As one door closes...

I recently handed in my notice at work.  I enjoyed my job, but family issues meant that I didn't feel like I could juggle it all anymore.

My colleagues gave me such a lovely little leaving do and I received some wonderful gifts.  Amongst them were a lovely vibrant scarf and a pair of beautiful earrings...they are stunning and from a recently found very dear friend - they will be treasured. 

This gift was the most surprising - one chatty lunch time a few of us were discussing dreams and I said I'd love to have my own haberdashery.  One lovely colleague put together this gift, with a handmade card, that read "Hope you like your gift, it was as close to a haberdashery as i could get!  Hope you have lots of time to enjoy and be creative."

A jar of ribbons

A bundle of papers

A tub of beads

A tub of bits 'n' bobs 

Little bags of spare buttons.

I know I have left a great job and some great friends behind but as one door closes...a blog is born! 

Claire x

All sewn up

Isn't this beautiful?! It is my fave ever car boot find. I only paid £6 for this hand stitched double bedspread. I can only aspire to being able to make something so intricate. And to be honest I'm not sure I have the patience! I'm a bit of a wing it person...think I may have mentioned that before.

I finally got around to altering Big G's patchwork quilt.  If you read my first post you will know that she didn't like the patches with the purple ribbon.  I attempted to sew new patches directly on top....not always terribly successfully.  

I did get slightly better as I went along...

Then I got a bit bored and disheartened...so I started to experiment and this was the result...bit bonkers but I like it.  What do you think? 

Its looks wonkier than it actually is in reality... I sewed together three strips of ribbon remnants that I found in my rather disorganised ribbon/lace/ric rac box!

I also found this old and delicate butterfly in the box - my mum gave it to me when I was about 14, she gave me four, I used one to cover a rip in my jeans as a teenager, the others I still have.

I digress..... back to the patchwork disguises! I covered another patch with sweet buttons that I know Miss G likes, 

and another with strawberries.... just because I have been dying to use them on something, anything!  Alas, I forgot to take pictures of that patch.  I will keep you posted... her birthday is only 14 days away now so I really need to finish the quilt and start the two cushions she has also requested!  

Hope you all had an equally productive day too.

Claire x

  

Happy Easter

A quick post to show you all the super quick paper bunting I made to brighten up my home. 

I used pastel coloured paper, my children's zig zag scissors, foam letter stickers and some pink string. All of these things I already had in my various art boxes, tins and cupboards.

Have a great day and don't over indulge!! 

Claire x

Blast from the recent past

Ahem, er hi, howdy, nice to meet you.

How did you find me?!

This is my very first attempt at a blog. I do hope it is pleasing. I am an AVID blog reader and suffer from blog envy on a daily basis… Here is my busy, crafty, chaotic, sometimes down right stressful life…do delve and enjoy. X

One of my never finished projects….. Time to turn the situation around!  This patchwork quilt was started about 10 years ago, but for one reason or another I never got around to finishing it. I think the shape was all wrong, it is very long..too long for a single bed.

So why did I dig it out I ask you hear? Well, my daughter (we’ll refer to her as BIG G) is going to be 16 next month and she has demanded, sorry requested (!) three cushion covers and a bed cover.  No way I’ll get all that done in a month so I gingerly asked if she liked the one I started for her over 10 years ago….she agreed – with conditions. There are always conditions with teenagers!

1. Please could I get rid of the ugly purple corduroy bits? – I explained this was one of her fave dresses – alas, they must go....oh okay, anything else darling child?

2. The purple edging is also for the chop.

                  

3. Can it be reversible please?

I’m now doubting myself and my abilities, I mean, I can sew, I’m not by any mean’s an expert, I mostly look at things and say to myself, I can do that and then work out how to make it. I’m not an instructions kinda girl….so over the next few posts I’ll be showing you how to ‘wing it’ Clairey style!

I hope to share with you all my makes (and mistakes) if I’m brave enough!

Claire x