Twit Twoo

Good Morning Folks

You may have noticed that I have recently ‘been on one’; well if not; here we go.

I saw some lovely Owls on the internet and decided to have a go at making some of my own.

I started off with what I thought would be an ok size, but was disappointed how small it came out.

It is really cute but very fiddly to make, so I decided to enlarge my pattern and have another go.

Colour choice was the main question, so I rummaged in my stash and found these Jade/Turquoise fabrics, so here we went again to see what the bigger one would look like. The bigger size came out at approx 7 inches tall, and I was generally happy with him.

Next to move on to some more, but again what fabrics?  My current favourites are Batik fabrics so I decided to see what combinations I could come up with. I found a lovely cream fabric that had some subtle changes in it; so decided to see what I had that would contrast well with the cream. This is what I came up with:

Once I had made the six I thought it was time to move on, but what next? Well it had to be more Owls because I just love them at the moment, so I decided it was time for Owl cushions. You may have seen that I have made one before.

The fabrics were quite subtle, so I decided to ‘go for it’ this time. This is the result:

Next was a compromise, not too bold, and not too subtle.

All of my Owls are available at the Creative-Connections CRAFTfest  and on my Website  (except one, which has already flown)

Well that was the end of the weekend, so had to stop sewing; but that hasn’t stopped me planning the next round; I have started it, but you’ll have to wait for the next blog to see what I came up with.

Signing off for now, back soon

F xx

More Lilac Groupies

Welcome back,

CRAFTfest is fast approaching, so I'd like to  introduce you to some more of my Lilac Lovelies; here goes:

Handmade by Suzanne

Hi I'm Suzanne a busy mum of two wonderful children, I make handcrafted jewellery, and all items are unique. I usually have at least one or two (or ten!!) projects on the go at any one time, my dreamy Pisces head can get easily carried away. Whenever I start with a plan I tend to go off on a tangent and end up designing something completely different - but that's all part of the fun isn't it??? As such although my items may not always follow the current high street trends (my mind doesn't seem to want to conform), you can be sure that all items have been made with love and passion and have been created uniquely just for you. Most have even got my four year old daughter's approval although sometimes Mummy there just isn't enough pink!!

I use mostly sterling silver and/or genuine gemstones, however all materials will always be stated for each and every item. I hope you find something you like xx

Website   Facebook

The Velveteen Cat

The Velveteen Cat store is where you will find handmade, one of a kind jewellery for the person who is looking for something a bit different to what you will find on the high street at very reasonable prices. There are several jewellery collections which cover a range of different styles from feminine and elegant pieces, to contemporary and more glitzy ones. There are also Heirloom Rosaries which are made of semi-precious and sterling sliver. With all that choice there should be something for everyone! Each piece is individual and although some designs may be similar, they will never be exactly the same unless requested as a custom order. Why not take a leisurely browse and see what is on offer!!

Facebook

Mystic Moon

I'm very free spirited and spiritual person and because of this I am a Reiki Master in two different styles of Reiki, In Ushi Reiki and Angelic Reiki. I'm Pagan and a lover of Nature, Elements and Sun and Moon.
I use Gemstones due to their Magickal and Healing Correspondences.

My jewellery is designed with quirkiness, individualism and dark fantasy in mind. My spirituality influences each and every piece, and I mainly create One Of A Kind (OOAK) pieces as creativity flows better that way. But there is a smattering of Festival Eivissa Style Jewellery and some Boho Undertones too to keep the shop fresh and on trend with the current fashions.

Website   Groovy Cart

Jacqueline Jones

I am a cottage industry manufacturing from home in rural Lincolnshire, trading as Jacqueline Jones.
I design and make vintage inspired bunting, aprons and homemade handicrafts. I am qualified as a Professional Interior Designer and have a love of vintage fashion and home, alongside colour, texture and beautiful materials. I sell online mainly via Folksy; I also have a number of retailers who sell my products.. I started the company after making hostess aprons and receiving such kind praise and also requests for me to make some for friends.
My beautiful high quality products are all individually made with great care and attention to detail. My items are only made in small quantities, so you can be assured of buying something unique to cherish forever :-) Jacqueline Jones is all about pretty things and just sometimes being inspired by the environment.

Website   Facebook

Kingfishercrafts

Hi I'm Julia from Kingfishercrafts. I love trying new crafts, but my main loves are knitting and card making. I cannot remember a time when I wasn't knitting or making something from baby clothes to soaps and candles. Everything at Kingfishercrafts is handmade using luxury hand dyed wools to fashion yarns, and cotton printed fabric to satin ribbon. Come and visit and have a browse through my shop.

Jennyrosemann

My interest in textiles began in childhood taking various forms, and has continued into my adult life. I currently create pieces fusing together felt, fleece, fabric and thread with hand and machine stitching/embroidery based upon the design of single stem flowers that stand proud. I often start a piece with only a visual representation in my head and allow the medium to shape the finished piece. I enjoy the journey that is being taking when creating a piece and experimenting. My work progresses over time and takes new direction supported by new techniques and experimentation.
The pieces within the Stall are based upon the single stem flower design with various combinations of fabric and thread and techniques. No two pieces can be the same due to the techniques used. Colour ranges vary from spring yellows to deep reds, and blues to purples. Custom orders are also very welcome based upon colour ranges and sizes. Thank you for looking at my page.

Website

Handmade By Midge

Handmade By Midge has plenty of handmade gifts for everyone but for the Craftfest I have chosen my baby and children selection. 

Website  Facebook

AsIndividualAs

Handmade Jewellery, Fun different and excellent quality. I've included in my stall some of my most popular items, including things for boys and Men, who often go unloved in the jewellery world. I have also put in some of my items that my current customers really like.
I enjoy making Jewellery its a hobby that has grown arms and legs, but it must be good quality, I love what I do and I want my customers to love it to. I hope that you do..

Facebook

Christine Reader

 Presently I make handmade Cyanotypes. They have a beautiful ethereal quality,reminding one of nature,they are feminine & timeless.I use female garments,underwear made of fluid fabric & lace or evening wear; also drawn images to make a negative.I photograph these onto paper or fabric.I also embellish fabric images with embroidery & beads,drawing into them with threads.Some of my work is inspired by my illustration training, beginning with a reference point. Such as a book title,poem, personal thought or feeling.
I also make cards and smaller hand crafted items to compliment the larger pieces.
I will take commissions for my work, personal garments can be photographed & embellished. 

Website  Linked In

Silver Fusion

Paragraph = Keeping to a limited palette of cool blues, greens and purples, and using traditional techniques, Rachel makes beads, findings and jewellery components, using glass, enamels, polymer clay, sterling silver and copper. 

Website

The Lemon Tree

The Lemon Tree hand crafts fine silver jewellery inspired by nature aswell as combining with genuine gemstones. Often a mould is taken of an object found outside on a walk along the beach or a leaf taken from a tree in the woods which is then used to design a beautiful, unique item of jewellery. 

Website  Facebook

Crafty Goates

My name is Clare and I am Crafty Goates, having established my craft business in 2005. We supply an extensive range of items for children's rooms comprising nameplaques, pegs of many different types, mirrors and canvasses. These are all individually handpainted with my original designs and names can be added to give that special, personal touch. Many of these items are also handmade to order in our workshop in Hemel Hempstead (by my father). I studied art to A level but did not consider making a career of it until more recently when I became a full time Mum. As well as painting, I also enjoy other creative crafts such as making cards, gift boxes and fabric items. Art runs in the family as my Auntie is an artist and my great grandfather was a leading painter at a well known ceramics factory in Chelsea during the Arts & Crafts movement.

I hope you all enjoyed my preview, and apologies to those of you for whom I have had to use different pictures to those that you sent me; (I was having some trouble with loading pictures today).


Please remember CRAFTfest starts this Saturday, so lets see lots of blogging, tweeting, sharing etc.

CRAFTfest

Look forward to see you all there


F xx

Lilac Groupies

Good Morning Folks

Well here I am as promised with some information about some of my lovely Lilac Ladies and Gents. We all have stalls at CRAFTfest  which starts on 10th March and runs for a full week; if you have missed the booking deadline don't worry there will be another one in June.

Take a look at some of the wonderful stalls and people that are in the Lilac group.

Northfield Primitives

Inspired by vintage and antique toys, I design and make animals and dolls which I stitch on a beautiful 1920's Singer treadle sewing machine. I use old Meccano wheels, vintage ribbons and buttons, traditional German glass eyes and rusty bells in my work, which adds to the vintage charm of each animal.

Website  Blog

RLW Designs

Hello!! My name is Rebecca and I am a designer/maker based in York. Working mainly in enamels I create fun, quirky pieces to brighten your day!

Days out, picnics, trips to the seaside... I take my inspiration from simple, everyday pleasures producing a collection of mixed media works using a range of materials, enamels, wood, metal and found objects... the use of stencils and naive, hand drawn illustrations add character and humour to each decorative piece.

Enamelling is the process of applying powdered glass onto metal...
I generally use a copper base, applying the vitreous enamel powders through a fine sieve...
The metal is then placed inside a small kiln for a couple of minutes...
With temperatures of between 750° and 850° the glass powder becomes liquid...
As it is removed from the kiln the molten glass solidifies to form a smooth, hard finish...
Enamels are durable and will not fade...
A wide variety of colours are available both transparent and opaque...
The nature of the materials and the techniques used ensure that each piece is unique, individual...

Website  Twitter

All Things Blankets and More

If you're a cat owner or just a cat lover then All Things Blankets & More is the stall for you.

I sell cat beds, cushions, blankets & throws all individually handmade by myself; many of which can be personalised and are all tested and approved by myself or my 4 kitties.

I have a few new product lines planned for 2012 but I am more than happy to accept custom orders.

Website  Blog

  

Dysfunction Designs

I create handmade tribal jewellery for both men and women. I use handmade clay beads, which I make myself, and team them up with a range of ethically sourced and unique wooden,bone and horn beads to create unusual and interesting bracelets and necklaces.

Website  Blog

Lionheart Stationers

The Lionheart Stationers come to share with you the whimsicality of hand drawn stationery and the vibration of personal touch. Our aim is to add excitement to your correspondence, animating words through images. We want to offer an alternative to the computerised world we’re living in, in which paper and pen have been replaced with texts, emails and status updates. We are here for those who still think that a written sentiment seems to convey something more then just a brief email that we regularly send and receive. Our products are created to warm the heart and show someone in writing that you took your time to think about them.
We do anything from thank you notes to birth announcements, christening invites to party invites, save the date or correspondence cards. Everything can personalised and one thing we love is having commissioned artwork.

Website  Blog

Handmade bespoke sterling silver jewellery

My aim is to bring you high quality handmade jewellery that is affordable, elegant and completely unique. Everything you see is made by me and based on my own designs.

Website  Blog

Dottie Designs

Dottie Designs makes personalised Keepsake Boxes, Photo Albums and Guest Books for all occasions. I like to work with the customer to ensure that they have the perfect gift and will match colour schemes to Wedding colours, or the colour of a Prom Dress. I work from my sea-side studio in Hampshire and am very lucky that I am able to pursue what was my hobby as a business.

Chasing Beads

My name is Suzanne and I own Chasing Beads. I design and sell jewellery at various events as well as my website (and not forgetting Facebook/Twitter). I specialise in beaded jewellery as well as teaching various age groups how to make jewellery at home parties and local venues.

Website

Handmade bags for all occasions.

The stall has a range of different types of bags, made from new fabrics, unless otherwise stated.
i like to make bags from a wide variety of fabrics and tend to go for bright and bold, but I am toning down my choices in response to feedback received!!
I also make bags to order.

Website  Facebook

Designs by JoJo

Over the last two years Designs by Jojo has concentrated on designing a luxury wedding invitation range, a range of greeting cards, party invitations, sourced some gorgeous favours and started making a contemporary jewellery range - so quite a busy time juggling with two children in tow!

Designs by Jojo is inspired by rich, vibrant colour, textured paper, nature, everything that glistens and especially sparkles and hopes that you will enjoy looking through the range of products available or if you have something more specific in mind, please don't hesitate to email me as bespoke designs are my speciality! 

JoSara

Contemporary Mosaic for the Home and Garden. I love to create colour palettes and pattern, and I love to create things for wildlife and the garden, as well as the home. I use mosaic because the tiles are frost proof and fade-resistant, which is perfect. I hope you like the end results.

Website  Blog

Uniquely yours

I crochet and knit to my own designs, all manner of accessories for
summer and winter., Scarves, hats, gloves, lacy wraps and lacy summer
gloves. Hairbands, earwarmers and so much more. I like knitting but
it`s crochet that`s my real passion.
I also make mug and cafeteria cosies. I paint ACEOs, mainly in
watercolours and really enjoy it.

Sparrowprimitivecrafts

Add a touch of vintage style charm to your home with our carefully crafted items. We specialise in shelf blocks, wooden signs, bunting and Primitive style products. They are all made in our studio with a great deal of attention to detail, ensuring a quality item for your shabby chic country style home.

Colour options are available from our website.

Our products have been seen in numerous national publications including Country Living, Bella, Daily Express, Sunday Express and Sunday Mirror; and we are also a BBC Dragon Theo Paphitis’ Twitter Small Business Sunday winner.

Website

I Hope you've enjoyed my preview, and I'll have some more for you soon, don't forget they will all be at the CRAFTfest from 10th March for a whole week

F xx

CRAFTfest March

Good Morning,

I promised to come back and tell you more about CRAFTfest, so here I am.

CRAFTfest is an online craft fair open to anybody across the world. This time it is running for a whole week, to give people plenty of time for browsing and shopping. Anyone can join in, it is open to crafters, artists, suppliers, ALL OF YOU. It is very easy (and cheap) to join in, simply pop along to http://www.craftfest-events.com/ and fill in the booking form. You can make payment (of only £5) via paypal, so nice and easy.
Once you've booked your stall, you create an album on the site of all the items that you would like to sell, together with a price and location where they can be bought, (website, Folksy, Etsy, even via email if you wish). There is not a limit to how many items you can include, and NO commission is taken on sales. What could be better?

I'll tell you what's better.... we have set up support groups/teams, to help promote both the event and you stall. You will be allocated to a group and told who your leader is.
This gives you the chance to join in with group discussions, follow on twitter, like on facebook etc., and the following etc. will be reciprocated.
Then whenever you promote we will share it, retweet etc. and hope you will do the same for us.

All the team leaders will be writing blogs about their team members including pictures and websites/Folksy shops etc. - so maximum exposure.
Where else could you get all this for £5?

BUT wait there's more.... Once you join the CREAFTfest you will have joined Creative Connections - what's that I hear you ask...

Well it is an amazing community of crafters and artists, we have forums, discussion groups and even a live chat room where you can go and talk to many of us, and get any help, advise or just a friendly chat.

We would love to see you there, and watch out for the next blog as I will be telling you a bit about some of my group - The Lilac Group

Bye for now

F xx

Post Decorating

Hi

and welcome back to you, sorry I have been absent for so long; but those of you that follow me on facebook will know that I have been decorating my house from top to bottom. This was all with the view of selling the house; and it has now gone on the market.  http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-36787118.html 

I am very pleased with what we acheived (my sons took time off to help me ). Every room in the house was decorated except for 2 of the bedrooms, which had been done recently.

We also managed to spring clean everything, including the loft!!.

It feels so good to know that there is nothing in the house now that we don't want.  My only regret is that we didn't take before and after pictures; for those of you that are interested; here are some of the results of all of our hard work.

Now that all the decorating is done I want to get back to sewing, however it is not easy to be creative and tidy at the same time!! I am having to limit myself to sewing at times of the week when I do not have to either go to work, or show people around the house. Please don't think I am complaining, I would love more viewings, although am having my second one tomorrow, (and the house has only been on the market for 1 week), so doing well I think.

I am going to focus very much on the Creative Connections CRAFTfest which is running in March for a whole week (for only £5), so look out for more details in my next blog. There is not much time left if you'd like to book a stall so check out their website and see what you think. http://www.craftfest-events.com/

I'll be back soon to tell you more about the CRAFTfest, and would love to see lots of you there, either as a seller or a buyer, (or both!)

Take Care

F xx

Embed CRAFTfest Stall

I saw this on the Crystal Lady's blog, so thought I'd give at a go. This is  a slideshow of my stall at the CRAFTfest


Find more photos like this on Creative Connections


hope that worked
signing off for today

F xx

Latest Creations with AccuQuilt

Hello, today I thought I'd show you some of the items I have created with my new AccuQuilt Go, before I move on to some more designs.

You may have seen on a previous blog that I made an 'Owl' cushion following a pattern from one of the AccuQuilt books, well I decided it would be better and more fun to make up my own. So I decided to start with a cushion.

For this cushion I started with a 16 inch square, and simply played with hearts. I cut a number of hearts in 3 different colours, and just kept moving them around until I was happy with the look. I placed 4 large hearts in the centre and tucked smaller ones in underneath as I worked out. I had already added bondaweb to the fabric before cutting the hearts, so I removed the backing paper, sorted my design, and then just ironed so they all stayed in placed. I then simply stitched around the edges of each heart to ensure they were secure. Finally I attached an envelope back to the cushion, inserted pad and hey presto, cushion made in record time.
I am thinking about creating kits for this cushion in different colour ways, would love to know if anyone would be interested.

Having finished my cushion I decided to have a play with my small flower cutter. Again I added bondaweb to the fabric before cutting.

Again I cut a selection of flowers and leaves before I began, and just 'played' until I was happy, I decided it needed something more so added a butterfly to the design (again cut with my Go). I then removed the paper backing, ironed, stitched around, and hey presto a new wall hanging. With this I added wadding and the backing before stitching, so that it was quilted at the same time. Once all stitched, I bound the edges with the same fabric as the flowers, and added a channel on the back for hanging. Again I am thinking of doing kits, let me know if you'd be interested and what your favourite colours are.

What next was the following thought - well I had lots of hearts and flowers left over (getting a great collection now!) so I thought what about a Kindle cover.

I felt this needed something on the back too

I personally love the colours of this one, might have to keep it for my Kindle. There won't be kits for these, as I sell them on my website www.perfectpatchwork.co.uk

I am going to spend some time today cutting, then tomorrow I am going to a craft fair, where I will be creating new designs, so people can see how I do them. If you're in the area please pop along and say hi (Feniton Devon). I might even have a special discount for you if you mention my blog.

Hope to see some of you tomorrow, and I'll post new makes as I do them

Signing off for today

f xx