Sunday 28 November 2010

Exciting times in the haberdashery shop...

Hello lovely bloggers, I hope you are enjoying the weekend. My weekly trip to the local haberdashery yesterday saw me return with a lovely bag of goodies that I made me feel very happy!


Isn't it funny how fabric, buttons, threads, bells, and yes, even pipe cleaners, can have that sort of effect on you?

To be honest, I had not had such a great start to the day...what with my mind going over all those niggly life issues that one tends to have.... but a few little trinkets later and my spirits were lifted! 

Even this little stash of fat quarters left me struggling to contain myself, so in the basket they went with all the rest of the delights.



Ok, the patterns are not very Christmassy, and admittedly they more Spring-like rather than festive, with the little chintzy bright flowers.
 But hey, why not look at something non wintery for a change...


Anyway, moving swiftly back on to Christmassy things...and also  - The Pipe Cleaners!


How cute are these? So simple to make all you need to do is just twist the pipe cleaners around each other to make the candy cane stripes and shape. They are very soft too.

Not sure how long I loitered by the button section, probably a bit too long by normal standards.
Here are the little beauties that I found...


Along with some little bells....


Have a lovely rest of the weekend everyone and keep warm!

(No snow here in London as yet, the sun is out with blue sky but it's still very cold)
Sarah
x

Thursday 25 November 2010

Gingerbread Men and Christmas Cakes

Hello, isn't it freezing today? Rather looking forward to the prospect of snow....



I have wanted to make a gingerbread man tree decoration for a while - I loved choosing a felt material that was 'biscuit' coloured, and matched him up with some festive red checked ribbon and some shell buttons. Here is the little guy, now all finished, ready to hang on Bruce the Spruce when he is brought in from the freezing outdoor conditions (I am surprised Bruce is still with us to be honest but also very pleased at the same time)


Sticking with the festive feelings, I have also bought my ingredients for my Nigella Christmas Cake, so all set to make a start at the weekend. My Dad especially was a fan of this last year and yes, ok, while there is a possibility he was just saying this to be nice, I did rather enjoy making it so am happy to repeat the recipe as per last year!


All of these look lovely but I think my favourite is the one with 'snowstorm' icing and the vintage style deer and Christmas tree decorations. I've noticed that these are quite hard to come by these days, however they can be bought at Jane Asher online which is good to know. They have little robins aswell that are very cute and vintage looking.

I've also nearly finished my pink poodle hot water bottle cover! The fluffy trim and lining is so so soft to touch I love it. Just need to sew all the sections together now... although must remember to use a strong needle as there are quite a few layers to get through.


Keep warm everyone!

Sarah
x

Saturday 20 November 2010

Thank you Ames and Tash! Beautiful Blogger Award

Thank you so very much to the lovely Ames and Tash for sending me a Beautiful Blogger Award!

This is truly appreciated...


Ok, so ten things about myself....

1. I kept my sewing machine in a cupboard for 4 years before I actually learnt how (or dared) to switch it on.

2. Cath Kidston is one of my heros and I'm not ashamed to admit it! (And Nigella).

3. I had a goldfish called Frank when I was at University who lived for 5 years before ending it all by jumping out of his bowl.

4. I studied History at University (and met my lovely boyfriend there too).

5. I adore fishfinger sandwiches.

6. I get ridiculously excited when Spring arrives and all the daffodils, tulips and crocus start emerging from the ground.

7. I have lived in London for 13 years.

8. I can't start the day properly until I've had a cup of tea first.

9. I could look a beautiful fabric, wool, threads, patterns, buttons, ribbons and sewing magazines all day long.

10. I would love to have a little dog and wish I could work from home so that my dream can come true!



This next bit is extremely difficult, as it's very tricky to pick just 10 blogs to pass this award on to

There are so many that I love and I wish I could add more to the list. Here are just some of the blogs that I am reading this week...

  Vintage Pink
  Ted and Bunny
  Em ay kay ee (Make)

I am sure that you will enjoy reading these blogs as much as I do!

Have a lovely weekend everyone

Sarah
x

Thursday 18 November 2010

Country Living Christmas Fair

Hello! I had a lovely time last Sunday at the Country Living Fair in Islington with my Mum, I have been once before (and to the Spring Fair) and it is incredibly Christmassy. There were masses of stalls selling all sorts of gifts, homeware, accessories, cards, decorations....and the whole building was surrounded in a cinnamony and orangey fragrance - just gorgeous!

I bought some baubles for the Christmas tree, a bell, and a little hanging picture frame...



Some Ric Rac from East of India



 Some gift tags..


A selection of lovely ribbon...


And some beautifully scented cinammon sticks. These really do fill the house...


I am looking forward to bringing our Christmas tree (official name Bruce the Spruce) in from the garden and start adorning him with the baubles. At the moment he is in a pot, kept from last year, but someone told me yesterday that the date that we are allowed to start putting the decorations up is 5th December, so it will have to wait for a few weeks!

Sarah
x

Tuesday 16 November 2010

Candy coloured threads

I bought this lovely pack of embroidery threads in my lunch break today from the haberdashery section in John Lewis Oxford St (one of my fave places), and I have to say this is one picture that I think will always cheer me up! I adore all these colours together...


 Not sure what I am going to do with them yet but quite happy to just look at them for now!

Sarah
x

Saturday 13 November 2010

Friday evening with a glass of wine and some Cath Kidston fabric

I must admit when I got home last night after what felt like a long week at work I was very tired, but at the same time I had a burning desire to finally make the cushion with the Cath Kidston 'London' fabric that I had been meaning to do for ages.

So, I poured myself a glass of wine, got my sewing paraphernalia out...


...and inbetween a few episodes of Corrie and Eastenders, I had (almost!) finished it. I had to sew the final touches this morning.

I adore this fabric, not just because it matches with our red sofas, but mainly because the little London buses and sights are just too lovely for words.

And of course, because I am a London girl!



He's quite a big cushion too at 52cm square so is definitely now the daddy of my homemade cushion family.

Here he is shown from the back with matching red gingham fabric, and next to my felt sunshine cushion. This cushion was handfelted from merino wool at a textiles course that I attended a few years ago.



Really looking forward to tomorrow - I am off the the Country Living Christmas Fair so am preparing to feel very festive! Can't wait.

Sarah
x

Sunday 7 November 2010

Rainbow!

Rainbows must be one of the most fascinating wonders of nature ever. I love the way they appear when the weather is a funny combination of rain and sun....grey and blue...




Beautiful

We had this lovely one appear today outside the kitchen window, and I had to take a piccie before it disappeared.


I hope that everyone is having a lovely fireworks weekend.




Sarah
x

Monday 1 November 2010

Homemade egg cosies


After flicking through some of my sewing magazines at the weekend, I was inspired to make a couple of egg cosies with some of the fat quarters of fabric that I have in my little stash.

They have a matching felt lining, and I thought it would be nice to hand stitch a heart made from the same lining fabric on to the front.


I love the little chintzy flowers on this one and the lavender lining which I think really brings out the purple flowers.
Ok ok, they may never get used, but I do like looking these little cuties.

Will have to add matching tea cosies on my ever growing 'things I want to sew next' list!

Sarah
x
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