Going To Try Something New

Hello lovely blog followers!  It has been over a week since my last blog, but I promise you I have not been (completely) slacking!  Lots going on The Sewing Boutique front which has meant not much sewing.  Lots of fabric and ribbon deliveries though (yey!) and some accounts (boo).

However, last night I had an unexpected hour to myself (iron decided to malfunction - oh well!) and I had been dying to try out this tutorial for fabric headbands.  It looked so simple and something I could whip up in a jiffy (?!) and I had just the fabric/person in mind for it.

So, here it is, my fabric headband, made from gorgeous vintage fabric I found on Etsy, expertly modelled by my lovely sis x x

Now I will make one small confession, in my excitement at being back at my sewing machine, I sewed the seam on the outside.  However, as you can see, my sisters turned it round and it looks fine!

Now onto something new.  Since I started to enjoy/become obsessed with sewing, which wasnt all that long ago, there's been one aspect of if that boggles my mind - quilting.  Patchwork quilting to be exact.  I could never understand how it came together.  So, whilst browsing in Asda yesterday I came across this...

I've missed issue 1 but may have to buy it on back issue.  I just wanted something I could read and hopefully learn how to build up a beautiful quilt!  My best friend is having a baby in April so I'd like to make a baby quilt once he/she is born (it will be for his/her cot so I'll have at least six months before it has to be finished!)

If any of you lovely people have any tutorials or know of any youtube videos that may help me that would be great.  I've found a few but theres nothing like a good recommendation!

So thats it, my next crafty challenge!!  Im already planning my monthly make for February (will be another gift for my sister - actually its more of a request this time!) so all is good in my craft world.

Until next time x x

The Sewing Boutique

Coming Soon at The Sewing Boutique

p.s. are you following The Sewing Boutique Blog??  Look out for details of our launch day giveaway and discount code!!

Still Busy And Something New

Am I mad to be trying something new so close to the fair??  Yes, maybe a little but thats another post for another day - heehee!

Been busy busy busy getting stock ready for Sunday.  This pile is still a pile...

Things look so cute in piles!  I plan on starting to sew that little lot tomorrow.  It has now been joined by this pile...

These (I hope) are going to be personalised Christmas decorations with initials on, ready for Sunday.  I always struggle to know what letters to take when personalising stuff.  Every letter of the alphabet would be nice but, as you know, time is not my friend!  Im going to make some of these for our tree this year, and one in pink and white for Maddys pink Christmas tree.

And now for the something new!  For ages I've wanted to make purses for little girls and have been playing with the idea in my head - how to fasten it, strap or no strap, what kind of design, if any.  Well today, I gave it a go...

They're going to be little coin purses with zips on (please excuse the lighting, its so hard at the moment to get good lighting during the 3 hours of sunlight I saw today!).  After much deliberation and a good talking to (my machine not me), I used my machine to stitch up the sides and handstitched the little flower.  Now I just have to tackle the zip, which is something I've never done before but I've pinned them up and they look good!  So these will be for sale as presents for little girls on Sunday too.

So all good here, now to crack on with it! 

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

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

Maddys Room

Maddys home safe and sound from her trip to London.  She's exhausted bless her - it was a busy weekend for a nearly five year old!  She was so excited to see what I've made her though.  One of the things I love about what I do is seeing how happy she is when I make her things.  She particularly loved this one as it's got her name on and she LOVES things where she can read her name.  So here it is, a name canvas for her door with a pretty cupcake on!

I've been experimenting with photos recently and hope these do it justice.  I can never seem to get the lighting right though??!  The cupcake has little pink glass beads and sequin hearts so it looks very scrummy and cute!

Me being me couldnt stop at one, so had to do one for my nephew who has a jungle themed nursery...

Now this was my first attempt at some very basic embroidery using a basic back stitch so please dont look at the wonkiness!!  (not even sure thats a word, but you know what I mean).

Have sent my sister these photos and she is very excited about the one for Neo.  As he's got quite an unusual name you dont see anything with his name on so I was glad this turned out well!

If anyone has any tips on embroidery they will be very gratefully received!  I enjoyed doing it but definitely need more practice.  My mission for this week is to do one for Lillie's room too!  As well as getting stuff ready for the fair(s) next weekend and finishing my friends new baby banner.  Phew, better get on with it! 

Until next time x x

My Obsession With Cupcakes Continues

Although officially, Im not allowed to buy anymore things with cupcakes on, I did manage to sneak a few buys in when I went to town on my own yesterday.  I love things with cupcakes on, I think they are so cheerful and girly, so I thought I'd share my newest cupcake additions with you!

Cupcake lap tray and cupcake cookie jar

Not technically a cupcake but a cute cake clock with polka dots all the same!

The lap tray is fab for sewing in front of the sofa, which is exactly why I bought it.  Its got an edge on it which means little beads and buttons wont roll off.  The cookie jar I just HAD to have!!  It has to be stocked with cookies (not just biscuits) AT ALL TIMES!!  Only thing is, the Little Petals have worked that out and just sit in the kitchen and stare at it.  Infact, my one year old shouts "TA!" at it, which is very cute, but think it means she wants a cookie!

The clock has replaced a clock that hasnt been working for about six months in my kitchen.  Why we just didnt take it down I dont know but hey ho, this one has replaced it now and looks lovely!  I'd like to get some cupcake pictures to go in my kitchen now to match my cookie jar and clock.

On the crafting front, not much has been going on since the weekend as I've been very poorly with a stinking cold.  If I was a man, I'd be in bed with man flu but us women solider on!  I have started making a present for my very lovely friend who had her baby on Saturday.  What better reason to make a gift than for a new baby?  Plus, she had a girl so my mind went into overdrive as soon as I heard from her!  Here it is so far...

I hope she likes it when its finished.  More importantly, I hope I get to finish it before baby is one!

Until next time x x



        

Tuesday Musings - #2

Todays "musing" is going to be dedicated to my constant battle with, er, myself!  Those of you who have jobs, or who have children or maybe both, will know what Im talking about when I talk about the battle between stuff you know you should be doing and stuff you want to do!!  In my case, its the battle between I know I should be doing the housework, but actually my sewing box is calling me so I cant possibly do the houswork!

Now before I go on I would just like to point out that this argument is very much between me and me and not me and my husband.  He's not bothered what the house looks like to be fair as long as we are happy and healthy and his xbox is working!

Take today for example, Littlest Petal has a horrible cold and is really not feeling herself.  She's slept for about three hours today which is unheard of for her.  What have I done with the time??  Housework?  Sorted the ever growing mound of ironing in my bedroom?  Ummm, no, I've been sewing pretty things for my first craft fair on Thursday evening!  To be fair, I've got myself quite organised too, but the same cant be said for my house!  Maybe because Im a WAHM now, I not only notice it more, but feel I should have the time to it.  However I would like to point out that I have never worked so hard in all my life (my other business The Ironing Lady takes up a lot of my time too - grrrrr!). 

Someone once said to me that tiding the house with children in it is like shovelling snow when its snowing.  Too true!!

I moan about not doing my housework but Im not prepared to give up my sewing time to do anything about it!  Its too precious! 

So I will continue to live in a house more disorganised than I would like but at least my sanity will be intact as I will be at my dining room table, sewing.

Until next time x x

p.s. couldn't leave todays post without mentioning, I WON A COMPETITION!!!  I cannot tell you how amazed I am seeing as I literally, never win a thing.  Most of the time I dont bother entering for that reason but I entered on the amazing and inspiring blog paper-and-string.  Pictures to come when my prize arrives.  I CANT WAIT!

Why Im A Very Lucky Mummy

Maybe thats a bit misleading cos all mummies are lucky for just being mummies!  I do feel particularly blessed today though as I realise that what I do from home is actually working!  I love being a WAHM and the freedom it gives me and the fact I can be there for my Little Petals.  Im very lucky I can work from home.

When I decided I didn't want to go back to work, shortly after having Littlest Petal, at first I thought people might think I'm irresponsible, lazy, work shy etc. etc.  I questioned myself over and over again to the point where I got on my own nerves.  However, I've never worked so hard in my life (as well as crafting I also run an ironing service in my local area)!  I spend all day with my littlest petal, then pick oldest petal up from school.  Some mothers may say this is a full time job in itself especially when littlest petal is now walking and into EVERYTHING!!  When they go to bed at around seven o'clock, Mr Petal and I then have dinner and I start "work" at around eight o'clock.  Either sewing for orders I've had, or stocking up for a craft fair or my folksy shop or ironing for my ever increasing regular customers. 

A friend of mine keeps asking my how I cope and said she feels sorry for me as I'm always so busy.  But I tell her this is what I've chosen to do and, in all honesty, Im loving it!

Im also lucky I've got the support of the very lovely Mr Petal as without that I'd have to go back to work.  But he's as keen for me to be at home for our girls as I am so for that, Im very grateful.  

Take today for example, I took Oldest Petal to school, came home, put the kettle on made some toast and me and Littlest Petal sat watching Cbeebies eating toast (that she stole from me!).  Then she went for a nap, and I carried on sewing for a few orders I've had.  I was sat looking out over my garden (which really should be my next project) and realised Im very lucky not to have to drop the kids at childminders and rush off to work to a job that Im only doing to pay the bills.

So while I do have the odd moan that Im so tired and run off my feet, I wouldnt change it for the world and am determined to keep going and am very grateful that what Im doing is working!  To anyone thats thinking of working from home and following their dream, I'd say just do it!  Yes you have to weigh up the risks and yes there are bills to pay, but if there is some way you can do something you love, maybe aswell as your full time job, I'd say go for it.

Right, off to finish some sewing.

Bye for now!

x x

My Baby Girl Is Walking

The main reason I started my little business was because I didnt want to miss a minute more of my girls growing up.  While this is sometimes more challenging that I care to mention, I was made to realise how much I have made the right decision yesterday when my Littlest Petal walked!  And not just a few steps, she's off across the room at great pace!  Obviously, Im immensely proud, the only thing is, she looks so funny as she is still really small!  My Oldest Petal was so much bigger at her age, she's just a dwt (a welsh word for small!)

Speaking of welsh words, Oldest Petal is in the school concert next week for winning the welsh singing competition on St Davids Day.  So a very proud week in our house!

Despite all the walking and winning, I have had (very limited) time for sewing.  Im currently working on some mobile phone covers which came from me not wanting my beloved BlackBerry to get scratched!  Got some lovely polka dot felt so am making a few designs, photos to follow!

Also, as spring definately feels like its sprung, I've been inspired to make some more easter chicks!  This time they are egg cosies!  Again, photos to follow when my camera battery is charged!

Weather is lovely so off to sit in the garden and watch the girls play.

x x