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Stranded cotton wine corks

When I am working on projects for a book, I usually build up a large pile of stranded cotton thread ends which I hate to throw away. I normally give all my bits: thread, odd beads, sequins and bits of wool to the kids, who turn them into fab pictures using glue and their wonderful imagination! I found this great blog today called A Beautiful Mess, and one of the projects uses an empty cotton reel, a cork and some stranded cotton to make a fab bottle cork. I have posted a link here so that you can go and check it out for yourself.  Great project for the kids to get involved in...could be a winner at the school handicraft sale.

Photo: A Beautiful Mess

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Amy Butler 'show me your stash' contest

I am a fabric hoarder! I should wear a badge to show the world my addiction. When I innocently stroll into a fabric shop, the first sight of a length of pretty cotton, a dramatic piece of furnishing fabric or a scrap of vintage, has me reaching for my purse. I store my fabric in drawers...and boxes...and bags...under tables...just about anywhere that fabric will fit into. Some boxes I organise for display; others I fill with pressed folded fabric, neatly organised in colours. I don't really have an agenda when it comes to fabric hoarding, I just like to hoard! I do have some favourites, and Amy Butler is one of my preferred modern designers along with Cath Kidson. I suppose it's the retro, vintage look of the designs, along with the colour combinations. At the moment I'm a sucker for shocking pink and orange. Unfortunately my hoarding doesn't stop at just fabric...I saw this wonderful handbag on...well that's another story. 

Great competition on Amy Butler to showcase her new Gypsy Caravan collection. All you have to do is take a picture of your fabric stash and upload it before 15th May 2012...and then you could win even more fabric...a hoarders dream x

Photo: Amy Butler

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Knit the Queen

If you love anything royal then this fabulous knitted Queen figure, designed by Fiona Goble, is sure to get your needles clicking away. Fiona has teamed up with the online superstore Deramores to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with the release of this exclusive FREE knitting pattern, courtesy of Ivy Press. I think Fiona has done an amazing job...the hair is an absolute triumph!

Photo: Ivy Press

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Fun Valentines Day Gifts for the Kids...

 

 

 

 

 

This wonderful idea is from the blog of Gabrielle Blair designmom who I follow avidly on Facebook. Like me she has a big family, but still makes time to come up with some fab designs. This is what she's been working on for Valentines Day. I think they’re so cute. She had posted a pdf of the artwork on her site, which means all you have to do is find the animals...love it! Thanks Gabrielle, all my kids will be getting one this year x

 Photos: Gabrielle Blair - designmom blog

pretty fabric flowers

I found some beautiful fabric flowers the other day, similar to the ones I have been making for my next book ‘Scrapbag Sewing’ – out in 2012. I have added a link so that you can see all the different ways Pretty Petals has used the flowers – to trim packages, make necklaces and add detail to jumpers.

Photo: Pretty Petals