Revamping an Armchair - Patchwork

Decided to have a change  of seating in my lounge, have had an Ikea Nikkala 3 seater sofa for a few years and it is only me who sits/lies on it and so have decided to get rid of it and put a couple of chairs instead. Searched the net for some ideas and didn't see anything I fancied. I posted on a local Face Book group that I was looking for a couple of armchairs and I found one. As you can see it was desperate for a new cover.

I can't tell you a lie I screamed like a banshee when I put my hand down the side of the chair to see what gifts had been deposited over the years, I felt something soft and squishy and pulled out the  rubber spider, of course I launched it across the room  (wouldn't you?) I also found 20cents and a few empty sweet papers.

 I found this lovely Jacquard patchwork fabric locally and decided to have a go. I then got cracking and stripped the entire chair (took me a good 6 hours) and was able to use the original pieces as a template.

I made sure I marked all the pieces so I would know how to put it back together again. Next time I will take more pictures as I think it would help to use them as a reference.  Took me another two days to finish but here it is and have to say I am more than pleased with it. Can't wait to find another old chair.

Meanwhile my fingers are enjoying not being bashed by the hammer (lost count of how many times I missed hitting the tacks) and I have filed my poor broken nails.

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Linky For Face Book Fans

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Sew Pretty Sunday Treasury

Pair of Victorian Sterling S... BelforAntiques $150	Antique Thimble Holder Silve... OldTextiles $48.9	Antique Sterling Silver Hand... MindiLynJewelr... $18	21 Silver Metal Buttons - f... RedLittleVinta... $14
Vintage Corticelli Pure Silk... FahrenheitVint... $7.95	Sewing Machine Charm - Sterl... WilsonBrothers $49.99	Antique STERLING TAPE MEASUR... DaffodilsVinta... $155	Vintage Flash Card N is for ... pezzazz $4.99
RARE Antique Figural Pincush... ALadiesShop $895	3 Vintage 1960s Silver Kilt ... ifoundgallery $6.75	Ornate Antique Silver Buckle... GypsythatIwas $14	Vintage Signed JJ Brooch/Pin... JoJosJJs $12
Antique Metallic Silver Lace... FrothOnADaydre... $9.8	vintage sewing box wooden ho... dizhasneatstuf... $85	Button Factory Sample Card BigCityButtons $10	Vintage Box of All-In-One Ta... VictorianWardr... $7.99

Sponsored by send bulk email from excel.

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Personalised Monogram Cushion Cover Giveaway

Ever fancied your own personalised cushion cover to lay nonchalantly on your bed or favourite chair? then here's your chance. This giveaway is for a 40cm x 40cm 16" x 16" ( I can make a smaller one if preferred) cushion cover in white linen, you can choose from several colours for the monogram and I will discuss this with the winner. I have the full A-Z in this style with the rose so you can  choose any initial. Easy entry so are you ready... go and good luck. xx Value of giveaway €25 or approx $33 and is open worldwide and postage is also on me. If your not the winner this time then I am so sorry, but you can order your own, use this coupon code and you will recieve a 10% discount at checkout... Coupon Code " Monolove" 


We have a winner and it's Margot  and I will be in touch with you very soon. I had a problem with the rafflecopter displaying the winning  name, which has never happened before:( Thank you to all who entered and will be  doing another with a new design sometime soon. Congratulations Margot who has choosen the gorgeous sage green C for her cover.

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Homemade Christmas & Homemade Knit Sew Crochet By Ros Badger

I had the great pleasure of meeting Ros Badger when she held a sewing masterclass course, held in the beautiful Château Dumas here in France two years ago. I discovered Ros to have an incredible eye for detail and colour and she had then a seemingly endless amount of patience (I fear I might have used it all up!) plus she has a great sense of humour. I was making a bag and got carried away with the hole punch and tore the material. I went to Ros and she looked at it, smiled, and took the bag from me and said go and do something else and leave this with me! Within 15 minutes she was back and my bag was repaired, she had found a scrap of material that matched the bag and made a label and, well I never, it was perfect.

She told me she learned how to crochet at the age of eight, and has made things all her life, customising clothes, restoring old furniture, growing food, flowers and cooking everything from bread to vegetarian feasts.

In recent years, as well as working as a stylist for magazines and newspapers, including the Telegraph and Sunday Times. Ros also has a mail order business called “Little Badger” which specializes in fashionable hand knitwear and T shirts for children, using logos and imagery previously not associated with children’s wear: Website is currently being updated.

Little Badger's customers are worldwide and have included celebrities from Nicole Kidman to Bono, as well as many figures in the fashion world. Website currently being updated.
An ex-designer for Betty Jackson and Marks & Spencer among others, Ros also did a stint as knitwear expert on the C4 Big Breakfast programme.

Ros also hosts Pop Up Shops under the trade name 'Its LovelinessIncreases'. Scouring markets across the UK and France, she sells vintage finds, from furniture, paintings and textiles to objet d'art and mid century contemporary pieces.

Ros's most recent books, “Christmas & Festive Decorations” and “Knit Sew& Crochet” each book has 25 innovative projects for you to make for yourself or friends, both books will be on sale from the 11^th October 2012 just in time for you to get out your knitting needles, crochet hooks and sewing machines and learn to make something truly original. Ros is sponsoring 4 books and the winners will each receive two craft books which she will personally autograph, doesn't get better than that!

Previous books from Ros include Homemade: “Gorgeous Things to Make with Love” which she co-authored with Elspeth Thompson is published by Harper Collins in the UK and Skyhorse Publishing in the USA.
Ros is also the author of two successful knitting books, Little Badger ContemporaryClassics (Ebury press) and Instant Expert Knitter (Octopus books).

This giveaway is open worldwide and I will be using Rafflecopter again, so good luck and  a huge thanks to Ros for her generosity.

Ros on Twitter

Little Badger Fan

Dates for your diary.....
Daylesford Organics nr Kingham, Gloucestershire, GL56 0YG

5th & 6th November 
Preview Monday 5th  6.00 pm and 9.30 pm
Tuesday 6th  9.30 am and 4.00 pm
CHRISTMAS FAIR in aid of WellChild  5th & 6th November 
10% of sales go to this charity.  www.wellchild.org.uk


Selvedge at Chelsea Town Hall
Selvdedge Winter Fair
November 10th 10am -4pm
Chelsea Town Hall
Kings Road
London SW1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Made To Love

A delightful Belfast based crafter who loves to play with beads,blooms and other bits and bobs and then turns them into something to be loved. Just a few of her beautiful creations and you can pop over to her page and see more. I think these are stunning and beautifully made. 

http://www.made-to-love.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/madetolovecrafts

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***Vintage Lace Candle Sleeve***

I am constantly trying to think up ideas to use my vintage lace, this morning as I was washing out my little glass yogurt pots (which I keep and use on the table when eating outside on a night with little tea light candles) and tada came up with a sleeve to cover them using my vintage lace. So I thought I would share them with you as they look really cute and hides the boring glass jar, also creates a lovely glow and ambience.

Your Ingredients

1. 23cm (9")  x 10cm (4")  of lace
2. Three  5cm (2") circles cut from either lace or voile (this will make the flower)
3. A couple of beads or buttons
4. Heavy duty iron-on interfacing 23cm (9") x 7.5cm (3")

I decided a French seam would look better so after ironing on the interfacing fold the lace in half and wrong sides together, stitch a narrow seam.

Now turn inside out so that the interfacing is now facing you, then stitch another narrow line which will hide the first line of stitches and you will be left with a normal seam on the outside and a ridge on the inside. Looks better than an open seam.



showing ridge on inside

Now turn again and it's ready to use or add a few buttons down the seam or a flower I added a lace flower on mine with a little pearl bead.

If you want to make the flower, lay one circle flat and then take another  circle and make a fold so it should look like this (looks a bit like a coffee filter) then repeat the process with the next circle.

Place the two folded circles so that the pointed ends are together and then stitch through all layers, then attatch your bead or button.

Attach to the seamed side and that's it

I am sure I don't have to mention this but don't use these over just a candle as they are sure to go up in a puff of smoke. If  you do make any would love to see them. I am off to make a few more as I think they would make great little presents. Might even add some to my shop :)

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