Playing with my sewing machine before it gets packed away (house move in the offing!) I embroidered three pug dogs onto a square of fabric and made it into a fully lined tote bag with a zipped inside pocket. Straps are long enough to carry bag on shoulder. I'm not that keen on dogs to be honest but still trying to find a good pattern of cats!

I've also been making cosmetic purses, all with contrast linings. I love making these!

A grey faux suede hobo style bag and a patchwork bag in the same style

And finally, my 'piece de resistance' my very first attempt at a quilt.

Right, I'm off now to get ready to go out for a meal to celebrate my 43rd wedding anniversary!

Upcycled and Pinterest inspired

Just a few recent makes. I've finally worked out how to get photos on to my blog since Blogger decided not to let me use my old and trusted way of doing it through the program which I use for storing all my photos. These two are using Pink Petticoat backgrounds and die cut shapes/letters.

The next three are using the front of some notelets I found when I was having a sortout and diecut sentiment labels.

These last three cards are inspired by finds on Pinterest, but beware Pinterest is very addictive!
Diecut letters and tag shapes, secured with brads and computer generated sentiments.

Less is More - week 101 - black and white with a hint of colour

Well 2012 was an eventful year and though some of it was not so good I'm moving on and hoping for better this year. And what better way to start than this week's challenge at Less is More, which is Black and White with a "touch or a splash, a hint or suggestion, a dab or a patch"
of colour.
I recently had to make a sympathy card (do we all shy away from doing these or is it just me?) and this is a similar design to the one I made but in black and white. The hint of colour is in the 3 tiny lilac pearls underneath the sentiment.
Base is a white pearl card, die cut is Memory box Prim Poppy cut in white and black pearl card. Sentiment generated in Publisher and printed directly on to card.
Thank you in advance for looking and for any comments you make.

Less is More - week 85 - Ovals

A very quick post this morning. Over at Less is More this week it's OVALS

I've embossed a cream card base with a tree bark effect and die cut an oval for the two little blue birds to use to make a nest!!! Die cut a twig (Sizzix ) and printed a sentiment generated in Publisher. It's a lovely sunny autumnal day so hopefully hearts are singing.

 

Housework and baking today so I must go and get dressed!

Less is More - week 83 - colour - brown and pink

Love the brown and pink colour combination chosen for this week's challenge at Less is More.
I thought straight away of the cherry blossom tree outside my window which was covered in blossom earlier this year. Sadly, the tree looks a bit sorry for itself after the soggy summer we've just had!
My card this week is a brown tree (Memory Box) with tiny pink blossoms (a very old punch) and two birds (supposed to be magpies!)(Martha Stewart). Sentiment generated on computer and printed out.

Right back to sorting out the bathroom now. It's been painted, but guess who has to put everything back again?!
Thank you for your kind comments last week. I'm afraid I'll not be able to visit many blogs this week. I'm at my daughter's house helping her pack, ready for their house move.

Week 82 - recipe - 3-2-1

3-2-1   Yes ....... I'm afraid I AM old enough to remember that programme !! (Never one of my favourites though).
My 3-2-1 contribution is
1 flower  (from a pack I've had for ages but not sure where I got them)
2 hearts  (heart punch using sparkly paper)
3 strands of twine (and 3 words too) (I made the 'Baker's twine' myself to get the colour I wanted)
Now as it's a grey day I think I must do some housework(!!!!!!!!) and maybe try to get OH to start painting our bedroom and bathroom !Though I may have a fight on my hands there.
Hope I get time to check out some blogs this week. Thank you for comments on my last effort.

Less is More - week 80 - Fur or Feathers

Mmmm. One layer week at Less is More this week. Not my style at all, though 'Fur' definitely is! We always had cats until a couple of years ago when my last beautiful tortoiseshell cat had to be put to sleep and I couldn't face the heartache again. I absolutely love ginger cats and having had two I know that they are quite different characters from other cats. Hence my choice of orange (actually TH Wild Honey!) for this stamp.
A c6 ivory hammered card base with 'Sleepy cat' by Funstamps (no idea where it came from - I've had it for years) stamped with TH Wild Honey distress ink. Sentiment is computer printed. It's a quote from a favourite poem of mine by Eleanor Farjeon. Faux stitching border stamped in TH Wild Honey and Pumice Stone is part of a set from what was Dimension Fourth (think they've changed their name now).
Off for a day out now though not sure where OH has planned for us.
Thanks to everyone for their kind comments last week.

Less is More -Week 79 Colour -Blue & Green

Can't believe that it's been 11 weeks since I last entered the challenge at Less is More. Lots of things have been happening in my life over the last few months - some good and some not so good - which have come between me and my crafting! Hope I'm back on course now.
Inspiration for this week's challenge for me was the Himalayan poppy - I've not managed to grow any but I gaze longingly at them in the seed/flower catalogues.
An A6 size card with a computer printed sentiment. The poppy is Memory box Prim Poppy cut in handmade paper that I've had for ages.
It's good to be back!

Less is More - week 68 - Theme

....... and this week the theme at Less is More is make a card for " a Baby or a Child".
So, a 5inch square white pearl base card with a simple printed sentiment generated in Publisher.
The two tiny feet are punched out in the same card and mounted on white pearl and silver card twice.
Very simple and I hope very less is more.
I hope to be able to take part in more of these challenges now that I'm able to spend more time back home because less is more is very definitely my style!

close up of feet!

Thank you for taking the time to look.

 Photos of my latest project on my new sewing machine - Brother NV2200 which OH treated me to at the Sewing Exhibition at the NEC in March.
The outside of the bag is made up of rows of frills.

 Zip fastening

I need a buckle for the handle but meanwhile I've stitched it!

Lining with inside pockets

Pockets are big enough for a mobile phone - I checked!









Fabric for frill was from http://stores.ebay.co.uk/cottonsquares-patchwork-fabric?_trksid=p4340.l2563
The pattern came from a fabulous book by Kay Whitt from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sew-Serendipity-Bags-Fabulous-Make
Now I just have to move into it!

Less is More week 54 Stripes

The challenge this week at Less is More is 'Stripes' and it's One Layer Week!!!! Not my favourite as I'm hopeless at stamping so I decided to play around with letters in Publisher (always my program of choice!). So this is a barcode font and I changed each letter to a different colour and printed it out on to a 5inch square card. Simples! No embellishments or fancy bits and that's it. Definitely Clean and Simple methinks.
Thank you for looking. I may be back again.

Less is More - week 52 - sketch

So the challenge this week at Less is More is different from their usual style - we have a sketch to follow.
A bit out of my comfort zone because I usually make square cards, however IF I do make a rectangular one, I prefer landscape. I don't like the look of the A6 portrait style, but that's just me!
I've made a 'get well soon' card, mainly for my daughter because she has to go into hospital in 3 weeks time for a fairly major operation and I'm going to look after her when she comes out, so I know I won't have any time for cardmaking for quite some time. She loves the black and white theme (her recent wedding was all based on black and white/ivory colours - see my recent post!) so this is just for her.
The base is a white linen effect card with a black and white spotty ribbon for the band. Then I added 3 black/white flowers (found in Poundland last week) which came with bling already in the centres! The sentiment was done in Publisher and printed directly on to the card.
Hope I get time to make another this week - I'm liking this idea. Thank you lady divas!

Close up of flowers and bling

Less is More - week 51 - Cut it out!

Happy new year to everyone. My first post for several weeks!! Our daughter's wedding and Christmas festivities seemed to take over our lives for ages but now it's almost back to normal 'chez nous'.
The theme this week at LESS IS MORE is "Cut it out" - apertures. The 3 dimensional look really appeals to me, so I hope this card is ok.
A 5inch square (no change there) cut from cream hammered card and I cut the aperture 'off the edge' with a Quickutz die. Then I punched small hearts all the way round the hole. The backing paper is from a Papermania pack called 'Scrumptious'. I placed 3 small hearts in the bottom corner to finish. I decided that it didn't need a sentiment as the backing paper said it all.

Stuart waiting patiently - the bride was a little late

Nic and James carrying the rings

Libbie and her dad walking up the aisle

Bouquet made with beads and jewellery

All finished! - signing the register

A big hug for James

Cheers!

Carrot cake table

The wedding artist captured him perfectly!

Nic with Libbie's dancing shoes! Silver sequinned Ugg boots

Vintage tea party ready for guests

Wedding cake and cupcakes

Jimmy Choos and nan!

Peter and Ele

Just a few photos taken by friends at Libbie and Stuart's wedding on Friday December 30th.
More to follow!