What were you doing 10 years ago...?

Thank you all for Luke's birthday wishes, the party went well, apart from, we did decide to be brave and go for a bbq, only for it to start raining just as Mr LK started cooking, then the gas promptly ran out!  Luke had fun anyway, and got lots of new cars, so he's one very happy little 3 year old.

I haven't had much time to blog this week with the children being off, and next, we are off to the Lake District for the weekend.  But while perusing Flickr, I did realise that I hadn't blogged this yet...

(front)

This is another version of my mum's bag, I changed the shape, mainly due to the fact that the felted cardigan used as the base fabric is now in short supply.

(back)

It was a present for my mother-in-law's birthday.

I've been tagged for the same meme by quite a few other bloggers, (forgive me for not listing everyone, and thank you for thinking of me).  Quite a few of the questions from the meme have already been answered by other meme's previously, but there was one question which caught my eye... what was I doing 10 years ago?

Well, 10 years ago I was newly married, living in our first house, no children yet and working in, what was probably a crafters dream job, an in-house design studio for a large multinational needlecraft kit manufacturer based here in the UK.  If the brand name was Anchor, then most likely, I would have had a hand in the production of it.  My first day there was in June 1994, and I remember it well.  I sat at a desk in front of a piece of graph paper and was asked to draw out my first cross stitch design, I had no idea where to start!  After 3 weeks of graph paper, I got to move onto the computer, through which I learnt a huge amount about design.  

I had the opportunity to work on projects with Marks & Spencers, the Embroiderers Guild, and Ehrman Tapestry to name but a few, and also had work featured in many of the craft and stitching magazines.  We had fun working there, it was a good design team, and there are many tales to tell... like the time I glued a bead to my forehead, or got my foot wedged in the arm rest on my computer chair (I wriggled around for about 10 minutes before asking for help to be released!), I put on well over a stone in weight as the snack machine was outside the design studio door, and the time our boss tripped and fell into the bottom draw of the artwork cabinet that someone, (who will remain nameless, but you know who you are!!), had left open.

All jobs have their ups and downs, and by the time I left, I'd moved in one direction, and the job had moved in another.  Anyway, I now have a new design team to work amongst...

all of you!

Oh, to be 6 again...

Can I have one of these for my birthday please??

épingles & aiguilles,

I loved embroidering this, a custom order for a cotton reel pin cushion, 

pins & needles..., in french!

Hope I've spelt it correctly!

ps, I did get both, you lot are a bad influence!

Bitty booties!

Some friends of ours had a baby girl on Tuesday, and I wanted to have a go at making something I'd not done before... cue Heather Bailey's 'Bitty Bootie' tutorial (don't worry, I have made 2!), this is the 0-3 months size, so cute.  Almost enough to make me broody, (I did say 'almost'!).

We're having a party tomorrow, it's Luke's 3rd birthday and also to celebrate Mr LK's news.  I had my heart set on a garden party, with bunting, bouncy castle and a BBQ, but unless the weather perks up, at this rate, it's going to be 'b y o b'.., bring your own brolly!

Nice day for a white wedding,

I don't often post pictures of my children, but these are exceptional circumstances, due to them both looking so sweet in their wedding outfits...,

needless to say, Luke's suit did not stay clean very long.  He's a boy.  And he likes playing with dirt!

Safety first...

After last week being a bit hit & miss, I decided it would be safer to enter this week by setting a few ground rules to life, and a check list...

1.  hair to remain attached to head  ✓

2.  tooth to be mended  ✓

3.  no more teeth to be broken (fingers crossed, but avoid chewy sweets as a precaution)

4.  avoid the headbutting of sewing machine (so far, so good!)

Next, a check list for crafting...

1.  finish the two commissioned applique cushion covers  ✓

2.  more pink owls for Etsy  ✓

3.  more items in general, in pink, for Etsy (well, they are still wip's, but well on the way)

4.  email all the Toadstool Swappers with their partners details  ✓

(however, if you have yet to receive these details, please let me know)

I also had the first issue from my new subscription to Selvedge magazine arrive, turned to page 15, and a couple of minutes later, had purchased this little tiny 'tweeter', so cute!

This weeks WIP

I am working on a set of patchwork animals using Rowan fabrics and felt with a bit of applique and embroidery.







Version two is not complete, it needs feet adding and I can't decide whether to put the pocket on the front or the back for the little finger puppet.

After starting on a purple one, I got half way through and a parcel of new material came in the post which totally changed my mind, so I started again!.

I like quirky!

We are going to a wedding tomorrow, and last night it occurred to me that I had yet to sort out a card, no problem, I can make something. After a bit of trawling about on Flickr etc for ideas, I'd seen lots of lovely wedding inspiration but it was all a bit 'seen it all before' if you know what I mean. Cakes, champagne glasses, wedding rings, confetti, all the usual imagery, but nothing a bit different, unique, and well, ...quirky.  Then I remembered something I'd seen on the 'Feeling Stitchy' blog a while ago, a love note.

So with that in mind, and also obviously subliminally channeling my daughters homework?! (must be because it reminds me of my old school exercise books), I came up with this...

I just need to finish mounting it on the front of the card and that's my homework finished.  I know I like quirky, I just hope the bride & groom do too!

To book, or not to book?

That is the question I'm pondering today.  It's probably long overdue, but if I'm going to do another craft book, I need to pull my finger out and knuckle down to writing that book submission.  There are ideas, but in all honesty, writing a book is a long job, and I need to weigh up the return against plans like PDF patterns, or even kits.

In the meantime, I'm going to add a few pieces to the Etsy shop later,

a new retro Owl,

the other retro Owl I made a few weeks back,

and an Otter.

Quilt Market,

I may not have been able to be there in person...

but I was there in spirit!  Thanks to Katy for the photo.

Sit back,

...relax, watch and enjoy.

(and re-live that moment of horror with me where I suddenly remember the awful author picture which I meant to replace, ...is still there!)

The book is out now.

Good news always comes after bad...

There are some things that have been happening here that I have yet to share...

(more owls for next Etsy update)

Since having the bout of tonsillitis, I had started to feel like I was hitting a bad patch. My son drove a battery powered car across the top of my head, which got tangled up and pulled a large handful of hair out (yes, ouch!!), I pinched a sweet from my daughter and then thought, 'this feels harder than it should be!', to find a rather large chunk of both tooth and filling had come out (dentist for me on Wednesday!). This next one is more my own fault, but while burning the midnight oil a bit too much this week, I started to nod off and headbutted my sewing machine!

But, then the natural law of the universe steps in, and brings good things to even it all out, firstly for me, there has been world domination by way of toadstools!!, and secondly, for my husband...

Some of you who have been reading my blog for a while will know what he does, he is a portrait painter, and after being a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters for around 5 years has just been chosen to be the new President!

You may now call me Mrs President!

ps, all those signed up for the swap, you should have received an email from me yesterday, please let me know if you haven't or if there are any problems.  I will be drawing swap partners later today.

Sewing class...

I'm teaching a sewing class!  My first one, very exciting.

Sew a Baby Barn Owl

Saturday 18th June 2012, 10am - 1pm

at Catmose College here in Oakham, Rutland, UK

The college are supplying sewing machines, I'm supplying most of the materials (and of course the expert tuition!), all that's needed is a basic sewing kit, pins etc.

There are more details here and also the contact details to book a place.

Red shoes...,

I've posted before about my love of the colour red.  For a while now, I've been on the look out for a woollen jumper to felt, which is just the right shade of red.  The one I used for this latest softie shoe, is more pink than red...,  

but on Friday, while dragging Luke on a thrifting trip into town, I spotted not one, but two red jumpers.  Now, given that I am getting short of storage space, and also trying to be thrifty in my thrifting, I can't warrant buying both jumpers, the question is, which should I get?

One is a lovely, rich shade of true red, the other is just as nice, but a slightly bluer red, and I just couldn't make my mind up.  They have put them both on one side for me, and I'm going to ask you lot for advice on which colour to go for, which would you get?!

(another softie shoe, it's been a while since I've made these, was fun remembering how!)

(I know what you're all going to say..., get both!)

Mollie Makes by Lucykate Crafts...

Years ago, around the time I was at college studying textile design, there were a fair amount of craft and sewing magazines around.  This was the era of Changing Rooms and everyone was going crazy for the idea of DIY.  It was a bit of a fad, and once the moment had passed, many of these magazines either folded or changed direction towards other crafts, in particular scrapbooking.  Fast forward to now, and this cycle is repeating itself.  The age of recession brings with it a new era of make do and mend, and along comes a fresh influx of craft and sewing magazines.  In the UK over the last few years there's been Selvedge, Sew Hip, Sew, Making, and Cloth joining the already well established Crafts Beautiful and Sewing World, then most recently Popular Crafts relaunched followed by the brand new titles of Simply Homemade, Handmade Living, and Mollie Makes.

I'm not even sure I've got them all in that list, there's so many.  And yet in my opinion, there is still a gap in the market.  How can that be?

My theory is it's because for most of the magazines listed, I'm not the target audience.  What I, and many of the UK craft bloggers (I know, because we've discussed this on Twitter many times) are looking for would sit somewhere between the giddy heights of Selvedge and the likes of Making and Cloth.  I can cope with a few project patterns thrown in but it's the textile eye candy and inspiration I'm after.  So many times, new magazines have appeared and made exclamations of 'we're new, we're different' but then a few issues down the line, not really lived up to those claims.  

This week I bought the first issue of Mollie Makes.  Cover looks lovely, they have indeed been checking out our American counterparts for ideas on styling.  The inside is a pleasant surprise, the projects are cute with a quirky edge (yay, no tote bags or pillow case dresses), and the articles appealing.  I won't say it's spot on (I'm hard to please) but it's pretty darn close!

The published crafting world is in danger of becoming flooded (says she who has just released a book!).  It is becoming harder and harder to stay original, but there's still space to give it a go.  It says in the top corner of the Mollie Makes cover 'for people who love the crafty life'.  If they can stick to that mantra, I will be watching this magazine with interest. 

Pink kitten...

Pink cat now has a pink kitten!

(these two will be going into the Etsy shop soon)

Thank you to everyone who has signed up so far for the toadstool swap (there are nearly 50 at last count!), I will be in touch over the weekend with your swap partners details.  There is still time to sign up, the deadline isn't until Friday.  In the meantime, I've started a Flickr group if anyone would like to join (even if you are not involved in the swap, but have made a toadstool) and post images of your toadstools when they are complete.  I can't wait to see them!

Sneaky peek,

Apologies for the slight blog break, I've had trouble logging into Blogger over the past week so am posting via Safari instead of my usual Firefox.  Maybe Firefox and Blogger have fallen out!

Anyway, here's a little sneaky peek of my contribution to the book Countdown Calendars, which is due out later this year.  

Can you guess what it is??

Edited to add - as with all Blogger blogs, this post temporarily disappeared.  It's back now, but the original comments are still missing.  Hopefully Blogger will be able to sort the problem.

Just call me 'The Bag Lady!'...

It looks like all my friends & family will be getting a bag for their birthdays this year.  I made this one last week for my friend and neighbour.  It started life as a very nice woollen Boden skirt which came from a charity shop (bargain at £4!).  There was no chance it was going to fit, it was a (UK) size 10, so I didn't mind chucking it in the washing machine to felt it. 

Rosebud decoration, courtesy of this tutorial,

It turned out rather pretty, the skirt fabric felted beautifully, and was really nice to work with, lovely and soft.  I only felted half the skirt, just in case it didn't work, but the rest will be going in the washer very soon!

The 'decorate an alice band' tute...,

Next week, we have a wedding to go to, and due to unforeseen circumstances earlier this year which led to a distinct lack of funds, I consciously made the decision that Lucy & Luke's outfits were going to be put together using all my thrifty skills.  Clothing wise, we have struck gold numerous times on Ebay with a white beaded dress, fur shrug and a beige linen suit, and the last thing to sort was something for Lucy's hair, which naturally, is handmade!  This is what I did for a simple wrapped headband decorated with a fabric flower...

You will need  ::  an alice band, ribbon, triangle of fabric measuring 5'' (13cm) across the bottom and 12'' (31cm) in length to the point, pins, needle, sewing thread, fabric glue and a small length of lace or marabou feather trim.

First, spread some glue on the alice band, and beginning at one end, wrap the ribbon round and round to cover the plastic.  Keep going until the whole band is covered with ribbon.  Leave to dry.

Next, fold the fabric triangle in half, lengthways, and beginning at the smallest, tapered end, roll the fabric up.

Continue rolling, and as the flower gets bigger, you may need to make some tucks in the fabric to turn corners.  Just make sure the folded edge creates the outside edge of the flower petals and the unfinished edge is held, centrally underneath so it is hidden.

Once all the fabric is used, tuck under the last unfinished edge and anchor the whole lot in place with a few stitches in some matching coloured thread.

So, there we now have a finished flower!

Decide where abouts onto the headband you want the flower to go, and glue in place.  Use pins to keep it secure until the glue has dried.

Between the band and the flower, also glue in place a small length of lace or marabou feather trim.  This will hide any untidiness and also add a little more glamour to the design (although, if while doing this, the glue gives way and the flower pops off like mine did, you can add a few stitches to secure everything to the ribbon if need be)

And there we go..., one headband befitting of any bridesmaid, flower girl or party guest.  Actually, I might make one for myself in different colours!

Another felt brooch

Made for a craft challenge, brief being, 'purple star'. Again, the printed spotty felt from Coats has crept in there!. This one is actually my second attempt as the first was star shaped but looked too much like a sheriffs badge.

How influenced are you...,

...by the fabrics and colours used in the item photographed with a craft pattern you are working from?

This is a serious question as I think I'm subconsciously more influenced that I thought I was!

Working from your own pattern is an odd experience too, made all the weirder for me as I"m running low on the turquoise felted sweater I'd used for the original Peacock.

There are lots of other blues to choose from in my stash, and I actually do really like this darker version.

I have 3 Peacocks to make, and each one will be different, with not just the felted wool varying but the patterned fabrics too.  So hopefully I can shake off the weirdness and begin enjoying the process a bit more!

Tick, tock...,

Thank you all for humoring me with my soppy previous post!, the exhibition opening went well, as did his speech.  As a way of saying thank you, I spent yesterday evening working on a new tutorial, and here it is..., a wrist watch pin cushion!. 

To make one, you will need...,

2 circles, measuring 8cm across of coloured felt (I've used a felted jumper)

1 circle, measuring 5.5cm of cream felt

1 strip of fabric, 3cm wide and long enough to wrap round your wrist with a 3cm overlap

1 strip of felt, same size as fabric strip

selection of small buttons

embroidery thread (I've used pearl cotton 8)

small amount of stuffing

1 snap fastener

pins, sewing needle, scissors, sewing machine (optional)

First, take the strips of fabric and felt, place them wrong sides together, pin and stitch all the way round the edge in blanket stitch.

Take one of the circles of coloured felt, and cut two, 3cm long slits.  Thread the strap through, making sure the felt circle is right side up, and the strap has the fabric side facing down.  Secure the strap in place with a few stitches.  Put this to one side while you work on the watch face.

Next, embroider the watch face numbers, either by hand, or you can do this by free machining on a sewing machine.  If you are a bit unsure how to do machine embroidery, I have a video tutorial posted on You Tube which explains how to do it!  It will help, to get the spacing right, to do the 12, 3, 6 and 9 first, then fill in the gaps with the other numbers.

Now, going back to the strap piece and holding it fabric side up, take the other circle of coloured felt, and place this, right side up, on top of the first felt circle.  Stitch blanket stitch all round the edge to join the two together, stop when you just have 5 cm left to sew, and stuff the watch face via this gap.  Once you are happy with the shape, continue sewing to close.  Attach the watch face with a few random straight stitches (I always prefer to do this part after it has been stuffed so I can get the positioning right, as stuffing it quite often changes the shape).  Add a winder to the right hand side, I did this by attaching two small buttons, one on top of the other.  Sew on another button centrally on the watch face, and embroider on the clock hands.

I made mine to say, 8 o'clock, my favorite time.  If it's 8am and we're still in bed, it means we've had a lie in, and 8pm, is when the kids are tucked up in bed, and I start sewing!

Test the strap round your wrist, and mark with a pin whereabouts the snap fastener needs to go.  Sew on the fastener, then add a button on the outside of the strap, although this is purely for decoration.

and there you go!.  It looks big on me, but I have ridiculously tiny wrists.  Just adjust the sizes of the circles if you want to make yours smaller.

As always, if you make one, I love to see your creations, please join the 'Lucykate Crafts... pattern pieces' group on Flickr and post your work there!

Happy stitching!

Toadstools for Etsy

I really want to add some toadstools to my next range for Etsy. 'Pink' has been on hold as the fabric I have on order hasn't arrived yet, so working with what I already have in my stash, I came up with the idea of adding a butterfly.

In addition to the buttons on the top, I've embroidered seeding and some french knots,

and used part of a thrifted crochet doilie (or is it doily?, how do you spell that word?!) to add decoration to the stalk.

The butterfly is actually a brooch and is removable!

PS, Don't forget about the toadstool swap, deadline for signing up is Friday 16th May (see the previous post for details)