2018 Wk 19 Chertsey Session & other stuff

Friday's class was making felt balls (wet felting) to make a necklace like this one of mine

These were bought but threaded to give the girls an idea

But as usual, not help was needed!

Sushi beads!

Multi coloured beads

Beading looking like seaside rock

And assorted beads

Rhona also brought her waste weaving creation - a really useful pot!  She plans on cutting a water bottle to size and using it as a vase!

 And finally - I asked my great niece to do a sketch of the village hall that I can use as a logo for the hall committee - hasnt she done a great job!!!

Thanks Roxi

2017 Wk 10 - mostly embroidery

Today I have finished embroidering 'Carla's' quilt label, and a customer's quilt label.

This means that I just have about 10 inches more sewing and then Carla's quilt can go in the post tomorrow, and so can Meg's label

I sent the original poncho to Jackie . . . seem here modelling it and looking far more glamorous, far slimmer and far more photogenic than me in my replacement red one

And I made a pencil case for oldest Great Niece (and didn't much like it so I made another one too) She is an awesome artist so I though a pencil case made of paper would be something that she could doodle on and decorate - every time I forget how horrible the paper is to work with!  Anyway she can have them both and do what she likes with them!  (We also gave her a large pack of pens and money towards a car / driving lessons / insurance)

How Great are You?

I'm fairly modest, I think: I'm reasonably good at my job, I'm a bit unconventional as a wife and mother, but I've never lost or poisoned a daughter or husband, so I'm not too bad (and they don't have another one to compare me with, so that's ok), I'm a bit of a naff friend, but if the chips are down I'll be there for you, but as an Aunt - I can tell you I'm great!

Or should that be "I'm a great aunt"? Yeah, probably!!!  

The oldest great niece turns 14 this week; she's into black, and dramatic make up, and skulls and tattoos, and loud music from bands I've never heard of, so buying pressies can be a challange!  I'm resorting to the standby of cash, but with a few homemade bits to unwrap , and hope these aren't too uncool

A bag 

Black skull lace over red, and it's reversible as that's the only way I know to make bags !

And some music themed earrings (she plays guitar and piano, mostly self taught!

Just thought I'd also post here a creation of hers - she drew this for her great Nan , isn't it fab!

Christmas Goodies

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, and were spoilt by Santa, and those who love you - I was :-)

I received a lovely beaded Christmas tree decoration from the very talented Amo who blogs at View From Our Hill, and, just behind in the photo, a green fabric star from the very lovely Plum

The very talented, (and only 12 years old) niece, who uses the on-line name of Roxy Flame (and blogs here and here,) cut me a bundle of blue fabrics ready to be patchworked, and made her Uncle Brian a Socktapus for cleaning the car windows

My lovely mummy got together with the daughters and did a stocking for me - including these fab stripy fabrics

My BFF, Jackie did far better than me - her pressie from me has been made, but is still waiting to go to the post office, so I cant even show it here as I know she'll see it.  She made me this lovely zipped pouch (please Jackie can you teach me how to do zips  x x x) and I don't know how clear the necklace is in this photo - but between the beads are bobbins filled with bright coloured thread - how awesome is that?

I was a very spoilt girl, so I promise not to show you all the pressies I got, but these final few need to be shared - 

Younger daughter, Niki, got me these super earrings - real Forget-me-nots set in resin, I LOVE forget-me-nots

and Older daughter, Lisa, got me the top purse here (I do love things with writing on) while the lovely Annabelle (who blogs here) sent me the pouch in the bottom of this photo

Thank you all very much :-)

Blog link

I have a great niece - she's a terrific niece but also a Great Niece in that she's my nephew's daughter - I usually refer to her as my niece to stop me feeling quite so old!

Anyway, I digressed (as I often do) She goes under the pseudonym of Roxi Flame, and is nearly 12. She wants to be a writer, and she reads *loads*. She writes book reviews for her blog, as well as posting some original short works. If you need to buy a book for a trainee teenage girl, or want to support a young writer, she'd love you to visit her blogs at Sewing The Seeds.

Love you Roxy x x x

More Christmas Pressies

We stretch our Christmas out over a couple of days, and after I had posted pics of crafty pressies yesterday, I remembered that they were the Christmas Day pressies, but I was lucky enough to get some more on Boxing day:

These lovely summery fabrics were from Secret Santa (Thank you Slavka (Niece #1), I know it was you)

And these goodies were a belated Birthday Pressie from Anna (Niece #2) who confessed she had a lovely time choosing goodies in TheClothStore in Horsham

I think both girls have a hitherto un-discovered interest in fabrics and sewing, so I am working on them to come to the dark (and light and medium values) side!

Lola Rose & Emily

My Great (and terrific) Niece, Emily (age 10) came to stay last night, and wanted to do some sewing. She decided a doll was a good starting place, so we could then go on to make clothes for her (for the doll, she reminds me, not for Emily!!!)

We started with a doll shape which she pinned and I stitched, and then we had the fun of turning it inside out!!! It was AWFUL! says Emily

We stuffed her, and Emily tore strips of yellow fabric to make the hair, which was stitched into the top of the head as we closed the final gap.















Emily says "I drew Lola Rose's belly button and facial features with permanent markers."

Then we started on the clothes. We made a summer dress, and it has straps and a sash and a matching scarf.




























And then she platted Lola Rose's hair.




















Ta-da!!!!!!