Sunday 25 January 2015

Grow your Blog and a Giveaway

Hello! I'm excited to once again be a part of the wonderful Grow Your Blog Party, ably hosted by Vicki from 2 Bags Full. The party is a chance to explore strange new blogs, (seek out new life and new civilisation, and boldly go where no blogger has gone before)
Yes. I'm a geek - you'll get used to that if you hang around here for long.
My name is Christine and I'm lucky enough to live close to the sea in Cornwall, England, where we run our own photography business


If you become a regular visitor here (and I hope you do), you'll find this blog is a bit of a mish mash of family, Cornish life, and random geekery, but mostly focuses on my arty and crafty projects. They tend to be mostly stitching and knitting related, and I love to upcycle and re-purpose everyday and vintage objects.
Here for example is a pinny I made myself earlier this week, from a pair of old jeans. (I'm linking this up to Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo Toes too)


Actually it was pretty easy to do. If you want to make one you'll need:-

1 pair of jeans (not skinny ones or you'll end up with a really narrow apron)
5 metres of 30mm bias binding
General sewing supplies
A mug of tea

I slit one leg up the centre back and opened it out, then used an existing pinny as a pattern, lining the bottom edge up with the hem edge of the jeans.
For the pocket I cut a section from the front of the jeans, from just to one side of the fly, cutting away the zip, to a little past the side seam, incorporating the waistband and front pocket (being careful not to cut through the pocket lining, so that I have a "pocket in my pocket", which sounds as if it ought to be a range of toys). I curved off the corners by drawing around my tea mug, (told you you needed a mug of tea!). I bound the raw edges of the piece with red gingham bias binding (don't you just love all the funky kinds of bias you can buy now, when I first started sewing it was such boring stuff!), then stitched the whole thing in place on the front of the pinny.
I bound the top and side edges with more of the bias, then used one long continuous piece to make the side tie, bind the armhole, make the neck strap, back round the other armhole and then the second tie. The piece of bias was nearly as long as that sentence!
If you'd read this far you're probably getting fed up by now and asking yourself "Where be this giveaway of which she speaks, me hearties?" - Yes, you are a pirate in my head. Come to terms with it.
Well, I've got a few scraps of denim left from the pinny project, so I'm going to make a decorative heart, similar to these ones I made before Christmas, as a giveaway prize.


I haven't made it yet because I want to personalise it a bit for the winner. If you want a chance to win then just put a comment on this post and tell me your favourite colour. I'll randomly pick a winner on 15th Feb. I'll send it anywhere in the world. You don't have to follow in order to enter, though it would be nice.
Go on
You know you want to.
I hope I'll see you back here soon

47 comments:

Ariadne said...

Well we knew each other before GYB but anyway here I am ! I love denim and snowflakes, lace and blue colour!Lovely hearts and apron!ariadnesky(at)hotmail(dot)com AriadnefromGreece!

Sheryl said...

Amazing photography. Good pinny idea.

Sally said...

Love your apron and those denim heatrs with snowflakes are simply beautiful. Please can I enter your giveaway? My favourite colour is hmmm....... Red :)

Aunt Marti said...

Christine, on behalf of Vicki at 2 Bags Full, welcome to "Grow Your Blog" day! You've certainly grown your blog by one follower -- me! I look forward to reading about life in Cornwall, but watch out, I may ask to visit!

Clare-Aimetu said...

Lovely pinny Christine - I love reading your blog

Shroo said...

Happy Crazy Blog Hop Day!!! I'm only just getting settled back to blog hopping, having been trying to clear my studio (hahaha..yeah...) So with mug of tea in hand, I'm going to catch up and say hello to everyone with blogs I stalk! HELLO!!! The Colonel sends a lazy salute in honour of Wing Commander Fluffyboots! May your day be awesome and your incredible arty inspiration never-ending! Big hugs from Shroo :)xxx

Ali said...

What a fab way to use up an old pair of jeans! My fav colour at the mo is pink. Ali x

rosey175 said...

You are quite lucky to live by the sea, such amazing opportunities for your photography! And your new apron is fabulous; love the pocket in pockets. Can never have enough pockets.

And yeah, I know I want to enter the giveaway! Favorite color is rainbow, hah! (really it's blue)

Mrs Milkybar Kid said...

I'm making an effort to comment on blogs I've been following for years rather than just lurking! As a fellow stitcher in Cornwall (who has a few of your patterns in her stash), I love reading your blog and seeing your amazing makes - such an inspiration! I would love to enter your giveaway, my favourite colour is purple - ALWAYS :)!

Katy said...

I've been a follower for awhile now and I'm so jealous of you living in Cornwall! I love England, would love to spend lots of time there some day!

I'd love to be included in the giveaway drawing! My favorite colors are a tie between cobalt blue and royal purple!

Joyce Clark Frank said...

Enjoyed your blog and have become a follower. My favorite color is any shade of green. I do love the denim you have made also. I am also a part of Grow Your Blog.
http://joycesloveoflife.blogspot.com

*Wisher* said...

Dear Christine,
Welcome to Grow Your Blog party. I'm one of vicki's helpers and my favourite colour is Pink.. wooo.. love Cornwall. Hope you'll made some new friends and have new followers in the weeks to come. Big Hugs from Singapore

cucki said...

Aww such a sweet post and amazing pictures..
Sending you big hugs xx

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

What a gorgeous photo! The pinny looks great too.

I would love to win a denim heart. I like berry colours, reds, purples, burgundy etc.
And black obviously!

DJH said...

That picture is just stunning.
What a great apron! I might have to ask my daughter to make that for me.
Please include me in the drawing, my favorite color is purple, any shade.
Thank you!

Ana Love Craft said...

Wonderful picture!Beautiful place! I'm portuguese I live near the sea too in Lisbon. I love the sea! Gorgeous apron and demin hearts! Thank you for sharing!
Hope you have a wonderful week!
Hugs and love from Portugal,
Ana Love Craft
www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

Barb said...

Hi ChristineYou always amaze me with your inventions the pinny is great.I would love one of your denim hearts and as it is my day on the 15th well I might get lucky lol.My fave colour hmmm red I think,or maybe lilac.Can you tell I haven't really got a definite one,maybe I should say multicellular.

Mouse said...

I knew there was a reason I had a cuppa on the go all the time ... love that pinny and the hearts too ...
had a giggle at your "quotes" and would love to win something made from you ... something to hang in my new craft room which is almost getting there wooo hooo :) love mouse xxxx

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

Great idea for making a pinafore. Your denim hearts are lovely. I'd love to win one made by you. My favourite colour is purple, in any shade.

Julie said...

Fab pinny, so robust unlike a lot of the flimsy cotton things.

Christine said...

Loving your blog and your sense of humour so I'm glad to be a new follower! You are one creative girl and I'd love to win one of your denim hearts!

Preeti said...

I am very bad at photography. Your apron looks great:)

Karin in CA said...

I'm a pirate! LOL My favorite color is blue. And I'm a follower, though I'm not signed up. You're on my favorites bar. :)

Karin in CA

Gill said...

I love your apron - what a great idea!
My favourite colour is green

tktl said...

My favorite colour varies all the time. Right now, it's a sort of dusty teal.

Love seeing ideas about what to do with old jeans. I'm slowly cutting squares for a picnic quilt....someday.

t_ktl at yahoo.com

Kay said...

I have never seen denim made into hearts before, but they are just so lovely and a great way to use up jeans. Lovely to meet you on the blog hop. My favourite colour is aqua. x

Threads of Inspiration said...

Christine what a great apron - thanks for posting the directions on how to make it! My favorite color is blue.

lynda said...

Just saying hi from the blog party!
I love that apron! I'm a new follower and would love to be entered in your giveaway. My favorite colors are autumn colors. Thanks!

Carol said...

You always have the most creative and fun ideas, Christine!! And your photography is stunning--your part of the world offers a perfect backdrop for your photos...

Lupe Meter said...

Hi Christine! Thank you for stopping by my blog! :) I love all your creations and have checked your other blogs! I just became a follower. Hoping to learn a few things from you! Please include me in your drawing. I love purple, blue and black. gemmeter12@gmail.com

Cherie said...

The pinny is now on my 'to make'list. I love it. x

Sarah said...

I scrolled down a bit and read about the dinosaur planters -- hillarious! :) The denim hearts are lovely, and I would like to be in the drawing for them please! My favorite color is pink, but I also love red and white with denim. sarah@forrussia.org

Karin G said...

I love your diversity of crafts, it is so much fun and the dinosaurs, great!

Sue Kosec said...

You throw a great party. Thank you for inviting me!

So that you know, I've become a Follower and when time permits, I'll be back to see what other beautiful things were made by your hands!

What this party is all about is to GROW your blog and I'm hoping to do the same. When you get to Section One, check out A Country Chic Retreat and SuZeQ Creations, my personal blog, in Section Fifteen I'd love for you to follow and subscribe to.

Happy crafting!
SuZeQ

Cheri the Quilting Nanny said...

visiting from GYB...the denim hearts are so cute! Hadn't thought about using denim that way! My fav color does happen to be blue, but purple is a close second!
Cheri, the quilting nanny

Unknown said...

Hi Christine, Thanks for visiting my blog.Yours looks like it will be fun to follow so I will. Love your Star Trek reference....I'm a bit of a geek too! I'm looking forward to seeing moreof your wonderful photographs of your homeland because even though I'm back in Canada I'm an Anglophile who lived in England for 4 years (1997-2001) but am ashamed to say never made it to the beautiful county of Cornwall. (sorry about the run on sentence!)
Closest I got was Dorset. It was always on my list of places to see since I grew up in the town of Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. Unfortunately we were working while we were there and were pretty much broke all of the time because we couldn't adjust to the high expense of living there. That's why we came home eventually. I really miss it though.

Villa-loredana said...

Hello dear Christine, glad to meet you, this is my first year of GYB, and I'm sure we will all have a nice time and meet a new virtual friends. The idea of the hearts is really amazing. I'll came back since than have a nice time. Loredana from Croatia.

Mokki said...

I love the thought of being a pirate! Im good with that! The photo at the top is so idyllic, it must be lovely to live in cornwall. Im way up north from you In the snowy hills!

Cache-Mire said...

Hi! Am visiting from the GYOB party and glad to meet you! I love reading about life in other parts of the world as well as crafting, etc. Will be following:-)
~Terri

Shroo said...

Sending a big thank you!!! A BIG one - with tea and jam and bikkies and loveliness! Your parcel will be in the post in the new week - I hope you like your purchase xxx Big hugs - Shroo:)xx

Carol D. said...

Visiting from GYB and Virginia in the USA. Enjoying your blog and have become a new follower. Love the denim apron and will try to make one to use when I make my lampwork beads. The denim hearts are the cutest! Love all bright colors.

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Gotta admire a Trekkie with gold dinosaur planters! Visiting from GYB. You live in a beautiful part of the world, pretty pictures!1

Magpie's Mumblings said...

So nice to meet you and to spend some time visiting. I really enjoyed seeing your denim projects - it's one of my favourite materials to work with but I've had to give it up due to arthritis in my hands. Blue, purple and red are my favourite colours (of course I'd like blue if I like denim, right?). Enjoy the tour!

Beedeebabee said...

That pinny is just too cute...and your hearts are adorable too!... and the photo up top is stunning as well. Lots of talent here in this lovely blog, that's for darn sure! xoxo

Arianna M. said...

My favourite colour is green! I love your ornaments - they're so sweet!

Quinn said...

Hi there - I'm visiting from the GYB Party, and have to say right off that Cornwall has been on my dream list of places to visit for YEARS. I'll be poking around on your blog for quite a while :)
Thanks for the giveaway opp! I'm also having a little giveaway on my blog: http://comptonia.blogspot.com

Rose Santuci-Sofranko said...

Hmmm....my favorite color of the day is... turquoise! Great blog! It's my first time here... nice to "meet" you and so many other amazing crafters. God bless!

ILuvTheEucharist @ aol.com