Free Motion Embroidery - Owl Keyring

Cuddly Buddly Craft Challenge

This month's Cuddly Buddly Craft Challenge is 'Beads and Charms'.  This is a great theme as just about any craft is improved by the addition of a few beads or charms!

I actually chose to widen an already loose theme even futher, stitching up a cute little owl using this Marianne Design die, rather than just adding beads to an existing design. It is now perfect as a keyring or handbag charm!  I've written a full tutorial which will be published on The Cuddly Buddly blog during the challenge.

Now that you've seen my attempt, it's time for you to whip up your own creation.  Once you've finished upload a picture to the Cuddly Buddly challenge page to be in with a chance of winning a lovely £25 gift voucher to spend on any of the 12,000+ products stocked in the Cuddly Buddly shop.

Good Luck!

SewforSoul ~ Reloved Magazine Feature

Beano Comic Book Table 

Last year the children and I created a 'graphic novel' decoupage table that I blogged about here.  I included a tutorial, which proved to be quite popular, and so a couple of months ago I was asked if it could be used as a feature in 'Reloved Magazine'.  

Well, it's in the July edition and copies are on the shelves and available for purchase now;

Reloved Magazine July 2014

SewforSoul Decoupage Table

Those of you with keen eyesight might also have noticed another SewforSoul creation on the front cover of the magazine, I actually have two features published there this month!  It's all very exciting, although they did manage to get my name wrong in both articles, but at least the blog address is correct!

Check out pages 34 and 38!

Next week I'll share a couple of pics of the vintage bunting article, which was based on this post.  It looks lovely and is a gorgeous three page spread!  If you can't wait until then pop along to your local WHS and nab a copy for £4.99.

'Sew Sweet' Cupcake Charm

Appliqued Keyring

Most schools in England have a 'half-term' holiday during the last week of May (a bit like an American 'Spring Break'), so the children have been at home this week.  I deliberately don't sew much when the children are around but did manage to stitch up this cute little handbag charm;

It uses small scraps of fabric free motion embroidered onto a piece of pink felt and backed with a piece of upcycled denim.  The cupcake icon was based on this 'Handmade Harbour' digital stamp.

Rescued!

Thank goodness for nine lives and firefighters.....

When Mr. Larkin and I first set up home we were adopted by a large stray tom cat.  He was a bit of a killer, unfortunately, and would often bring us home dead rabbits and other small tokens of his affection.  He was also keen on chasing dogs and fighting any other cats foolish enough to pass his door!  However, when our human babies started arriving he was always so gentle with them;

He reached a grand old age and when he sadly passed away, my Mum took it upon herself to source us a new member of the family;

 Bad, jealous kitty.  She doesn't bring us home dead trophies, instead she lets live mice free in the house for us to chase.  She also claws the furniture and carpets and is a general waste of space......but we are most fond of her!  We were therefore very concerned when she failed to show up on Thursday.  She has a cat-flap and can come and go as she pleases, but is never away for more than an hour or so at a time and her territory is two or three gardens at most. We went to see our neighbours and checked the road behind our house but could find no trace of her. When she was still missing on Friday we were certain that something had happened to her and began to lose hope.............

However, that afternoon I saw a flash of red go past;

 

Ten minutes later the cat-flap banged and a very bedraggled cat stomped in.  It all seemed too much of a coincidence, so I rang the local Fire Brigade, and yes, they had just rescued a tabby cat stuck on the roof of a local house.  It appears she had been chasing birds and got a bit too carried away.  Perhaps two days and nights trapped on a roof in torrential rain will teach her a lesson......but I doubt it!

We made the lads up a little hamper of tea and biscuits which the children delivered to our heroes along with some bottles of beer.

Thanks Guys!

Fresh as a Daisy ~ Embroidered Bag

Appliqued Zipper Pouch

It's time for the third Cuddly Buddly Design Challenge and this month's theme is 'Daisies'.  I stitched up a little personalised linen make-up bag for a friend called Joy!

Little pouches are one of my favourite things to sew as they make super cute, and also very practical, gifts. I have written a full tutorial, with easy to follow step-by-step photos, over at the Cuddly Buddly blog.  Zipper pouches are great projects to stitch if you're new to sewing (or feel a bit rusty), as they contain many of the most commonly used techniques including linings and zippers (obviously!).  They also feel less intimidating to start with than a full sized garment.

You have until Saturday 14th of June to enter the challenge and there is a very generous £25 gift voucher awaiting the lucky winner.  Your entry doesn't have to be stitched, in fact anything goes, the only rule is that Cuddly Buddly needs to stock the main items you use, even if you didn't actually buy them there!

As we are only in the third month of challenges there has only been a handful of entrants each time, so you are in with a very good chance of winning! 

Get Crafting!

Embroidered Linen Heart

Appliqued Owl Ornament

Fiona from CelticThistleStitches hosts a "Ho, Ho, Ho and on We Sew' link party each month and I really must take part, it would be great to avoid my usual last minute December panic!  I'm planning some little linen Christmas hanging hearts and had a quick practice this afternoon;

I wanted to ensure that I was happy with the basic size and design before stitching the Christmas versions.  This one was very quick being the same applique and colour scheme as I used for one of my Easter egg cosies;

The cute owl is based on one of my favourite Handmade Harbour digital stamps and I love how he stitches up.  The antique mother-of-pearl button came from my Great Granny's button box and the hanging ribbon came into my possession at the weekend as it was tied around the gorgeous bundle of linen sent to me by Judith.  The lace trim was another car boot buy and I have loads of it!

I now need to start thinking about the Christmas versions - I might even get some finished in time for June's August's Link party!

Linen Needlecase

Appliqued Needlebook

Some of you might remember this little linen needle book which I made a while ago, it proved quite popular, so I thought I would whip up another one.

Upcycled Linen Needlebook 

I get a bit bored repeating designs however, so I put pen to paper and came up with a new version;

An appliqued sewing machine with a little pin cushion!

Raw edge applique is one of my favourite techniques and I love how a little bit of black stitching really brings a design to life

If you look really carefully, you can even make out the words 'Needle-book' on the printed fabric;

This fabric is part of the Sew Retro range by Makower UK and the linen is from the same pair of upcycled curtains which I bought from a car-boot sale last year.  In my last post I mentioned that I am more than ready for the better weather to arrive so that I can begin to replenish my dwindling fabric stash but look what arrived in the post yesterday...........

.....a huge pile of the most gorgeous pure Irish linen.  It came courtesy of the wonderful Judith over at Just Jude, if you haven't yet visited her stunning blog then you are in for a real treat.  Her creations are as beautiful as she is!