Latest makes and other things.

The sun is finally starting to win the battle over the rain and it make such a difference to everything. Not heating, no lights and best of all washing outside on the line.
The sun also lifts my mood which is good as i think i may have been in a slump for a while. Last week i decided that enough was enough and the excuses had to stop, the reason i wasn't losing weight was down to only one thing, ME and the fact i was putting more in then i was working off. I have decided that there is to be NO snacking between meals and no biscuits, sweets or chocolate at all. This resulting in a slightly grumpy me while i get used to less food but also a 2lb weight loss on weigh in day. This week is the hardest one i think because i always seem to do well first week and not the 2nd. Plus i have to weigh a day early due to seeing Bruce Springsteen the day before weigh in and being in a different city.

So now down to the crafting. I have made a few things since the last entry and got a few orders in my book which i like. Working for yourself is sometimes strange. Of course its about the money but i think when you make things its also about people liking what you do.
I finished Miss Colette and i am very happy with her. She will be going on a long journey next month all the way to America.

She has a dress to change into and of course some knickers. Her little boots also come off.

I did a craft fair that i didn't organise for the first time in a while, it was good to sit there and relax. The time went so quickly. I learnt i need to plan my table more and have since bought a few items to aid my display.
I made up lots of peg magnets and a few oilcloth bag charms/keyrings.

 I will be getting a board for my work area i think so i can organise my to do list. I am a list writer for just about anything. So some of these will do just nicely.










These little bag charms I really enjoyed making these. They were a little challenging on the machine, i think i have an idea on how to stop them sticking, when i make the next batch. This is my first step into working with oilcloth and i am hoping to make some bags with some material that i bought ages ago.





I have had a little go at a new item this week too, while out shopping for supplies to help the look of my stall I found some really nice plates. There was two of one type and one of another but i thought they would look lovely as a cake stand. So off to the charity shop i went and found the perfect glasses. Its the first time i have had a go at this sort of thing but i have to say i am really pleased with the way it turned out, the best part is someone else liked it too so it has been sold.

Its one of the odd things that you buy the items to make and then sell on but a little part of you wants to keep everything. Of course this can't happen unless i buy a bigger house so i better get back to the sewing machine.

Until next time xoxo

My first sewing boutique pack

As you know i was chosen to be on the design team for The Sewing Boutique. I got my pack on the 19th of May. I was so excited about the challenge i ripped it open right away I then forgot to take photos of it all when i sat down to create something so i will have to tell you what i had.
The theme was jubilee colours so there were 3 sheets of lovely thick felt, a button pack, some blue gingham bows and a Union Flag button.
I sat down at my work table with a pencil and some paper and had a think about what to do.
The day before i had been to a craft show in Cardiff where Rhi from the boutique just happened to have a stall and i bought some keyring hoops so i though about making a keyring. I am a lover of them and have more keyrings than keys on my fob.
Now i am not the best drawer but like to have a little visual sometimes so i cam up with a few sketches to work from. These are my little drawings.

















Owls seem quite popular at the moment so i thought i could mix the two.
I didn't realise how fiddly actually sewing on the flag bits would be but i am happy with how things turned out. The heart was just as tricky with the little bits but now i have some templates i may make other versions.

 I thought i better try and take a photos so you could see how lovely the packaging is and the items i got. As you can see i also had to sew bits on and cut off at the ends to make sure i had it just right.

This finished designs aren't too far away from my drawings so i was really happy with them.
I haven't quite decided if i will make more of these as they took about an hour each to make but i might offer them to order on my page Willowlane Designs for £7 plus p&p.

The next to come was the mini bunting. I thought it would look cute in the back of my car. I needed a few more bows to finish this off so i made them myself with some ribbon. I am rather proud they don't look too different from the ones in the pack.
This is now hanging in my car and i love it. I haven't seen anything like it and am going to expand on the idea some more. If you would like to order one of these with a name on or just as you see it please use the link above to my facebook page.

So these are the makes from my first Design Team Pack. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to get going on the next one. It made me think about other items i haven't made before and i think i even got a new product out of it :-) Thanks Rhi and here's to the next one.