Happy Christmas!

It's been snowing!
Originally uploaded by Crafty B

It's been forever since I've visited my blog!!
What with the start of November presenting me with a cold, that turned into another cold that turned into the flu that I have only just got rid of!
Yep no mojo at all around here!
I have not been posting nor have I been keeping up to date with what everyone else is up to! I have a lot to catch up on!
This will be the last post of 2008. I am hoping for a germ free, relaxing holiday ready and raring for a refreshed outlook on 2009!!

So to everyone have a Happy, Healthy Christmas and sending Crafty Wishes for 2009. x

(Photo from April 08 - yes April!! If only to wake up to this on Christmas day!)

Product update!!

Hi!!
Apologies but this blog has been slightly abandoned as I have been keeping up my daily blog at Crafty B!

Will be updating some of my shops soon - here is a preview!

Tutorial revival!

Hi - apologies for the unexpected time out. It was needed!
I have been busy putting together a few things for Christmas, one project is more of my fabric covered buttons and fabric covered button magnets.



These make great little presents.
So for all newbies blog readers and if you fancy a go yourself here is a tutorial revival that I originally posted last June! Enjoy!



Leafletter is a great interactive tool for tutorials so get clicking and it will take you through each stage. As this is a tutorial revival they are no longer a giveaway! Sorry!

(P.S - Pink Stitches is the name that I sell my hand made goodies under - just in case you were wondering!)

Bubble wrap!

I've seen bubble wrap used in textiles a few times and this was an amazing piece of work that was on display at the Knit and Stitch show!

That Monday morning feeling!

Not a good start to the day...I was a bit like Donald!!
Thank goodness for the RAC!!

Cloud + rain - sunshine = poor photos!!

Trying to take photos of projects at this time of the year I always find difficult. I don't have a fancy camera just a bog standard digital one, but today out came the hand book and I had a little play moving away from the Auto mode, changing lighting, ISO speed etc and they came out much better than usual. I always find the colour different in my photos to real life. Still not 100% but better! Any tips or suggestions much appreciated!
Here are a couple of shots of my new cotton yarn.

Handmade Holidays!!

If you're not familiar with the fab blog, shop and forums at Sew, Mama, Sew then I suggest you go check it out!
November sees the start of their Handmade Holidays!! Lots of great ideas, tutorials, links and giveaways!!

(Photo of my pumpkin last year before stuffing, cooking and eating!)

Crafty books for the Christmas list!

You can never be too early putting your Christmas list together!





Some of these are pre release for 2009, but would love to know people's thoughts if they have any of these!

Crafting - but something is missing??

No fabric!! There must be something wrong!!
Yep I'm away from my sewing machine and craft room, but I just can't sit still. I've bought a little hand sewing project with me to do and may give that a go tomorrow but for now I've started a paper crafting project.

So here is WIP...
Lots of paper circles


With a bit of scoring

Generosity returned

What a lovely end to the day yesterday - just as I finished and packaged up my little giveaway parcel I found out I had won a giveaway!!
1 yard of lovely fabric from Sew, Mama, Sew!
If you have never checked out their site rush on over. They have great fabric in their shop, an excellent blog with lots of ideas and a forum to chat about all things crafty!


Thanks to everyone for all their lovely e mails lately! I do enjoy replying to them but not everyone has a link to an email address, so I apologise if you are awaiting a reply as some of you asked me questions about my blog. E mail me again with your address and I'll get back to you!

And the winner is...

Congrats to Muralimanohar, comment number 9! Using a random number generator you have won the Cath Kidston coin purse, I will be in touch. Thanks to everyone else who left a comment. There will be another giveaway at the end of November!
I am away from my usual abode this week but hope to keep up my daily posting!
Yes have you noticed I have been blogging daily!! I can't quite believe it myself! I will soon run out of things to say!!

Image from PBS Sesame Street - print out and go colour in!

A crafty post?

Yes thought it about time to post a bit of crafty news!
I still need to take photos of all the goodies I bought at the Knit and Stitch show but it is so dark tonight what with the clocks going back that the plan went out of the window!
Some earlier photos of sewing/crafting gadgets I can not live without.
My fab bobbin saver! Doesn't look too full there and is also purple although looks blue!!


Fabric marking pencils - hate using a normal pencil!


What crafting gadgets do you have?
Remember you have a few hours left to enter the giveaway to win this.


Good luck!

Crazy Daisy

Whilst at the garden centre today I did my guilty photo taking (always worry a shop assistant is going to come and tackle me!) of this lovely tableware by Portmeirion called Crazy Daisy. How fab is that pattern!



REMEMBER TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY - CLICK HERE!

Warning, warning....

Slight photo overload!!
Can't believe Friday is here again!
To finish the week here are a few random but favourite photos from my holiday to Canada and New York. Enjoy!


Hairspray on Broadway - Fantastic!!!


Peering into Sky Dome whilst having dinner at top of CN Tower at revolving restaurant.


Amazing view from Casa Loma.


Lovely buildings at the Distillery district.


Tim Hortons I love you! Yummy scrummy sweet treats!


How cute is this!


Even cuter at Toronto Zoo!
Not too bad out of 600 photos!

I could definitely live here!

Niagara on the Lakes!
This place was gorgeous. After a short drive from the Falls we stopped here late afternoon and stayed all evening. Lovely buildings, people, shops and restaurants.







And just look at these delights!!

REMEMBER TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY - CLICK HERE!

New York

Walking around the Fashion District in New York. Just look at the size of the button and needle!


These were dotted around the fashion district but I could not get many photos as there were too many people walking all over them!


Don't forget the giveaway!

Niagara Falls

When I look back at my holiday we did do some slightly adventurous activities. The glass floor at the top of the CN Tower was fab, I was more nervous being crammed in the lift going up that high!
I also visited Niagara Falls which was breath taking!
The Maid of the mist boat was excellent although I was slightly anxious - visions of Titanic movie floating through my mind! (Or that may have just been Leo!)
Sorry no photos of me in my lovely blue rain mac but some of the top of the Falls and below on the boat.





Don't forget to enter the Cath Kidston giveaway! Leave a comment on Monday's post.

Holiday pics (and giveway) !!

Cold, wet and dark outside. So to cheer up those Monday blues and celebrate the following:

108th post - totally missed 100th post birthday!
4 days until the weekend!!
65 days until Christmas!!!

It's time for a special giveaway!
Sorry no hand made item this time, everything is WIP, but instead a gorgeous Cath Kidston travel purse! Who could resist?


As everything is WIP, this week thought I would post a few holiday pics.
Me at the bottom of the CN Tower, Toronto and at the top stood on the glass floor. Scary! Even had dinner up there in the revolving restaurant!


To enter the giveaway just leave a comment! That's all - winner will be selected Monday 27th.

Change of plans

The plan for the weekend was to get the sewing machine out and start some of the projects piling up on my desk, but it was just such nice weather yesterday instead I:

1. Went to Sainsburys.
2. Popped into John Lewis and a local fabric store for more supplies.


3. Came home, sun still shining, looked out at the back of the house to see somewhat of a jungle! Back breaking gardening for several hours! Had fun listening to my I pod at the same time!
4. Knackered, bath and bed.

Then today I woke up with a sudden urge to paint! Strange don't ask me why.
So painted the bathroom!

So much for a weekend of relaxing sewing.

Fabric shopping

After work tonight I popped into John Lewis to have a quick wander and had a pleasant surprise when I spied they had Amy Butler fabric in stock!!
Yes can you believe it - finally!
So feeling all excited I rushed over and decided to get a couple of metres. Off I skipped to the counter, chatting away to the lady serving me saying how great it is that they have got the fabric in and would they be having any more and she asked me what I was going to do with the fabric, I replied possibly a bag a few things around the home and then wait for it ... this is where I was a bit miffed! She replied "I'm not too keen on the fabric it looks like my grans curtains from the 60's" - I so wanted to reply with "well your gran had good taste then" but I just had to bite my tongue!!
Apologies for the poor photo tried to sneak a quick one in, always feel guilty in shops in case they think I'm some kind of shopper spy for the competitors!