Quick Christmas / Party Garlands.... to make!

 One of the lovely things about this quick and easy garland is, you can make it as a family. Anything that gets cut up and can fit through a sewing machine, can be sewn into this garland.

Even fat handed burly men can join in this activity!

Just cut up any scraps you have around: Felt, fabrics, ribbons, lace.... i tied a few bells onto ribbons to add to the pile of scraps.

 I pre-iron my shop bought Bias Bind and then just keep adding random additions to the bind - with a small gap between each. The gap doesn't have to be uniform at all....nothing about this garland needs to be uniform or precise. It is probably best if you just allow your children to hand you whatever they feel should go on next as that childhood chaos is usually more creative than our own adult restrictiveness. 

 I measured this length to fit a particular space i had in mund for my home festivities but you can just make it any length and hang it where you feel it fits.

Also - you can colour theme it, if you are having a special 'colour theme' Xmas?

I made this garland with anything i had in my studio and i have since decided to save it for a Spring Party. And, now i know this garland works and looks ace, i am making red and white for my Christmas Dining Area.

 It is a poor photo - i was too eager to show you how it looked to wait for better light. But.... i love it!

You can buy awesome handmade Bias from here

I have used this for another project and i love it.

 I also plan to stock a little bit of Bias in BigFish - but not much and not as lovely as the above stuff.

 NeedleBooks are being replenished and i hope to have a big fat stack of new designs ready for January. Feel free to suggest any designs that you think would be popular. I tend to go all girly and Matroyshka-like... i need to break habits for 2011.

 And Fabric Yearning, mmmm....

Loving the Cath Kidston stash *strokes it* gorgeous plans for some huge floor cushions for my daughters bedroom... some bunting.... maybe some bags.....

I am full of ideas and inspiration for 2011.

I have loved the Christmas Retail rush (now it is over for me) sold out of most decorations and Christmas Bunting.  Just enough time to sew some awesome gifts for my family.

No rest for the (super) wicked xxx

make a garland.....!

Things making me happy on a Saturday Morning....

Things that are making me happy on a quiet Saturday morning....

*new* blue spotty pumps. They won't stay this clean for long. Thank the lord for a bit of Cath Kidston frivolity. The sun is shining, i might not need my Welly Boots today?

Fresh Bed Linen in random combinations. Pure cotton sheets and a salvaged over-sized Quilt.

I love to 'dress my bed' like some people might dress their living room.

A fun photo... who is that?....

it's me and my big brother at my Grandads wedding, or maybe my Aunt's?

(How many people can say they were at their Grandads wedding?)

Friendship.

Knowing that i am loved and that somebody somewhere has a thought for me and will sometimes think "i wonder how Kirsty is today" xxx

Tea. Of course. Always Tea.

A cuppa served in Car Booty 50p cup and saucer whilst sewing Christmas stock and looking forward to what might happen in my life today.

Sew Hip, who me....????

Well, not just me... but look who made a spot in this months 'SewHip' magazine?
My little Raspberry Tea Needlebook! Big thankyous to THIS LADY

It is such a lovely page and oh so very pink!?!

And there's my wee friend LUPIN with her brooch at the beginning.

We share a love of tea with others then Lupe?

It is a lovely feeling x

P.s. £8.80 when purchased in the UK not £12.50 as the USD conversion ;)

Blog Love and Blue things...

Awwwww - look at us! We are in "Quick & Crafty" magazine!
How lovely is that? I received my complimentry copy in the post this morning - Thankyou so much! I would never have thought other people might appreciate my Colourful and Crafty pursuits so it is such a boost to see the Blog given some love x x

Ha ha ha - Who's that ugly mug in the cheap thrifted beret? Why, tis Moi! BIG hugs to my blog readers for helping me so much and sharing their ideas and inspirational Blogs too (((()))) (that is a cyber hug my friends)

And THIS shot below was taken about 2 hours ago! The ManFish snapped us as we walked out of the 'Antiques Cellar' in Brackley after having snaffled this yummy AQUA painted kitchen chair. I loved it at first sight and it was a bargain, so it needed to come home and be sat on with immediate urgency...

Of course i could have painted one myself - thrifty crafter that I am, but this was £15 and all done for me. I am crafty but I am no fool x

I already have a chair in the kitchen waiting to be painted green... or red... so i didn't want another on 'the list'!!

And as a 'by the way', i thrifted this set of IKEA drawers from my Sister last week. Maybe this awesome turquoise / aqua is what has inspired this LOVE of blue to date?

Today i wore aqua tights, a little aqua v-neck jumper, my blue coat and had my blue Cath K BIG bag.... Is there somebody out there who knows about "Chakras" and colour therapy? What does it mean that I am drawn to this bright blue right now? I'd love to know....

Keep thrifting, keep crafting, keep colourful and keep that tongue firmly in your cheek KirstyFish ;)

Crafty Cardi...

The Crafty Fish (that be me) loves to wear a Crafty item or three...
and, as a retailer of the finest buttons known to woman, i couldn't possibly wear a cardigan with 7 plain grey buttons down the front! It just doesn't feel right, ya know? Very, ridiculously, overly happy with my new little lambswool Cardi, i smothered it in rainbow buttons...

This look is perhaps far too 'cute' for many. It is a good job I am a lady who cares little for popular taste and fashion. This little crafty endeavour made my week much more colourful and satisfying.

And.... STILL very much in-love with Lu Summers fabric 'Avenue'.... i have been making little "My House" Brooches for the PaperFish shop. I just adore this little house. And i love the colours red / cream / blue together.

I tried to echo the 'smallness' of the house by using a smaller button embellishment. I am usually the crafter who adds a HUGE button to everything! but, in this case, discretion in button choice won favour.

Ooooh, i like it and i have worn it lots.

I am going to make some different colourways.....

And I'm going off to do that ....now! x

Am i 'So Hip'?...

#1 apologies for hurried photo...
#2 Wow! Yippee for me x and Manda McGory, the very kind editor of this new magazine -
"SEW HIP" Manda featured one of my products (inner glee) in the launch edition!
I was just browsing at Borders Book shop when i suddenly remembered ... "Oooh is that new magazine out yet?" ......... I saw it ....... i reached for it ........ i stood thumbing it at the Paperchase counter ...... "LOOK, that's me!" i shouted and the girls that worked there made all the right appreciative noises to massage my craft soul.



I love this page! It looks yummy - i sort of feel not good enough to be there.... but there I am, in the bottom right corner .... my Matroyshka NeedleBook!


You know, like many, i too have that childhood story "no good at art" / "not allowed to take the subject" / "craft isn't a proper job" etc.... Look teachers, i made a 'proper job' of it.

And just to finish ... i was going to Blog my great new purchases - handmade lovliness... but that will have to wait to make way for the hasty magazine shots.
Instead i will end this post with my 4yr olds photo "Ode to Rat" - rather good i thought.

Thanks for sharing my enthusiasm friends x