Take a note (book) Miss Jones.

 I'm fizzing today!

 There are so many ideas in my head and sooo many things I want to do! My heart's beating faster and my skin is tingling. I spent the weekend visiting Woolfest 2012 at Cockermouth and an exhibition at my local Embroiderers Guild (must remember to show you the photos)

You may think this is a good thing for a creative bod like me, but it's not. NO! It can be quite dangerous, as being full of so many ideas means I can't decide what to do first and often this leads to the dreaded 'not doing anything at all!'

PROCRASTINATION

I have plenty of  works already in progress to finish without all the new ideas in my head. There is a new felt picture to finish embroidering, felt brooches to put together, a bunny to make, stones to crochet, stones to embroider, crochet and knitting to get on with, a crochet class to prepare and notebooks to cover...

OO! Notebooks!

Nearly forgot about them (not much room in my head at the mo)

(front A5)

 (back)

 Yes, I thought I better show you my first attempt at covered notebooks before the photos got forgotten and lost in the myriad of files and folders on my computer.

(front A5) 

 (back)

Gosh! Just remembered I need to make a birthday gift for a dear friend, a thank you gift that's way overdue for another lovely friend and I need to make some more greetings cards. OH HECK! Daughters prom dress need altering too!

 (front A6)

 (back)

 I couldn't forget pretty insides too :) I think they're almost my favourite part, lol.

Maybe I should have one of these notebooks to keep my memory in! 

or at least my list of projects to finish. 

*

Thank you for the Meadow Felt love. It's now in the art and craft gallery, I'll try and remember to take a photo of it hanging in it's little space, but knowing what my memories like, don't hold your breath! 

love ...er...erm...oh yes... Fi x

Edited to add :: Just noticed this was my 300th post! WHOOHOO!
I think I better add 'organize a celebratory giveaway prize' to my to do list. 
You don't mind it a bit late do you? x

Edit number 2 :: Panic over, it's ok, I've just noticed Blogger counts your drafts in with your published posts so I'm only up to 292 posts, phew! A bit of breathing space, haha. x

Hi all, there's been much bustling about in the attic this past week.

 I've had orders for vintage linen bunnies.

I made these two from some beautifully embroidered linen

 There are some very delicate stitches.

 And some very pretty colours.

 With co-ordinated buttons.

 And gorgeous floral Liberty fabric ears.

It's a little bit sad they won't be staying together, but I know they'll both be loved very much in their new homes. Now they're finished I shall turn my attention to mulling over a little giveaway. 

Till next time and results of my 'mulling'.

love Fi x

Well I've started this year with real gusto my friends! (Lets hope I can keep it up, lol)

I'll apologise now for the speed with which I whizz you through this post but my little sewing machine has been so busy over the first 20 days of 2011 that I'm afraid we'll get behind with each other.

So without further ado lets get this post on the road...

Do you remember this beautiful piece of embroidery? I found it dirty and crumpled in a box that I bought from a charity shop labelled 'Granny Pilleys embroidery' well over a year ago.

Gorgeous isn't it?

At the moment there is a lack of comfy sofa cushions in the MarmaladeRose household due to me having a tizzy fit just before Christmas and chucking out our old worn and threadbare cushion covers. I did of course being the thrifty madam that I am, cut off the zippers and pass on the worn almost pancake flat inner pads to Sneaky Dog for her bed. (and very pleased she was with them too) So there has been a dearth of cushions on Wonderful Mans sofa which hasn't gone unnoticed I can tell you.

Being the good wifey that I am, I thriftily (I think we'll be seeing a lot of that word this year) rummage around in the numerous boxes stashed in the loft for said piece of fabric, I gave it a wash and hey presto it looked shipshape and shiny!(and smelt much better too!)

I did tremble a bit before I cut into the fabric. It's such a fine piece of embroidery that I did wonder whether or not I should put it in a picture frame and hang it on the wall. But then I reasoned with myself that textiles are meant to be touched, lets face it how many of us can walk through a department store without fingering a garment or two as we glide past.

Any how, I'm sure Granny Pilley would rather it was adorning one of Dunnelms finest feather cushion pads on Wonderful Mans sofa rather than scrunched up in the corner of a cardboard box never to see the light of day.

And this is the back, little green, velvet button loops finish it off.
I even managed to find 3 buttons in my stash with a wavy design on them to match the fabric.
(Apologies for the very poor light, but it's been crap here, it's like living in a hobbit hole!)

Next is a quilted patchwork cushion with a vintage vibe. This one is NOT on Wonderful Mans sofa but sitting prettily in my Folksy shop waiting for someone with infinite good taste and a space on their bed/chair for a some embroidered and patched scrummyness.

No attention has been spared here. The back fastens with 2 embroidered covered buttons and coloured lace button loops. I'm on a roll now girls.

I've also made 3 bunnies for my Folksy shop, this unusual soft green one has already hopped off to pastures new though. (Just as well really as I was very temped to keep her for myself, tut, tut!)

Another Springtime bag has been carefully completed, actually there have been 2, but the pretty pink one I made was snaffled up by a friend before I could even photograph it! This one started out as a tray cloth, but life had been hard on her and she had some pretty grotty tea stains on her bottom. OO er! Notice the hobbity lack of light again!

Talking of tea, (Good link eh? My posts aren't just thrown together you know.)
Talking of tea...

I've been making padded removable liners for these vintage embroidered tea cosies.

Put the kettle on Polly!

(Yes I know they are budgies but I couldn't think of anything for a budgie!)

Now this one IS mine!
(Note to self; Must start using a teapot.)

Phew! I think we're up to date now. Well actually we're not because I know I have something else up in the attic that's finished but it is awaiting some daylight to be photographed.

Anyway... Lastly, this is my work basket today.
Can you spy those little embellished hearts?

Yep! I know. I'm a big tease...

till next time

love fi x

Cold Turkey!

Hello, how are you doing?

Have you finally finished all of the turkey?

Is the dustbin full and the bottle bank overflowing?

Yes, same here, lol.

We've reached those funny few floating days between Christmas Day and New Years Eve. I've found myself floating aimlessly too, unable to settle. I know exactly why; I get like this if I haven't done anything creative and crafty for a couple of days. So there was nothing for it but to set up a make-shift work station up in the attic. You see my usual big sewing table has travelled down 2 flights of stairs to join the dining table as we had guest for Christmas. In it's place 2 single mattresses were laid ready for my nieces to sleep on. Well needs must and all that, I stood the mattresses up against the wall (I can't put them away as we have more guests arriving on New Years Eve.) and put together a tiny kitchen table that we no longer use.

Ahhhh...that's much better, just enough room for my lovely, lovely, scrummy sewing machine (oh how I've missed you! stroke, stroke.) and a small cutting mat.

And what did I make?

Well I've had this scrappy little drawing in my sketch book for months, so I thought I'd see what I could do with it.

Do you want to see?

I had a good old rummage and chose a suitable piece of embroidered linen.

Another rummage for pretty cotton lace, which wasn't easy as everything had been stuffed out of sight in cupboards and under beds ready for my guests. (How I'll ever find anything again I really don't know!)

A piece of the reddest gingham fabric

and hey presto!

A little Spring time shopping bag was made.

Ohhhhhh...I feel sooooo much better now that I've had my fix! lol.
.
I'll be back soon with all my Christmas craft makes now they are no longer secrets and some pictures of frozen waterfalls.

.

Happy Inbetween Time.

fi x

Gloomy Photo Shoot

Hello Ladies, sorry I was just having a giggle...

This one reminded me of Charlies Angels, teehee!

No, I know it's not that funny but it just tickled me.

I've been trying to take some photos of these large bunnies for my Folksy Shop.

But as you can see,

it's been very difficult with the gloomy snow filled days we've been having,

Which ever way up you look at it.

I even went as far as taking down the lace net curtain to let in more light!

But I don't think it made a jot of difference.

But I have to say...

the bunnies were very patient.

posing in every position possible.

Bless em!

It was a real team effort!

fi x