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

Easter Blog Hop

Crafty Ribbons are running an Easter Blog Hop starting on March 28th with lots of goodies to give away and pretty things to admire.
I'm going to join in!

The Mystery Continues

At the moment I have a disgusting cold, and haven't felt like doing much of anything. But I have enjoyed picking up the knitting needles and doing some more to the Mystery Toy KAL. I have now finished parts one, two and three and have finished the garment - a little cardigan.

Mystery KAL cardi



A cosy cardi

 Fuzzy Mittens uses American wool and needles for her patterns. so I have had to adapt it a little, and I've used Rowan pure wool DK for my garment, so it's turned out a little bulky, but I quite like that! It also needs four little buttons. Here it is on one of my rabbits so you can see it is very cosy.
We still have no clues as to what animal will be wearing the cardigan, so I am looking forward to this Friday's instalment. It's not too late to join in!