Black & White

I spent most of my creative time this week working on my Black & White quilt.

I used black poly velvet in strips between the squares and around the edge.

Side 1

I'm quite pleased with how it has turned out so far......

its not finished though......I hope to work on each of the squares to hand quilt around the flowers but that can be done as and when the mood takes me :)

Side 2

Now it sits on my sofa and I can cuddle under it in the winter evenings.

Just in time it seems as I think I'm coming down with a head cold and in need of a little comfort :(

sniff sniff

on another black and white note this is a little Zebra I bought last year for Charlotte's Christmas, she has now outgrown it

 (catching her toes under it on Monday while trying to have a go! :( poor wee thing)

Hes a lovely little wooden rocker, I bought him from a lovely seller on EBay.

now he needs a new home.

cute isn't he!

I was always going to fill the name in

but never got around to it. It kinda suits him anyway
So Clark is heading on to gumtree to find a new home, and
yesterday Charlotte and I went for a drive to collect a new rocker

needless to say shes delighted with him! she can just about climb up all by herself and as you can see, has had lots of fun already..... thanks to Gumtree, my favourite place at the moment.
The best thing about it is, it's free to list and sell, meaning the sellers gets to keep 100% Thats good for everyone :) I know its been around for a while now but I think its growing and more people are using it everyday worth a look for those who like a bargain.

Rosebud Floor cushion

 It's all thanks to Susan at 'Living with Punks' and her fab 'Land of Nod inspired floor cushion' tutorial.

Her tutorial is so well thought out and so easy to follow.

 I just had to make one....

I used a length of fabric that I had cut from some IKEA curtains you might recognise the fabric.

I made my own piping from some rat tail cord and some pretty floral print fabric from my stash...

I thought the french knots would add a girly feel and highlight the floral piping

I added a zip (one of 3 I purchased from eBay for a couple of pounds)

I wanted to be able remove the fiberfill to wash the cover. Charlotte helped me stuff the fiberfill which was reclaimed from a single quilt who's stitching had come undone, rendering it useless as a duvet but still usable for this cute project.

I calculated that this cost me less than £2 to make as I had almost everything that I needed.

French knots are my favourite embroidery stitch these did not take me as long as you might think.....

Beautiful variegated cotton Perle from DMC, One of my impulse purchases at the recent Creative Stitches show in Glasgow, not knowing what I was going to do with it, I just loved the colours, it was a perfect match for the flowery fabric!

and a perfect fit for Charlotte she loves the feel of the little rosebuds.

I'm so pleased with how it has turned out!

Sweet little things

I was watching an episode of antique roadshow a couple of weeks ago, it was set in Australia an there was a woman who had brought in a little white ceramic urn with a lid, it had a delicately painted country scene on it and was edged in gold. Turned out that it was quite valuable, she had another one at home and had purchased both together for $12 from an 'opportunity shop' which I though was the best name to describe a charity shop, for we never know what awaits us when we visit.

I wanted to show you two little things I had the opportunity to buy.

On one visit to the Salvation army shop, I was kidnapped by a dear little old lady who was eager to get me to the sale table at the back of the shop which has the leftover unwanted wares, the last ditch attempt to sell before they go out the back door. On first glance there was nothing I wanted or was willing to give house room to but I had a look to be polite and found at the bottom of a box of stuff under the table this sweet little glass ice bucket with a silver handle, well worth the 20p ransom!

and perfect for handing round the Quality street

On another visit to another little opportunity shop, I came across this little silver plated petit four stand waiting to be snapped up for £2.50! I  was so excited to find this little thing as it was just what I was looking for to complete another little Christmas gift project I have been working on.

Sweet little felt cakes for Charlotte .....

They are only little, as you can see them here displayed on my full size cake plate

So perfect in size was this little treasured find.......

These are my first attempt at felt cakes, they were fun to do.

A little bit of colour

Charlotte wrapped up snug in her Ellaroo wrap on a day out at St Andrews beach

This is another banner I did for Charlotte's little friend at group who celebrated his first birthday

I thought the colours in the wrap made the perfect background to compliment the bright colours I used for the letters.

Has it really been over a year?!

I'm back

I cant believe its been over a year since I last posted, so many times I have sat down to update and have had to stop, Charlotte has kept me busy and happy....I have not stopped creating just haven't been able to get on here to keep posting. I have so many pictures ...........

These are the end triangles for my niece Lois's banner The one at the top of the post is from her sister Grace's banner. I used the leftover leave samples from Charlotte's swing crib drapes which I blogged about last year. You can see more pictures of the banners here

Machine applique and decorative stitches using my fab Janome sewing machine

More to follow .........

My latest creation

My posts have been a little scarce over the past few months. Haven't been getting a lot done in my lovely workshop, but that's not to say I haven't been busy. Its been a bit difficult to concentrate on machine embroidery, miniatures, kits & cushions, felting, jewellery & inchies. The reason for this I can now explain.
While my husband Kevin has been busy redecorating & fitting new wardrobes in our bedroom,

I have been busy sewing new crib bumpers...........

.............getting ready for a new arrival in the Moxon household.

Let me introduce you to our beautiful little princess.

Charlotte Frances

Born 12th March @ 17.04

Weighing in at 7lb 10oz