Pages

Monday 16 July 2012

Horribly absent

Dear Blog, I'm really sorry for my absence. I have been very very busy making things for my Facebook page, and for my first Craft Fair which is on Saturday (gulp). Please forgive me?! I will be back,  but in the meantime, to catch up with what I am up to, visit me in person on Saturday 21st here:

Southampton Vintage and Artisans Fair


Or anytime on my Facebook page here:


Much love, Sarah xxx

Monday 28 May 2012

Facebook Hop.

Linking up my FB page today, in Mom 2 Memphis and Rubys Meet and Mingle Facebook Hop!



Mom2MemphisandRuby
Co hosted by

If you have some time today, why not visit some new, and brilliant pages?!

Also linking up with Covered in Grace for a Monday Meet up:


Covered in Grace

Thursday 17 May 2012

Pirates!

Its "Pirate week" here in Poole. No idea why - the children seem none the wiser, but Lucas had to dress up as a pirate for school tomorrow - so of course, then, did Isla, and also - it turns out - Teddy!







The trousers were the biggest success, I think - the first time I have properly followed a pattern  that I didn't make up (although both my chids seem to have super short legs - I had to lose a lot!). Lucas is a difficult shape to dress - so I feel pretty good that  I can make him lots of pyjama trews now, following this basic pattern. I thoroughly enjoyed making these, and they both (all including Teddy, I guess) seem happy! They can wear the star trews at other times, and if I make some tops too - they will have super cute matching pyjamas!


150x200

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Apple Cozy's

As is my way, I have become a bit obsessed (albeit temporarily) with making Apple Cozys (ideas for teachers pressies etc). I have been through a fair few patterns, some of which I have enjoyed more than others, but nothing quite hit the spot for me. Then I decided that the issue I had with them is that they felt a wee bit flimsy. I wanted something that felt solid and like it really would stop the apples from bruising. So - I combined ideas from a few patterns, and what I have picked up working on amigurumi recently, and came up with a quick pattern for this:


I will write up the pattern in the next few days, but if you dont crochet, or just dont have the time, I am selling them from my Facebook page :-)

Bits and pieces

Its been a weird couple of weeks here. Isla has been unwell with yet more ear infections, then I ended up in hospital after having an anaphylactic shock to a dentist injection, plus we are trying to make some life decisions about our future.

That said, I have been crafting bits and pieces. I am going crazy making crocheted granny squares for a blanket for Isla (managed about 35 in hospital attached to the drip), I have made lip balm holders for the kids (our weather is bonkers - windy then sunny - they both have super sore lips), and its "Pirate Day" on Friday - so apparently I have to make costumes for Lucas, Isla, and a teddy.

Will post some pics tomorrow when the outfits are made.
xxxx

Thursday 3 May 2012

Covert Robin



the covert robin button


I signed up to take part in the Cover Robin competition hosted by Rachael from Imagine Gnats, and enjoyed it thoroughly!

I was asked to make a gift for Brandi from JuBee's Craft Box, and was a wee bit stressed that her two main talents were the things I attempt too (sewing and crochet), but I was going through a Polymer Clay phase, and after stalking her pinterest and so on, I noticed a Dr Seuss love and a teal/aquamarine love, so made these:

 Hair clip in teal/aqua - the colours Brandi seemed to love and 'pin' most
Dr Seuss charm bracelet - with a fish, hat, teapot, cup, ball, and a red and blue fish

Necklace again made in Brandi's colours.

I think she and her daughter were pleased :-)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I also was very excited to receive my parcel all the way from The US from the lovely 
Valerie at The Knitted Chick

The children and I were absolutely thrilled with our gifts!
2 knitted chicks (one purple which Lucas chose and called Henry, and one yellow which Isla well and truly adopted and called Holly)




and the most stunning apron for me (please excuse the photo- had to do it in the bathroom mirror!)


Thanks Valerie!! 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in The Covert Robin, and would like to thank Rachael and everyone else for their hard work. 

I am also really hoping that the brilliant Brandi and the lovely Valerie will guest post here soon!



Sunday 29 April 2012

Feather Your Nest Competition

Feather Your Nest with Stumbles & Stitches
Stumbles and Stitches

The Feather Your Nest competition came to my attention through the ultra talented and on-the-ball Rachael at Imagine Gnats, and it really interested me.

The rules:

Requirements for Entry:

The item(s) you enter in the contest must meet the following requirements:

1) Made by you, for your own home. This includes all sorts of practical and/or decorative items, housewares and artwork. As long as it is for use in your home, it works.

2) Made with stitches. It can be machine-sewn, hand-sewn, embroidered, knitted, crochet-ed, felted, etc.

3) Made with some repurposed or upcycled material. As little or as much as you want. The options are endless! Get creative and think green.

4) Made in 2012.


You can enter up to 5 times. Some of mine have already been posted, but what the heck - if they fit in with the rules, why not show them again? ;-) 
     


 Night light. Made from a plastic Ferrero Rocher chocolate box, old fairy lights (LED is essential!, an offcut of fabric Isla adore. Plus some super glue, and some sellotape for luck. Fabric is stitched, so thats how it qualifies!


Got the idea from the brilliant Crafty Love (who used tissue paper rather than fabric, but her brill tute is here), and was just waiting to find a Ferrero Rocher box. Luckily (and very bizarrely) and friend at my Wool and Wittering clss have one in her car, so her presto:
Entry number 1:




Also wanted to enter my bunting made from webbing from The Dorset Scrapstore and a 70's skirt which I have hung onto for years, even though it was about a metre too long for me, because it is stunning!
Entry number 2:


Also a crocheted jam jar cover (obv. a recycled jam jar) and a recycled paper flower arrangement.
Entry number 3: 

And lastly,  selection of cushions made from vintage or repurposed skirt, curtains, jumpers, buttons and wool. The circular one was made following an excellent tute from Attic 24.
Entry number 4:


The reverse of them:

and lastly, a pin cushion made from that same stunning vintage skirt, and a teacup given to me by Rose, which was her grandmothers. I adore it!
Entry number 5:

What a lot of fun! Do pop over to see the other AMAZING entries :-)
Love Sarah








Wednesday 25 April 2012

A little absent

Just wanted to explain my recent lessening of blog posts.
My son Lucas is going through a tough time at the moment. He has entered into Gonadotropin Dependent Precocious Puberty, which has meant that we have started horrible intramuscular injections. These are basically a massive dose of Gonadotropin - the hormone that starts puberty - so at the moment we have gone from a basically sweet, gentle boy just slowly having some pubertal symptoms into a 9 year old boy, developmentally and emotionally delayed in some ways in full blown puberty. He is hurting his sister, he is hurting me, he is miserable and furious most of the time, he is tired and cant concentrate, and he flips out without seemingly any pre warning, and he cant be left with his sister alone at all at the moment. His Aspergers is through the roof at the moment, and I am finding it really really difficult. I love him so very much, and I am trying to take it easy on him, reminding myself that it isn't 'him' acting like this - its hormones, and he cant help it, but when he grabs his 4 year old sister by the neck and rams her head against a door, its hard. She adores him, infact started crying and screaming at me when I told her that she really couldn't marry him when she grows up, but I am scared that she will start to become frightened of him.

I was supposed to do the Kids Clothes Week Challenge this week, but haven't sewn one thing. I am trying to be ok with that. They happen quite often, and my children have lots of clothes.

I also have cushions to sew, a bedroom to sort, work meetings, and we are awaiting results of tests to try to explain what Lucas' seizure episodes are.

So - put bluntly - I am just about getting by right now, but know that things will improve. If you fancy popping by to visit, I will post, just not with quite the ferocity that I was.

Thanks!
Love Sarah

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Tuesday 10



Mom2MemphisandRuby


Linking up with Lena at Mom 2 Memphis and Ruby
and Ashley from Flats to Flipflops

Theme: 10 Favourite Beauty Products!


 Decleor stuff is all amazing, but this is my fave product!


Ok, so its a bit 2010/2011, but it really works!


LOVE Laura Geller makeup. The Balance and Brighten fair for winter, normal for summer is brilliant


 More Laura Geller - bronzer this time


Isla chose this for me in the 99p shop when mine had run out (my favourite green), and its amazing.



 Eyeshadow is crucial imo, and Barry M stuff rocks.


 Best foundation there is. Not cheap, but it really lasts.


More Laura Geller. This time eye liner. Good colour, doesnt run.



Home made salt scrubs. Also love our homemade soaps and body oils :-)



So, bought this for the kids to try and stop them getting nits (they havent once!), but I pinch it as it is brilliant, smells nice, makes my hair shine.



There were lots of 'essentials' I haven't listed, but these are my fave ones that I thought might be of interest to others - plus at my age (just had a birthday, and am a wee bit sensitive), you need more than 10 beauty products to start your day, right?!

Friday 20 April 2012

Our Reflection weekly photo challenge

Teaming up again with the talented Laura from Our Reflection for the weekly photo challenge.

This week the theme is 'water'. 


This is my daughter Isla at the local swimming pool. My Dad Julian Brown took the photo (which I have edited), and right after we were asked to leave or put the camera away, as you cant use a camera at the swimming pool (Good grief - or perhaps words a little stronger!)
 SO chuffed we managed this shot.




Our Reflection Photo Challenge

Monday 16 April 2012

Project Living Room

I have been slowly working on making my living room space somewhere nicer to be - crocheting and sewing, and today it finally feels like it has come together!!! Here are some pics - not easy to take, as there is sunlight (hurrah!!), and a window - but here is what there is. I am really pleased, and looking forward to snuggling on the sofa crocheting this evening, with some scented candles lit, and maybe even a glass of wine!



Bunting made from a vintage skirt, and the window sill 

Paper flowers,  and a jam jar cosy (my family think I have finally cracked!)


Close-up of vintage fabric bunting, I also used strapping from the Dorset Scrapstore, so a free, fully upcycled project!

Cushion from vintage skirt

Crocheted mega-cushion

 Back of green cushion (again, fabric from the Scrap store!)

 Cushion made using the Attic 24 tutorial

Back of above cushion (made from an old jumper!)


Back of vintage skirt cushion (again, made from an old jumper)

Cushions in a row 

Pin cushion made from vintage tea cup that was given to me, and sits beautifully on the window sill.

I am really pleased - hope you like it!

Also really excited to be guest posting over at Imagine Gnats today. Thanks for having me Rachael :-)







i is for button 200

Sunday 15 April 2012

Taggies for sale, plus a giveaway!

You could win this taggy! 
Update: We have a winner! Samantha Prewett, congratulations. 


Everything else is still for sale!

Just pop over to my FB page, share the album, and comment on it, and I will draw this evening.
 Giraffes and ladybird minky 28cmx28cm approx Red and white ribbons



Taggies for sale: (email me to buy)

Robert Kaufman. Yellow spots with tiny elephants reverses to stripey minky. Green and yellow ribbons. 24cm x 20cm approx.
£6 plus postage at cost


Dinosaurs and ladybird Mnky! 30x15cm approx. Ribbons - blue, red, gold.
£6 plus postage at cost


SOLD!

 Stripey Minky, reverses to pink plain. Pink and blue ribbons. 23cmx20cm approx. £6 plus postage at cost

 Red spots, reverses to white with red stars. Blue, Yellow and blue ribbons (Royal and turquoise) 25cmx25cm approx. £4 plus postage at cost

Orange and pink stripes reverses to white with red stars. Pink and white velvet ribbons. 25cmx25cm approx.
£4 plus postage at cost

I hope you like them! I had so much fun making them. I am also happy to make one to order - have lots of fabrics, or you can choose your own from your stash!