More Chickeny Aga top pads

I managed to get these finished today. I also cut out the fabric for the chocolatey aga top pads, but I need more insul bright before I can finish them.

I love this fabric - sadly this was the last of it. The bias binding is all handmade - it is so easy, and looks much nicer than ready made!

And this is some more of the vintage Laura Ashley curtain fabric. I managed to get a hen on one and the rooster on the other!

New Look!

OK I was getting fed up with the look of the blog - that brown and beige was beginning to look a bit dated. So I have been playing around with different colours. I'm still not sure I've got it right so there may be more changes yet! Bear with me! And please feel free to comment and tell me what you think!

In the meantime, this is some fabric that I have been working with from a friend who bravely commissioned me to sew it up for her! It is being turned into another fleece backed quilt and a curtain pelmet style hanging. I love the colours but the fabric is a complete pig to work with!

I think the colours look much nicer against this new neutral background, don't you?

Crochet Purse

Well my little crochet purse was obviously a hit! It sold after being on Folksy for less than 24 hours - in fact it was 15 hours between me posting it and it selling! So I've been crocheting like mad to do some more. They are actually quite easy once you have the pattern in your head! And I have loads of this crochet thread to use up - it's good to find a use for old things! And this is the last piece of this coloured silk, so future purses will be very different!

Mum in law's quilt

Is finished! And I love it - hopefully Mum will love it too! She is in hospital at the moment, but getting better and hoping to be out again in a few more days. We will make the drive 'oop north in a couple of weeks and take her the quilt as an early Mothers Day present.

Wool, fabric and new makes

I've been bitten by the crochet bug just recently. I normally sew in the dining room, but it is so cold, I've been confined to the lounge where I can sit by the fire. Trouble is I still get itchy fingers, and crochet is ideal. I enjoyed making beanie hats to sell on the craft stall last year, so have been searching for other things to make. I've found several sources of inspiration. One is this blog: http://attic24.typepad.com/ Lucy makes the most scrumptious crochet and she has a real eye for yummy colours. So when I saw this wool, I had to succumb. I don't know what I'm going to make with it yet, but it will be something along the lines of Lucys work!

I also spotted this chunky yarn, Twister by King Cole. Again I love the colours and am thinking of using it for some more hats.

The boys bought me a crochet book for christmas. Essential Crochet, by Erica Knight. Lots of lovely projects to inspire me! I've already made a cushion cover, but that is for another day! It was this that caught my eye - cluster stitches used to make a fairly firm fabric. The book pattern is for a lingerie case, but that was too large and time consuming - and I much prefer quick! So I adapted it, made it much smaller, and dug out some vintage mercerised crochet cotton that I unraveled from an old bed jacket many years ago.

Lined with a scrap of recycled, patterned silk.

Finished with another scrap of silk and a vintage button and vintage press stud. I'm rather pleased with the result and it will go into the Folksy shop and out to the craft fairs in due course.

Finally (I think I've spent enough money this week!) I found this fabric in the sale. With easter on the horizon, I can see some chocolatey aga top pads and pot holders coming out of this!