My Etsy shop...Valentine's Day Giveaway..

 My oh my...what a week or so it has been...you may have thought we were a housewife down again...(see full story here)...I have photographed and uploaded and written and fiddled and arranged and hummed and hah'ed and re-photographed and re-uploaded and been to the post office 6 times...and all just so I could at last get my Etsy shop up and running...so a big pat on the back and thanks to my fantastic staff of...well, me! 

...obviously with back up and much patience and rolling of eyes like Mum's STILL on the computer...from Team W!

I have been on a steep learning curve as with all these internetty things which come so easily to the teenaged and young childers...but I have got there...so do pay a visit and let me know what you think...if you spot anything I haven't please let me know!

and be-cause it's only just open and be-cause it's nearly Valentine's Day...and I'm fu-fu-feeling full of LOVE...I would love you to help me to celebrate and to say thanks to all my lovely followers and likers...with a Giveaway ...2 little handmade bird brooches will fly away to ...maybe YOU...so leave me a comment here, or on my Facebook Page here...and say if you'd like a pink, blue, grey or green one...offer closes midnight Monday...so I can get the birdie to you as soon as possible...with a following wind...

and a very Happy Valentine's Day to you all xx

how to make a bird brooch....

...or ten...

it is soo feeling a bit more springlike out in the world of nature...lighter nights...birds twittering more...little signs of bulbs and green shoots and buds..and of course snowdrops...aren't they incredible, coming up whatever the weather is doing...little signs of hope!

it's all made me feel more creative and much more like getting to my mahcine and getting sewing and embroidering...and using some gorgeous new fabrics such as this delicious daisy design and dotty spotty (can't beat a good spot!)in fab colours...feeling springlike and ready for fresh new shades...

so if you're feeling like joining me in some making...

first draw or trace your birdshape on paper..keep it simple...cut out a pattern and use to draw onto, or just pin onto, a piece of craft felt and cut out...(do try and use a wool type felt as they are just so much nicer to handle and sew with) Please note:I make a lot so I cut a lot! 

then for some tiny hearts..iron Bondaweb or similar to the back of your chosen fabric...and draw on your heart shape...note the nice sharp pencil...a miracle in this house to a) find a pencil, b) find a sharp pencil or c) find any pencil and a pencil sharpener within a mile of each other...

I then spend a relaxing time with Radio 4 or some nice music playing and cut out all my little hearts...bless them! Don't forget to take the PAPER backing off before you try to iron them on...



aren't they cute?

so with care iron on the heart to the bird shape...take care not to iron the felt as it won't like it!

next cut out a little beak in a different coulour of craft felt...and then pin the bird shapes and beaks to a bigger piece of felt...this make it soo much easier to sew (here I've used a piece of felted wool jumper) WARNING!! do not try to sew a small bird on it's own as it'll drive you nuts!

sew carefully round the bird shape close to the edge... make sure you include the beak...(not shown here cos I forgot!)

I then free machine round the heart but you can do it with a normal foot if you prefer...

and ta da..a row of little birds appears ...

it is a lovely moment when you cut them out and they become proper little birds...

just something missing...look away if you don't like operations as the next bit looks painful... but I'm sure they don't mind!

mm and they must look real as Basil is showing a great deal of interest...



or maybe it's just that it's cold out there and warm and snug in here...

To finish... sew a nice brooch pin onto the back and wear with pride at your craftyness...celebrate the handmade and welcome in the spring!

and talking of handmade...check out UK Handmade's magazine...bright new spring issue here

Have a great week...and I hope, fingers crossed, to be in opening Etsy mode soonest...I will keep you posted (I'm still doing photos and writing the blurb trying to make sure it's all perfect and looking lovely for you!)xx

PS and I'me feeling a Giveaway for spring coming on...

old friends and upcycling...

what to do when your trusty sewing machine isn't very well, for the first time in 20 years and you have  to take it to the machine doctor...

and then a 'Making in The Studio' workshop is happening and we are a machine down as someone's machine has come without a foot...

it's time to call on Singer and Jones...sounds like a double act or a firm of solicitors...but no, they are my old friends...

this is Mrs Singer...such a wonderful machine...smooth and well-oiled...daughter mine loves the smell of her!! 

 
and here is Miss Jones...a hand worked beauty with a lovely action and a tiny spindle-like spool hidden in her depths...both are gilded ladies fit for a fancy drawing room or front parlour...

sewing using a hand machine is soo soothing...clink and chink as the handle goes round and the needle smoothly moves up and down...

Victoria arrived equipped for anything...and brought a friend...a lovely Mollie Makes doll which she had made...and a fab pincushion...

Sandra did a show and tell ...a beautiful crocheted rug she had made and  gave me a gorgeous gift of a crocheted bowl, to which I added a lovely button and filled with threads...isn't it a gem?

I do soo love it when people bring things they have made to show...or send photos of items finished after they they go home...

Sandra's busy here sewing on to the front the pretty leaves which she had embroidered with beadwork...

  
Helen came with her cute little basket of goodies...

Sandie got to use Mrs Singer and enjoyed herself no end...and did hand sewing and then got on to making a corsage...looking good! She had made her pretty beaded bracelet by the way...so many talented makers here today!

and after a day of hard work and fun and concentration and sewing and cutting...and tea and cake...4 beautiful bags appeared...Sandie's has a bit to go to be finished as she made hers slightly differently but here is Helen's with pretty suffolk puff decorations...

and a later photo...thanks Helen...love the covered button...

and Sandra's gorgeous soft green bag with beautiful embroidered beaded leaves...

and Victoria's messenger bag...with fab flower in just the right fabrics after much debate in the studio...

Ladies I salute you! You have all made gorgeous handmade handbags...hard to tell that when you arrived these beauties were all old wool jumpers!

I soo love doing workshops and meeting wonderful creative folk who take a making idea and run with it! You are all an inspiration!

have you seen...Hestascene??

what to do on a rainy day in Cumbria??...well lots of choice...stay at home and count the dust bunnies or perhaps clean the kitchen floor...mm or jump in the car and trundle to beautiful Caldbeck...for a little lunch with a dear friend and visit the lovely local shops including the wonderful Hestascene gallery...which just happens to stock my wares...where the talented Julie and Karen have a warm welcome for all visitors...and in case you're wondering 'hesta seen' means 'have you seen'...

I love the drive to this special place  as you leave the main road beahind and head for wilder freer places...the journey is part of the magic...

Caldbeck village is in the northern Cumbrian fells, remote and beautiful...a special place with delicious tearooms and little shops and the most wonderful views...you drive through the landscape with cows and sheep roaming free... saw a mummy cow feeding her calf just feet away from the car...

I persuaded Julie to have her picture tooken...so nice to see real people on blogs don't you think...Julie is a wonderful feltmaker with a very arty background and it's great that she and Karen have the vision and passion to run this inspiring gallery...so public and artists alike can enjoy the lovely work by Brisitch makers...and all artists need somewhere to show their wares...mm is that an emmieandemma teacosy in the background?? 

some of Julie's beautiful felted and stitched cushions and scarves...

 

I love these delightful handmade buttons by Amanda Mercer

a graduate of the University of Cumbria whose work epitomises the contemporary art and craft which Julie and Karen like to showcase

ceramics and textiles mix so well...I love ceramics with texture like a fabric...

irresistible(ok I bought one!)tiny porcelain pieces by Emma Louise Wilson

and is that some Charlotte Macey textiles I spy...I love her quirky stitched and printed designs

not only finished and polished pieces to buy but you can also see Julie's work in progress...



and downstairs is the place to be for craft workshops...inspiring creativity in all who come here...I have enjoyed 2 or 3 including nuno feltmaking with Julie and wire jewellery making with Jan Huntley Peace... here's one of her lovely neckpieces...

and then a choice to walk by road or river for a few minutes along to lunch at Priest's Mill...past the tranquil church where huntsman John Peel 'in his coat so grey' lies buried...

past beautiful old houses and pretty gardens...

 

 

past temptation at the plant lady's emporium...The Potting Shed...full of lovely things you didn't know you needed!

as I wander I remember bringing my young daughter and her friend here to swim and play at the end of term one summer...the Cald Beck river was calm and smooth then...this day so much rain has fallen so it is swollen and rushing in a very dramatic fashion...

and nearby is the restored water wheel which would once have powered the  cornmill, later a sawmill...

and down at the bottom lies another treasure...The Wool Clip...home of Woolfest...of which you have heard much hereabouts! but I will save that visit for another day...as lunch beckons...so inside the mill for a delicious lunch and catching up with my friend...

and then...who knows...home I guess across the wild fell road...nowhere better to live than Cumbria, especially on a rainy day when the clouds are low and the fells are moody...

see you again soon..hope you're enjoying a lovely August and making the most of summer whatever the weather...xx