Hey - just a quickie!

I love colour. I love to surround myself by it. Colour makes me feel happy and positive and alive.

I don't do 'matching sets' and i don't do 'dull'

I am not funny or quirky or 'like being different'... do what makes you happy people!

This stool is a typical example of what i love to do in my home.

The stool was found at the back of a Thrift Shop. (I forgot to get a photo of it before i sprayed the wood part Hot Pink) It was a wooden stand with a yellow top. I liked the yellow top actually but i have a need for pattern and a great stash of fabrics.

I lightly sanded off the legs and frame before spraying the whole thing with a Gloss Spray Paint. I didn't bother using Primer on it first at the paint looked like it would adhere well without it - and i do love to cut corners (impatience)

The Top has fantastic little bars that easily allowed you to remove it from the base.

So then, i found a square of Cath Kidston fabric in the boldest design and stretched it over the top. I borrowed my dads staple gun to keep it all in place and really pulled it tight to get a good stretch and fit.

With the fabric added it was now a really tight fit into the painted frame so i used a soft mallet to whack it back into position and then turn the bars underneath to keep it in place.

Stool = £8.00

                                       Spray Paint = £1.00 - (from a large 400ml can costing £6.00)

                                 Fabric = £2.00 - (from a £12.00 per metre piece)

               Staples = £2.00 (at a guess?)

The photo doesn't do this justice but i was really chuffed with how it turned out.

Colour + Craft + Thrift = Love my Life xxx

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

I Woz Ere...cold air and sunshine

Cold enough for a warm pink coat...
(charity shop £5.00) But not 'too cold' to sit outside and drink Pret Coffee, yum.

Warm enough to stroll past the freshly painted Sun Huts...

But too cold to sit outside with a beer

(just loved the cute little 'table and chairs on the side of a pub' idea here)

Warm enough to run around taking "me and my sisteeerrrr" style photos...

But too cold to linger long in any one place
(raaaa, cool shop!)

Definately warm enough to sit and look out at the sea whilst eating lunch...

But chilly enough to need to keep your gloves on and save the orange till you get home

(have you tried peeling an orange whilst wearing gloves?)

Still so cold you need several socks and stolen UGG boots...

(stolen from my sister of course)

Warm enough, cozy enough, relaxed enough, for an afternoon snooze on the sofa.

Fishes in Brighton for a wee holiday.

Cold air and glorious sunshine :)

Pom Pom Phenomenon....

Been busy... you know how it is. Christmas n'all that. I don't think that excuses the state of my work surface though? *shameful blush*
Nor does it excuse my lack of blogging... But guess what??? we had sunshine today - for a full 10 minutes!!! it was glorious and i became somewhat delirious - bathing in shafts of golden light, twas like a week on a beach i swear (note: delirium in bathroom mirror shot)

So i had a quick opportunity to photograph some stuffs i have been working on.

The PomPom phenomenon happens during each annual festive run-up. I love making PomPoms - who doesn't? so repetative and refreshingly mind-numbing.

I used to make them alot with my 'Kids' who needed a bit of "Time out"

Funny to watch hard-faced teenagers and 'Offenders' turn wool into fluffy balls....

But, more than that, i never fail to get adult attention when Pompom-ing in public: "wow" they exclaim, " i remember making PomPoms and now i've totally forgotten how"... Last year, if i had been selling them at Craft Fairs i think i would have made some real money. Everybody loved to watch the PomPom being born...

Mostly i make mine white and silver to hang like Snowballs. This year i have gone "all colour" and i've been making them to hang in groups of 3. Purple, Pink and Lime - with contrasting gingham ribbons.

What's not to love? They are adorable and i find, even the men like them. Something to do with hairy balls? maybe. But i rather like to think of them as nostalgic and a real moment placed back in One's childhood when we knew Christmas as a time a little simpler, with fewer pressures.

My advice? For what it's worth... don't sweat the big stuff. Bring Christmas back to it's basics: Food, friends, family and Pompoms. Have fun :)

*new* trim and matroyshka....

A Pink polka dot Matroyshka NeedleBook in PaperFish. I wasn't planning on making this but some things just 'happen' in my hands whilst doing something else..... And these are Mini-Flowers - too cute and now for sale in BigFish.
1 inch daisies - i have bought these for my project but i have so many.... there are a few metres for grabs in bigfish also.

Oh, i adore this ribbon, called *Vivant* YUM! i don't want to sell any because i am selfish but a girl needs to make a living.

Craft chaos at The KirstyFish house xxx

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

Working from home...

My job is so tough... get me,
Firstly today i had sew sweet buttons and brooch bars on to finish these off... Then i had to photograph this new brooch - sigh, it is just too cute and I am loving it more than is healthy for a 34yr old child.

***KirstyFish is secretly working on new projects for children and this brooch forms part of the master plan***

Then i had to make myself some nice fresh coffee and finish off that last slice of chocolate Biscotti...

It was reeeaaaally tough when i was forced to sit and enjoy it sat in the sunshiney window of my Art Room, wearing thrifted dress that is oh so flowery...

...I might need a lie down after all this effort x

Cath Kidston LOVE x

MMmmmnn Bunting! Just congratulating myself (*fish pats herself on back with wet fin*) on making 5 new bunting / pennant lines to put in PaperFish x Naturally using my LOVE of CATH KIDSTON fabrics as the basis. These are the girly ones but the BOYS bunting i will blog *later* as they weren't using CK.... Loving the Fresh, vibrant pinks and orange!

Also mixing blue with red and pink - I think the look of this one came together when i added the darker pinky bias to the top - it sort of held the red and pink together a bit?

I also whipped up a few larger PinPots using some yummy new glossy Aubergine (or 'Egg Plant') paint and.... you guessed it, a Cath Kidston fabric. This only works in a larger pot because the fabric is a thick 'double weave' cotton...

This picture, i love. Reminiscent of a Craft book on thrifted / French vintage style - sigh...

I confess to having more Cath Kidston LOVE to share soon.... (gulp)

Mummy has been decorating ToddleFish bedroom... mmmm...

Mummy got carried away with all the prettiness available for a young girls bedroom and the Cath Kidston webshop.... whoops x