I declare today an International Lemon Curd Day

I looooooooove lemon Curd and decided to make some this morning, it took me right back to my childhood when I used to stand  and watch my mum make it, waiting eagerly for the bowl to lick clean, the smell of the lemon zest and butter makes your mouth water. It is raining this morning and is dark grey outside, do I care? not a bit. Pot of tea and hot crusty bread with a generous dollop of Lemon Curd and it is instant sunshine.

Happy Lemon Curd Day

Bringing Back the Retro Look

A friend asked me if I wanted four retro dining chairs (about 2 years ago now) and I fell in love  with them  despite them having disgusting red fabric) so I of course said "Yes please". They have been stored away waiting patiently for a makeover. Last week if you remember I recovered an old armchair (the red patchwork one) and while I was buying the fabric my eye fell on a multi coloured delicious fabric and just knew I had found the fabric for the chairs. So here they are and after the big arm chair makeover these were a breeze to do.  

Last seat

I love the way the back falls below the seat

all done

Sorry for the colour variation but this is pretty close.

My daughter popped over with a Desigual dress she bought  for €1 and it was to small for her much to her annoyance, so she left it with me along with the words " I know you will do something with it" so I decided to  turn it into a bag for her. The back inside of the dress was a perfect fit for a pocket which you can see I popped onto the front of the bag, the sleeves became the handles and the sash round the waist became a bow.   See you soon.

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.

Happy Valentines Day

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” – Charles M. Schulz

“I wanted to make it really special on Valentine’s Day, so I tied my boyfriend up. And for three solid hours, I watched whatever I wanted on TV.” – Tracy Smith

“It wasn’t love at first sight. It took a full five minutes.” – Lucille Ball

AimeBroderie Lace Earrings Giveaway

I am delighted to be hosting this fabulous  giveaway for a pair of beautiful cream lace earrings, just look at the gorgeous detail  and  I love the pearl bead center, both stylish and elegant. These are made  and kindly sponsored by  AimeBroderie on Esty. Lynne is in the process of adding more stock to her new line in lace accessories including  beautiful earrings, necklaces and bracelets. 

Lynne started machine embroidery 14 years ago whilst living in England doing mainly commercial work i.e " t" shirts, sweat shirts and caps, she also mastered  Digitsing and created company logos. Lynne then moved to France and brought her machine over with her, it was then that she started to explore the craft side of things having the time to let her creative juices flow!!! She started doing lace work and in the hoop projects and took it to a level she had not explored before. I think you will agree that her lace work is stunning.

Lynne also enjoys sewing, machine knitting, crochet and  for several years  was  a weaver in a Lancashire mill working with textiles. Thank you Lynne and look forward to seeing who our lucky winner will be.

This Giveaway is open Worldwide with Easy entry via Raffle Copter

Good luck everyone

xx

lace-earrings

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Two Fat Quarters

Last week I received two fat quarters 46cm x 56xm (18" x 22") from Higgs & Higgs one is a beautiful cotton print with Dragonflies & Wildflowers on a mauve background, the other is Rabbits & Hares with a grass green background with red flowers. I wanted to see what I could make from one fat quarter and so I decided to make a Thread catcher which shows the dragonflies of beautifully and a matching wrist pin cushion with a rolled rose center.  I then  used a strip to finish of a tea towel or guest towel and was left with two small squares which I piped in grey and made a lavender sachet and the very last piece just made another rolled rose which I plopped onto the sachet. I still have the Hares & Rabbits to do. Dream fabric to work with and very reasonably priced. Have a look at their web site, and  I would suggest you  make a cuppa before you start as you  might be some time in there. What do you think you would have made?

Friedericy Dolls.. Art Dolls.. Shadowboxes

I was making  an Etsy  treasury just the other day and stumbled upon this fabulous shop called

FriedericyDolls owned by Lucia Friedericy. Pop over to her website to see more of her delightful works. Must go as I am late for a very important date. 

Keep Raining I am Happy

This has been an interesting week so far as I have had my second custom order from South Korea, a sale to Japan and thanks to continual rain this week I don't have to worry about having to get out there and weed, which right now suits me just fine. Oh is in the kitchen right now marinading some pork and is making a satay for dinner tonight. (can't wait) I have also decided that housework can go take a hike for today. How has your week been so far?

Pair of  monogrammed cushion covers

 Chinoiserie Eye Glass case

Winter Songbird embroidery, not finished as I have not decided what to make with it yet. Thinking of a book cover.

Now these  lace earrings were real fun to make, especially after mastering the technique and have now made several colours

thread catchers and wrist pin cushions