Fascinating bats and pretty things

So, I saw this tutorial from Beverley at Flamingo Toes for a bat headband, and I thought to myself, what Eloise really really needs for all the Hallowe'en parties she'll be going to is a Bat Fascinator, so I made this, which is basically the same as Beverley's original design, but lop-sided so it sits to one side of the head. It doesn't show in the photo but the bats are made from glitter felt and are a bit sparkly. Unlike vampires, bats ARE allowed to sparkle!
Incidentally I had to buy a whole yard of the stuff so expect more glittery black projects in the future.
Making me happy this week is a vintage china heart mosaic I bought at a craft fair (seen here below another from the same artist that I got last year)

Also making me irrationally happy is my new kettle. My old kettle had sprung an annoying leak and basically weed all over my feet every time I picked it up. It has now been replaced ~ let that be a warning, any other household appliances who are getting funny ideas. 


Who knew kettles could be this much fun! It reminds me of a fat happy cockerel and makes me smile every time I use it. (If anyone else fancies one I got it from Next)

An autumn wreath (with tutorial) and a lovely gift

I decided the front door needed a little autumning up, so I made it a wreath. (Yes, I know, the front door still needs painting)
Now I know the post title said tutorial, but since I didn't bother to take pictures as I went it is more like written instructions.
You will need:
A twig wreath base
Felt in autumn colours
A bunch of wired artificial acorns (I got mine from EvilBay)
Assorted beads in berry colours
Organza ribbon
Wire
Glue

Start by making two felt chrysanthemums, one large and one small (for instructions on how I make these see this post).
Cut a paper template in the shape of an oak leaf and used it to make a pile of felt leaves in various colours - I used 8.
Wire up your beads into six short lengths. I cheated here. My wired bead stems were salvaged from last year's Christmas crackers!
Divide your acorns (or you can get apples and toadstools too, which would also work well) into four little bunches ~ two slightly larger and two smaller ~ and wire them to the wreath base, a larger one and a smaller one on each side (I find it works best if there an odd number in each bunch) with a gap in between them. Glue a felt chrysanthemum into each gap, and glue the leaves in place by the stalk ends in between. Finally wire the bead stems into place around the flowers and add an organza bow to the bigger cluster. (Yep, cheated here too, mine came off a box of chocolates)
Hang and admire. Linking up to Think Pink Sunday at Flamingo Toes.

A few weeks ago I bought this book by Lola Nova a couple of weeks back. There are some great projects in it. Anyway on her blog, Lola offered a giveaway of the book and a surprise gift. I didn't bother entering the book giveaway because, like I said, I'd already bought it, but I did put my name in the hat for the surprise gift and I won! And do you know what the surprise was? Only the fantastic cushion cover shown on the book cover.

It came yesterday, and it is just gorgeous. You wouldn't believe how well it fits in on my sofa. Just look at this. Could it be more perfect?
Kittens are totally banned from sitting on it. Husbands are pretty much discouraged too...

An exchange, a challenge, a hat and a cat

First things first.
A message for you if you are one of the two people who arrived here last week by using the google search term "17 year old big girls".

This is not the blog you are looking for. Go about your business.

OK, now that that is dealt with, yesterday was opening day for the Needlecraft Haven Autumn Exchange and also reveal day for the September Challenge.
Here is the stunning Autumn Harvest pillow I received from Ursh. Thank you Ursh, I love it.
By chance I also happened to send to Ursh, but stupidly forgot to take a picture before I sent it off.

The September Challenge was this lovely mermaid design from The Little Stitcher.
I used a beautifully coloured but extremely badly behaved silk thread I bought from Evilbay for their tails, and embellished it with a little anchor charm and some blue ric rac. The rest of the finishes this month can be seen in the album here.

I've been knitting as well. This is NOT, as my DH suggested, a tea cosy. It is a beret I made for Eloise to keep her little ears cosy on the grounds that it is chilly Up North. I've started another one in a different colour for Naomi, though she has specifically requested that hers doesn't have "the little taily bit" in the middle.

And finally, just because it is so sweet, here is a picture of Loki in a basket. I never seem to manage to get a picture of Jinx but Loki is just a big diva and loves having his picture taken.
PS Do yourself a favour and pop over to The Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe for a fabulous giveaway

Crafting, cats and vintage finds

So, what do you make for the geek girl about town when she is about to set off into the big wide world?
A Tetris dress of course.
(Pattern from Vogue, fabric from Spoonflower)

Also a set of table mats/coasters,

and a cushion for her room.

And a pair of oven gloves that used to be a pair of jeans.

You want a tute for the oven gloves?
I forgot to take any pictures as I went along but it's fairly straightforward. Take an old pair of jeans and cut a strip from one leg the size of your oven gloves (I just used an existing pair as a pattern). This will form the insideof your oven gloves. You may have to piece it as I did to avoid tears or worn patches.

Cut two pieces from the back of the jeans, the width of the oven gloves, incorporating the arse pockets and going as far above them as you can get without including the waistband. Cut a strip from the other leg and piece it with the two pocket sections so that the open ends of the pockets are toward the centre and the whole piece is the same size as your inside piece.
Cut a piece to make a hanger. I just used a strip from one hem cut close and frayed back, but you could use a belt carrier loop piece as well.
Cut two pieces of wadding the same size as the inside and outside pieces, and baste one to the wrong side of each piece in a 10mm seam.
Place inside on top of outside, right sides together, sandwiching the hanger between them. Sew together around outside in a 15mm seam, leaving a 10cm gap for turning. Layer seams and trim corners. Turn right side out, pushing out corners with a knitting needle. Press and ladder stitch opening closed. Linking this up to Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes

I promised cats in the title. Here is Loki who has now learned to climb up the fence and trees. Jinx was up there too, but she'd gone by the time I fetched the camera.

And vintage finds, I mentioned them too. Here is the most fabulous vintage gingham apron I bought on Ebay. I love this. I just want to wear it and bake things. And make jam. And chutney. And drink tea. A lot.
And if you love vintage things check out the wonderful giveaway at The Victorian Motto Sampler Shop

Wish you were here?

I have received my postcard in the Summer Postcard bloghop organised by Jo at Serendipitous Stitching.
My card comes from Heather at It's Geek To Me

Heather says
"Hello from rainy Salzburg! I'm afraid we didn't see any butterflies while we were in Mirabell Gardens.  We didn't see any singing von Trapps, either, but that's OK...I sang enough for all of them!"

Doesn't that look beautiful? Thank you Heather for a lovely postcard, and thank you Jo for organising another fun event
Oh, and while you are blog hopping, hop on over to The Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe for another awesome giveaway

This is the girl

This is the girl who

wouldn't eat her peas

watched The Lion King every single day

loved to dress up as a princess

or batman

got bored halfway through a football match and sat down in the centre circle to make daisy chains

passed all four A levels and is off to Leeds university to study Maths in less than three weeks.

In other news, pop over to The Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe for a fabulous giveaway

Fun with Felt and Playing with Pastels

Here are some fresh and fruity felt coasters (ooh the alliteration, my English teacher would be SO proud) I made in the vain hope that we might actually get a summer. The original idea came from The Purl Bee via Pinterest. I didn't use their templates though, I cut concentric circles with my cuttlebug and winged it with the segment pieces.

And, also based on something I saw on Pinterest, a cuddly toy camper van, because everyone needs a squishie VW. And because I had some orange felt left. I've got yellow and green left too. I feel a fleet of vans coming on. I  used a bit of  vintage braid for the hanger, I thought it went with the seventies hippy feel, and I gave it a little Cornish bumper sticker, which you probably can't see due to the rather blurry picture. I should have made the logo a bit bigger I think.

And finally for something completely different :-
a drawing, in pastels, of the frankly ridiculously handsome Mr. Tom Hiddleston, as Loki Laufeyson, from the movies Thor and Avengers Assemble.
By me, for Eloise, who shares my admiration.