OOOH BETTY!

Let me say that again OOOH BETTY and I do mean that in the best possible way!!

I won the lovely  Emma's give away, and yesterday I was stunned by the contents of a little package that was pushed through my door. Now if I had known who occupied this package I would have been straight outside to the postie to rap his knuckles for squeezing him through my letterbox.....Let me introduce......

Basil (like a king, royal, majestic) the Badger

He is exquisite, beautifully made, and presented in such an original way, (Badger in a bag). I am over the moon with him. In fact when I entered my comment to be put in the draw I even stated he would be given to my grandson who is having this woodland themed room. But the truth is I don't want to part with him, so he is staying with me for the foreseeable future!!

 The attention to detail and the neatness of the makeup is fabulous. Just look at that little bag and his knitted jumper!! I like to think that I take a pride in my sewing, particularly in the things I make to sell, but this is awesome. 

And of course he wasn't the only treasure to fill my parcel....I also received these beautiful crocheted table mats....

 As you can see one has already been commandeered for the kitchen table...

And this pretty little pack of fabric trim and buttons, which  I will take great pleasure in finding a suitable project for...

So thank you so much Emma, this really was a lovely surprise. (Even my DH is quite taken with him) .

Right off to celebrate his adoption with a wee glass, Cheers for now.....

Jenny xx

TALE OF A FLIGHTY BIRD.......

Now before any of you get excited about me spilling the beans re some new love interest, I have to state now that there is only one of those in my life ( in fact for the last 48 years really) and despite the odd wrinkle (wonder if I dare introduce him to moisturiser!) and the sprinkle of grey hair, he can still set my heart aflutter. So sorry to disappoint on that score!...No my flightiness is all to do with my sewing and craft projects...

Having bent your ears about our next makeover and all the things I intend to do, I seem to have got a bit waylaid.......

It is at this point I would suggest getting in your rations....glass of something, snacks etc...It's going to be a long haul........

It all started about 2 weeks ago whilst out shopping with my DD for her glam dress for the Wedding Ideas magazine awards in London......At which I am proud to announce she and her partner won the 'Best Special Touches' category ....for the second year running.....very proud mum here....so I don't apologise for the blatant plug.

Anyway whilst on our shopping trip I spied a mannequin in John Lewis dressed in  a navy and white striped top (which I have), a navy parka lined with navy and white striped lining (I have similar with a plain lining) teamed with green straight jeans (a lovely grass green not the emerald which they tell us will be the colour for spring!) which I certainly do not have. I loved these jeans, unfortunately they did not love me. Why Oh why do most manufacturers think that all English women need jodhpurs to squeeze our obviously ample hips into.
I am straight at the hips, as are many of my female acquaintances, regardless of their size, and I am not prepared to buy jeans costing £65 that I then have to alter to fit! In truth I would not pay £65 anyway. So the point of this is that as soon as I got home my thoughts were far away from new cushions and bed throws and totally on finding these elusive jeans at a price and fit I liked.
To no avail, and then my friend asked quite simply, why don't make some and I thought why don't I? So then my quest became the perfect pattern and the fabric. I found the pattern at Burda .com, a print it yourself pattern for only $4....wow!  Never done this before so I wasn't totally convinced I had done the right thing,

but having battled a little with accurate cutting and sticking together, I did get a pattern I could use and have made up a test pair out of some stretch canvass I had in my stash.

 Although I now know that I needed to make them at least one size if not two less than the instructions advised for my measurements, I am pretty pleased with the outcome and am now awaiting samples of the lovely coloured denim I found on line. .......Yeah they arrived!!

 The only drawback here is that although it is listed as a UK website the samples actually came from Germany! The fabric is a fine but firm denim with about a 5% stretch, and lovely quality and at £9.50 a metre not a bad price either.. It would make lovely skirts too. However if any of you savvy shoppers/dressmakers know where I can purchase similar at a similar price in the UK I would love to hear.

So did this little detour away from my intended projects satisfy? Not a bit of it! Some time ago like many of you I suspect I signed up to pinterest...don't ask me why I did, since I never really sit at the computer for browsing sake and quite honestly have not really got into it. But having done so I now get emails about the few people I followed and what they're loving. Needless to say one of them is my DD and she has done some lovely mood boards among which are a couple dedicated to her sons' bedroom makeovers. For her youngest she has chosen a woodland theme, and there among her favourite bits and bobs was a link to a pattern for some cute felt woodland creatures from little dear.

 You know exactly whats coming next....purchase pattern, purchase felt and start making said animals.......but that was not the end Oh no!....What drops through my letterbox but the latest copy of Molly Makes and you guessed it, on the front are pictures of the cutest fox and raccoon with patterns for making them included.........

I am a Libran and always being told I am indecisive..........Oh I can decide all right ...decide to do anything other than the  pile of things already planned.....When did I say this bedroom would be done....I didn't...Oh good, that's a relief, 'cos goodness knows what urgent new project I might next fall upon.........

That is of course once I finish the magicians cape and top hat for grandson number 1's Magic themed birthday party, and 30+ of these candy white bunnies to pop in their goody bags....... complete of course with candies in their see through tummies

So for now this flighty bird is off to ummmmm...... get a glass of wine.....and then I might just.........

TTFN

Jenny xx

ONWARDS & UPWARDS...my 2013 challenges

And so here we go again and more makeovers for 2013.....our first the master bedroom....

Inspired by this fabulous book 'Home Sewn' by Kaari Meng of 'French General' and my love of all things truly shabby chic, the colour scheme is all naturals with a touch of deep browny red.

If you like the French vibe this book really does have some lovely and practical projects and includes full size pattern sheets. These range from lavender filled heart pillows to pinafores and scalloped table cloths. It is one of my favourites and the photography by Jon Zabala is beautiful and really evocative.

Way back in 2012 I found this piece of unused French linen purchased from EBay.

Having nearly ruined it by not reading the brilliant instructions provided by the seller on how to deal with this old fabric (soaking first to remove the size) I now have a beautiful length of linen to create my bed throw.

I want to create a wide border with one of the natural and red patterned fabrics I have collected,

 to tie in with this cushion already made.

 I may then add some embroidered script, but am not certain about this yet.
We already have the new light fittings installed and the room will be stripped out and repainted in the next few weeks.
My beautiful half tester bed is to be painted cream and distressed, and hung with new cream drapes to keep the look light as it is an old house and can be quite dark.

We last decorated it in a rather rustic style with denim and red gingham and it is ready for its makeover!. The strange wall behind the bed is a false one as we have a large walk in wardrobe hidden in there, with a door each side of the bed. The room is still huge though and saved us having to buy separate wardrobes,(and the painting of them....phew!!).

An added element will also be a crocheted throw......That is of course if I manage to finish it. I got a copy of this book ....

written by Tif Fussell ( dottie angel)and Rachel Blondel (ted & agnes). It is full of quirky bits and pieces and is as much about the styling and the fabulous photographs as the actual projects included, though there are a few I would like to have a go at. It is definitely kitsch and possibly not everyone's cup of tea but I love it!
And among all the projects were the instructions for a textured crochet throw. The stitches are simple but the look is pure designer granny chic. However as it has taken me a whole evening to complete just 3 rows, I can see this being a year long project and my aim is to finish it come what may.....wish me luck.....

Oh no, a PS is needed here. Was just checking out my links to ted and agnes when I came across this post http://talesoftedandagnes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/granny-chic-tale-of-2-comas.html It would appear that there is a small but significant error in the crochet instructions for both the tea cosy and the Granny puff blanket.
I will have to unravel my evenings work!!!! It is a plot to stop me achieving my goal....but I will not give in, I will complete my throw...you have heard it here!

What plans do you have.....or even any tips or projects you have found that would fit in with my scheme? I am always excited to hear others input......
Off now to do some more hooking........I will be back.......

TTFN

Jenny xx