Sunny Skies

I have been lucky enough to go away twice this summer. The first trip was to Tenerife, where my family has a house. It was a much needed sunshine holiday after the rubbish weather we’ve been having here!

It was so nice just to see everything so much brighter and more colourful than the dullness we’re used to in Britain.

The house is very much a home from home and it was great to relax in the sunshine just a couple of feet away from home comforts. I can’t stand feeling chained to sunbeds near a hotel swimming pool when you’ve got to get in various lifts etc just to get to your room.

 

 

We have been having the garden of the house landscaped and we did some planting while we were there.  

 

Unfortunately, I managed to catch a virus for the last five days away, and it meant I couldn’t go outside in the heat, but I managed to get lots of reading and sewing done. My tan may not of developed as much as it would of if I’d spent the holiday outside, but I certainly came back with more freckles than I went with!

Thanks for reading,

Rachel x

Holiday Reading

When I was little I was an avid reader. I was one of those that would read with a torch under the covers, I remember my Mum coming to get me up one morning and I was still trying to reach the end of Harry Potter. I still love to read but when it's term time, I'm asleep before my head hits the pillow and I'm lucky if I get through a book a term. However, I'm on holiday in Tenerife at the moment, I've been here a week so far and have read a total of five books. This time though, I didn't fill my suitcase with paperbacks, I brought my new Kindle.

So, my question for you is, to Kindle or not to Kindle? I'll hold my hands up and say I never thought I would get one of these, but I realised how much easier it was for travelling with and for holding whilst sunbathing :-)

However, it definitely has its downsides, for example, I haven't found a way that you can share books with another Kindle owner, which seems sad when we're used to recommending and passing books on to each other. The other negative I've found is that you definitely need to know what book you want to buy, downloading them on Amazon is not like going to a lovely bookshop, having a coffee and flicking through a range of books until you've found what you want.

How do you all feel about the Kindle?

Some other reading material I have brought away with me are these magazines;

I don't know if any of you have seen this in the newsagents, but I saw it and wanted it straight away, then I saw the price, £9.99!!

I wouldn't normally buy a magazine that cost so much but when I flicked through, I only wanted it more and decided to treat myself for my holiday. I would definitely recommend it, it has turned out to be much more like a book than a magazine, with lots of different patchwork and quilting patterns and step-by-step projects from various designers, including Amy Butler. I can't wait to try some of them.

My other magazine is this one;

I buy Mollie Makes most months as I like its modern and fashionable take on making things. However, again, it's quite pricey, at £4.99. Some months, I feel I haven't got my moneys worth as the crafts inside aren't my cup of tea. But I have really loved this months issue, there is lots of patchwork and crochet projects and the free crochet hook that came with it is of really good quality. 

If you've got a spare fiver, go and get it!

I'm off to sunbathe.

Thanks for reading.

Rachel x 

Gypsy Love

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE the shabby chic look and my house itself is quite calm with a 'country' feel. BUT, I feel the cupcake, pastel look has gone a little too far and become, if I dare say it, a bit sickly. I'm sure that most people have got the look right, but I think a lot of high street shops have offered cheap versions of things and smothered them in cupcakes, which in my opinion, don't look nice.

That's why, I have begun to love the gypsy look. The jewel colours are brave and sumptuous and the soft furnishings add beautiful detail in a range of fabrics, featuring folk type florals and beaded/sequinned embellishments.

Have a look at some of these pictures I've found.

I really want to inject a bit of this look into my own bedroom. Not that I will be able to paint the walls bright colours or decorate them with floral wallpaper as I like my walls quite muted. But I would love to be able to add the theme with the help of accessories and soft furnishings. Only problem is, where do you find such gorgeous things? High street shops don't tend to go for this sort of style. However, when I went into Marks and Spencers the other day, I discovered they have a new home range called 'Caravan'. Most of the things are for the kitchen, but at least there was a not a cupcake in sight! Here are a set of tea, coffee and sugar tins I liked.

I hope this 'look' becomes more popular. In the mean time, if anyone help with where I can buy some 'gypsy' inspired bedroom bits, I'd be very grateful!!

Thanks for reading.

Rachel x

Craft Kit

A little while ago, this amazing box arrived in the post.

I had been looking forward to recieving one of these since I knew that Marna from Little A Designs was going to be selling them.

I wrote a blog a while ago about Little A Designs after I attended one of her rosette making workshop. Her work is gorgeous and Marna is lovely, kind and generous.

Inside the box is everything needed to make a family tree cushion, in the same style that Marna uses. Here is what is inside.

There is a piece of linen to use as the base fabric for the cushion. The tree itself has already been cut out by Marna and then there is a selection of different fabrics to use as the leaves (leaves have been drawn on the back and just need cutting out). There is also a packet of various buttons to use as embellishments.

What I wasn't expecting was the selection of sewing equipment, scissors, threads, pin cushion, thimble, pins, needles, tape measure and glue! You can literally take this box anywhere and not need anything else to create the fantastic cushion! So that's exactly what I intend to do. I am going to Tenerife in August and this is the perfect travelling project.

Hopefully I'll have a complete project to show you soon and *hopefully* it will look something like this.

Photograph and cushion by Marna Lunt, Little A Designs.

Visit Little A Designs Facebook page here.

Pom Pom Trim

I LOVE pom pom trim. I have added some to cushions in the past, but it hasn't always been the best quality. I decided to buy some better quality trim, made from proper velvet.

This love trim is from Deckchair Stripes.  

I have made this cushion and added the pom pom trim. I bought a fat quarter of this fabric and then realised I loved it so much I needed some more, so ordered plenty! I am going to use some of it in my next quilt (when the first quilt is finished!)

Does anyone have any good tips for sewing on pom pom trim? It seems very tricky on cushion seams. I used the zipper foot on my machine but still struggled. Maybe there is some cheat method I'm missing!?

I just bought one of these cheap and basic sewing machine from John Lewis.

We have a house in Tenerife and when we go on holiday we want to take a little machine with us that we can leave there. This one is perfect as it is small and light and is well within hand luggage restrictions (with removal of needle). I haven't used it yet, but if it sews as good as it looks I'll be happy. Also, it can be bought in a range of colours!

Thanks for reading.

Rachel x

Handmade Heart Swap

I have posted about my love of heart shaped/themed items before and so was eager to be involved in Mary Poppins Handmade Heart swap.



I received my lovely parcel from Helene a few weeks ago, but have only just got the chance to post about it.

I was very excited about the swap as it is the first I have been involved in since joining Bloggerland!

I was definitely not disappointed. Here are a few of the things I got.

This was the main item of the package and most definitely my favourite! Helene corcheted this gorgeous floral hanger with beads and heart at the bottom. Her crochet is so neat and tidy and she picked gorgeous colours. It's now hanging in my bedroom.

She also crocheted me this lovely stuffed red heart.

Here are a few other things she sent. Some polka dot fabric, pom pom trim (which I love), some ribbon with hearts on, and some blue and cream ribbon. She also sent a cute little crocheted heart keyring.

Thanks Helene! If you like your package just half as much as I like mine I'll be happy!

Love Rachel x

Thank-You and New Look!

This is a thank-you post for Artwork by Angie.

Way back towards the beginning of the year I contacted her after seeing her fabulous work and asked if she would create some artwork for my blog, including a logo and a background design. She put me on her waiting list and finally at the end of June my turn came. Yesterday, I was expecting to see my proofs so kept checking my e-mails eagerly. I was soooo thrilled with the designs Angie sent, I haven't met her in person but she managed to capture exactly what I wanted only by communicating via e-mail and sending various attachments.

Although I dont have a proper business, I do make items for people and as gifts and I decided it would be nice to have some branding to go with them.

Here is my new logo which has also been used as my blog header, she created the gorgeous new floral blog background and designs for business cards. What do you think? I am going to head over to moo.com for some mini moo cards and some stickers!

Thanks again Angie!!