and now for some quilting...

I haven't quilted anything since i was about 13 years old.
I tried quilting when my mum bought me a book called "Happy Quilts"... i probably still have one or two hand-stitched hexagony 'shapes', half started and never finished, in a mothy box somewhere.
My mum wasn't a confident seamistress and didn't feel able to hand down what untrained knowledge she did posess, so, in turn, i never felt equipped with the confidence to continue. 20 years later... (can that be true?) and i am an entirely different being.... indeed, i am now a Fish.
I had it in my head last week that i was going to try some simple, 'Log Cabin'-esque, quilted pillows. And so that is what i spent last night and this morning, doing.

I made this large and simple quilted pillow for my cheeky little nephew. Actually he loves KNIGHTS! so i might work on a mini quilt for him (if i can source some good Knights fabric)

And below was the first quilted item i have finished - ever!: Needless to say, in true KirstyFish manner, i am now hooked and obsessed with quilted scatter cushions (lavender stuffed of course)

My first mini-pillow used strips of fabric 1.5" wide and i found it took me too long. You know what a short attention span i have. So i increased the width to 2" strips and it was a quicker process with just as much satisfaction.

Now, i am going through my family members thinking "what would my niece like?" ..... "it IS Mothers Day soon" - any excuse to make me some more.

All that yummy fabric.... *sigh*

This afternoon i ordered 50 metres of batting, 10yards of fabric and 2kg of lavender.

You know i don't exaggerate about 'how much' i get obsessed with things. You have seen the evidence right here!

Not being entirely frivolous, i decided to back the pillows in contrasting felt, as you *know* i have plenty of that stuff :)

And a few little details on the back to finish, gives them that special touch.

Because you love crafting too, you'll know how great my day was today... x

Variations on a theme...

I can see why people might 'tire' of the ubiquitous "Russian Doll".... not me.
I can't. I loved them before they were famous. All the lovely Matroyshka fabrics inspire me with the need to sew... New PinPuffs with lavender, to have and to hold.

New NeedleBook... to have and to use.

I love all the Nordic / Scandi / folky designs and collecting FIGGJO ceramics.

I think there is a cross over here with Vintage and Modern design. That is perhaps what appeals to me most.

I am happiest at the moment when the Useful meets the Beautiful in a domestic setting (LINK) and the Babushka / Matroyshka is the boldest symbol of that.

Matroyshka Pillow Gift Set...

In the shop
Nice for grown-up girls in shades of Teal and Plum. And this Lavender stuffed Pillow comes with a smaller lavender Matroyshka - to make a little set.

I can't resist.

I can't stop making them!

Fabric joy x the Matroyshka fabric i have on order to make a GIANT fllor cushion with too :)

More Cute-ness *sigh*

Oh the joy....
i have had such a nice time making these new "PinPuffs". What is it about them that makes me so satisfied? I like their 'littleness' and their oblong / sqaure-ish shape.
And i like the lace detailing with the ribbon tag "sewing story".

I like using lots of different fabrics and mixing them up with contrasting coloured tags and backing fabrics.

I sooooo love this *new* SUMMERSVILLE sweetheart fabric - (i have made large cushions from this too...to be continued)

It's the detail... look at that darling little birdie at the bottom! i never realised i was so very girlie...

Again, using fabric from SUMMERSVILLE with an appliqued Matroyshka.

There is so much variety and brightness.

Of course, there is also the lavender... i am *stoned* sat here in my little studio. Overcome with the fragrant fumes of organic lavender :)

So, yes! i am more than happy with all this new cuteness coming from the PaperFish studio this past week. I suppose i am enjoying NOT thinking about Christmas (for a change)

P.s *must not eat that amazing chocolate cake that i baked last night... must remember that fat thighs are not happy thighs...must think of New Year diet.... must not even wipe my finger round the edge of cake to sneak some icing*

Party 'Going Home' bags...

I don't know what happens in other countries...? but in the UK it is traditional to be sent home from a Childs Birthday Party with a 'Going Home Bag'...
Inside is often a slice of the Birthday Cake (wrapped accordingly) and a few gifts to play with on the E-high trip home. A regular, local customer asked me if i could make her some fabric 'Party Bags' for her daughters birthday and i said 'yes' - inwardly panicking!! WHAT OUT OF? Do i have time....??

Yum Yum - i had to share the finished result with you all. WHAT do you make Party Bags out of when your home is FULL of felt? sat next to a bolt of beautiful Matroyshka fabric...

So i made her 10 different coloured bags with different coloured handles and dolls on the front. They are actually much BRIGHTER than these photos suggest but hey! guess what? it rained again today...

And i knew that you'd all appreciate their colour, sense of fun, frivolity - i had to take a million photos of them in different layouts.

Now i want to make loads of them, and for boys too and sell them in the shop... "Kirsty - you do not have any spare minute left in your days..." - "But they're soooo pretty"

Awwww, makes me think i might make a few for a certain little Nephews Birthday though....

Tuesday is MEGA craft day!

Drained!
Forgive me Claire-Louise for getting your invoice wrong?! I am shattered (cue blk & white selfie shot to highlight my exhaustion)
Wearing mini-denim dress to escape the over-boiling heat here in Middle England! I am in the process of transferring aallllll the PinPots and Aaallll NeedleBooks from BigFish to PaperFish on etsy.
This is no easy task my friends and utterly, computer sittingly boring.

I did a bit of crafting every half hour or so, to release me from the boredom of bum-ache that IS sitting at the PC. I am so pleased with these 2 PinPots. Bright, Summery Sorbet colours x

And my fresh and salty new 'Seaside NeedleBook' - i can't keep all products for myself BUT i did make one of these for myself as i love beachy / seaside things. They make me feel sad that i miss the coastline but 'hopeful' as i know there's plenty of it to visit!

And, what i call, the Matroyshka Mothership!!! a prototype, One-of-its-kind NeedleBook.

I had just been playing with a new idea...

SOooooo a very boring day in many respects but it was very craft indulgent and necessary.

I love my crafty life x

scrap bags....

Post and run... I'm incognito (you've not seen me, right?)
P.s. *NEW* Lulu Guinness sunnies x Just wanted to say there are 4 Scrap bags of MINI felt in the Folksy shop....

And 4 new Scrap bags of light cotton square scraps in the Folksy shop too.

They are all pretty much identical, mostly Japanese quilting fabrics BUT with a FAT Q of my yummy Toadstools and Apples fabric too....

It's good to share x

Back to work... and I've got piles x

HA! Like i ever really stopped working over the festive period! I slowed down somewhat but that was only because the Post Offices have been closed so often... But NeedleBook popularity continues and i glow with pride as i too love this product. Back in the studio - and i haven't even made a 2009 plan or a 'To Do List' as the jobs seem continual. There is always something to be done. The BEST thing i did in Dec 2008 was to clear the Art Room and tidy everything / organise / ruthlessly thow out old stuffs... and it was satisfying - liberating even! Y'all should try it to get you feeling creative again x

But mostly i have been making NeedleBooks as i had so many new fabrics to play with! Hence NEW Tortoise and Owl and different Dogs and a few new Matroyshka colourways on their way.

I have been playing with ideas on how to 'pimp' your NeedleBooks (must remind myself to take a photo of mine to show you...) I have all sorts of stuff hanging and added to mine and, like many crafters, I am a collector and a hoarder so you can go wild adding to these babies! Above is a Matroyshka cushion to add if you want a sort of 'Pin Cushion' to add on. It is a prototype as yet.

New colourways as i know people have different wants and tastes. Juicy Pup NeedleBook above is made in bright tropical colours for those of stuck in grey countries right now where the weather is a little on the frosty side.

More, more, more... matroyshka loving x

Works in progress.... Even as i sit uploading this at this actual work area pictured, I am adding eyelets to pages in order to get ahead of my stock (n.b. i never actually manage to 'get ahead!!)

Piles of pages... Piles of felt... Piles of Matroyshkas... I've got Piles x