Twit Twoo Times Two

Remember the patchwork cushion from a couple of weeks ago in 'It's a Hoot'?  The pattern was featured in Sew Magazine issue 43 - the January 2013 issue, and can be downloaded from their website. I decided to scale up the pattern and make my twin grandchildren an owl toy each. Here is the result.

Those who have followed this blog for a while may notice that I used fabrics the twins will recognise from their own garments. The blue and white and pink and white checks were used for their dress and shirt in 'From The Heart' and the wings were made from the animal print I used for their play suits in Double Trouble.

Here are Twit and Twoo with the original cushions so that you can compare the size.

There's an optical illusion at play here in that the blue owl looks wider and fatter, but they are both made in exactly the same way. I hope the twins like them; I'm saving them for when we see them in a few weeks time, but this week they should be enjoying the little chicks I made for Easter.

I'm linking with Lakota's Ta-Dah! Tuesday over at Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping. Why don't you join me? You can admire her wonderfrul Angry Birds cake at the same time.

Lucky Me!

'Lucky' four-leaved clovers

They can be made into greeting cards

I got carried away!

Well, it was St.Patrick's day on Sunday, and although I haven't got a drop of Irish blood in me (as far as I know) I was quite taken with the little crocheted shamrocks which could also be turned into a four-leaved clover by virtue of an extra round. There is a plethora of free downloads of patterns for these on the web, and its easy enough to find them using google. They are very easy to make and the problem is knowing when to stop. They can be made into greeting cards for St Patrick's day or Good Luck cards, or even attached to a small safety pin to make a little good luck brooch for a friend (or yourself). 

Bit of a quick one this week but next week I'll be sharing a follow-up to my patchwork owl cushion from a couple of weeks ago.

Linking to Lakota's Ta-Dah! Tuesday, on Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping, where you can meet other crafty bloggers showcasing their achievements.

In The Dog House

I decided a while back that several unfinished cross-stitch and blackwork projects left in half-finished, or barely begun states, should be completed. I haven't got very far. I took photographs of all the pieces and then carefully put them away again. However, one project, however small, is a triumph of sorts.

Here is 'Snatch the Dog' in his printed kennel mount, and below in the shameful unfinished state.

It wasn't an easy or particularly enjoyable project, which is why I parked it in the first place - all those different shades of brown, cream and beige. I used to cross -stitch whilst watching TV in the evening as a way of relaxing, but these days it seems I have one ear and eye cocked to the TV and the other on the iPad catching up with bloggers!

Ah well, Snatch is complete at last and ready for framing. I see he was a a DMC kit which originally came attached to Cross Stitcher magazine. But when I say it was the January 2003 issue that puts things in perspective. It's only taken ten years, so don't hold your breath for the others to be showcased here.

There's hope for the lovebirds I suppose.

But not I fear, for the blackwork dragonfly or the wild cat's eyes.

And I ought to put myself in the doghouse for not completing this one.

A rather ambitious project of a WW2 Lancaster Bomber. I hang my head in shame when I recall that started it a good couple of years ahead of my dad's 80th birthday, to allow myself plenty of time.  Sadly Dad died last November aged 91 and never got to appreciate the fruits of my labour. I don't feel motivated to pick it up and again either. Never mind, he and Mum were the recipients of many of my efforts over the years, including a Golden Wedding Sampler which still has pride of place in Mum's bedroom, so I think I'll risk sticking my head out of the doghouse now.

Sharing my embarrassment with Lakota's Ta-dah! Tuesday over at Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping, and anyone else who cares to wander by and leave an encouraging comment - looks as though I need it! Coincidentally I see Lakota herself has a rather more modern Cross Stitcher piece to share with you.

Atishoo!!

A good way to use scaps of fabric and create little gifts for friends at the same time. Pocket tissue holders which take a matter of moments to make, and at this time of year, when everyone is sneezing it seems, they come in very handy. If you have a friend who has a particular hobby or liking, you can match the fabric to a theme.

I like the 'Kiss a frog to find your prince' design and have someone in mind for that one. My sister-in-law is a great cook and bakes wonderful cakes, so there's one for her in here too. I made the exotic fans fabric up for a friend's birthday to match the lovely fan I bought her from the Prado Museum in Madrid.

I can't claim to have invented these. They came from a great blog: Very Purple Person and here is her tutorial link. What are you waiting for? Get ahead of the game and start stitching your Christmas stocking fillers now!

Linking to Ta-dah! Tuesday on Lakota's 'Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping'.

Stress Dress

Another sundress, and this time made from a Cynthia Rowley pattern which came free with the September 2011 issue of Sew Magazine.

I liked what I saw in the magazine and at first wasn't daunted by sewing in stretch fabric. I'd done it before after all. This project turned out to be one of my most unloved. The combination of an invisible zip and very fine stretch fabric nearly drove me to distraction. Well, it's finished now, but I won't be using the pattern again. Nice dress, shame about the stress.

Linking to Lakota's Ta-Dah! Tuesday (only two days late) over at Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping

Chirpy Chicks

I thought I'd get ahead with some small craft projects for Easter. Last year it passed me by without me making these Easter Chicks. I've had the pattern for ages as it was given to me by my Mum, who found them in her 'Yours' Magazine. If you'd like to make them yourself, the pattern is now available free online here.

The chicks have a secret, as they are big enough to conceal a creme egg. I used a real one to demonstrate, which also shows of course that they make neat little egg cosies if you like your breakfast eggs boiled.

I like to make things whilst watching television in the evening. The trouble is I sometimes lose concentration and make a mistake. With something so small and practical I don't bother unpicking it. (See 'A Mistake is an Unpicking Opportunity') They're ideal for using up any oddments of yarn too. I made the nest from some strange bits of brown fabric/yarn I had. I thought they deserved one each.

I think I like them better than the ones in my Easter Eggstra post from two years ago, but which do you prefer?


I'm updating this post after the Easter break, so that I can show some pictures of how the chicks were received by the twins.  I made an extra one for a friend's granddaughter and although she was shy I could tell she was pleased. Her Mum, pictured with her, reported that she loves it.









My own granddaughter looks serious in this photo, but there was much fun to be had at the Easter party too.

My grandson thinks there's room for both chicks in one nest!

I was delighted to see that my granddaughter was wearing the jumper I crocheted for her last more than a year ago in 'Two For The Price of One', and it shows how much she's grown!

There's also a story attached to my grandson's blue bunny, originally made for his Daddy 33 years ago and still treasured. You can read that story in 'A Makeover For Blue Bunny'.

Linking to Lakota's Ta-Dah! Tuesday on Faith, Hope And Charity Shopping.

It's a Hoot!

This is my version of the patchwork owl cushion which featured in the January edition of Sew magazine, issue 43. I've never mastered patchwork but the pattern appealed to me. The owl is '3D'; he's lightly stuffed before being sewn onto the square of fabric at the centre of the cushion. I won't pretend I found this project easy, but it was satisfying. I didn't enjoy making the zig-zag 'feathers' and would probably adapt the pattern, making them larger and easier to turn; all those points to poke out with a knitting needle!

I had fun choosing the range of colours as I had a home in mind for it. Some of it I didn't get right as I thought I'd got the little Dutch children the same way up as Mr Owl - never mind. I measured those squares so carefully, but still found myself doing more 'easing' than I probably should have - so don't look too closely. As you can see from the magazine article, the owls can be made separately as soft toys or decorations. They can also be sized up using a photocopier, so you could make a whole family of them.

Corinne Bradd's design uses diamante buttons for the eyes but I sorted through my stash and found plainer ones, which I preferred. I also thought blanket stitch around each eye and a little stem stitch to accentuated the natural lines in the fabric I chose.














I decided not to uses double running stitches across each row of feathers, and just neatly machine stitched them in place instead.

He was finished just as an old friend came to stay, and it was only as I was showing him off that we realised that I seem to have used some vintage fabric that had a special meaning for us both. Unless I'm mistaken, that dusky pink with cream flowers is Laura Ashley from 1978, the year I was a 'bridesmaid' (although I was aleady married, so I was a 'matron' strictly speaking) for my friend. Both her attendants made their own dresses from the fabric, to a style of their own choosing. In those days you got as much wear as you could out of the clothes you made. Mine proved very useful too over the coming year, as the style hid my bump. My son was born nine months later. My friend had been my bridesmaid in 1975 and we wondered if she had any of her own fabric from that dress left over. The other bridesmaid was also my bridesmaid, and again the fabric was Laura Ashley. I hope she finds some for the next owl!




























Linking this post with Lakota's Ta-dah! Tuesday on Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping.