About Me

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I currently live in Birmingham and come from Solihull. I have a love of all things crafty, developed from my mom's love of crafts as I was growing up. I currently work in marketing, but I'm a qualified Aromatherapist, and use to be self employed alongside a day job, might one day return to that. I try to fit in crafts when I can, I wish I had more time and money to spend on it! I enjoy researching my family history and finding out about the past. It can get frustrating, but is really rewarding when you have a break through! I hope to meet people with similar interests as me and swap advice/stories.

Friday 25 October 2013

Changes & New Creations

A lot's been going on, new house - bit of a project, work, new crafts, a sewing class and Shakespeare Richard II...so it's all go!

Many things in the house need sorting (not least to say a new kitchen!) All in good time...I keep telling myself, got to watch the ££ it's a busy and costly time of the year!

We 'inherited' some chickens, who desperately needed looking after, that's an ongoing project and the garden seems to have been a dumping ground, so more clearing and sorting there, just want the worst done before the really cold weather sets in!


Potential for a decent garden - just get rid of the 'dump' at the bottom, sort the chicken's pen, sort the hedges and tree, get some more light in, get up the paving slabs, demolish old shed, build new larger shed, get a veg patch in, flowers etc...this may take a while!


I have had a little 'me' time in between, so my sister and I attended a lovely sewing class at Guthrie & Ghani in Moseley. See more here.
I also was fortunate enough to get tickets for Stratford to see Richard II with David Tennant- we had excellent seats, so close. The play was very good and had light hearted comedy moments, and parts of the play are relevant to today, so Shakespeare was well ahead of his time, that or the problems of then are still with us today!

I have been crafting I can, which isn't often enough and sometimes I'm too tired to craft- which isn't on! Anyway I have agreed to make a few items for The Donkey Sanctuary, a lovely charity looking after neglected/abandoned Donkeys I hope to make a few items for them, it's just fitting it in around my crafting too!

Crochet - as well as various donkey themed items, I have been working on some cute crochet creations including owls and robins. 

Felt - again I have been making donkey items as well as some robins here, which I hope to make into brooches/decorations/hair clips...hopefully in time for Christmas!
Lavender scented donkey sachets - typically my felt robins have gone walkies, I can't remember where I put them!

I have also got some background projects I have been working on, including some bouquets I hope to finally put together, it's all a bit experimental, but involves crochet, beads, buttons, vintage pearls and various bits and bobs. I would love to get something finished this year, but with robins in need of making and turning to Christmas - hand made decorations...who knows if I'll have time!

I'm also considering a craft swap...may be join one or organise myself? I'd like to, but it all boils down to time - if only we had more of it!!

Crochet Flowers

Vintage bead earrings

Shells - making into Angel Wings & Butterflies

Headband - button centre

Thursday 24 October 2013

Sewing Class

 
I booked tickets for this class back in June, finally October came and we went to Guthrie & Ghani for a beginners class in cushion cover making.

In case you didn't know, I ended up going to this class after seeing The Great British Sewing Bee and finding that there was a local haberdashery shop doing some craft workshops. I hadn't been to one before, and although I had dug out the old Singer sewing machine and tried a few bits, I hadn't made anything on the sewing machine since school. I have done some hand sewing, but going to the class made me want to get the machine back out! Shame it only has two stitches - forward and reverse... mind you people made great things with two stitches, so I should try, and then ask Father Christmas for a modern machine!!!

Nice environment to learn in - bright and airy- liking the bunting too!

10 people in a class, so you have enough 1 to 1 time from the tutor

 
So, it was an envelope cushion cover we made, using a pattern, cutting your fabric and using the machine to sew it together and create button holes. Once you got into the swing of it, it was fun, although once or twice you look round to see what others are doing!

After I finished the cover, knowing how to follow a pattern and take the right steps it's quite addictive and seeing so many crafters make such lovely things, I hope I can add more fabric items to my online collection. Also having just moved house it opens up a lot of opportunities for me to make all sorts! As well as having discovered some lovely fabrics...I wanted to order some more online, but I held off for the moment!!




Envelope Cushion Cover - Button side up!


                        
I was pleased with my cushion cover, just need a better cushion pad!


 
Another hand made cushion cover (knitted) - a house warming gift.