Rest and Relaxation

I have been doing some soul searching this week, after the break down of my relationship and the loss of my job last week. I have spent the past week getting away from it all, on the Isle of Wight.

I have been spending my days researching brands, collecting pictures of items i love, doing lots of sewing and fabric buying!
One day i hope to own my own gift shop, shabby chic in style of course :)

Here are some pics of things i love...

I also love this cushion, and have decided to try and recreate it...

I have sewn all the strips together, and once i find a cushion pad the same sort of length, i will form it into a nice snuggly pillow for my new life :)

I have been on the Isle of Wight for a week now, trying to get over my ex, and looking for a new job! My gran lives here, and as she used to be a seamstress, she has given me loads of lovely bits and bobs for my bag making. She is very talented, and i am so greatful for all the lovely things she gave me. As you can see there's loads! and im taking home another three carrier bags of fabric. Love it :)

Some really goregous lace trimmings.

Some vintage sewing reels from when she worked in a factory.

Lots of lovely buttons :)

Zips and lovely net fabrics.

Lots of padding and Interfacing :)

And my small pile of bags, which i hope to photograph properly soon :)

Please let me know if there are any ideas for project you have, or would like to see me try!

I am trying to broaden my project range, and develop new sewing skills!

A productive month

Hi everyone,
I can't believe we are already halfway through September!
It's been a productive month for me so far but as I'm going to start trying to post more frequently I'll save some of what I've been making to show next time.
The first thing I have to share today is a bag I've made for my ten year old grand daughter.
She's been ice skating since she was five years old and I thought this bag would be great for all her hair ornaments, make up and all the other essentials that are needed to look a star on ice.



The fabric I used for this bag is Grandmother's Flower Garden by Rosalie Quinlan

I love the little house print but the back of the bag is just as pretty





The bag has a concealed zip and plenty of room inside.

I'm not sure if the pattern is still available but it was a SAL on this French blog

I recently took part in a private exchange with Lynn whose lovely stitching and finishing I have admired for some time.

Lynn made me a very special needle case in the most gorgeous fabrics and she also stitched this pretty little pillow to match




the stitched pillow is backed with the same fabric used on the needlebook



The inside of the needlebook is delightful having some very special rose head pins, buttons and matching heart shaped thread ring all hand made by Lynn.
Thank you so much Lynn. I enjoyed our exchange and love what you made for me!
By the way, you should be able to click on any of the pictures to view things in more detail if you wish.




Lynn had admired a drawstring bag I had made a while ago so I made it again for her



and I also made a sewing pocket with matching pincushion and fob





Now on to the cross stitch. Friend Sheila and I have been getting together on a regular basis to get some cross stitch projects finished into finished items.
This needle case by the French designer Au Fil des Reves is one thing we did on one of our finishing fests.



Here's the back



and a view of the inside



We've finished another needle book since then but I'll save the pictures for next time.

I took part in Niky's contest to stitch one of her designs that she offered free to anyone taking part



My number wasn't drawn for a prize but everyone was a winner as Niky sent anyone that took part another of her designs at the end of the contest.



Here's another little pillow that I stitched from a free chart on a French blog



Finally some knitting. This is a small lace shawl that I started earlier this year and then forgot about. The pattern is Ishbel by Ysolda Teague which can be purchased as a download through Ravelry. The yarn is Zephyr wool/silk laceweight.



It's not very big at all so more of a scarf that will be very welcome in the cold winter months. The way time is flying past that won't be so long in coming!
Thanks for visiting my blog today. I enjoy your comments and try to answer your questions if I can but am only able to do that if you are not set to noreply.
I'm off tomorrow on a mini break to Granada and the Alhambra Palace. I'm very excited!

Margaret

Weekend Away...

I spent this weekend at my Dads house on the Isle of Wight. Unfortunately i wasnt there for Bestival, but just a bit of a break.

I stayed in a town called Ventnor, where there is loads of charity shops, and a very messy but cool fabric shop...View from the living room...spectacular!

Anyway here are my bargains from the weekend...

I bought three types of fabric. The first, light denim, i'd wanted for ages! Think it will look so cute with floral fabric on my bags! Or scented denim hearts with vintage buttons. I love it, and the piece it huge for £5!

Next i got a large sheet of calico, just cause! This comes in handy for anything! tote bags, cushions, oven glove fabric...list goes on. £2.50 a metre!

Lastly i found this really long kilt in a charity shop...£2. If i cut of the waistband and iron out all the pleats i'll have loads! I love it with the denim, and i might use it to line some bags, for scented hearts, or maybe just some decoration around a cushion or tea towels!

Bargains i think you'll agree!

Then i found this bag...£1 in a charity shop! Its a Next one, but i could pass it off as designer i think ;) Love!

And lastly, the woven labels i ordered arrived today! Yippee! I love them, Kinda wish the colours were different but for my first ones i think they're pretty cute! £11 for 36 labels which is about 30p a label? Bargain!

I will use one in the next bag i make!

If anyone knows where to get cheap but pretty labels, please let me know!

Im always on the lookout!

Ahoy Sailor and Shabby Chic

Hello :)

I have returned with a new bag, and a finished project which i started months ago!

My new bag is made from gorgeous new fabric from FabricLand in portsmouth. They were both ends of rolls, so for about 2.50 a metre...i actually got about a metre and a half so i was very lucky that day!

I also bought gorgeous new ribbons (also end of roll) so all in all it was a good day! The two fabrics together remind me of sailors and all things nautical. I love them.
I really want to aquire some light demin, i think half denim and half floral bags would be so pretty.

Now onto my project...I started this months ago when i first found my love for sewing. I sneakily went on heaps of fabric websites and asked for samples of their curtain fabrics! I made loads of scrappy hearts, and then forgot about them.

My mum sent me some cute ribbon this week so i decided to dig out the hearts and make a pretty garland for above our bed :)

All free and very shabby chic. (if i say so myself).

Bye for now :)

A Mixed Bag

Hi everyone,
I know it's been too long since my last post and my excuse this time is that it's been way too hot.
Today it is cloudy and overcast with a bit of a breeze - a welcome break from the punishing heat of the last few weeks.
I seem to have a lot of finishes to share with you but it's something of a mixed bag.
I think the pictures should be clickable for a close up view if you want to see something in more detail.

First up are a couple of Tilda projects.......... I enjoyed making this rabbit very much




Then there is this cat that looks as though it has an extreme case of measles!



Can you imagine how silly I felt furtively taking these stuffed toys out of my bag to take pictures while there were people around! What I have to do in the name of blogging!

Still with the sewing projects I finally got around to making the bag that came as a kit with the Kath Cidston book Sew. Friend Sheila came for the day and we both enjoyed making our bags.
The bag in the book wasn't lined but I can't stand floppy bags so we lined the bags and they are nice and sturdy.







Now for the cross stitch finishes. There are quite a few but I haven't stitched them all since my last post. Some of them have been hanging around a long time just waiting for me to be in the mood to do the finishing on them.
This is Blackbird Designs Bird in Hand stitched on 40c linen by Sassy's Fabrics in Tan Marble using the recommended Weeks Dye Works thread.



On the back I stitched a few random motifs and added some buttons



There can't be many fans of Blackbird Designs that haven't stitched the free design on the Blackbird Designs One Stitch at a Time blog. I finally got around to stitching mine which is stitched on 36ct evenweave with one strand GAST.



Still in the mood for Eiffel Tower designs I stitched this tiny design and finished it as a pillow with some pretty toile fabric that friend Angela sent me one time.
The design is free on a French blog but I can't remember where. Perhaps if someone knows they can add the link to their comment.



I love this fabric!



This is Strawberry Needle Roll by The Sweetheart Tree. I enjoyed stitching this as a SAL with Sandra who doesn't have a blog but has a Picasa album full of gorgeous things. If you don't already know her work then you need to go check it out.



Here's a pinkeep I made using LHN Berries design



I'm sure this backing fabric came from Angela also. It's a perfect match.Thanks Angela :)



Now I want to introduce Dinah



can you believe that I found her dumped beside the trash bins at the side of the road? I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the rather tatty carrying case and found this little beauty inside. I knew she wouldn't be in working order and sure enough she wasn't but she went in for a service and came back purring like a kitten.
She is such a great little workhorse who will happily sew over denim and the thick bag handles that would have my modern machine throw a temper tantrum and go on strike.
I've since purchased a walking foot and a few other attachments for Dinah and I also stitched her something to show my appreciation for all that she does for me :)



This is another freebie design on this French blog

I took part of the design and stitched it again on the back adding a hanger and a few buttons



and I have to say Dinah loves her new accessory very much!



and is happy to model both front and back views for you




Well, I think that's it for this time but before I go a question...........
I usually post about once a month just showing everything I'd done between one post and another.
This usually leads to a longish post so I've been wondering should I just do a quick post as and when I finish something. I'd be interested to know what you think.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today and for your lovely comments. I try to answer any questions I get in the comments but it's only possible if you are not set to noreply.
Have a great day!

Margaret

Haircut and Etsy Store Opening!

Hello :)

So recently i had my hair cut...Long gone are the knots, tangles and ugly limp hair. Along came the pretty layers, Soft fringe and Non split ends! I love it and i wish i'd had it done a long time ago!!







Porducts used for above face...
Bourjours Healthy Mix founcation, Elf Golden Bronzer and Complexion Perfection. Mac Shroom over lid, With Patina to add depth. Loreal superliner in carbon black, Rimmel sexy curves Mascara. Rimmel shake up pink with Gosh Darling over to make more wearable!

Also, today i opened my Etsy store! I now have 4 pretty bags for sale! Check them out here... http://www.etsy.com/shop/LilyRibbons Hopefully i'll be selling a few, and making many more! Its been a busy few months, but things have finally started to settle down, so bring on the sewing :)

I hope everyone is well, Competition still in progress! Keep tuned for prize info!

Lil x