Handmade Monday Week 2

Well it's week 2 of Handmade Monday organised by Wendy of 1stuniquegifts. After last weeks success we are all returning with more handmade goodies to show you and hopefully a few more people will be joining us. All participants' links can be found over on Wendy's blog.
Can i also just say a big WELCOME to my 10 new followers. Makes it all worth while when you start to realise people are popping by to see what you have been up to.

So following on from yesterdays post here is my new MUM cushion with the flowers that Krysia lovingly cut out for me and the patchwork scraps left over from the bag i made last week.
I was chuffed to use my machine to write all the wording, finally i am using it to it's full potential, tho the grey material has a white thread running thru it and i think i positioned the writing incorrectly thru the line so it may need to be sold as a second. I didn't realise how bad it looked until it was all put together and then didnt have the heart to undo it all. Using Krysia's flowers again i put them on a new phone case to embellish. I think they really add a lovely finish. The button i have made with fimo. Another thing i'm attempting to learn at the moment!

Have used a mixture of my red scrap material for this mobile phone cover.

2 more phone cases cut out and ready to sew.

Another of my favourite fabric flower brooches.

And this is what i'm working on the moment but still needs some tweeking.

Following on from the success of the gingerbread men at christmas i'm attempting to make a few of these smaller ones with chef hat and apron and hopefully holding a sign saying "Special Mum" and putting a magnet on the back.

The hats have come out ok but the apron is looking messy at the moment so i need to tidy them up a bit. Will hopefully have a finished product to show you next week.

Thanks for popping by and dont forget to have a look over on Wendys blog if you have the time.

Until next time.

xxx

End Of Year Blog

Well the end of 2010 is now approaching and time to reflect on the year and look forward to new challenges for the New Year.
I started the year with hopes and dreams of opening a shop with my friend and end it with that dream gone but replaced with dreams of new ventures but on a smaller scale.
The best thing i did at the beginning of the year was to sign up to the uk craft forum. Through that site over the past year i have learnt so much, passed on advice, attended new craft fairs and above all met some lovely new friends.
During the final month of the year i have been busy experimenting in some new fields of sewing.
My cousin asked me to make some draught excluders for her house. Not something i have made before although not something that is really difficult. She was really pleased with them and has asked if i will make her a bench cushion in the New Year.
Material was purchased from my favourite shop The Bramble Patch.

My favourite challenge for the month was to create a secret santa present for Silverthistle from the craft forum. I didn't manage to find out too much personal information about her other than 4 kids and living in Scotland and loves beads!!

So i put together this gingerbread man garland representing her and her husband in tartan clothes and their 4 children. I was chuffed with the final results especially with the red beads inbetween as they were my 1st experiment with fimo clay.

Stocking fillers were high on my list of makes this month also and i am really pleased with these pen/pencil cases i designed. They are so handy in your handbag and no more routing around in the bottom of your bag for a pen!

I am enjoying the idea of puting different patterned material together at the moment.

I will also be able to personalise these in the future as i seem to have mastered lettering on my sewing machine as you will discover further down the page.

Was rather choked when i opened my own secret santa present on christmas day from Samigail (alias Fiona) on the craft forum. She had taken the time to read my blog and make 3 presents representing my recent decorating of the bathroom, my love of teddies and the fact that i cook for a living.

So personal and will definately be hung with pride.

You can find more plaques on fionas website here .

And finally another twist on gingerbread men for this year.

As you know i work as a cook and for the week before christmas we have a 3 course christmas menu and usually serve around 350 customers. It's always the hardest week of the year so for a laugh this year i made the 10 main staff badges with nicknames.

I am so pleased i have now mastered lettering on my machine and it's definately a new direction for next year with many ideas for personalising my crafts.

So there we are, the end of yet another year.

Looking forward to next year with many new ventures and dreams to explore.

Happy New Year to you all and see you in 2011 xx