Toy Washing Machine

I love a custom order request, and especially when it is something really random!

So before Christmas, I was very excited to receive a custom order request for a toy washing machine. It was for a little girl who loved her parents real washing machine, and would be really sad when she had to go to bed and leave it, so I was asked to make her one she could take everywhere with her. So cute!!

I wanted to make it realistic, but soft and cuddly, so went for pink and purple fleece, with felt stitched on decorations. The powder drawer has velcro on it so she could actually store little things in there. 

I made it so the drum was inverted, so again, she could actually put things in it!

So it had a clear plastic door, with velcro, so she could open and close it!

Here is the finished washing machine, in front of our actual washing machine. So cute!

It did confuse the postman slightly when I went to post it and he asked 'What's in the parcel' and I said 'a washing machine'. It didn't weigh very much so I think he just thought I was a bit weird. Once I said 'no batteries' though, those were the magic words, so it was fine to post. I hope she liked it!

Teenage Mutant Hero Turtle Costumes!!!

A fairly long time ago (over 10 years which is worrying) I made a teenage mutant hero turtle costume for various fancy dress parties at university (cartoon character, animal, superhero....). We only had one fabric shop at uni, which wasn't great, and for costumes, there was the added challenge of only buying remnants of fabric from the bargain bin. I think the fabric for my original costume cost less than £2 and it has been worn many many times.

When we were invited to a New Years superhero fancy dress party, a friend as if I had any ideas of what her and her boyfriend, and me and my boyfriend could go as, and I practically shouted at her: TEENAGE MUTANT HERO TURTLES!!!

It was high time Donatello got some friends.

So I took my costume into my local favourite fabric shop (A-One Fabrics on Goldhawk Road) and although I couldn't find anything exactly the same, as my original costume had been so cheap, and they only sell nice fabrics, I found some pretty good matches.

Here are some photos from New Years Eve....I think we all rock the green look!

Not bad for an afternoon of sewing....

Christmas 2016

Wow Christmas 2016 was fantastic! I'm still recovering and frantically sewing to build up my stock again for the new year! Thank you so much to everyone who came and supported me and bought something - it makes me so happy to see people enjoying my creations!

Here are some photos from some of my Christmas markets....

How is it December...? New Name Banner Designs

Wow - I just checked my blog after what I thought had been a few weeks, and my last post had been in September!! Apologies - I don't know where the time has gone! I have certainly been very busy!!

I've spent a lot of time making lots of new, exciting name banners, in lots of new designs!

Here are some photos....

Holiday Fabric

At one time, I would have bought a ridiculous amount of souvenirs when on holiday, but having lived in one of the smallest houses around for the last 4 years, I've got more into the mindset of thinking that I just don't have room for anything.

So instead, I try to buy fabric, as then I know it will be used, and also it's a chance to get a different selection of fabrics that I wouldn't find at home.

So this year, I was very excited to find many many fabric shops in San Jose, while we were waiting to fly home from Costa Rica, and especially to find one that sold remnants of fabric by weight!!!

Luckily, when I went on holiday, I took lots of supplies out for my friend who I was meeting, who had been away from the UK for a long time, which meant I had plenty of room in my rucksack to bring back lots of lovely fabric. Oh and rum. My boyfriend would never have forgiven me if I'd come home without rum!

So I went a little wild, thinking I'd treat myself, and got a lot of fabric, and even more amazingly, it only came to $7!!!

Here is my beautiful selection....

I've only made 2 cushions so far but I am too excited - I just LOVE these fabrics!!

Custom Dress for my Mum's 60th

I wanted to get something special for my Mum's 60th, but it was almost too much pressure, and I didn't know what I should get her! So in the end I promised to make her a dress, in any fabric, any style, perfectly fitted to her.

Straight away, my Mum knew exactly what she wanted - a dress in the same shape as a Boden favourite she has, but in the fabric that I had used to make myself a dress, which I wore to my Grandma's 80th last year.

So first things first, I went back to the shop that I bought the fabric from last year, and they had sold out!! Never to re-stock again! Argh!! Luckily they realised that they had packaged up the end of the roll, so I happily bought the 3m pack, even though I only really needed 1.5m - I was just so relieved to still be able to get the fabric!

Making the pattern was fairly easy, I just laid the dress down that Mum wanted me to copy, and made a pattern using baking parchment. I then made a toile, out of rough fabric, so that I could fit it to Mum and make any adjustments before moving onto the real fabric. 

I rarely line dresses that I make for myself, as I usually buy fairly bright fabric which is not see through, and also because it's a lot quicker not too (terribly lazy - I know) but Mum would never dream of wearing a dress without lining, so I made sure I worked out how to add a lining too. 

The chosen fabric is just beautiful - it's a lightweight cotton lawn, with a delicate flower print, and is just perfect for summer. 

And here is the finished dress - worn in Portugal where my parents are currently on holiday! Doesn't she look beautiful! And the fabric looks great with a tan! I am so proud!

Penguins!

I love being asked to make custom mobiles and name banners - particularly when it involves an animal that I particularly love!

So I was especially excited to be asked to make a penguin felt name banner, for a lovely customer in Australia.

Here is a photo:

How cute are these!?!? I love them!

So here is a photo of the finished name banner, now safely in a nursery down under. 

Then, I was at a market last week, and was asked if I could make a penguin name banner, and as soon as I showed them a photo of the one above, they were so excited, and ordered one straight away!

Then I thought, these penguins are too cute just to be for name banners, and so I added some fish, and an iceberg and the sun, and turned it into a mobile!