Fabric letters galore!

It all started with a little name canvas I made for my daughter. 

Then a friend from my college days asked for one for her daughter.

That had to be larger, because I can only fit 5 letters on a small canvas!

Then another friend asked if I could do 5 canvasses, each with a letter spelling her daughter's name.

And then I got a request for a boy version, which turned out like this :)

I have 6 more name canvasses on order, which is fabulous! I have been neglecting the housework to sew, sew, sew! I have also set up a facebook page, which is where most of these orders have come from.

If you are so inclined you can like me on facebook here :)

Bunkbed bag

This is something I've been meaning to make for ages (and a girl needs a break from applique occasionally!!)

It is basically a rectangular bag, divided into two pockets and attached to the bunkbed rails with buttons on straps. This is actually the first time I did buttonholes on my sewing machine. Don't know why I thought it might be difficult...

But anyway, now Poppy has a little bunkbed bag, perfect for a bunny and and a book :)

Bramley Apple Mincemeat

This is a recipe heavily adapted from one I found on t'internet.

In a large pan melt 20g butter.

Add 850g bramley apples (peeled, cored and sliced - or chopped if you want smaller apple bits.)

Add 400ml water and cook gently for about 20 minutes.

Add 450g sugar, 300g sultanas, 300g mixed fruit, 70g mixed peel, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and the juice of a lemon.

Heat gently until sugar dissolves, then boil for about 20 minutes, until mixture is thick. Keep stirring!!

Stir in 2 tablespoons of sherry and pour into sterilised jars. (I got 4 jars worth.)

I like sewing cupcakes more than baking them!!

The cupcake image is just so sweet and easy to make, and I love it in this red, pink and white colourway. Good enough to eat - except the buttons might stick in your teeth!

It's Handmade Thursday today; why not take a look at some more lovely crafty stuff at www.whitelilygreen.blogspot.com.

tea cup on canvas

More applique, this time one of my favourite things - a cup of tea :)

More fabric upcycled from my blouse, with some lovely linen cut from a man's shirt.

Very pretty and subtle, which is not generally how my work turns out!

I now have an etsy shop just here which is still rather amateur. It's still a work in progress though - I think I need a selection of interesting pieces of driftwood to photograph my items with!!

A little birdie told me...

...that I just had to do some sewing.

So I made this little card.

Pirate boat on canvas (can you spot a theme to these recent posts??)

This is pretty similar to a bag I made for a first birthday.

It is 20 cm square and made from scrap pieces of fabric. I rather like the flowery sea!

I'm going to put it in my etsy shop (when I get one - would like to accumulate a few more first.) I think it would make a great decoration for a little boy's bedroom.

Ooh, look, it's handmade Thursday - go check out some more handmade things!

Cupcake on canvas

Another stitched picture mounted on canvas :)

This one is 20 cm square, and upcycled from scraps of fabric. (That floral print was my blouse!)

I am thinking about opening an etsy shop to sell these. It's a very scary thing though; I like to show off on  my blog but I am serious lacking in confidence when it comes to asking people to part with their cash.

Car on canvas

I am experimenting with this sewn art on canvas idea, so I made this for a little boy called Oscar. His daddy likes ferraris so this is supposed to be a ferrari-esque sports car.

I used felt for the car - mainly because I didn't have any other suitable red fabrics to hand. I'm not sure that I am completely happy with how it has turned out. It is only small - a 7 x 5 inch canvas and I think that made it more difficult - less space for layers and embellishment.

I've sent it to the recipient anyway, so we will see what sort of reception my little artwork gets!

65th birthday card

For my father-in-law, continuing the current theme of all things stitched there is an appliqued "65" which is stuck to the card with the glue gun.

Then I embellished the card with some ribbons from my cardmaking stash.

Finally finished some knitting..

... a little top for Poppy. 

Of course, she wouldn't put it on for a photo.

(In fact the little madam is very particular about only ever wearing leggings, and a t-shirt at the moment.

Accessorised with legwarmers and a woolly hat.)

You might think it's a rather summery knit for October, but I think it will look cute with a plain long sleeve t-shirt underneath.

(If she ever agrees to put it on.)

The yarn is Sirdar baby bamboo, colourway "Poppy" - which is why I bought it in the first place!

The pattern is a Sirdar pattern, number 1830, which I already made before when Poppy was a baby. I was rather lazy this time around and didn't bother with the lacy pattern on the top part. I think it looks fine without it.