Spring cushions at Mini Magpie

Firstly, thank you all for your welcome back messages! It feels good to be blogging again and catching up with everyone.

Well I promised to show you what those pastel ribbons were for...

I've used them to trim the backs of some Spring cushions.

A major fabric tidy up and sort out in the autumn made me realise how many lovely vintage fabrics I had featuring baby animals. They get their own drawer in my cabinet! Laying them out together they are all very pastel coloured and Spring like.

I decided pastel stripes and coloured vintage wool would make nice contrasting backs.

So a batch of 5 have been run up for Mini Magpie at Poundbury.

Some used the final pieces of favourite fabrics I've had for years which is always a bit of a shame.

So that's enough of the backsides are you ready for the full frontals?

We have pink rabbits, lambs and ducks...

Beige calves, foals and bunnies

Lilac lambs, piglets and a frog

Cream mischievous ducklings

and yellow kittens, pugs and kids

 

So I think that pretty much covers every farm animal you can think of!

I've still a couple of other fabrics to cut and will be topping up my stock for a couple of Spring events (see my sidebar).

 I love them all. Which is your favourite?



Stocking up and spooking out

 This half term I've been trying to stock up on Christmas makes in anticipation of a busy time ahead.

 Stockings trimmed with vintage children's fabrics

 Lovely vintage Bambi barkcloth

 Shirefolk by Burgess Ledward

 This gorgeous old zoo fabric

 and vintage racing cars

both teamed with old gold velvet!

Meanwhile there has been making of a different variety going on

Eldest Jammer spent the week showing numerous pictures of intricate pumpkin designs "We could do this Mum!".

We settled on buying her her own pumpkin and I was then really impressed with this. All made with her 12 year old hands and fingers still all present!

 I made an owl. Bit of a cheat really as I chose it because I thought it would be the quickest option with minimal cutting involved.

 And Little Jam had a 'here's one I made earlier' moment. Her pumpkin has been sat in the fridge grinning at us for a week since she made him at a friend's party.

Happy November to you!

 



Summer making

Well I think this will be last post of the holidays. I know there haven't been many but that must be the sign of a sunny or productive holiday - for once both.

Work is looming. A 9am test run today before real life resumes on Monday.

So besides enjoying lovely SUNNY Dorset what've I been doing?

Well making stuff mainly.


My top make has to be my 'Garden Birds' suitcase

I love making these and feel so on trend with birdies it's hardly me at all.

 A few suitcases have found themselves new homes or holidays this summer so I topped up with a couple of wallpapered ones too...

This one badly photographed by me in the late sun because I couldn't wait

and this one photographed rather nicely by my eldest jammer!

 
 

There have been a few bags thrown in there

  but I had a sudden urge to use up small pieces of fabric with 'Back to School' pencil cases.
 
 

 Funny how they all seem to be made in my favourite colours...

 

 The dresser I display my stock on at Custard Hall sold last week which was a bit of a surprise as I'd forgotten there was a price tag on it. I had visions of my stock in a heap on the floor but luckily I bought this one from a neighbour.

Some Annie Sloan French Grey and lovely new handles from Shy Violet and it was ready to go.

Now I'm just throwing in a couple of gratuitous shots of sunny Dorset because looking at all your holiday snaps I realise how lucky I am to live here.

 

Off for a last weekend trip to London again tomorrow whilst the train is SO cheap and favourite friends visiting on Sunday. 

Enjoy your last few days of Summer holidays.



Summer's here, time for a beach bag or 5

I've been busy making beach bags over the last three weeks so boy was I pleased to see the sun this week!

Just what I needed for a photo shoot and an excuse for the beach.

I knew where I wanted to photograph them...

Lyme Regis on the beach huts of course!

Want to have a look?

First up is this lovely stripy towelling with seagulls.

As you can see three of them are waiting for ribbon for their rosettes. I was hoping it would arrive on Friday so I could get them finished but unfortunately not. 

They will all be finished like this!

Fishy towelling lined in blue pvc ready for your wet cossie.

My own not so little model helped me set up the photos.

We found the perfect pink chair for this pink and grey bag.

The red one is a pre order (I'm beginning to see the instant joy of Facebooking).

But I think I've got one more.

And last but not least a one off.

 I couldn't resist buying this fun piece of towelling at The Vintage Bazaar last Saturday.

 Just enough for one bag!

 So which one is your favourite?

 

All bags are interfaced for strength and lined in plastic. I'm also thinking that stuffed with your clothes they'll make a comfy pillow too.

And of course I'm going to tell you I'm about to pop them in my Etsy shop this evening!

Have a sunny week

x