Competition Time: Win Embroidery Patterns

Yes, folks its been a while since I did a little giveaway and I thought, why not give away something for you to do. So how would you like to win a set of two, full embroidery patterns (digital copies) from the Little Planet series; Little Home Planet and Planet of the Trees. 

Each pattern includes:

• Full colour image
• Pattern
• Stitch and thread guide
• Hints & Tips

How to enter? 

Well, nice and simple just leave a comment below (please no anonymous comments), perhaps telling me what would be on your little planet?

Competition is open to UK and International folks, as long as you have a valid email address.

Deadline for entry 13th July, the winner will be announced on the blog on the 14th July*.

*As long as I haven't been attacked by wasps or fallen down a well.

Halloween Crafting: Make a Felt Broom Tutorial

This is a mini Halloween Tutorial in which I will show you how you can make a mini Halloween broomstick, with substance, for your flying pig (other flying creatures or plushies will also do). I should point out Calico, the pig, doesn't really need the broom to fly he just thinks it's cool and adds to his outfit.

You will need:

• A pencil, a nice short one will do nicely
• 3 colours of felt - Black, brown and yellow or use whatever you have to hand
• Thread to match the felt being used
• Pair of Sharp Scissors
• A small bit of toy stuffing (not shown)
• A Needle

Step 1

First you will need to cut the felt that will cover the pencil like a tube, the pencil keeps the broom nice and straight). My pencil was 12 cm in length, add a 1 cm of allowance to this and cut out a piece that is 2.5 cm wide by 13 cm in length. My pencil was a standard HB, if you use a thicker pencil you will need to adjust the width.

Step 2 - Making the Handle

Thread up your needle, and take your piece of felt and wrap it slightly round the pencil, it might take you a minute to get a hold a hold of it all. Your pencil needs to be slightly down from the end of the felt, so that later you can cover it over. Your going to over-sew the edges of the felt so that it wraps snuggly round the pencil. Work you way down to the end of the felt, and then do a couple of slip knots near to the end to gather around the pointy end.

Head back to the other end and over-sew the top so you now have a covered pencil, exciting times!

Step 3 - Brush Time

Your now going to cut the felt out for the brush end of the broom. Get two squares that about 8 x 8 cms, you can adjust this so you can have a fat or skinny brush (to suit your mood). Your going to then cut out two identical shapes that  look like pig ears or candle flame, depending on your point of view. Place them together, and then like with the broom handle over-sew the edge, except for the straight bit which will be your opening for the handle. Make the stitches small and neat, and use a thread colour that matches the felt.

Then stuff it. Make it semi-firm, too hard and you'll find it hard to stuff the broom handle into the open end and gather it round neatly.

Step 5

With it stuffed, do a small gathering stitch around the opening, don't pull it yet. Stuff the broom handle (pointy end) into the opening, about 2 cm's will be sufficient. Now pull the gathering thread, so it's tight round the handle. Then using the gathering thread, the bit left over, stitch the brush to the handle, till your sure it's not going to come off.

Step 6 - Final bit

Just for a spot of decorating and to hide the gathering, cut a small strip of felt about 0.5-1 cm in width by 3.5 cm in length. Wrap this round the top of the brush, and then over-sew the narrow end of the strip together. 

Hey presto! You have a broom.

Baking, Posting & Other ing's

I have officially died and gone to baking heaven.

I am not a fan of muffins I find them to be just a tad to much for me, being as I often navigate to fairy cakes, I like things small. I even find cupcakes a bit daunting to eat.

However this cheese and chive muffin recipe is the best and simply made me say aloud, Oh my god....

What's even better is that the recipe is simple as, just mix all the ingredients together till they combine then whack them in the oven.

Ingredients:

 1 egg

3/4 cup - Water

1 cup - Self Raising Flour

1/2 tsp Salt

1 1/2 cup - Grated Cheese

1 tblsp - fresh chives

As I said you mix them all together till they combine, then divide the mixture into a muffin tin (I used silicone ware and its great cause you don't need to mess about with cases)  

Bake in a preheated oven, at about 190 for about 15minutes. For my oven it was perhaps longer but I'd say until the cheese crust goes a nice golden colour.

Then eat as many as you can.

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I am happily content also with getting back to sewing and these two little projects so far have been a joy to work on and I'll be just about to dive off the computer to carry them on so other pictures to follow.

Tell me what your working on?

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Finally but not least!

Normal posting has been resumed! I am no longer beholdant to Saturday posting, so rush out and purchase....nah only kidding (unless you want too :) )

New WIP

Feels good to be doing random stitching, I think this is the way my work is slowly heading, gone are the days of the pre-planning the working out everything single step, stage, stitch and material you name it. Sure I will still sketch, and have perhaps a little idea of what I want to make but I think owing to a new line of work where concentration and a 100% focus is needed I need to be able to switch off, and this is where these little projects come in.

I hope you enjoy the progress of this little quilt as much as I enjoy stitching it.

Roses Duo - Lavender T-Bags

Must admit it's nice getting back into the rhythm of working on small projects. I feel more alive at the moment even if I am stuck in a rut with my actual job, with my knee sorted I just feel I can just get back on track. So in between getting myself out of my boring job, because it is just that, I shall get back to making items, it's my motiviation and keeps me ticking along, also stops me from just taking a seat back and coast.

Just to remind you that if you check my previous blog post there is still time to enter my competition to win a special needlecase, so if you haven't already taken part do take part!. 

 Some silly things that made me smile yesterday got a new cartridge for a pen I've had for ages, and god it feels good to use it again, helped me to sketch a new design. I've come over a bit patriotic lately, and I've combined my love of Blightly (with all of its faults) with a pratical item. Can't wait to make it this afternoon.

COME ON ENGLAND

Both items are now listed in my Etsy store!

Roses Duo Lavender Sachet T-Bags $12.00

& Beaded Cover/Coaster $12.00 each.