Tuesday 12 April 2011

Pin Board Wizard!

Wowsers what a wizard weekend! I hope everyone enjoyed the sunshine. We paid tribute to the sun god by having the first BBQ of 2011. I hope he will be pleased with our sacrifice of giggly pig sausages and marinated ribs- yum yum yum.

It was perfect weather for doing some painting. I discovered a sad looking table in the basement of out flat and decided that what it needed most was a lick of teal tension (doesn't everything?). So while man work was being done on the van (read into that stuff I wasn't so interested in), I amused myself by playing rescue operations with abandoned furniture. I don't have a before shot but I think you will agree the after shot shows it to be a very worthwhile project!


It also provides a handy space shows off the amazing geological map of Britain which was last years birthday present to Slim and that I have only just got framed (like Guinness says...)

I have also been busy making birthday presents and commissions. As the title of the blog suggests- I have been making pin boards. What larks Pip!

Last year I picked up some cheap canvases from the awesome Harry Tuffins Store in Knighton and they have been sitting in a cupboard waiting for inspiration. After making the little flower pins I thought it would be a nice idea to make a fabric covered pin board to go with them and these canvases were the perfect size. So I ordered some cork sheeting and it arrived just in time for Friday night crafting. None of you will be surprised at which fabric I used for one of the boards...



So spring-y and fun. Love it. I used some silicone adhesive I had lying around to stick the cork sheet to the canvas. I then made sure the fabric was well iron and pulled it tightly over the frame. It is secured using PVA glue around the back of the frame and on the corners. The flowers are stuck to drawing pins just using superglue. And there you go- a super quick, beautiful and useful gift.

It also proved to be the perfect use for an old top my friend ask me to commission something out of. The fabric is so lovely I have been too scared to cut it up but I think you will agree it looks pretty good.


She certainly seemed happy when I gave it to her in the pub on Saturday (but that could have also been the wine). I was able to use one of my business cards as a gift tag and I am really pleased with how they look.



I was also asked by another friend to make something new out of loved but no longer worn clothes. I had won some heat'n'bond on ebay for upcycling appliqué fun so thought this would be a good opportunity to have a little experiment.

Laura's Mini Appliqué Tutorial
So here is my starting point. Slim's mum had donated some haberdashery bits which included some old net curtains. I also had a skirt, a dress and a few tops to work with from my friend.

After cutting, ironing and salvaging I had my fabric ready to work with.

check out the glittery buttons!
The next step was to cut out some fabric and heat'n'bond and iron them together.


I decided to go with a crafty bird design (of course!) so I drew my shapes onto tracing paper and then traced them onto the back of the heat'n'bond. Remember to make sure you trace the design back to front!

So here are my cut out birds. Next I arranged them on the bit of fabric and ironed them on to secure them in place.

Now comes the fiddly bit! I was determined to to this bit using my sewing machine. I don't have a fancy setting for doing satin edges so all I did was a regular running stitch around the outline of my shape. It may fray in time but I don't think it will ruin the effect and it won't be washed in a washing machine so I think it will be ok.
not too shabby if I do say so myself
For the beaks and eyes I hand stitched in different colour threads.

And it's nearly done! All I had to do now was cut the fabric to make the back of the cushion. TA DA!




At this point I got a little carried away and went appliqué crazy. Here are some other little bits I messed around with before I tuckered myself out and had to have a lie down...

I am pretty pleased with the bunting
Oh Amy Butler fabric- how I love thee.

Final cushion
And that's about it for now folks! I really enjoyed appliqué  and have lots of little bits of lovely fabric I would hate to waste so am thinking up some new ways to use it- maybe some framed pictures? Stay tuned!

xx.

Monday 4 April 2011

un œuf Easter-y-ness for all!

Thumb Bunny from ffffound!


The countdown until the Easter Holidays has begun- Hurrah!- and my lovely Boy and I are off to the Lake District for Big Trev's first proper camping trip in just a few weeks!

We have been pouring over maps in search of the place furthest away from any Royal Wedding mania so Friday 29th will hopefully find us up a mountain in the sunshine with some mint cake and a pint!




Big Trev had his Easter present early: a beautiful red stove-top kettle from mama T- So pretty and shiny  and red- thank you! I will make sure I get a picture of it in situ.
To go with the tea I am hoping the grill will be working so we can have HOT CROSS BUNS for breakfast (and lunch and afternoon tea...) In fact I would quite like one now please. And I have a feeling that the glittery marmalade I bought at the Brighton Food Festival this weekend will be the perfect companion. (Yep, you did hear me correctly I did buy marmalade with edible glitter in it. I was very excited.)

Tasty felt buns from Pipinopolis 
In other realms of the internet I have discovered that the amazingly talented children's book author, Lauren Child, has designed a range of fabric for Liberty. I am currently trying to find how to get my grubby mitts on some! Maybe the Easter bunny will help?

I think there definitely needs to be a Easter cushion made
from this material! 


And last but not least, the CraftyBirds have been busy designing a range of cute Easter cards which are now available in the online stores.


Easter pansies, butterflies and birds
Lino-cut stamps printed onto kraft paper envelopes by my own
fair hands


Only 19 days to go-Toot toot! xx