamburger with felt cheese slice etc. So that got off to a good start and I will post their creations once made.

The week has been hectic which is why I have not posted since last Sunday. Good luck to the 22 bloggers who have entered my giveaway, another week to go until results day. Come on everyone join in, tell others, borrow the pics and put them on your blog etc.

At the top of this blog is a follower section which is the new gadget from blogger and I have a follower, Nan from Nannybird over in America. I am delighted she is the first as Nan helped me alot in the early days, welcomed me to join her giveaway and has helped me since with questions. Add yourself, let me visit you and others to find you. Last week I had 49 people visit, why not say who you are? Just click on the comment icon at the bottom of each post, if you do not have a blog you can sign yourself as anonymous. Honestly anyone can leave a message. Or email me if you need a bit of help. A visitor came from Ely. I went to Ely Sixth Form so that brought back some memories.

My thoughts now need to point towards my entry for the Camper van swap, I have collected a few things but still not sure what item to make!! Arrrrgh I did not think it would be this difficult. I have found a few pictures though...


UUmmmmm, now what to do next?

Ballet starts its new term tomorrow so an early start in the morning.
Back with more tomorrow.
Take care
XX

Poll Results and Pincushions..

Many thanks for taking part in the poll. it looks like it is the laptop cover that won. I will do the others in the order that the votes came it over the coming months. I was pleased with my laptop cover and hope you fell the same when you see it. It could easily be adapted to other products and does not take up much material and could be added to/ adapted to suit your own needs. I have been at my in-laws for most of the afternoon and then I put eye drops in my neighbours eyes then got Sophie to bed so I will have some work to do for that and I am trying to gear myself up to do it. I have so enjoyed being at home and Hubby has been here too because he now works from home. It has been a very relaxing time. Even the weather has picked up again and today has been really hot. So no sewing today but some finished items to show you which Sophie really likes..

Whilst on holiday I went into a marvelous cook shop in Lewes and found these mini fluted dishes. They reminded me of bun cases and I thought that I could take my cupcake pincushions a little further.

Once one had been made a few more followed. I have run out of the fluted dishes for now but I want to make some more. They were fun to make and look yummy in a group like this.

I enjoy making these pincushions as well and they do not take up very much fabric. I am going to make some more for stocking fillers for my sewing friends this year.

All of these pincushions have gone either into Etsy or my Webshop. I have started another item using the cupcake theme and some little brown ceramic pots will suddenly have a new lease of life too over the coming weeks.

Well, I have a busy day tomorrow with 6 guests coming to visit so enjoy the day and I will be back with the tutorial plus it is my 1st Blog anniversary on 8th September so a way to celebrate this will also be announced soon. I just need to think what exactly

Take care all!

Novelty Pincushions

Friday has whizzed round again and I find myself unexpectedly on my own with hubby and daughter out for the evening. Which was a pleasant surprise as I can catch up on a few things. Already marked a box of work, updated a list for a school trip that I am orgainising to the Clothes Show Live, so for the rest of the evening it is some me time. So unusally a blog opportunity on a Friday.

I found this cute little book ages ago and I am having a go at some of the ideas. Last year I had a go at the sewing machine and made some changes, such as enlarging the patterns slightly, adding decoration with 3D paint, hand embroidery stitches and adding a subtantial wooden base to hold it steady. Thought you all would like a look at it.

The photo is perhaps a little over exposed but you can get the general idea. My next project is still the Autumn themed pincushion for Pincushion Challenge on flickr which I have also started, so fitting that in with the quilt.

The postal situation has certainly slowed things down so I am still keeping an eye open for items from U-Hnadbag ready for next months challenge and an item from the Kath Kidston website. Some lovely items on that site which are ideal for pressies.
Best go and make use of the quiet time, stitching in the ditch on Kirsty's quilt, glass of wine and some sewing music....mmmmm...right I'm off byeeeee.