Craft Show Chaos!

Actually, it wasnt so much chaotic as expensive as I took Madison with me to my most recent craft show!  Its only my third ever craft show and first time at the Langstone Village Craft Fair so I was a bit uncertain on how to set my stall up, who else would be there etc. etc.  I didnt need to worry though as I met some lovely people and had a lovely afternoon.  I signed up for the next one straight away! 

Here are a few pictures of my stall (I love looking at other peoples craft stalls!)

My stall decorated with my bunting!

My little helper peaking from behind my stall (think she's eating cake!)

One side of stall with new canvas

Looking at the pictures I feel like more height is needed on my stall as its looking quite flat.  Oh well, something to work on for next time! 

I had a lovely order from a fellow stall holder whilst at the craft fair.  Her son is really into Knights at the moment so she asked if I could design some sort of knight themed name banner.  I've had loads of fun with this and am looking forward to posting the finished result!

Think Im nearly updated on everything, just the wedding to post about now!

Thanks for reading x x

Practice Makes Perfect

Firstly, I just want to say thank you for all the lovely comments about my first attempt at bunting.  It was really kind of you all to take the time to comment. 

Apparently, practice makes perfect, I hope so as I am now addicted to making bunting!  Look what I whipped up while Lillie was napping today...

Bunting Attempt 2!

I've had the blue star fabric in my stash for ages now and have been dying to use it. The red fabric has white spots on it but you cant really it see it well in the photo (do you like the garden view photo!?).  Im trying to get my points pointier (?) and my stitching more accurate and these look ok but still need some improving.  It looks kind of American now that Im looking at it in the photo!  Anyway, my next bunting has to be for my nephews birthday as I want that to be perfect.  That said, I found some lovely fabric in my local fabric shop I just cant stop thinking about!  Hmmm, we'll see.

Other than that, Im working on a few new canvases for a craft fair Im doing on Saturday.  Its only my third ever craft fair so Im hoping to be more organised than usual, although I dare say Friday night will be a late one.

Hope to post some pictures of some finished canvases soon!

x x

Hurrah For Lovely Bunting!

Well I've done it, I've finally managed to make some "proper" bunting!  The felt bunting I've made previously is sweet but I wanted to make it properly with fabric and my sewing machine.  Im very pleased to say, here is the end result!!

Pretty Bunting In The Playroom

It looks lovely on the wall of the girls playroom, the walls in there are so bare!  Im in the process of brightening them up with a few things Im making. 

The flags are far from perfect, there are a few areas where I havent sewn straight and too close to the edge, some of the points arent as "pointy" as I'd like but overall Im happy with the result!  My sewing machine was surprisingly well behaved and we are now firm friends! lol!  If I was to give a beginner some tips for making bunting, these would be mine....

1. Practice doing straight lines with your sewing machine!  Easier said than done.

2. Use a cardboard template rather than a paper one when cutting your fabric.

3. Iron at every stage!  I ironed my fabric before I cut out my template, before I sewed and onced I'd sewed them before sewing them onto the binding.  Overkill?  Maybe but I wanted to make sure I made life easy for myself!!

4. Use the carboard template to make your pointy bits pointy!

Would love to know what you think of my first bunting attempt and any constructive criticism very gratefully received!

Whilst I love working with the beads I've been doing lately, doing the bunting has made me realise how much I LOVE working with fabric so am going to do a few more projects using that.  Plus, as someone told me recently, once you get the hang of bunting, its addictive!!  I have already started cutting out shapes for my next one!

x x

I've Been Really Naughty

With all the goings on of the last couple of weeks I've forgotton to pass on my Blog Award!!  So sorry, that was really naughty of me.

However after much thinking and deliberations (with myself) I've decided to pass it on to Rachael at Sew, Ray, Me.  I love love LOVE reading her blog and she's posted some beautiful pictures of things she's been working on recently.  She's so talented and the things she makes are so inspiring, so if you dont follow her lovely blog already, go and take a look!  At the moment Rachael's working on some bunting, which leads me nicely on to....

...hopefully, by tomorrow, I'll have a finished my bunting!  Proper bunting, cut from lovely fabric and everything!

x x

Im Going To Attempt "Proper" Bunting!

I've had a lovely couple of hours browsing blog land with a cuppa this morning.  It has to be said, its a fab way to spend a couple of spare hours, and the hours go so quick! 

One thing I've noticed since joining the crafting community is the amount of gorgeous bunting thats out there and the talented people that make the lovely decoration.  Theres a lovely site called Sweet Cotton Threads that makes lovely bunting with some gorgeous fabric and I found some more lovely makers of bunting on Folksy too...

Polka Dot and Heart Bunting from Raspberry Pic & Gifts

Lovely Pink and Purple Fabric Bunting from Rose Cottage Crafts

Red, White and Blue Bunting from the very talented Nellie Dean

It inspires me just looking at it.  I can make felt bunting, but feel like I want to (try) and stretch my sewing skills a little so, armed with my mini sewing machine, I've got my stuff together and I'm going to give it a go!!

Fabric, sewing machine and coffee at the ready!

I've given myself two projects, I'd like to make a bunting using the pink, yellow and blue fabric above for the girls playroom as its really plain in their at the moment and not pretty enough for two little girlies.  I also want to make a "happy birthday" bunting for my nephews first birthday, which isnt until the end of August so Im foreseeing a few problems and leaving myself plenty of time!  Ever the optimist!!

Now Im certainly not going to promise any finished photos any time soon but wish me lots of luck (and hope my patience doesnt run out with my sewing machine!).

Off to wake up the littlest petal now, she's been asleep for far too long and she wont sleep tonight (and I NEED my evenings!!).

Thanks for reading! x x

What I've Been Up To...

Well my last craft fair was cancelled due to bad weather.  Turned out to be a really good call as it rained quite badly all day!  Seeing as it was an outdoor event, I didnt fancy having a load of soggy felt on my hands, so Im glad it was called off.

Its been quite nice though, to be designing and creating things at my leisure.  No matter how much time I'd have left myself, I'd have been frantically sewing until late the night before! 

Anyway, what have I been up to?  Good question and one I often ask myself as the weeks and months fly by!  I've done some more bunting...

Lillie Felt Bunting

and had a go at some cupcake toppers for Madison's birthday party...

I've also had a go at some personalised ones for her friends party...

I love these!  They are really pink and girly and were so easy to make. 

I also have a new obsession - pinwheel and boutique bows!!  I came across a tutorial completely by accident on YouTube.  I was looking for a tutorial or something on how to tie the perfect bow on a birthday present.  As is always the case with me, I ended up wandering onto something else and came across instructions for those!  Im finding them a bit tricky but Im having fun experimenting.  As soon as I've done one thats good enough, I'll post a photo!

Other than that, there's lots of park going, playing, cake making etc. etc. going on in our house at the moment as its half term, again!

Thanks for reading x x

Hello....finally!

Well hello bunting!!  I have FINALLY finished my felt bunting!  Now Im going to be honest, although I love sewing I struggle to get to grips with my sewing machine, which I felt this bunting needed.  My sewing machine is so small and basic Im ashamed to say how much trouble I have with it, but could not for the life of me, get the tensions right.  Anyway, after lots of trials and even more errors, I managed it!!  The letters are hand sewn as that was the "look" I was going for but needed to sew the binding with my sewing machine so it would be secure and here it is, my "hello" bunting!  The idea is it will go on the front of my stall at craft fairs.  My sewing skills are no where near good enough to do bunting with fabric so Im sticking to felt for now - much more forgiving!!

I finally finished my gift for my friends new baby...

A present for baby Gracie

and a close up

Now, those of you that read my blog will notice it looks nothing like what I originally had in mind!! (see previous post here)  Somehow though, the name banner didnt turn out as I had it in my head, as so often does with my projects.  Does anyone else find that?  That what you have in your "minds eye" if you like, looks nothing like it when its made??  Anyway, I decided to stick with the canvas theme that Im into at the moment and made this.  My friend was really pleased with it, especially as everything she's seen has Grace on it, rather than Gracie, so it was extra special! 

Looks like my craft fair might be cancelled at the weekend because of the rain.  Its an outside venue and to be honest, the weather looks like its going to be so rubbish on the weekend so Im quite glad.  Dont really fancy having a lot of soggy felt on my stall!

Thanks for reading my ramblings!  Until next time x x

Looking forward too....

...getting back into a routine!  Its been lovely having everyone at home, but think we're all ready to get back into our routine now.  Im someone who does like my routine and get a bit upset if its disturbed!  I think because of the girls, a routine is important otherwise things tend to turn to chaos quite easily!  Anyway, we've had loads of lovely days out, both Petals have been spoilt rotten by family that visited and I think a lovely time has been had by all.

I've managed to do some more cutting today for my orders of name banners.  Starting to come together but I cant wait to be able to post the finished products!

Im seeing stars and cupcakes!

I've also started putting together a little bunting that I thought I could put at the front of my table at craft fairs.  I will get around to doing one that says "Pretty Petal Handmade" one day but this one just says "hello" and looks quite cute I think!

Im also going to put it on the front page of my website that Im working on.  More on that soon!

On a non-crafty note, I've been doing some sewing in the garden these last few weeks.  Its lovely to take my project box out there and sew while Im watching the girls play!  Now Im not green fingered by any stretch of the imagination but I noticed yesterday how beautiful the rose bush looked and decided to take a photo to share - smells beautiful too!

Until next time x x