Nellie the elephant packed her trunk...

Hi folks! Remember that very simple card from a couple of posts back? Well, I thought it would translate very nicely from a card to a cushion!

But, you know, I'm a bit disappointed with the result...and it's really to do with scale. The fabric looked great on a small elephant, but the spots aren't big enough to work on something this size (35cm wide). So I'm now on a mission to find some fabric with BIG spots!

I was quite pleased with her button 'eye' - a ceramic little number with polka dots - perfect!

And, as always, I have more ideas in the pipeline...another animal cushion...bet you can't guess what it's going to be....!

Fabrics from Saints and Pinners

So, in short, not a particularly successful day - isn't it frustrating when things don't go to plan! Still there's always tomorrow!

Finally, remember that lovely pinky driftwood I mentioned back here? Here's one boat made from it....

I reckon I can get another 4 or 5 vessels from the rest..would look pretty in a little girl's room, I thought!
Hope you're having a good week!

Thinking outside of the box

I love to see objects used for a function other than what they were originally designed for. I think I became interested when Baileys Home and Garden started appearing everywhere in magazines etc. You've probably their shoe lasts used as kitchen roll holders or wall-to-wall apple crate storage. RE do similar - I love their jelly mould lights and the way they display postcards in a wall-mounted carpet beater! Genius!

So we've had a very boring lightshade on our landing ever since we moved in. I've always hated it, so today we decided to 'carve a hole' in the bottom of a small enamel bucket to make a nicer one!Here are some other quirky touches around the place: a boat hook as a curtain rail....

In our last house we attached an old wooden oar to the wall going up the stairs - it made a fantastic stair rail! Unfortunately the buyers wanted it, so we had to leave it behind. Sorry, I don't even have a photo for you!
Here's a picture of the lightpull and shower switch in the bathroom...

Do you have any similar ideas to share?

I had a clearout in the shed today (after much badgering from Steve!) I think my boxes of driftwood were taking up more room than his precious power tools!
Having said that, I'm glad I did as I found lots of odd bits that I'd forgotten about - and I made this....!

Driftwood boat decoration available on Folksy. (Now SOLD)

I'm going to make a longer one next time, with more boats, and I thought if I put some vertical posts at either end, I could put a line of bunting over the top and it would frame it all nicely - what d'you think?

Mother's in the kitchen....

...doin' a bit of stitchin!
I received Poppy Treffry's lovely book 'Free and Easy Stitch Style' nearly two weeks ago, and finally have had a few hours to myself to have a read and a little play! (How committed am I? Herb goes to pre-school for one afternoon a week and it was so tempting to relax with a cup of tea and peace and quiet and the latest copy of Country Living!)
But I had a few cards to make...
I started with something easy - a birthday card for my niece...

Mmm, not too bad for a first attempt! Just a couple of wobbles!

Next, a card for a friend...

Still very basic - and a try at stitching some text....

Finally, something a bit more adventurous...

Not the best thing I've ever made, but I thought I'd share it with you - otherwise how will you see how much I've improved when I'm a pro?!!
I made it into a birthday card for my sister-in-law who is always a very grateful recipient!

I can't remember the last time I actually bought a card, even the boys make their own. Handmade is always so much nicer, don't you think?

We're off to the 'outlaws' tomorrow for most of the half-term, so no blogging for a while!

Oooops, almost forgot! The Deep Sea Mobile is now in my Folksy shop - in two funky colourways!

Have a happy week!

I do like to be beside the seaside!

The weather on Saturday was beautiful, unfortunately we had lots of necessary chores to do, but headed to the beach for an hour just before the sun went down.

I loved the shadows cast on this boat...

I was delighted to discover that after weeks and weeks of just seaweed, the tide had brought in some driftwood - and lots of it!

So I've been busy!

I usually make quite chunky boats, but the above piece of ply was found with those holes and paint just as pictured - it was crying out to be transformed! I put a little hook on the back so it can be hung on the wall. (This item has sold).

The weather obviously put me in a nautical mood! The above cushions are made from lovely thick cotton from Deckchair Stripes - a favourite of mine!


I even managed to find time to make a driftwood heart. I would have made a few of these earlier in plenty of time for you know what on 14th Feb but Neptune has been keeping the sticks for himself up to now! Still if anyone wants it, there are a few more days to go!

All of the above items are available on Folksy.

Sea Life Mobile

Developing the seahorse thing further still, I decided to have a go at a mobile featuring a variety of sea creatures...

The colours are somewhat different for me - I've purchased quite a few fat quarters this week! Most of these fabrics came from Saints and Pinners.

The creatures themselves were very simple to make. I think the jellyfish is quite effective - it's simply 2 circles of different fabric sewn together (right sides together then turned inside out) and stuffed. Then stitch 4 pieces of ribbon (2 of each colour) at even angles across the centre of the bottom piece...


Et voila!

As I said, making the figures was easy...not so putting it all together! It was a nightmare trying to get things balanced, all the animals kept falling off, and I wanted the driftwood sticks to hang horizontally! If anyone has any tips on making this easier, PLEASE let me know!!
This one still isn't right. I will persevere though, as another lot of fabric plopped on the doormat this morning and I want to make another in limes and turquoises. More soon...
Hope you're having a good week!