Recent makes

Had a few months of on/off creativity, alongside some trouble with my hands/arms- thus very difficult to actually make anything, but I have achieved a few things, different to my usual crafts - as always forever trying new things!

Hooks - I brought plain wooden hooks and turned them into this...

I used paint, stamps and cuttings from an old Narnia book I had. I will be glad when the bedroom's ready and I can hang it up!!




Quilted Cushion Cover - this is my second quilted cushion cover, made with Downton Abbey fabrics. This will be proudly on display in my bedroom, my first blue themed cushion is downstairs, alongside another cover I made at a Guthrie&Ghani workshop.

Patchwork Blanket - I will be moving on from quilted cushion covers to create a full quilt, as an 'in-between' step, I had a go at making a patchwork blanket. I cut all the squares from scraps of unused fabric and pre-cut squares, after sewing them all together I attached to a fleece.

 

As a first attempt at anything like this, particularly on this scale, I felt I did well and the colours are very cheerful. It's not perfect- mainly the squares ended up various sizes...but I will learn from this and remember for the next one I try! Still to finish the edging yet.



Hand Painted Photo Frame - I brought this as a plain white frame, then painted very carefully the roses red! I think it looks really effective - can't wait to hang it up!

 

 

 

 

Jewellery Frame Tutorial

Over the glorious sunny past few days I have actually managed to make a few things - firstly a jewellery frame.


I had seen a similar idea on pinterest and had thought about making one myself, but I hadn't got round to it. Then after I had made some Alice in Wonderland themed drawer handles for my sister's mini set of drawers (we couldn't use them on the drawers as she had just brought and fitted some handles) we settled on creating this jewellery holder.

Items: handles (you could always upcycle old ones you have or find)
a photo frame
fabric for backing
ribbons/lace etc
glue
staple gun

Start with a photo frame, the drawer knobs I had already created so these were simply glued on in position to hang jewellery from. You could make you own knobs too, or if you come across a handle or hook (check charity shops & car boots) they can look decorative too.

I made the handles by covering them with old book pages - I went with an old copy of Alice in Wonderland. I then painted round the bottoms of the handles to cover areas that are harder to cover in paper. They were all coated in pva glue to give it a protective cover.

Choose a fabric for your centre piece - we went with a red polka dot fabric brought from Guthrie & Ghani. Measure the back of your frame against the fabric, cut to size ensuring you can fold over onto the back of the frame.

Measure the fabric to ensure you don't have too much or too little of an overlap.

Cut to desired width - with this frame there were hooks that spin round to clip the back into the frame so I had to ensure they would move over the fabric.

Use a staple gun to fix the fabric in place, where you can try not to let the staple go all the way through to the fabric, but fold the edges down. As you move round the frame this becomes harder, but remember you can always hide the staples if they are visible on the other side with various embellishments at the end.

Keep checking & measuring each side as you go round.

Once complete fit the frame back together to ensure it all looks and fits ok.

Choose ribbons,  laces & trimmings to decorate your frame. These will hold light jewellery such as earrings which can be hooked over the top edge of the trimming. Play around with it first so you know how many trimmings you want and in what order.

The trimmings are all glued to the back of the frame, again ensure this won't affect how you put the frame together. If you find the trimmings are not quite strong enough to hold jewellery items that's ok, it will always make a lovely decorative piece & you have handles / hooks around the frame for other items.

The back of the frame isn't going to be seen, but if you were wanting to tidy it up you could cover the whole piece with something like felt to hide the ends - this may mean you will have to completely seal your frame. Once each trimming has been secured you can tidy the corners of the fabric by carefully folding inwards and gluing in place.

Volia! Finished frame - being picky I think my lace is a little wonky, but overall I'm happy and it'll be great for hanging necklaces & bracelets & earrings, as well as being a decorative piece.

 

 

If anyone has a go at this or has done something similar I'd love to hear from you!!

 

The frame in use! Sorry for picture quality - my phone's not great for photos.

 

British Sellers On Etsy

Here are some fab British crafters selling their items on www.etsy.com they are all very creative and have some wonderful and unique designs ideal for gifts, the home and treats for yourself. Why not go and take a look...you never know what you might find!