Sew far,sew good

More Lavender Pyramids

2012-02-21T13:31:00.003Z

This is just an addition to my post of a few weeks ago- thought I would just add a photo of some more of the lavender filled pyramids I've made. So here is a pink selection, I've added little pink ribbon tags to these bags.

To make see post Lavender Filled Pyramids

http://myblogcraftylittlecottage.blogspot.com/2012/02/lavender-filled-pyramids.html

Charity shop finds & drawstring bags

2012-02-19T18:16:00.009Z

I love rummaging in charity shops and am always on the look out for books, ceramics and fabric. I was slightly shocked last week when in a local charity shop to find some familiar Laura Ashley dresses (probably circa 1980) marked as 'Retro'-I suddenly felt very old! Having overcome the shock I found a lovely collection of fabric- a mixture of new and used pieces, and amongst it was some unused Irish linen ( marked Made in Ireland). Somebody must of had a big clear out and I felt I couldn't possibly not give the material a new home.

My little stash of fabric at a bargain price.

I will always find a use for the fabric and have plenty of ideas. I have put together this drawstring bag with some it. I'm a big fan of drawstring bags- they're very simple to make and useful. Once you get the hang of making them (not difficult) you can alter the dimensions to suit your needs. You can make anything from a small gift bag to a large laundry or stuff bag. I use them for storing bits and bobs round the house, they're great for holidays as toilet bags or to put your undies in.

This bag is lined- I prefer to line bags for several reason: to hide raw edges and seams, to strengthen the bag and to give more shape and body.

You need 2 rectangles of fabric measuring 55cm by 35 cm, your main fabric and the lining fabric. Pin the 2 pieces together along one of the long edges and sew them together with 1.5cm seam allowance. Open the fabric out & with wrong side facing press the seam towards the main fabric.

Fold the fabric in half matching the long edges together (ensure the seam between the two fabrics matches). Pin and mark to allow gaps in the side seam 1/ in the lining ( approx 10cm gap) to allow you turn the bag out 2/ in the main fabric between the top seam about 2.5cm for the drawstring.

Sew round the edge to form the side and bottom seams- remembering not to sew the gaps! Clip the corners, press the seams open and turn the bag out.

Stitch the opening in the lining side seam closed.

Push the lining into the main body of the bag- press the top seam making sure the lining lies flat within the bag. To make the casing to hold the drawstring- match lining and main fabric side seams, and on the opposite side of the bags match the side folds in the lining and the main fabric- pin in place.

To make the casing stitch around the top of the bag about 0.5cm from the top, and a second line of stitching 2.5cm from the top.

Using a safety pin pull the drawstring through. Then tie the 2 ends of the string together- you could finish the bag here but I like to put a little fabric pull on the end of the drawstring.

The pull is made from a 10cm square of fabric- fold in half and sew along the long edge- 1cm seam allowance. Press the seam open.

Turn the tube open half way- matching the side seam from a double walled tube.

With a small running stitch sew around the top of the tube ( top= raw edge) then place the tube over the end of the drawstring- raw edge closest to the knot.

Pull the running stitch tight, and secure the thread.Turn the pull over the knot to cover it. Finish the pull by folding the edge together and place a few stitches in the centre, fold the opposite way and place further stitches to form the bud shape.

http://folksy.com/items/2963106-Apple-Print-Drawstring-Bag-

I'm very fond of this apple print cotton- a drawstring bag is a nice way to make something useful from a favourite fabric and it can then be displayed on the back of a door or coat rack ( pretty & functional).

The canvas drawstring bag with its skull and cross bones design was made as laundry bag but would work equally well as a toy bag, and of course is ideal for any voyage your little pirate crew may be embarking on.

http://folksy.com/items/2906690-Skull-and-cross-bones-laundry-bag

So now for the rest of the fabric...

February Freeze

2012-02-12T22:49:00.001Z

Fortunately things have warmed up over the last couple of days after a very cold snap. I know it hasn't been as cold here as elsewhere in the country, but still it has been little chilly. The only consolation has been beautiful clear days ideal for walking the dog.

Unfortunately the top of Snowdon was hidden in cloud the day I was out with my camera despite that the mountains look great with their coating of snow.

I have been doing some sewing, and although not deliberate there seems to be a bit of a Valentine's theme going on...

I'm very fond of ticking and gingham, and red, white and blue- it all works quite well together on the cushions ( I think). Cariad is a term of endearment in welsh meaning sweetheart or love.

More lavender bags!

Lavender Filled Pyramids

2012-02-09T16:45:00.001Z

These lavender bags are very simple to make and they look great. The pyramid shape is slightly more interesting than the usual square bags but they are just as easy to make.

Cut a rectangle of fabric 17cm by 9cm, and fold in half bringing the short sides together, as shown.

Sew across the top and side (seam allowance 1cm) leaving the bottom open.

Clip the corners, as shown.

Press the seams open, turn the raw edge at the bottom about 1cm and press. Turn the bag out so the seams and raw edges are on the inside ( make sure the top corners are push out). Then fill the bag with lavender.

To close the bag and get the pyramid shape bring the bottom edges together matching the side seam with the side fold- the bottom seam is then perpendicular to the top seam.

Stitch the bag closed.

This lavender bag could quite easily be made without a sewing machine- just ensure your stitches are quite small to prevent the lavender escaping. You can embellish or decorate the fabric rectangle before sewing the bag together, and add a ribbon or string loop to allow you to hang the bag up.

It is a really nice way of using up scraps of fabric- make a few in different fabrics and display them together in a bowl.

Amser Paned - Time for a Cuppa!

2012-02-01T23:19:00.000Z

I've lived in Wales a couple of years and have tried learn a little of the language. Welsh is incredibly important to the locals here- most are bilingual and for many english is their second language.

I've manage to acquire some important phrases and words- I can meet and greet folk politely in welsh, after that I'm a little like Eliza Doolittle sticking to the weather and health as topics of conversation (but please speak slowly to me). One phrase that always works is 'amser paned' which means 'time for a cuppa' - it can be tea or coffee and for me it is always time for a cuppa!

The tea cosies do come in english versions but we're in Wales. The embroidery is done on my machine embroiderer (which I love) but could be done by hand either in satin stitch or perhaps more easily in cross stitch (working on a fine Aida cloth- making counting the stitches simpler).

So, amser paned?

Ahoy me hearties! Skull & Cross Bones Applique

2012-01-20T20:09:00.002Z

Pirates are a bit of a perennial favourite amongst small boys, and some little girls. Their popularity has increased with the Pirates Of The Caribbean films, and of course Captain Jack Sparrow. I have been ask on many occasions for items with a pirate theme. It is something I've put off despite making lots of cushions and bags with a nautical feel but I've now tackled pirates.

I think one of the problems has been finding suitable fabric, in particular fabric I like. There are too many scary pirates out there, and far too much black and white. Late last year I found some fabulous fabric with a skull and cross bone theme. I managed to get it in cotton and also in PVC (oilcloth) which is just ideal for bags.

www.folksy.com/items/2884994

Now I've managed to come up with my own skull and cross bones applique template- even better. I use applique techniques quite a lot and do make a lot of my own templates. It is not as tricky or difficult as you may think. I'm not an artist and my drawing skills are basic, but you don't need great artistic skills and in fact the designs for applique work best if they are simple. My advice would be to break down your design sketch into its basic constituent shapes and also look for lines of symmetry. To make the skull and cross bones I started with a piece of folded paper and drew half a skull, jaw & long bone.

I admit there's a bit of trial and error involved - drawing it to the size you want and getting the scale right but like anything practise helps.

Keeping the design simple is important as with the cupcake below- you can add detail with machine stitching, hand embroidery and embellishments. Keeping things simple also makes it much easier when you come to sew the applique in place.

The cake is made up of three parts- the base, the red filling and the printed icing on top. When making the template for this I started by drawing a very simple cake then broke it down into the 3 main shapes from which I made templates. You just need to ensure that you add a little to the templates so there is an underlap of the base under the filling, and then the filling under the icing- it just makes it a little easier when putting it together.

The secret of good applique is Bondaweb (trade name) or similar fabric adhesive activated by the heat of an iron. It comes as a fine mesh backed by paper and you apply it to the back of the fabric you plan to make your designs from. It allows you to fix you design in place before stitching it in place.

A bit of a cover up.. how to cover buttons

2012-01-16T18:20:00.001Z

Just thinking it has been a little while since I've written something vaguely useful for those interested in sewing.

I've become a big fan of fabric covered buttons and it is a great way of giving your item individuality and a nice finish. It can also be a cheaper than buying ordinary buttons. You can use the same fabric as your main fabric or use a coordinating fabric- it is more difficult with thick or heavy weight fabrics. I use the plastic type of buttons, although you can get metal ones, and they come in a range of sizes. It is something that is very easy to do and doesn't take very much time.

The buttons come in 2 part, a front and back, which clip neatly together.

Cut out a disc of your fabric about double the diameter of the button, if the buttons come in a pack you may find a template on the pack itself.

Do a small running stitch around the edge of the fabric disc- not too close to the edge or your fabric will fray.

Centre the top part of the button in the fabric disc, with the shank upwards, then draw in the thread. Make sure all the edges are tucked in and then place the back of the button on over the shank- with this type of button the convex surface faces out.

The plastic end of a bobbin of thread can be used to push the back in place. You can get devices to do this but a bobbin is cheap, available, and I find effective.

You can get machines to cover buttons but they can be quite costly- perhaps if you plan to make large numbers of buttons worth investing in.

I use the fabric buttons a lot on my cushions- in actual fact it saves me time as I don't spend ages finding buttons I like, and I know I've always got the right buttons!

The buttons are really versatile and I've made fabric covered buttons to brighten up cardigans and jackets by replacing the old buttons- it's a great way of giving an item a new look. There are all sorts of imaginative things you can do when covering the buttons- what about a little bit of embroidery or beading on the fabric disc before putting the buttons together? The covered buttons can be used to make brooches and in corsages.

The buttons are readily available online and from good haberdashers,and the process of covering them is very easy with a little practise. They're a great fab way of adding a little individuality and a great finish to your item .

Sunsets, Sales, oh & Selvedge

2012-01-14T11:31:00.006Z

So, another weather update from the Gwynedd coast and this week the weather has calmed down a bit and is feeling more seasonal. The temperature has dropped down to where it should be in January. The last few days have been crisp and clear, and with the clear skies have come some beautiful sunsets. At this time of year it is a treat to see the sun at any time of day but the sunsets can be just stunning, and a bonus when walking on the beach at dusk.

Contrary to impressions I don't spend all my life walking up & down the beach, and at the moment I busy taking stock, both literally and metaphorically, sorting out old stock and planning for the year to come. With it being January it's time for a bit of a sale and I've reduced the price of some items online, in both my Folksy & Etsy shops.

www.folksy.com/shops/craftylittlecottage

www.etsy.com/shop/harlechcottagecrafts

I'm also planning my first craft fair of the year, at the beginning of February, and this is an opportunity to sell off older stock at a reduced price. It's something I did last year and it seemed to work well, people are looking for bargains at this time of year. I'm looking forward to the Crafty Market on Saturday 4/2/12 at Neston Town Hall on The Wirral, so fingers crossed.

I made an exciting discovery a few months ago and a real treat for any textile geek like me. I'm not sure how it's taken me so long to become aware of it but I found a link to Selvedge while searching online for something else. What a discovery, it's is the most beautiful magazine and it's available by subscription online or through the post- the website itself is worth visiting (www.selvedge.org ). I treated myself to a subscription just before Christmas and my first copy arrived this week, along with a couple of back copies I ordered. It is great with beautiful artwork & photographsand fascinating articles covering textiles in the broadest sense including design, fashion, production, social history andculturally. I would really recommend a look, it's beautiful and informative.

I'm off for a coffee and a read....

www.folksy.com/items/2854226

New Year Storms

2012-01-05T20:56:00.001Z

The New Year has certainly blown in, and the last few days have been very wild and windy. We have been luckier than many here in Harlech, although we've had our fair share of wind and rain. Today has been bright and clear though still quite gusty, but not windy enough to prevent an escape the beach for a walk. I love the beach after stormy weather, it's fascinating to see what's been washed up and the changes in the beachscape caused by the heavy tides.

I say I had a walk on the beach, in fact I was blown along as I took the easy option walking in the direction of the wind rather than against it.

I think the dog enjoys the beach more than I do when it's windy and there was plenty of crazy running around today- the dog that is not me! I'm sorry to say she even managed to chase a few birds, a favourite occupation, she hasn't caught one yet but they were having some difficulty in the windy conditions this afternoon.

So it's back to work after our brisk beach outing. I have to admit that it is nice, and bit of a relief, to get back to normal after Christmas and New Year. It's time to start planning for this year which is quite exciting and something I'm looking forward to.

Christmas at Erddig

2011-12-15T17:43:00.002Z

I'm busy preparing for another weekend at Erddig, a National trust property near Wrexham in north east Wales. I spent last weeknd there in a little cabin selling my wares at their Christmas market. The event was really well supported with lots of folk there both days, which was fantastic particularly as Sunday was very wet and cold. There was a lovely festive atmosphere, the staff were in victorian dress and there was lots of entertainment including Father Christmas.

This was my first visit to Erddig and I really enjoyed it. It was great having the space in the cabin, space is always a premium at an event and the cabin gave me lots of room to set up the stall. So I got to work with bunting, using the wall space to display products and decorations. Setting up was slightly different than usual, carrying the bits and pieces for the stall through the stable yard avoiding the horse having his breakfast while his stable was being mucked out- just loved it! The market was laid out in the yards and outbuildings of the Hall- it's a fabulous setting and the atmosphere was just great! There was a mixture of cabins, market stalls and some of the stall holders were set up in some of the outbuildings. I think there were about 60 stalls. with a mixture of crafts and lots of foods- cakes, cheese, preserves, beers... , and similar is planned for this weekend

It was a busy weekend for me and fortunately sales were quite good, so this week has been spent replenishing stock- lots of fish and pincushions, and of course Christmas decorations. I've also been keeping a close eye on the weather forecast- looks as though the thermals will be out again with lots of woolly layers, and plenty of hot drinks & soup.

Here's looking forward to another busy, festive weekend...

The gardens at Erddig

For more information about the event

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Here come the Girls!

2011-11-28T17:59:00.000Z

I just love the fabric from Kokka with the little matryoshka doll print- it's fun and jolly, and the bold simple print just lends itself to applique. I've put the dolls together with red gingham in the wall hangings I've made, embellishing them with little buttons just to keep their little scarves in place.

Here the girls are filled with dried lavender- they seem to prefer company and look sweet togther, but they can stand alone as on the little apron.

This fabric has given me a bit of fun and something to play with, and provided me with some new items to put on the stall.

A day at the seaside

2011-10-20T18:51:00.003+01:00

Just got back from a very nice day out to Aberystwyth, a coastal town in west Wales. It wasn't all fun in fact the purpose of the trip was to set up a stand at the Winter Craft and Art Fair at Aberystwyth Art Centre but it was a good opportunity to have a look round the place. The town is now dominated by its university but it seems to have a very interesting history, and in its more recent past it was a popular seaside resort. It still has its pier, cliff side railway and terraces of hotels along the promenade- so I had a good look round this afternoon once I'd finished sorting out my stand. The weather was kind and after a stroll along the prom I really enjoyed a coffee and cake at a beach side cafe- even got to sit outside admiring the sea view.

Crafty Little Cottage Stand

I am so pleased to have an opportunity to sell my products at the Winter Craft and Gift Fair at Aberystwyth Art Centre. It is a fantastic event that runs until early January and brings together lots of products from crafters and artists from mid and west Wales. I would encourage anyone in the area to go along to have a look- I had a quick scoot round to look at the other stands before I left today and there is some lovely stuff on display and for sale (think Christmas presents). The Art Centre ( www.aberystwythartcentre.co.uk ) is on Aberystwyth University campus and is a great facility with a cinema, theatre and galleries- you could combine a shopping trip with visit to see a film or theatre production.

How to make....

2011-09-24T16:27:00.007+01:00

This is for the very nice lady who asked me a few weeks ago if I gave sewing lessons, as promised a simple but hopefully useful little bag to make.

Striped cotton wash bag

Oilcloth toilet/cosmetic bags

Larger version of the bag with a webbing strap

www.folksy.com/items/2369957

This is a very simple cosmetic bag or toilet bag which can be easily adapted to suit your needs by changing its dimensions. It is a good  introduction to bag making as the bag has a gusset in the bottom and a lining.

Need: outer shell fabric piece length 60cm by 24cm
            lining fabric        piece length 60cm by 24cm plus a piece 3cm by 14cm for button loop
            interfacing (optional)   length 60cm by 24cm

            3cm button

Outer shell; Place the piece for the outer shell and the interfacing together so the wrong side of the main fabric is against the interfacing- if easier for you tack the two pieces together. With the two pieces togther fold in half along the longest length and sew the sides together with a seam allowance of 1cm.

Clip the corners at the base.

Press the seams open.

To make the gusset to form bag base- match the side seam with the crease along the base on each side. Sew a straight line across the corner 2cm from the corner tip.

Trim the corners.

Lining; make in the same way as the outer shell folding in half along the long edge, I would suggest using a slightly larger seam allowance of 1.5cm- the lining is then a better fit inside the bag. Remember to leave a gap in one of the side seams of about 10 cm, this allows you to turn the bag outside out when finishing.

Button loop; fold the piece of fabric for the loop in half along the longest edge- press with an iron.

Then turn both outer edges into the centre and fold the raw edges together.

Placing the button loop;

Place and tack as shown at the midpoint along the top edge of the outer shell. Turn the outer shell inside out again to put the lining in.

Putting in the lining; Pin the lining inside the outer shell- right sides together and match the side seams- stitch in place with a seam allowance of 1cm.

You can now turn the bag outside out through the gap in the lining side seam. You can then close the side seam.

Press the lining in place and top stitch around the top pf the bag.

Placing and sewing on the button; fold the top over 6cm and place the button using the loop to guide you- sew the button on.

You can change the dimensions of the bag to suit your needs and add handles if you wish- I would add them at the same stage as adding the button loop in a similar way making sure they match on each side. The interfacing helps the bag retain its shape and strengthens it making it more robust.

I've made the bag up in oilcloth, which is ideal for wash bags and toilet bags. The pirate fabric was a great find and makes a fun wash bag for a little boy.

www.etsy.com/listing/82441378

Hope the instructions are clear and useful- good luck if you have a go at making the little bag and if you have any questions please feel free to get in touch.

www.etsy.com/listing/82441454

Introducing Bronwen

2011-08-31T18:07:00.007+01:00

I feel such a slacker when it comes to writing my blog- so many good intentions and even a few ideas but settling down to write is another matter. There always seems to be so many other things to do but I just had to introduce a new addition to the household.

I'm so excited as I have just collected her - she is beautiful and has just taken up residence in my sewing room. She is most definitely a 'she' and so lovely she deserves a name, so meet Bronwen, my spinning wheel. She marks the beginning of a new venture or perhaps an adventure.

Not quite such a whim as it may appear- I'm a huge wool fan and have knitted since a child. Last year I had a stall at a fair in Harlech and I was next to a local spinner. I was mesmerised by her spinning wheel, and so impressed by what she produced. Her yarn is absolutely fantastic and I would recommend checking out her blog if you're interested in dying yarn, spinning or knitting (http://artis-anne.blogspot.com ). Since that encounter I've keep an eye out for fleece, yarn and anything woolly and I've met a few spinners. So when the opportunity came up recently to take ownership of a wheel, and more importantly the reassurance of a support network to help me to learn to spin, it seemed too good to miss. So now I have a spinning wheel and also a gorgeous fleece ( came with the wheel) - so I better do something about it.

I have the date of the next local 'knit and natter' group in my diary and will be trotting along to the local spinning and dyers group- there are several active groups locally. The plan is to learn to spin first, but hopefully I'll get to a stage when I can tackle the fleece I have (preparing it for spinning and maybe even dying it).

As a fan of sheep and woolly stuff I was very interested to find out that next week (5th-11th Sept) is Wool Week UK ( www.campaignforwool.org ). The Campaign for Wool promotes wool and seems to have events through the year, throughout the country. So support the sheep- bless the woolly jumpers!

I'm certainly not giving up the sewing and I think it will be some time before I'll be producing yarn fit for selling, but I'll keep you posted on my progress with the spinning wheel and any tips on spinning will be gratefully received.

Scotties

2011-08-07T18:15:00.145+01:00

I love this Clarke & Clarke fabric. The scottie print is bright and cheery, and it's ever so popular (and not just with scottie dog owners).

This year I've tried to come with new and original ways of working with the fabric- the clean crisp design really looks good with gingham and I've tried to take advantage of this.

The tea cosies are fun- with the little dogs on the front and back of the cosy.

available on STECS website www.stecs.net/shop

I've been really privileged to be asked to make items for STECS over the last year or so. The charity rescues, fosters, and re-homes scottish terriers. They do a great job and have a fantastic online shop for all things scottie dog- well worth a look ( www.stecs.net/shop ). There is a great selection of stationery, toys and household wares on the site.

One teenage tearaway terrier looking for trouble.

Although great fans of scottish terriers we tend not to talk about them too much in our house, sharing it with a little westie as we do ( at least not in her company).

Lavender Fish

2011-07-27T15:32:00.004+01:00

Ok I admit the lavender fish is not an original idea, I've seen other fabric fish filled with dried lavender but all slightly more sophisticated than mine. I love the simplicity of the fish with the little string loop to hang them. The fish are a great way of using up the strips of fabric I often have left over from my bag & cushion making.

The fish are another opportunity to put coordinating, complimentary or contrasting fabrics together as the material on the front & back of the fish is usually different.

www.etsy.com/listing/79002803

The fish are filled with a good quality dried lavender- lovely!

Like many fish they are happier hanging around in groups- they look a bit lonely on their own. They were originally made for hanging up as a decoration, but I've been given other brilliant ideas for uses- including putting them in shoes or wellies, an idea that I thought was inspired so thank you to the ladies who suggested it.

Quick tip for extending the life of the lavender when it gets a little tired, just refresh it with a little lavender oil.

Sewing with Oilcloth

2011-07-18T20:37:00.005+01:00

It's a great time to be stitching as there is a wealth of beautiful fabrics out there, and choosing materials is one of my favourite occupations. I can spend literally hours in fabric shops- and it's not just hours I spend a lot of. This year is particularly great for oilcloth- I'm not sure whether there is more oilcloth fabric available or now that I'm happy to sew with it and am looking for it I'm more aware of it- either way there is a fantastic choice and a good selection of coordinating fabrics.

Although called oilcloth what we are actually buying is not true oilcloth but a form of PVC coated cotton, but lets not be pedantic and oilcloth sounds so much better than PVC. It is a really useful fabric and I love it for bag making. It has taken a while for me to become confident sewing with it and producing items of a quality I'm happy to sell. I'm frequently asked for advice about sewing with it, so here are a few tips that I've found really helpful;

a teflon foot on the sewing machine helps to stop the top surface of the oilcloth sticking to the foot
a sharp needle- there is nothing like oilcloth for blunting needles and you will probably find that you need to change the needle frequently. Also I tend to use a large needle (16).
using a larger stitch helps when top stitching (also take your time)
it may seem obvious but use the iron on the reverse side only- and use it on a warm setting.
if creased a warm hair dryer or lying the cloth flat in the sun are simple ways of reducing and removing creases. I would also suggest storing in on a roll rather than folded to prevent it creasing.

It is quite versatile - the fact it doesn't fray makes it great to use for applique work (you can use a temporary spray adhesive to hold the applique in place prior to sewing).

The teacups on the shopper are taken from another fabric and appliqued onto the main fabric. I've even had a go with my embroidery machine on oilcloth and the result was quite successful- even though I say so myself.

www.etsy.com/listing/77895778

Oilcloth is really not that difficult to handle and the tips above are quite useful when sewing with it, so I would recommend having a go and having some fun. I use it for bag making, but have also made aprons with it, cushions for use in the garden and changing mats. I'm sure I'll be using it for other projects in the future.

www.etsy.com/listing/78149431

The Cottage Garden

2011-07-13T08:58:00.003+01:00

The Cottage garden is very small but is a little haven of loveliness and at this time of year is looking its best. It's nice to go down first thing in the morning to see what's opening out, and everything looks so fresh at that time of day. I'm afraid it is allowed to grow a little wild but 'a little wild' is a style I like. It encourages the birds and insects, and my favourite (and one of the most secretive) inhabitant of the garden- the slow worm that lives in my compost heap. It is such a joy to see it, very occasionally, sunning itself on top of the heap.

One of my favourite shrubs is the hydrangea and it is looking particularly good this year. It has an abundance of flowers that are a gorgeous deep pink colour. When there are so many flowers I don't feel so guilty about cutting some of the flower heads to put in a vase. They make really fanastic display, and last quite a long time in the house- brightening the day when the sun's not out.

When the weather is good I try and plan my day so I can retreat to the garden for a little while at some stage. I take some work or a book down there and get the deckchair out, and sometimes I may even do some weeding.

An afternoon at the school fair

2011-07-09T22:37:00.001+01:00

I've had a really lovely afternoon at the local primary school fair in Llanbedr- the weather was kind despite the forecast & the sun shone, there was plenty of ice-cream and cake, a barbecue, and a good turnout of people supporting the school. It was a nice family day out with a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of things for the children to do.

The coffee cup pincushion

2011-07-07T14:30:00.002+01:00

This little pincushion has been such a success on the stall- it is a really simple idea and very easy to make. The idea sort of developed when I saw clever folk making candles in teacups, and I then came across a supply of little coffee cups- so with a bit of fiddling and few trial runs the pincushion came about.

The pincushion is fixed in the coffee cup- the top is made in good quality 'quilting' cotton fabric ( I think it probably a good idea to use a densely woven cotton- it will wear better if you're repeatedly sticking pins in it), and it is filled with polyester toy filler so it is quite firm to touch.

It looks really sweet but is very practical as the cup makes a very stable base for the pincushion- so it stands very nicely on the table next to the sewing machine.

It has been a great talking point on the stall and I've been given other great ideas for uses from non- stitchers, including for displaying hat pins or brooches.

I have now listed the pincushion online for sale- there are some available in my etsy shop ( www.etsy.com/shop/harlechcottagecrafts ) and there'll be more coming including the ones I make with little applique designs on them.

2011-06-29T00:16:00.005+01:00

Arley Garden Festival 2011
( www.arleyhallandgardens.com/news.html )

I'm now back behind the sewing machine in Harlech having spent a very enjoyable few days in Cheshire selling. I was at the Cheshire County Show and then the Arley Garden Festival, both fab events but very different in scale. The Cheshire Show is a huge agricultural event ( http://www.cheshirecountyshow.org.uk/ ) and the Garden Festival is a smaller but no less fabulous event in the grounds of Arley Hall in Cheshire. One of my biggest frustrations when at these types of event is the fact you get little opportunity to see much beyond the stall, although this year I did manage to view a few horses, a tractor or two and some very gorgeous rare breed sheep at Cheshire and a have a mooch around some of the plant stalls at Arley. I love the atmosphere, the general buzz, and meeting folk at the stall. It's great to have a chat, listen to people's comments and ideas and of course sell stuff.

So back to making and replenishing stocks, preparing for the fairs and events I've planned over the summer.

Summer

2011-06-15T09:28:00.005+01:00

Looking at the rain through window this morning it is hard to believe that we're in summer, although I shouldn't complain the weather in this little corner of Wales hasn't been too bad over the last few weeks. We seem to have our own little micro climate with the forecasted bad weather often passing us by, probably related our location tucked in between the sea and the mountains.

Just now the rain is good for me, in that it makes it easier to sit at my desk and get on with some work. It is always harder to stay indoors when the sun is out. I've had my head down over the last few weeks getting ready for the events & fairs I've planned over the summer. I like to make sure I have plenty of stock & all the other bits & pieces in place to try ensure successful events. I've the Cheshire Show & Arley Garden Festival coming up next week. I did both events last year, and though quite different I really enjoyed both. I'm just hoping the sun shines on us, it can be a bit miserable standing in a damp marquee. There is a list the of events I'm taking the stall to on my Facebook page ( just look for The Crafty Little Cottage) & if you happen to be at one of them please come and see me.

Rose Print Oilcloth Shopper

This year I've lots of new bags which I'm quite excited about, and so far they have proved quite popular at events I've already been to. This year, I've found some new fabric suppliers and have had a lovely time finding fabric. I use a lot of remnants to make my bags so many of them are 'one off's' or if not there'll only be a couple of them made. My favourite so far is my rose print shopper made in a combination of rose print oilcloth & cotton (above). It reminds me of summer, it has a very english garden party or village fair feel. It is a one off & I have to say I've been so tempted to keep it for myself but have so far resisted.

Teatime Oilcloth Shopper
www.etsy.com/listing/74399136

So, back to some work although looking out the window it appears that the sun is trying to come out maybe I will get to the beach today.

wowthankyou

2011-05-24T14:18:00.002+01:00

www.wowthankyou.co.uk

Somewhere else to find The Crafty Little Cottage- we recently started selling on Wow Thank You. Their website has just been relauched and is great place to find british crafters. There is a great selection of gifts for friends and family, and lovely stuff for the home. There is also a selection of eidible treats- always nice.

The site specifically promotes the handmade and british crafters which is fantastic. It is worth a peek if you're looking for something special.

Etsy Life

2011-05-21T15:18:00.009+01:00

I've become a huge fan of Etsy; it's a fabulous website if you are looking for handcrafted and handmade items,vintage goods or craft suplies. It is the most fantastic place for finding unusual gifts for others or yourself- escaping the mass produced and supporting individual crafters and designers. There are sellers from all over the world and lots of british sellers - to find them add 'british' to your search when looking for items.

Some of my favourite finds;

Starting out!

2011-05-19T18:16:00.000+01:00

It has taken me some time to get this far, I have talked for months about setting up a blog and have now done it,eventually. Hoorah!!

I hope to let you know what's happening at The Crafty Little Cottage, the fairs & events we have planned, maybe some sewing tips & makes, and perhaps a bit about costal life here in north west Wales.

Things are quite busy at the moment as we're preparing for the summer. We have lots of craft fairs and events planned & we like to know we have plenty of stock so the sewing machine has been working overtime. This is our second summer taking the stall (The Crafty Little Cottage) 'on tour'. It was a little daunting at first but after a few fairs you begin to feel like an old hand and setting up becomes second nature. The fairs are a great opportunity for meeting folk, both customers and other makers & crafters which is really good.

So here's hoping for a good summer and that the weather is kind to us ( & that the wellies don't make too many appearances).

I'll keep you posted on the events we're going to.
We're due at Woodfest Wales (http://www.woodfestwales.co.uk/ ) over the next bank holiday weekend (28-30th May) and will be in the craft marquee.