Sunday 3 May 2009

Thrifting and Cupcakes



Gosh! Look how similar these colour combinations are!
Hello all.


The sun is shining on my little patch of earth today and I'm feeling alive and zingy! My blogging mojo has been sadly missing over the last couple of weeks my friends. Yes, I must admit it took me all my time to post the crochet pattern for the Kitty. I don't even like to see it on my blog! But I'm feeling much better today.

I thought we'd better have a general catching up session today.

.

Yesterday wonderful man and I went out to the garden centre and came home with an unusually shaped lampshade, some beautiful Sanderson curtains, some sewing bits and pieces, paint and a few other odds and ends. 


Here are the scrummy Sanderson curtains that I snaffled up for £3.99. They are, in my humble opinion absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunatley they won't fit any of my windows! I did wonder if I could make them larger by adding a co-ordinating gingham check around the edges, a bit like my kitchen curtains in the picture below. Alas, that would indeed be A LOT of gingham!

These were made from a pair of spotty curtains and a apair of check curtains which I had to cut up to make four curtains and two pelmets (there are two windows in the kitchen.)

I wish you could have seen me doing the maths for this project! It took me weeks just to work out how to do it, to make the curtains both look as full as each other as one window is wider than the other. (Nothing is ever straight forward is it?) I don't think you can tell from the photo but the pelmet on this window is actually made by unpicking and then re-stitching together all the little tab tops from one curtain, thats how tight the fabric was! You may also notice in this picture two rather large dustwebs! Ooops!


I also came across this lovely little KNITTED doily. It really is delicate and at 49p I couldn't possibly leave it. The floral fabric next to it is a blouse, sadly too small for me but as fabric for crafting...perfect.

Talking of crafting; this is what I've been up to lately...cupcaking! I've designed a new cupcake base which is not quite as fiddley as the ones I was making back in this post, but still gives me a lovely cupcake shape. I don't like to see cupcakes made with straight cases, I like mine to go wider at the top like a real one! As with the curtains, nothing is ever straight forward. It took me seven or eight attempts at making a pattern and trying it out before I got the right shape and size. I just can't help it, if it's not right then I'm not happy and won't want to make any more. So it really was worth all the effort and junior school maths! Lets hear it for Pythagoras's theorem!
Just so I don't get into trouble with Carol; I've also been getting on with another little project, but more of that when it's finished : )

I'll leave you with a photo of what I can see in front of me up here in the attic.
Love Fi x

18 comments:

Lalabibaby @ Dreaming of The Simple Life said...

Those cakes look good enough to eat .... and I love your blue curtains

jeane said...

love your cupcakes, its beautiful. wished it can be eaten. hehe.

Thecraftytrundler said...

Love the Sanderson curtains, that's a great idea to add gingham to enlarge them! You made a fantastic job of the last ones you made!
the knitted doily is so unusual, pretty, and delicate! The rosy fabric in that top is beautiful. Can't wait to see what you make it into!!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK : )

SHARON XX

Thecraftytrundler said...

Love those cupcakes too!! Real scrummy!!!!

Sharon xx

Simone said...

I can see you have been very busy! Your kitchen curtains are lovely and I love your cupcakes - especially the one with the cherry on top!

Julia said...

Hello there!

I DO love those cupcakes, and like you I know where you're coming from when something has to be just right or its not worth doing. I also think your curtain fabric is beautiful...isn't it dreamy looking at treasures that other people find..?

Happy May Bank Holiday to you, hope you have a scrumptious one!

ps, forgot to mention I think, I love your kitty pattern, must try and make time to give that one a whirl my daughter would really like it!

J xxx

Lyn said...

Thanks for the Kitty Pattern, will try that when I progress from granny squares. It's lovely to see some one elses workspace as crazy as mine!
Love
Lyn
xxx

Alchamillamolly said...

Hi there I bet you got a surprise to see what was on the High Street. Wish I'd known you were coming in to town you could have called for a chat and a cuppa. Love the curtains - I didnt make it town this weekend apart from the dreaded Tesco today. Alan has been steaming off the painted lining paper from the bathroom wall so he can finish the tiling around the bath. What a job - I went off to do the shopping when He was cursing at the sludgey mess he found after steaming the old walls just like the back room Yeuk - suddenly Tesco beckoned!

Joanne said...

You've been really busy, love your cup cakes and the kitty.

All that shopping must of been so tiring ha ha some lovely buys.
Your kitchen curtains are just adorable.

Joanne x

Pink Feather Paradise said...

I have made a kitten and apparently I need to sew its head differently... once he has a tail and face I will take a photo...

I love sanderson farbric... and I am sure you will put it to good use...

Those kitchen Curatins are fabulous... and are those crochet bunnies I spy on your table... ooohhhh lovely!

I am starting to make Christmas presents... as this year it is all going to be hand made!

Blankets, Cushions and paintings...

take care
Alex x

Shabby Chick said...

Great cupcakes! The curtains ARE gorgeous.

I think I've lost my blogging mojo as well and I think I may have annoyed some people as well! Oops :-S

mel xxx

Diane said...

How busy have you been!!! Love the curtains. Many thanks for the info regarding the Keld campsite - I think I read about that one in the Wild Camping book. I'm hoping we can fit a weekend in as it looks magical.

lynn said...

hi fi well you have come thru the mexican standoff!! the chelsea fabric is afav of mine and when i emigrated i brought all of my sanderson fabrics with me .i hope to have cheyne walk and little chelsea in my bedroom one day when i get round to it love from across the oceans lynnie

Carol said...

You have been busy Fi.
Your curtaind look fab as do the cupcakes. I am really looking forward to seeing the finished project....lets hope it brings us luck.
Carol xx

Lesley's Creations said...

Great finds Fi'. Gorgeous fabric for curtains. You could match a colour in a plain fabric to edge them too. Either way they will be beautiful! Mmmmmmm loooooove thoes cupcakes. Hugs xx PS. Its about time you had an afternoon with us at the natter create club!!!! Well more natter than create at the mo'. Making bags this thursday. Tempting? Take Care. xx

Pink Feather Paradise said...

I have left an award on my blog for you...

X Alex

BT said...

But what a lovely catch up blog post it is. Those cup cakes are simply amazing. They look so real. Your kitchen curtains are beautiful and I love the cobwebs, I have lots!! Sanderson fabric is tops too. I can't wait to see what you do with it. All in all, a fabulous post. I hope those bunnies are knitted cos I can knit but can't crochet!!

koralee said...

Those cupcakes are adorable...oh how i want to make some...thanks for inspiring!

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