A handbag?!

I have a lovely book, with lots of lovely, stylish bags by Amy Butler. I have a special event to go to and decided to make a bag.


First I needed to select some fabric...I couldn't resist this 'Big Bloom' fabric from local shop Poppy Patchwork

Pleating the fabric was an exercise in dodging being scalded by the iron, but the result was gorgeous.

Assembling all the pieces and the zip

 My favourite bit about making a bag in when you pull the whole bag out through a small opening in the lining, termed 'The birth of a bag' by a friend. You have to have faith that you've matched everything perfectly and stitched it well...stitching faith.

Give the whole thing a big press...more scalding opportunities

Both sides of the finished bag

All it needs now is a name and an outing! Ideas on a name? Fleur? Big Bloom?!

Have a lovely weekend. Alli x

Paper bird house pattern

Last year I posted about these paper birdhouses, here, inspired by the project on artist Claire Legget's blog here.

I made another one recently for a friend's birthday and I had to remind myself of the dimensions etc...so I've made a pattern including dimensions for all the pieces. Claire gives instructions on her blog at the link above.

my latest paper birdhouse

Now you can have a go too!

Hearts - lavender filled

I admit it, I watched the re-run of a Kirsty's Homemade Christmas and stole this idea from her! K made a garland, dangling stitched and stuffed hearts (this was in the craft section, not food) 


I wanted to make some hearts and use up some of the odds and ends of fabric I had from bunting projects. So I patched the fabric and fused it on some 'double-sided' Bondaweb, then cut the heart shapes out. 

1) Stitch the hearts in a running stitch with a jaunty thread
2) Leave a gap so you can stuff with lavender
3) Stitch up hole
4) Use recycled ribbon (saved from packaging around fleecy pjs) and stitch a button on each side of the hearts to hold ribbon in place
5) Fuse the outer edges of the hearts together with an iron, I used 'double-sided' Bondaweb - then cut a decorative edging around the heart with pinking scissors.


A scented lush heart!

A moody, arty image of scented hearts...

Here's Kirstie's version...a real winter warmer.

Applique cushion

Sometimes I have an idea in my head of something I want to make, but I just can't find the time to get to it. That's what this project was like, but when I found the space it came together really quickly.


I had 
- some Linen fabric from IKEA
- a bag of odds and ends of ribbons from one of my fav local craft shops, Creativity 
- plain cushion from Primarni...
- small piece of fabric, left over from making a make-up bag and some fabric baskets from Fabric Rehab

The finished cover

I decided that the theme was flower/seed heads - the ribbons made perfect stems and I cut shapes from the fabric remnant to make the seed heads. Finally, I whizzed around it all with a secure zig zag stitch. Lush!

A moody Hipstamatic version!

Here's the fabric in question in another life...

Wish I could get some more of this fabric....

So, use fabric to help you create images, layer up the shapes and see what you create.

Happy creating! Alli x

New Year clear out = New Project on the horizon!

We tackled the clothes lurking deep in the drawers & cupboards this weekend, the ones that your kids still try to squeeze in cos they love them so much. What to do with these garments that weigh so much in terms of their sentimentality, is the question we pondered. 

'What about if I make you a quilt cover and patch in all these clothes?' I asked.

'YES!', smiled my happy daughter.

So we've gathered the garments together - they all look a bit tatty (well loved), worn out (well worn) and bit of a hotch potch! I'm planning the said project and might also have a go at transferring images onto plain fabric of daughter in the garments etc, after being inspired by the projects here at bhg.com.

Here's a sneak preview of the worn, sorry, well loved clothes! I'll keep you posted as the project, with the testing of skills, grows. Two distinct colour ways going on, so I'm going to have to be careful about how I mix them together on the final piece.

Bunting - for a dog owner!

Vic's sister has a dog called Mo - he's cute (I've seen the pictures) and Vic commissioned me to make this special bunting for her sis, Sas!

I made cute felt bones to add to the doggie theme. You can see them better on the following print!

Fab doggie fabric came from two of my favourite fabric shops - 

Fabric Rehab for Whiskers and Tails, Green

Whilst Fancy Moon supplied me with Park & Ride Tea, Alexander Henry.

I'm pleased with the result!

Happy Friday x

Fancy homemade labels - I like! Will have a go...

Just browsing and I found this project for DIY labels. When I find some time I'm going to try something similar. They are gorgeous and cute - bespoke labels!

Thank you Passiona Cottee for sharing this gorgeous project - follow her blog at http://lecoutureve.blogspot.com/

Happy making

Goals....hope 2012 is what you make it!

I don't do resolutions; the past has taught me that they get broken and lead to disappointment. 

Instead, I set myself a mental list of things/targets/wishes/dreams etc and I start to talk about them, investigate and invest the time and energy into making them happen. I do this whenever I feel the need for a change, when something whacks me in the face, if I feel blue or life takes a turn I wasn't expecting. Keeping some perspective all year suits me better.  


I don't do personal, here on my blog, though there's lots to celebrate on that front. Creatively I've got lots to be excited about:


- theemptyoxobox has opened up my creative world and generated some conversations, creative opportunities in myself and others in this community, which I'm very excited about


- I'm making & creating whenever I can find the time


- I've been excited by the courses I've been involved in and felt challenged, particularly by 'Paint and Draw'


- I love the craft club I've started at my school, wish I'd done it years ago!


- looking forward to teaching others, in the future


One thing I am always grateful for is that my lovely mum stitches, sews, knits, crochets and paints and says 'yes' - she is my inspiration. Cheers mum x

May be your list is as long as Guthrie's.
Woody Guthrie's New Year's resolutions from the year 1942.

I like number 18, 12 and 26. 


Maybe your goals come in different shapes and sizes. What ever you dream of, may it make you and yours happy and content and make the world a better place.


x