And another new idea

This week I was asked to create a name plaque out of felt for a little girl. Specific colours were required - rose pink and purple. The creative juices started flowing, and this is my finished make.

personalised name plaque

Not a brilliant photo, but it has been very overcast here today, but hopefully you can get an idea. All the letters are hand stitched on, which took me a fair while.

blanket stitched letters

I'm so pleased with it that I think I may add these to my repertoire. So I'm now working on a boy's version with a glittery star as the motif. My only problem is (the eternal one ) how much do I charge?

work in progress

 I'm planning to join in with Handmade Monday this week, and catch up with everyone over the week. Why don't you join in too?

An apple for the teacher

Here in Somerset the sun has been shining for the past few days and it has already made me think about the summer holidays and end of term.

Hand knitted in cotton

So. I've redesigned my teacher gifts for this year, although the apple cosy has stayed the same, as it is still popular.

Apple keyrings

New notebook design

I'm really pleased with this design, and I hope these will go down well on my Folksy shop.

Monday Mini Make

I love those pretty tape measures you see in John Lewis and Cath Kidston, but when I looked on Saturday they were £8 - yes £8!!! So I decided to make one for myself, well actually I made two.

mini tape measures

I bought, from my local friendly haberdashery shop, a little tape measure for £1.20. I cut out two circles of felt (mine were 7cm wide), I decorated them with pretty buttons and then I roughly stitched them together. I did this by sewing a running stitch around the edge of the circles and pulling it up round the edge.I did that for the second circle and then sewed them together. The coral measure was made first, but I decided I wanted it a little plumper, so the blue one had a little wadding between the tape measure and the felt, to pad it out a little.


I left a small slit for the tape to go through



sewn together

notice how my felt and buttons co-ordinate with the ribbon!

Then I carefully stitched some button ribbon around the outside to hide the join. I started and finished at the small gap I'd left for the end of the tape measure.


Finally, a small piece of ribbon with a button detail to add to the end of the measure.
I love them, and I can see these appearing in Christmas stockings this year - now how's that for organised!!!

b... b... b....

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5319451/?claim=ezztrthjzqu">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

B is for Bloglovin and as Google reader is saying good-bye in the summer, Bloglovin seems to be the one to be on now. It was very easy to 'import' the blogs I currently follow, and I do like the daily email of all the new posts on the blogs that arrives in my inbox. I had to paste the code in at the top to 'claim' my blog.


Beach hut key rings



 B is also for beach huts!
Finally the weather has improved enough for me to think about warmer and sunnier days and I ended up creating beach huts!
I really like the red, white and blue bright colours together, and I'm thinking about a more 'girlie' colour scheme next.
Brave ... I'm going to go and peg my washing out for the first time this year, because knowing my luck it'll rain!!!

Three Little Maids

Dolly Mixtures

This week I have been busy cleaning - and feeling very virtuous. We didn't use the oven until today as I was determined to keep it clean for as long as possible!
I've also made some Dolly Mixtures, but with a difference as they now come with a teeny tote bag each, and in that tote ...

Cherry, Blueberry and Rosehip

a pretty dress!
I've had a lovely time making these, as I've been exploring the embroidery stitches on my machine to decorate the dresses (which can also be worn as a long skirt!). So they really are mixtures now, as they can mix up their clothes!

Blueberry

Making these has made my feel like spring might be on its way! I shall enjoy reading everyone elses blog over on Handmade Monday - I wonder if spring will have crept in there as well?
I shall leave you with a picture of work in progress - I'm loving these as well! You might spot someone's feet in the corner!

Something completely different

This week, apart from numerous creme egg critters a friend wanted instead of a party bag for her daughter's birthday party...

Happy Birthday!

I was also asked for something I have never made before, a wedding ring pillow. The requirements were very specific - for a three year old page boy to carry, 8 inches square, very plain and simple in ivory.
So after, much pondering, fabric looking and some sketching, this is what I've made.

wedding ring pillow

The fabric has a very delicate pin dot  pattern on it and I've covered a button for the middle. I've used a cotton fabric, as I thought it would be less slippery than satin for a little one to carry.

ivory fabric and satin ribbon

My last idea was to put a strap on the back that he could tuck his hands in for extra security.

safer carrying?

I do hope the bride likes it.
I'm going to join in Handmade Monday this week, if Wendy is hosting it, and I'm really looking forward to visiting all the other blogs.

Have an eggs-ellent Easter!

Life at Pickle-Lily has been very busy lately - lots of teaching during the week and knitting and sewing whenever I can squeeze it in! Creme egg critters are back!


Happy Easter everyone!

 And a new owl design ..

Rainbow owl

There is also time to knit a spring chicken or two before Sunday. The pattern is here.

I'm a spring chicken ...

So - as it is 4.30am Good Friday morning, I can wish you all

A Very Happy Easter from Pickle-Lily