Car Boot Bargains

Car boot sales have become an increasing popular way to de clutter your house and make some pocket money. As the saying goes "One mans junk is another mans treasure"
As a crafter i love to have a rummage round for things to display goods in at fairs or objects to upcycle and, in general, any bargains.

Today was a successful day for me as a buyer. I found these great storage baskets for home to house all my ribbons,cottons,buttons etc

Bargain for only £1

I've often seen crafts displayed on easels so was really pleased to buy these 2 for £1

And finally i bought this tie for only 20p. "It's a lovely tie" the man said and looked absolutely astounded when i told him i intended to cut it up!

So i washed, dried, cut it open and starched it.

Cut some circles.

And look how it turned out!! A bargain for 20p!!

If you want to see what other crafters have been up to this week pop over to 1stUniqueGifts blog where handmade Monday is organised by Wendy and proves to be a great blog read each week.

Thank you for popping by.

Until next time

xxxx

Garlands and Home Decorations

OOo it's good to be back!
Since my last craft fair on Bank holiday Monday i have taken some time out from the blogging scene just to take a break from things before they became mundane and not so enjoyable.
Today felt like a good time to return with my new project.
I had an invite to a Christening today and because money is a little tight at the moment and because it's a special occasion i decide to make the young lady in question something rather personal.
I knew i wanted her name on it and it HAD to include fabric flowers!
So i drew some letter templates, transfered them to fabric, stitched and then filled them with polyester toy stuffing.
When each letter was complete i made 6 fabric flowers. I then cut, baked and attached fimo clay flowers to the center instead of my usual buttons. I think they work really well.
Letters and flowers were then strung together to make this rather fab hanging garland.

Looks great hanging on a bedroom door!

I was so pleased with how my present turned out that i have listed it on Folksy as a "made to order" item and then decided to make more home decorations.

Really pleased with how they have turned out.

And if you would like to purchase these or any other personalised garland please pop along to my Folksy shop CottonsAndDreams.

Thank you so much for popping by, i wont leave it so long next time.

And if you would like to see how other crafters have spent their week pop along to the 21st Handmade Monday blog hop organised by Wendy of 1stUniqueGifts

Until next time

xxx

Handmade Monday Week 17 - A Nervous Commission

It has been a busy week for me this week and a rather nervous one.
I had a lovely surprise in my Folksy inbox last weekend when a lady messaged me saying that she had purchased a bag a couple of weeks ago and loves it so much that would now like one exactly the same but double the size and could i do that?





Yes of course i said, quoted a price and got to work on a pattern. I doubled the length and width of the bottom and straight away went into panic mode, it looked enormous!




But i continued and doubled the pelmet size too.





I cut and stitched the base.

Prepared the pelmet.

Sewed and attached longer ,wider straps.

Then panic set in more! It seemed enormous, what was i to do? So much easier when the customer sees and buys.

So i decided to take photos before doing the final sew and email the customer.

I felt that you still couldnt see just how big it was so i took another putting one of my bags beside to show the difference in size.

I nervously awaited a reply and PHEW she replied that it was perfect!!!!!

So i stitched it all together, added my famous trait of a flower.

Then listed and she bought straight away!

With that out the way i turned my attention to trying a new bag. A basic design but very pretty.

Little girls will love this one.

And now to turn my attention to preparing stock for this weekends fair. Held in the gardens of Castle Ashby in Northampton and organised by "The Anns" of Pennine fairs i am really looking forward to this one and hoping to do well.

Mobile phone cases are a good seller.

So i've cut out loads ready to sew.

These pen cases are also a good seller, ideal for your handbag.

So i've made loads of them and now need to attach the flowers to finish them off.

And finally my new bag charms are also proving to be really popular.

So i have flowers everywhere!!!! And also some butterflies too! I think there will be a real summery feel to my stall this time.

Thanks for taking time to pop by and if you want to see what other crafters have been up to this week pop along to 1stUniquegifts blog and follow the links.

Until next time

xxx

Kanzashi Flower Bag Charms & KeyRings

Been playing again with the Kanzashi flowers and have put them on ribbons and attached swivel trigger clips so can be attached to your bags for decoration or used for the safe kepping of your keys.
Available through my folksy shop CottonsAndDreams . First one sold this morning.
Until next time
xxx

How To Make A Bow

You may remember a few weeks back i posted a photo of this bag made from William Morris fabric and said that i felt it wouldnt look right with my usual Kanzashi flower and wondered if a bow would suit it better.
Well i havent made bows before so this was a new one on me and finally this week i got round to making one. I folded a strip of fabric in half and marked out 2 parallel lines 13ins long and 1.75ins wide finishing the ends off to a point and sewed around them leaving an opening at the centre for reversing. After stitching i trimmed around to leave a small seam allowance.

Turn right side out and press.

Fold and stitch 2 tucks at the centre of the strip and 2 tucks 3ins in from either end.

Fold the strip into a bow shape and stitch into place.

Add a small strip of fabric accross the centre made in the same way as the bow to create the bow knot. You can make this any width you prefer, mine is an inch wide. Secure with a few stitches at the back.

Decorate with a button or brooch.

My lovely brass button was acquired from a lovely 50 year button stash that i have just been given by a family member.

Attach to the bag with small hidden stitches and VOILA here it is and definately suits the bag i think!

And if you dont fancy making this yourself you can find the bag for sale in my Folksy shop CottonsAndDreams.

Many thanks for popping by and if you would like to see what other clever crafty folks have been up to this week follow the link to 1stuniquegifts and have a read of everyones blog for Handmade Monday.

Until next time.

xxx

Handmade Monday 15 - Scarecrows

It isnt often that i am ill but i have suffered a little this week. 3 days of constant palpitations forced me to pay my doc a visit for the first time in 7 years and left me feeling not as invincible as i thought i was. Fortunately the ECG i had showed my heart was fine but i have been prescribed beta blockers and look forward to a blood test tomorrow for further checks.
Needless to say i havent done too much crafting this week but i have managed to complete a project from my latest book which i have been dying to do for ages.

"SEW SUNNY HOMESTYLE" is one of a collection of lovely project books using "TILDA" fabrics by the talented Tone Finnanger.
I have 4 of her books now and love the photos of gorgeous rooms filled with tons of home decorations. So my latest project from the book was a scarecrow. I cut out,sewed and stuffed the body.

Added a skewer for the arms and long thin dowel for the legs.

A shirt made from gorgeous pink tilda fabric.

Dungarees made from some lovely red fabric purchased at the NEC the other week.

I sewed on some eyes,nose and mouth and used some of my blusher to create some rosy cheeks.
Pink and white wool for hair and a straw bonnet that has been in my craft box for a couple of years (I knew it would get used 1 day!) And i couldnt resist i had to put some of my fabric flowers for decoration!
And here she is being photographed for FOLKSY.
And Here's Stanley The Scarecrow posing also, looking very much like Ken Dodd!
Both Scarecrows can be found in my Folksy shop or if you fancy making one yourself the book is available in good bookshops or Amazon.

And if you fancy seeing what other crafters have been up to this week pop along to 1stuniquegifts blog and click through the links for Handmade Monday.

Until Next Time

xxx

Handmade monday 14. A catch up on projects

Welcome to this weeks handmade monday, week 14 organised by wendy of 1stuniquegifts.
More photos than words this week as i'm tired from a long day at work. (My excuse and i'm sticking to it!!!)
So i just want to share with you what i have been working on for the past 2 weeks.
I have put my flowers onto hair clips and extended the leaves to come out of the sides.



A new denim bag for a lady at work.

Loads of pen cases which seem to be becoming my most popular item at fairs at the moment.

My new project for this week from my new Tilda project book which i will share with you more later on in the week. They look great in plant pots.

And finally one of the men where i work was moving in with his girlfriend and wanted to give her a moving in cushion which marked the date they had their 1st home. He chose the design from one of my books and chose the fabric and she absolutely loved it!!

Short and sweet, thanks for dropping by and please check out what other crafters have been creating this week at Wendys Blog
Until next time
xxx