Tea, Cake and Discounts

I am having a nice chilled out Bank Holiday weekend before the onslaught begins on a very busy month on the run up to my holiday. Yesterday I was up in town having a very lovely afternoon with Ms Tiina Burton we try to meet up as often as we can to have tea, chat and a good old natter. This is then usually followed by a good old window shopping session. She is very good at stopping me from buying jewellery. I need someone to do this.... 

Now normally we go to Liberty's for tea but since they have changed the menu (which is so dull) and reduced the number of tea it offers (which is now piss poor) I was on the hunt for somewhere new. Just round the corner in Carnaby Street is Kingly Court (highly recommend it great boutique shops) and up on the very top floor is Camellia's Tea House. Oh my lord so many teas to choose from I personally loved 'Skinny Bitch' but opted for Sweet Orange which was lush. This helped wash down the scones, yummy. Very good prices far cheaper than Liberty's and a much nicer atmosphere. For those in a wheelchair whilst it is a little awkward to get round you can get to the top floor via the lift. The staff were very nice too (again better than the snotty lot at Liberty's which can sometimes ruin a good day out). www.camelliasteahouse.com  <-edited

No trip to Carnaby's is complete without a quick dive into the Play Lounge were yet again I walked out with items I didn't really need to purchase but couldn't bring myself to leave behind. So I got some really cute stickers and another 'I love Tea' (lunaartik.com) I am determined to find Earl but got Oolong instead (blue one). They are slowly starting to overtake the flat. I was really tempted to by the uber large Cavey (it was pink and squishy) but stopped short from do so, another time. 

You will note also in the photo below (left) that I have redrawn the headpiece design, I was bored on a train, I think I prefer the design on the second teardrop shape various running stitched circles rather than running stitched lines, works better with the other shapes on the design. 

Now its time for me to pull my finger out, stick Supernatural on and stitch. 

Oh before I disappear to stitch let me tell you about the following discount code: DCHUZZAH11 which is now active in my Etsy store from now till the 18th. It entitles the buyer to 15% discount. It's a little something before the store closes for my autumn vacation. 

Again..

Unfortunately my computer has decided it didn't like me very much and has died on me again, it's currently being fixed for a hard drive issue. So it's a double kick lost programmes and files as well as a hit to the wallet. But never mind, can't be helped and hopefully will have it back next week. It's just as well I have the netbook for a back up although that did just break my memory card....managed to fix that with a bit of tape but it does make me think whether or not I am cursed?? Will find out on Monday when I get into work and use the computer there.


In the mean time I have been beginning  to wind down the project making as I hit a very busy time at work and head towards my holiday in October. I decided in my wisdom rather than buying a hat or a hair thingie for my friends wedding to go with my outfit, I've decided to make something instead.


Here is the design drawn in sharpie on a back of a brown paper bag, which was also used to make the pattern pieces too. It's going to be a hand embroidered selection of almost teardrop shapes, with various types of embellishment ie. buttons, crystals and beads. Attached to a ribbon wrapped metal hair band. 

With the design done, I opted to try out a test version I don't often do examples but with this to know whether or not it would or could work I decided to do it. Also rather making yet another bit of decoration that floats about the house I've turned it into a one of a kind brooch and listed in my store.

It has a stiff middle, I didn't have any pelmet vilene which was a bugger so I used two layers of waste canvas which does the job nicely. Light weight, can be stitched through and can be shaped so it's ideal. The nice thing about doing this example is that it's shown me that the edging needs more thought. Whilst it works (wrapped edging and couching) it to me looks a little rough. So I am going to think of an alternative option. Maybe buttonhole stitch?

This just means I now have to pull my finger out and start working on the main parts in order to get the actual headpiece made in time. Granted whilst I know what I want to wear I really should also pull my finger out and get the dress....

Anyway, that's enough of the head piece for today will start it again during the week think its time for a spot of Supernatural and stitching the quilt. I am starting to get closer to the end with that project.


Although I forgot to say I came to the conclusion this week that owing to busy work commitments I will be closing my store on the 18th September through to November 1st. This is because I can't guarantee that I will be able to post things, and I really don't want to stress myself out any more than I am already. I am slightly getting panicked by the amount of work there is to do over the next month. Everything is coming at once!


I may very well open the store up earlier and I will keep blogging so will keep you in the loop. 

In Pieces...

So with another commission done and dusted I've reverted back to working on some new content for the store, the Etsy one, I'm still getting used to Wow Thank You store, the set-up and layout. With the new items I have gone back to raiding my pretty stashes of fabric and bits n pieces to make a couple of squeezie purses and new clocks. Nothing like playing about to get the creative juices flowing. 


Yesterday I made a clock which was fun to do, and I was so pleased with the outcome. The idea had come to me the other week when I was working on the Pirate clock for my friend. It was basically very thin stripes of various Liberty tana lawn prints stitched together to create a new sort of fabric. It was quite a fiddly operation, but you know me I like to work small and I don't shy away from a challenge. I bonderwebbed the back of each strip applied to a plain white linen and stabbed stitched down each strip, it took a little while, but once you get into it soon gets done. 

I have an idea for another one and will probably work on that one after I have finished my latest project, or knowing me will start it regardless. Anyway, the outcome as you can see is really cute. I stitched very tiny shell buttons to indicate the hours, where I used batting underneath to give it more definition, I just want to prod it. It's now available to buy just click here. 

Now the other project I am working on and soon after I finish this blog post will get right back to it, is a quilted squeezable purse. See the progress:

So this morning I decided to play, I don't often do samples because I am usually the sort to get an idea and just get on it, but this morning I thought no, lets do some playing about with the fabric I want to use. The above image is the result of me using different thickness of threads, colours. Originally I was going to do a series of maze like squares (can't think of the word for it) but then as I started to just do running stitches I ended up doing neatly spaced out straight rows, you can see that result at the bottom corner. With that sample done, I decided it was time to crack on. Here we are stitched in black machine thread for four rows, then in nice scarlet red for one. It will keep me quiet.

What projects are you working on? Show me some links to it! I love looking at pretty things.