In which I haven't been ...

quite the blogger (eughh! horrid word) I aimed to be.

In my defense, I have not been completely well - I've had an awful head cold which has plagued me since before Christmas. I won't go into detail as I can't abide details of the sick....but in short my head feels as if it has been filled with glue and I can't hear out of one ear.

It is amazing how disconnected one feels with the world when you can't hear as normal.

Anyway, this is supposed to be a post 'back to normal' even though I am not. So, this is what I have been doing while I've been away from blogland:-

I've made a couple of new Cafetiere Coffee cosies, one of which has been sold, but the other will be here in my V for Violet etsy shop. I do love this fabric. I am always amazed when I haven't made something for a while, that I can remember how. And it is also annoying when I get the order of things slightly wrong - but luckily this didn't happen here and the cafetiere found itself cosily wrapped.I then had an exciting delivery of the hugest, most giant polka dot buttons, probably in the world, certainly as far as I have ever seen. I have them in candy pink, violet and teal and they are gorgeous in all 3 colours. If you would like a bit of giant spottiness, you can find them here

Then, most excitingly, some of my rainbowlike Feltgirl photos have been made into postcards and I have put them into little packs of 3 cards with envelopes so that they may be bought by the lovely people who requested them.

They are SO colourful, and brighten my day just looking at them that I warn you, you may not want to part with them and actually send them to anyone. In which case, you will have 3 white envelopes to use as you wish and 3 postcards of such colour that you will smile each time you look on them.

Here is Pack A:Pack Band finally Pack C.They can now be found here.

So now, having caught up just a little bit, I will return to the lovely Mother's Day that I am having, being thoroughly spoiled and send you the hope that you are too. xxx

Party Party Party!!!!!

What an exciting weekend!! First 100s (well, it seemed like that!!!) of little hats were made, (by a very patient Flossie). She made them line up too!!!And there was a lot of knitting too as look how many new little creatures came over the wall!!! (There are some real sweeties in this lot, let me tell you! and some characters!!)And then, of course, there was a PARTY!!! Check the exciting news here if you haven't already. And please join as a follower as they can't take their followers with them and they SO love their followers!! (Yes really, they check them every night!!)

I'll leave you with a shot of the party - it was the place to be!!!! xx

A softie day......

Sunday (and Saturday night) turned into a completely softie day here in my little sewing studio.

I have a number of exciting new ventures which I can't tell you about yet.....but at least here is the beginning of one of them..

You might remember my doll making from before and thus eventually the Pipples arrived.

Well, the softie-maker in me was still not happy, not completely fulfilled - I wanted to make a softie with character, using all the lovely fabrics that I have stashed away......

So Sunday was the day for it - I started by looking through some vintage teddy and soft toy making books, then sketched a rough idea of what I wanted and drew a pattern and made these little chaps here....

I experimented with their faces, I liked the open eyes better and the effect I got from using the free-motion embroidery foot on my machine. But, the softie in my head needed to be bigger.....so I looked at my Lucie Attwell books for a bit of inspiration and decided to make a Pixie...... at least that was the idea! He looks a little scary I think!!I think it's the eyes!! And maybe the mouth!So then I went back and made the first ones a bit bigger! The idea was to make the prototypes out of any old fabric until I found the right shape, and then to let loose on the lovely stuff!!! Hmm!!

The lovely soft furry fleece was calling me!!! I made the next one out of it!!

The only thing I can say, is that I have learned that the fleece will be lovely when I get the pattern right!!!! (DON"T mention the arms!!!!!!) I wanted them a bit longer, I said a bit longer!
However, how cool is it that he can do this?!!He looked a little fed up so I made him a friend to get away from the pattern! A little oblong friend.Then I had a cup of tea, and a biscuit or two......and, not one to give up, I tried again. This little chap looks more or less exactly as he had in my head. He's called Olivier, after Lawrence, and because he's Olive Green. I LOVE him!! Okay, maybe the arms are still a little long but he's very cute. So that's how I spent my Sunday. Hope yours was good! Obviously, being me, I am now addicted to making these creatures and I made little Olivier a friend, just so he had someone to talk to, you understand. OOooh and I named them - meet the Luvvies!!! (They have a love heart on their front and another little one on their tush!!!)

A very cute shop

Yesterday, I received a very pretty parcel in the post.

I have taken part in a few swaps with swap-bot and this is by far the best!

For those of you who don't know about swap-bot, it's an on-line community where you can swap all sorts of things, loads of 'crafty type' swaps going on.

I entered a Shop Swap - you get to find 2 new online shops and the people behind them and this parcel was from the lovely lady behind the first shop -Esther, who owns Essie's handcraft cuteness, this is currently only in Dutch at the moment but she also has a DaWanda shop for the rest of us.

Esther lives in the Netherlands and the name for her shop comes from her nickname, Essie.

Having always been a creative person, Esther likes to paint, draw, sew and design, and loves using cotton fabrics, wool, beads and felt.

Check out some of her beautiful products - this very talented lady makes t-shirts, bags, wallets, purses, bracelets and more!

I was lucky enough to receive a beautiful felt bracelet, a really well-made little purse and an Ipod Nano cover in such gorgeous fabrics and my favourite colours.

You can tell a lot of time and effort has gone into these with their professional finish and Essie clearly loves what she does - as she says:- 'Sewing is a kind of relaxation for me. When I sew I only have to think about the product I am making, while listening to the radio. It's fun to have a picture of something in your head and then make it into a product.'

Esther's handmade business began a few years ago when she started sewing little purses and wallets as gifts for friends. After getting many requests for more, Esther decided to open an online shop and Essie's handcraft cuteness was born.

And for the future? Esther says:

'I hope to spend more time designing and making new products and work a little less at my current day job. Ideally, I would work at my everyday job for 3 days and have 2 for my own business.' I'd say it won't be too long before she can do this!

If you like Essie's work as much as I do, then take advantage of the 10% discount Esther is currently offering - just leave 'Shop swap & blog' in the comment field.

So, even more delicious online browsing!!!

P.S. If you would like to take part in a swap, just visit Swap-bot and join in the fun!!

What's HOT and what's NOT Wednesday!

Am joining the lovely Loobylu again with what's hot and what's not for me this week....

WHAT'S HOT-

A little buzz of excitement..

I'm getting a really good feeling at the moment with what I'm making - that isn't to say that it's turning out great - it isn't actually, but I am soooo enjoying making. It's a kind of butterfly excited kind of feeling, like when you were a kid and you just couldn't wait to finish your dinner before getting on with the game you were playing. It's kind of the same - boring things like the ironing, and cooking the evening meal are just getting in the way at the moment.

Making a cosy home

I was only going to feed them this morning, but they looked so forlorn out there in the nippy Autumn chill that I dug out their indoor cage and after hunting for the paper and the sawdust, they are now happily installed in the utility room complete with blanket over the top at night!

It was strangely satisfying to make a little home for them. And they really did look happy.

I must add, they are my daughter's guinea pigs, and like I told her when we got them, she has to take care of them, I'm not having anything to do with them.........Hmmmmmm!

A big thank you

Flossie had a couple of days off school recently with a nasty virus. When she was better, she presented me with this lovely card to say thank you for looking after me. Inside, she wrote 'I am not entirely better but you have looked after me so well I feel a lot lot better' and she wanted to give me something for looking after her. Awwwh!

Out came this, beautifully wrapped in tissue. It was one of those teary mother moments I'm afraid, she had made it totally alone and it even had contrasting colour sides and some applique!!

The Dentist

Yes, I know, I can't believe it's there either!

This time last week, I had spent all week dreading a visit to the dentist. I was down for 'a good clean' and we would 'just have to get on with it' for the forty five minute appointment!!!!!

However, the lovely new hygienist was sooo gentle and understanding it only took twenty minutes and I could have hugged her when it was done. What a lot of worrying about nothing!! But such a relief when it's all over. Felt almost euphoric!!

WHAT'S NOT

Spider invasion

It must be the colder weather, but everywhere I go in our house at the moment, there is a spider. And no, it's not the same one, they are different sizes - I've checked!

Now, unless they are enormous, or running straight at me, I don't really mind them, but this is getting ridiculous - it is turning into a spider hotel. (Maybe I do need to vacuum a bit more often?!)

Turning inside out

I'm sure there is a technical term for this, but I mean turning legs and arms inside out, fairies ones, not mine. I have been attempting to make the fairy that has been on the cards for months, and after 3 attempts, I am nearly happy -

the only frustrating part is turning the little arms and legs the right way. In the end, I used one of my jewelry pliers but you have to be careful not to tear the material.

Cold tea

One of the downsides to getting carried away making things is that any cups of tea my other half makes me tend to get left until they are lukewarm or actually cold.

Then there is the dilemma - how to dispose of full cup of tea without him seeing and saying the very predicatable ' I'm not going to bother making you any more cos you never drink them...'

'Something's not quite right'

Having made the aforesaid 3 prototype Angel Fairies, there is still something wrong - the first, on the left, was far too 'girl about town' all she needed was a patent leather handbag and she'd have been off dancing the night away!

The second was more like it but a bit tall and thinner than I'd imagined.

The third, who insists on being called Sylvie, is much more how I thought she'd look, but there is still something 'not quite right'. I think I know what it is and I'm going to go now and revise it with Fairy number 4.

That is, if I can squeeze by the spiders. x

A start...

After a successful Craft Market on Saturday, during which I made my usual list of Things To Do This Week, I spent most of Sunday making pencil rolls and button charm bracelets.

From past experience, I have discovered that it's better to work in 5 or 6's than aim as I used to for making 10 of something.Not only do you risk falling entirely out of love with whatever it is you are making when you know you've still got another 5 to go, and you can start to feel like a craft 'factory' which is so not the point of handmade! But also, you might end up as I once did with 10 or 12 of one thing and nothing else!

So I now make in handy 5 or 6's . With the pencil rolls, I made 5 simply because in a spare moment last week, I had already cut the felt strips and had enough for 5!

I have altered my previous design and decided to try the rainbow inners in felt. You know by now my love of felt! and it's soft warmth really lends itself to being in a pencil roll. You can almost imagine the pencils sighing with relief as they are returned to their cosy pockets after a hard day's colouring!!

I'm really pleased with how they're turned out and have actually managed to list some already in the Etsy shop.

Having exhausted my stack of pre cut felt strips, I then turned to the button charm bracelets as the evening wore on..

I have no time to waste this week as I am absolutely determined to get a little bit more organised for the Christmassy fairs that are rushing towards me! Still haven't made any Christmas decorations but at least I'm on the way with the stocking of the craft stall!

I particularly love the Coffee and Cream charm bracelet, loving the different browns and creams.

But I also have a soft spot for the flowers as usual....

Actually, the LIME one is a delight too....

..nope, can't decide on a favourite - just love all the buttons!!!

Okay, I have to say it - my name is Tanya and I am a button-oholic!!!!! There I've said it - anyone else coming out?

The bracelets come gift-boxed and it is really satisfying to see them sitting ready in their smart boxes...

at least they're ready for Christmas even if I'm not!! x

a little bit of craft

Why do the weeks seem to go sooooo fast?

At the moment they are just flying by. The list in my head is still floating around, not getting done, and getting longer every day but in the midst of the mundane, every now and then, I achieve something. Sometimes it is only a little something.....this week it was something that has been floating around my head for some time.

Colourful, tactile and practical - my new keyrings.

Hope you like them.

perfect morning...

Well, I have just had the most lovely morning - first it is the day of the ribbon swap that I'm in with Swap-bot and I was assigned my partners. So I had great fun assembling the packs of ribbons and I'm really looking forward to getting mine - I LOVE ribbons!! I'll show you what I sent when I know that my partners have got theirs and of course, I'll show you what I get too!!

Then I had just made myself a snack,

and guess what? Just at that moment the postman arrived with THIS:-

How's that for perfect timing?!!!

Of course I realise I'm a little behind most of you all in blogland with my discovery of Amanda Soule and her great blog, so I just had to send for this great book - and I am not disappointed. It is real eye candy and very inspiring.

When I finally dragged myself away from all the handmade yumminess, I made something which I have been wanting to make for a while:-

it took longer than I thought but was really satisfying,

I do so love rainbow colours together. x

Friends for the duck

I was in a charity shop (thrift store) the other day and just couldn't resist this -

I just loved the 70s-ness of it! Love the simple design and it just had to come home with me. It has a matching sugar basin too.

On the crafting front, excuse the badly lit photo but just had to show you this! The little shared duck of the last post has some new friends!! Flossie has turned into a little duck-making machine and one after another produced some friends....

Hmmm, think I'd better make something before all the felt is gone! x