Craft Swaps & Inspiration

Been a little quiet, but had some inspiration from swaps & visiting crafty places! Take a look!

Vintage swap by Linen&Fred - we had to collect various vintage items and swap - now I have these lovely goodies to add to my vintage craft stash...which I'm using up making little gifts and items to sell

Needle case - lovely red rose

Need to find something suitable to sew this lovely bird onto some vintage fabric I think

Quilt Show at the NEC - not yet up to these standards (unlikely I will EVER be this good!)

At TOFT - Alpacas

Susan Crawford Vintage Knits

Lots of lovely inspirations...what's next??! Better try making something!!

 

 

All about Pure

Pure crafters and craft supplies, based in Finedon, Northamptonshire - over 40 crafters selling fabulous items from jewellery to knitted items, to cards, candles and more, alongside a whole host of lovely craft supplies - why not take a look!!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pure-Crafters-and-Craft-Supplies-Shop/768024886583183


So many crafters, not enough space to name them all, but just thoughts I'd share a few of the lovely handmade items they've created!


Abigail's Artisan Attic

Michelle Stevenson

Toni Davis

Joanne Knight



The Red Butterfly





Handmade by Brooke

Stacey Davidson Creations



Seaside make

To reminisce the lovely holiday I had down in Devon, I made a wall hanging all seaside themed... just to decide whether to add some real shells...

And the real seaside...

Story in a Box - Craft Swap

 This is 2014's 'Story in a Box' set up and organised by Kitty Luna (thank you), everyone had to get a box, get a theme and pass on the box for everyone to fill with their own crafty ideas based on the theme.

 

Box One - What's your favourite childhood character- make them & decorate a card



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Box Two - 'The day of the Dead' - add any item/saying to remember those who have passed

My contribution - an angel card, rose buds & a light-hearted Terry Pratchett quote

 Box three - all abut your craft love

 

Box four - loved this - all about Shakespeare

 

 

Box five - another fab one, but I forgot the photos!! Check them out- the Angel Box here

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!

 

 

 

 

The Garden Grows

So from this...

   

 

 

 

To this...

Happy Hens basking in the sun!!

 

 

Still a long way to go, but it looks like a garden!!

 

 

 

The real 50's woman

Having always had an interest in history, where we've come from, the changes and development of society, how life use to be and of course the fashions! I was excited to find in the loft some original women's magazines from the 50s, to just peruse and wonder at them, sometimes laughing and sometimes perplexed by their stories, articles, and often their adverts!

So here's a little taster of what I found.

Glamorous women on the cover - they look 'too perfect' was airbrushing used back then??

Back in the day to look good all you needed was plain soap!

Tips on the right swimwear outfit for your body shape

Receipes & advise - I learnt something new, having brought a few mini moulds like this at a vintage fair I found pastry in them just stuck too much - now I have a new recipe to try - Honeycomb Mould and I now know how to give children their 'necessary daily milk ration'

I LOVE THIS: 'Because you're a woman your holiday is vital, says a Harley Street consultant'

Totally agree...what more can you say?!

Fourth paragraph...'As a woman, you are accustomed to expending energy in often harassing circumstance. You need regular rest and exercise...' Don't worry - for exercise it later says 'a good walk'... along the beach I think!

A woman's opinion was a big deal!

Lots of on-going stories to keep you entertained - no 'trashy gossip' (although a little wouldn't hurt!)

Powder Shampoo is nothing new!

I love lavender and I love Yardley Lavender, but this advert is scary!

I always wondered why they had so much to wear in a bedtime outfit, my Sindy doll had something similar - it seems flimsy too, I just love my modern cosy pjs!

And finally - for the woman who couldn't cook much, there was cake mix for those afternoon teas!!

Can't wait to see what the other magazines have in store, also trying to work out why they were kept - I'm hoping there's something significant like an ancestor appearing in one!