Storage chaos!

Sometimes the things you need are just under your noses!
I have quite a small office/sewing room and desperately need more storage. I've been looking for ages for a small, but big in storage, functional item.
Could I find anything to go with my room - no!

Then several days ago I was sorting out my garage when there it was!
Don't know why I had not noticed it before, an old set of drawers that I purchased used with papers for a short while and then it went in the garage.

Anyways it's had a bit of a dust down and spider removal and hopefully will be painted and ready for use! Praying for some sunshine in order to paint it outside!

The Sun has got his hat on ...

Hip-Hip-Hip Hooray - NOT!!

The weather is very depressing at the moment. I've had to revert to my Autumn/Winter wardrobe!

Tried to take some photos of craft projects this evening but it is so dull and dark they looked awful, so thought I would post a sunny, cheery image from my garden taken a couple of weeks ago!


Looking forward to some finer weather although they are predicting sun mid July!!

Another new bag!

My addiction for making and buying bags is growing yet again!
This time it is a hand made bag for my swap partner in Brazil as part of the Bag Ladies Swap over at Flickr. The theme for June was fruits and polka dots.
I've mainly gone for fruits - Strawberries to be exact. It's a smaller version of my pleated tote bag, but big enough to hold a wallet, phone and a couple of other girlie things. I'm hoping my partner will like it as I love making these bags! I'm even thinking of putting some on Etsy, what do you think?



My partner has already had a sneak peek of the bag so the photos will not be spoiling the surprise!

How exciting!!

Just checked my blog this morning and noticed that I had an large amount of visitors over night! Hold on something is wrong here, I think I usually get a couple of regular visitors a day reading my ramblings and my crafting antics.
Then whilst browsing my usual sites I saw it!!

Thank you so much to Kath at Whip Up for mentioning my covered button tutorial! It amazes me how other people actually want to come and look at what I'm doing!

So if you've stumbled across here via Whip Up - THANKS - and would love to hear from you!

And the winner is ....

Finally the winner of last Friday's giveaway is -



Congratulations Bunnys Designs!

The trouble I had with that video! Excuse what look like my massive hands and the fumbling around with one hand. First video for me, unfortunately did not have a clue on how to put some cheery music over the top, so you pick up the noise in the background! Likely I muted my TV otherwise you would have been listening to Big Brother! Will have to play some music next time!

The covered buttons are yours along with a few other goodies! Yes you do get the polka dot bag - it was a sample that I made so enjoy!



Send me an email with your details and the following goodies will be on their way!

Hi - thanks for all the lovely comments and emails about the giveaway. All entries are now in and I will be making the draw tomorrow (going to try and video it, but we will have to wait and see if I can manage that with my lack of technical knowledge!!)
Will post the winner here tomorrow night, in the mean time here's a picture of one of my favourite things - tea and homemade muffin!

Friday giveaway !!

Well as promised here is my first giveaway! Thanks to those who left comments or sent emails about my cover button tutorial, hope it inspired or helped in some way!

So up for grabs is the cute little set of strawberry buttons plus some other little crafty surprises!



All you need to do is leave a comment on this post by Wednesday 20th June and then I will choose a winner!

Good Luck!

Cover Button Tutorial !!

Well it's finally here!! A few lovely people who have contacted me through my blog or over at Flickr asked if I could explain how I made the cover buttons, so I thought what better than a quick tutorial!!

At the moment I'm sat here like a Cheshire cat with a big grin as I managed to figure out how to use Leafletter to post the tutorial rather than a lengthy post and loads of photos!! I just hope that you can all see it and it works!
Let me know!

Well here it is - have fun and any questions let me know!

Thanks to Drewzel over at Flickr she found this fab website tool - been playing around with their name signs to make my name in soup!! Loads of fun!
Plus lots of crafting today so hopefully post about that this week :)

4 months

It's nearly been 4 months since I started this blog and I can't believe I'm kinda still going strong. Not posting as frequently as I would like due to work commitments but hopefully I will get better!
Since joining the world of blogs I have met and been in touch with some fab people all around the world. It's amazing that there are so many like minded people that have the same love for crafting!
Thank you for all your comments and kind emails as I get really excited to see if someone has left me a comment! I can also not believe that I have had just over 500 visitors! I worry that maybe only one or two people may stumble across my little blog and ramblings. Those of you who are yet to come out of the woodwork (or web world) I would love to hear from you!

My little mushroom buttons have gone down a storm and because I've been a little addicted to making them I am going to put together a set to give away some how! I will work out some fab and ingenious way so check back soon!!
CraftyB

A bit of craftiness at last!!

Another lovely day over here - beautiful blue sky - and at last a bit of crafting going on!


New tool...

Shiny buttons...

The fear of cutting into one of my lovely new fabrics...


but a really cute button at the end! A few more of these to be made in the evening sun!

To Do...

I find life a little bit easier when I have a to do list to keep me busy but at the moment the list is out of control and not even on paper but in my head!! So many things crammed in there at the moment I needed a nice day of relaxing... gardening and baking!

Beautiful Clematis flowers on a lovely sunny and warm day!!


Home made cranberry and poppy seed muffins - this was the first time I tried this recipe and changed a few things to suit me and they are so yummy!!
Will definitely be trying this again with different flavours! If anyone fancies the recipe let me know and I will post it!

Blimey - just had somewhat of a memory loss and couldn't remember my log in details!! Frantically searching through bits of paper, but then all okay at the end! Phew!

Well slowly getting back to crafting, wayhay!! Purchased these lurvely new fabrics!! I will let you all sit and stare at their loveliness while I think of something to do with them!! Enjoy the bank holiday weekend!! (That's if you're in the UK)

Typical - it's been a glorious sunny day today, get out of work at a reasonable time with the thought of sunshine, gardens or crafting (yes I know crafting!! Not done a lot of that lately) only to sit in a traffic jam!! At least the countryside was looking good, and can you see that blue sky!

Sometimes an advertising campaign comes along that makes me think WOW, or how did they come up with that idea, or how clever!!
Well there's an advert on at the moment in the UK that I absolutely love! What a fab idea to make a car completely edible - YES the whole thing is a cake!! Plus it comes with a fab tune!!
If you want to check it out visit here and watch the baking of!!

Blimey I didn't realise that it's been nearly two weeks since I've posted!!
When I started this blog earlier this year I had hoped and planned to post regularly - not sure what happened there though!? Life and work!
In two weeks time things should be a little less hectic and the sewing machine may come out again!
In the meantime I managed to track down some lovely magazines. I always see these on US based blogs and a visit to my local Borders store came up trumps!! Lots of lovely images and ideas, I particularly like the handsewn apron ideas.

Swap love!!

I'm still overwhelmed with work at my day to day job but the temptation of posting today was just too strong! The reason being for this fab little parcel that arrived the other day.


I have only recently started taking part in craft swaps mainly organised by fab people over on Flickr. My latest swap is fab - it's amazing how generous people are that you have never met before! I just love the strawberry fabric and can't wait to get some free time to come up with a little project for it! I just hope my swap partner likes her package when it arrives!

Still here!

It's been nearly a week since my last post but I wanted to say that I am still here (or over posting pics on Flickr) but life is a little hectic!!
I'm extremely busy with my day to day job and all craft has been put on a major hold :(
Hope to get back to things soon, but a short break is needed.
Catch up soon!

Fun new (old) book!

My mum recently picked this book up for me and how I giggled when I looked through the images!


It's an old, not vintage as it's about 1985, sewing and embroidery book. I've picked out a couple of fun photos.

Thought I might whip up some new outdoor weather gear!! The pattern looks fairly easy!


I like these cute guys, made from towelling fabric!


Free sewing project - this has probably been posted somewhere else but I've only just come across it! The wrist bag looks a nice, easy to use pattern.

Easter Weekend Project

I've had this little project in my mind for a while and started sketching ideas out over the holiday weekend.

The idea ~ A diary/organiser cover with several pockets and pouches.

The process was a sort of make it up as you go, but I'm really pleased with the outcome!
Sewing it all together at the end was a bit difficult due to using interfacing and a thin wadding to pad it out - so don't look to close at the edge stitching!


A bit of an overkill on photos for this post but here's a few the rest are on Flickr.

Look what flew over my house today!

Not sure if flew is the right word more drifted!?

It's been lovely weather here at the moment so have been spending more time gardening than crafting, although I have finished a couple of projects, but for today here are these pictures I managed to capture although ignore the dirty window!!

Have a lovely Easter weekend everyone!

Dots and Flowers

It's great to be organised!! All sorted after my last post but realised I need a few more files than originally purchased. It's also amazing what inspiration a little sorting brings. I found loads of cuttings and patterns that I had forgotten all about.

Here's my latest completed project...


A dots and flowers zippered pouch.


At one point late last night though was getting a bit frustrated with the zip and lining!!

Miss Organisation!

That was my title for the day - the plan to get organised and sort out all my magazine cuttings, pull out patterns and other bits and pieces I've collected and finally gather them in one place so it's easier to look through for ideas and inspiration. Off I went to the shops to get a large file and scrapbook. I had the idea of just buying a cheap plain one and decorating it, but then I came across this one and just couldn't resist!!


1. I liked the colours
2. It wasn't too expensive
3. I just fell in love with the design!! Fabric and stitching - how cute!!


I also picked up these clips for a memo board type project I've had in my mind but couldn't find them big enough and then Voila!! What a lovely day and even the sun's been shining!!

Vintage Food Graphics

Some books I buy I flick through once or twice and then they spend the rest of their life hidden away on the bookshelf. However this little book I purchased a couple of weeks ago I can't stop picking up!
It's packed with loads of Vintage Food Graphics. I just love the assortment of designs and colours and some of the fun illustrations!!
Here are a few treats...