Orla Kiely Extravagance!

Just when I thought the week was going to end without any sewing getting done, 

Mr D comes to my rescue!

I've been wanting to make more cushions for the lounge for some time and after seeing this lovely Orla Kiely fabric on ebay a few weeks ago I just knew it would be perfect.

So with the kids occupied I grabbed the chance to knock off another project on my to do list.

I've used some ticking fabric on the back that I bought for only £1.99 a meter so that makes me feel better about the price of the Orla fabric.

Then again sometimes you deserve a little extravagance.

So now with all 3 kids tucked up in bed, some music playing and a glass of wine on the go, well it is Friday night! I think I might just go and collapse on the sofa.

Have a good weekend xx

My Favourite Type of Washing!

After an unexpected blogging break due to our laptop deciding it'd had enough, we're back on-line.

It's been very strange not having a computer and internet access, it's made us realise how big apart of our life its become . How much we do on it and how much we take the instant information for granted.
Oh it's nice to be back!

I spent a lovely couple of hours over the weekend catching up with blogs I love to read.
Which makes me wonder what I've been up to over the last fortnight. Well on the craft front nothing much. Though I'm making the most of this gorgeous sunshine and getting some laundry done!

We survived a weekend away staying in a "Premier Inn" whilst visiting family. In fact we had a lot more sleep than we had envisaged with all five of us in one room. I got to shop at Ikea! A shopping "experience" which only happens twice a year so turns into 3 hours of shopping bliss or hell depending on which family member you are!!! It's a great chance to stock up on some well priced fabric.

I was really pleased with this flower fabric where the print is a lot smaller and the colours more subtle than a lot of  Ikea's usual prints.

I bought mainly utility fabric staying away from there bold prints well that was until I saw this;

I have no idea what I'll use it for as I can't imagine cutting it up. It's a large piece measuring 100 x 147 cm so really it needs to be hung, but as we don't have anywhere for it I guess it'll live in my fabric cupboard waiting for me to have a bolt of inspiration regarding its use!.

Well I'm off to ponder over what it can become.
Any ideas please let me know!!!

Scooter

"Good things come in small packages", 

or should it be "good things come to those who wait"!

I've been struggling with following what really is (I guess) a simple pattern for a flexi frame purse. I do struggle when it comes to following instructions, at this point my hubby laughs!

No I do seem to have a mental block when following a pattern.

 

So much so, that after attempt one at a flexi frame coin purse I nearly gave up. This is attempt two, above and below made out of some vintage curtains

 

 I'm pleased with the fabric especially the lining.

but there's something about the overall purse that I'm not happy with and as it's a birthday present for my sister, I decide to have a third attempt! So with the pattern tossed to one side, I decided to simplify the shape and design. 

 

I've used one of my favorite echino prints and quilted it for extra puffiness!

 

And I'm happy with the end result! It's felt like a long process to get to something so simple.

But I think its simple shape is the making of it.

I've enjoyed using flexi frames. And as a small purse for coins or a little make up I think it works well.

 

Who would have thought something so small could give me such a headache!

Now with present given including some goodies to put inside I'm off to have a well earned glass of vino.

Have a happy weekend!

Willow

I decided the other week to take the plunge again and to buy fabric from the US.

So after getting advice from Kelly at handmade at home and reading a great article on Manda's blog I placed my order. I've only done it once before about 12 months ago and it wasn't until after I'd paid taxes and import duties that I realised there was such a thing! Very naive! So as you can imagine it become quite expensive and it rather put me off.

That was until I saw these!

"Willow" is the latest fabric range from Alexander Henry and I just love it.

I found it really difficult to decide which prints to order as I adore them all and are taken with all the colour ranges. But I kept reminding myself of the £18 limit and eventually settled on the "grove" in chocolate (above) and the "shrooms" in green (below).

 

I breathed a huge sigh of relief when it came through the door this morning and hadn't been stopped at customs. I can't believe how quick the parcel got here. It's as adorable as I had hoped it would be and the prints have a lovely retro feel to them. I know exactly where I'm going to use them. So now if only I could some how find some extra time in the day to get all theses projects done that I have floating around in my head, I would be a very happy woman indeed. 

 

Owls

Not much has happened on the "sewing" front this week, what with the half term holidays.

But we did manage to get out of our pj's today and venture into town, even the hail and snow failed to stop us! And I'm so pleased we did as our charity shop finds today have got to be some of our best ever.

First they was this rather cute tin

And then just as we were leaving Mr D spotted this,

 

Not much on the outside, but when opened,

The best find for some time.

 

And when we asked how much it was as it hadn't been priced and they said a pound, yes one whole English pound, I couldn't open my purse quick enough! Even on the fabric front I came up trumps.

 An excellent shopping trip all round.

Frugal Sewing

Living in Pyjamas or "comfy" trousers as the boys refer to them is a favourite in our house. 

One of the most difficult things in the mornings can be trying to prise them out of them, and I often end up doing the school run with the 2 year old still wearing his! So when last week at the jumble I found 2 pairs of older boys pyjama bottoms, 20 pence each I just knew I had to buy them. Aged at 10 - 11 they were too big all round for either of the boys, so yesterday I set about cutting them up and re-sewing them.
 

And I'm pleased with the result, but as ever more importantly so are they!

Trousers are judged by the boys to be "comfy" if they make for good jumping trousers!

 

 And thankfully these passed the test with flying colours!

So as it is the half term holiday and we have no plans for the next couple of days, we have the most perfect excuse to stay dressed in our pj bottoms.

Maybe I should put a "Do not disturb sign on the front door"!

Thrifted Tuesday

The sight of a large queue of people outside a village hall in a sleepy Devon village is probably quite a strange sight if the onlooker is unaware of the event that is about to unfold. There's the sly glances at each other as people eye up the competition, there's the sorting out of change so your all ready, the whispering that takes place as the doors are about to open, and then there's the stampede as the doors are finally flung open. So this was us on Sunday, at the very back of a queue waiting for the jumble to begin.


Now if you've never been to a jumble I urge you to try it just once as it's an experience worth seeing.

First plan your attack. It took a couple of goes for us to get it right. For me I head straight for the linens, this may all sound a tad o.t.t, but by the time we had paid our entrance fee, there was already people with their arms laden with jumble. These regulars are quick! It's also worth taking a few deep breathes in preparation before you enter.

Second forget your airs and graces!! The pushing and shoving takes a little getting used to, in general the older the person the worse their attack! But don't worry no-one takes offense its all in the name of jumble!
Thirdly just grab. We have come to the conclusion over the years that its better to buy and look later, at such low prices 20pence an item on Sunday you can afford this approach. Mr D and I have had quite a giggle in the past looking through each others purchases after the event over a cuppa in the sanity of our own home!


So if you ever find yourself with a spare hour at the weekend, give it ago its quite addictive.
Just remember the deep breathes and you can't go wrong.
At the end of the day it's for charity and you just never know what your going to find.