Not your average reusable canvas bag :)

I've finally finished the cross stitch projects I had been focussing on for the last few weeks and needed a change. I had some canvas bags I had bought ages ago with the intentions of jazzing them up a bit. Here's the first attempt, a paisley pattern. I'm hoping to do it in each corner of the bag and then line the bag with some muslin perhaps.

Here's the design close up. It's my first bit of actual embroidery and am very impressed with how it turned out :)

I think the next few designs may include beads, I'm awful at doing french knots so beads will work a lot better. Need to scour my craft library and look for some more design ideas. 

Check in soon,

Lydia 

4 funky monsters!

Completely stuck on ideas for party bag fillers for Isaac's 1st birthday. Had a long think and apart from a few chocolate things, bubbles and a balloon I was really stuck for something a bit more original. Searching through my craft box I came across a load of felt sheets that I had planned to use for tree/house decorations but had never got around to it. I had a bit of a brainstorm and this is what I came up with:

Mabel, Munster, Melvin and Mop

Personally I think they look great for a first attempt! Just need to make a few more to perfect them a little more and voila! 

They will be great for the party bags, the felt is sewn on tight enough so it wont come off, incase on them finding themselves in some little person's mouth! Would work brilliantly for older children to help with storytelling and imaginative play. I'm planning on making character cards to go with this set when people buy them and another set of 4 are in the works :)

check in soon,

Lydia

Memory Frames...the perfect present for every occasion!

I was really stuck for what to get my husband (from my son) for christmas. It was our first christmas as parents so I wanted Stephen to be able to receive something really special from Isaac, something that would actually be remembered rather than just a "you're the best daddy" present that gets looked at for a while but usually put somewhere and forgotten about like so many gifts are.

I've always loved scrapbooking and remembered making a framed scrapbook page for my sister's birthday one year and she loved it so I set about sifting through the hundreds of baby photos to try and find some that I could use to commemorate the 'Daddy' times.

Here's what I came up with:

 Quote reads: I love Daddy, Daddy loves me, me and Daddy, Daddy and me.

This page could fit between 3-6 photos depending on the area size of the photo I would be using eg: how big the people/area of the photo I'm focussing on is. These prints were 6x4.

The page can be designed for anyone (best friend, parent, grandparent, child etc) or for a special occasion (birthday, mother's/father's day, christmas etc)

Father and Son 2012 button

'Daddy' Memory Frame (complete and framed)

I really enjoyed making this and it now has pride of place on our wall :)

check in soon,

Lydia

New Designs :)

It took me longer than expected to actually map out the new designs and check out stocks of frames, aida and thread in local shops and on the internet. There are 5 birthdays this month, then 1 in February and 1 in March so best get on with finishing them all so I can move onto my other projects!

Here are the two new girls designs:

This aida is slightly smaller count than the pieces I used before which makes the original girls design (see previous post) look a bit lost on the fabric so I added a few fairy motifs to complete the new designs.

Girls Design 2

This design can accommodate a longer name than the original design.

Fairy Detail

Girls Design 2 (completed and framed)

Girls Design 3

                                     

This design can be altered. For example, for two sisters, a name banner could be under each fairy.

Also ages can be worked into the detail of the heart or placed to one side of it.

                                      

 Fairy Detail

Girls Design 3 (completed and framed)

Overall I am really pleased with these new designs, proof that hard work really does pay off. I have my new 'branded' stamp too which I'm very excited, now all my creations can carry my mark :) here it is:

very proud :)

check in soon,

Lydia