Rosette Brooches

 Another great way of using up scraps are these lovely little brooches. Have given loads away as pressies and sold lots at craft fairs over the years too. Found these lurking in a drawer whilst doing some clearing for the move.

Made with strips of fabric with their edges trimmed with pinking shears and then gathered into a circle.

A little crochet circle or two added in matching/contrasting colours.

Maybe a frill of lace too. 

Topped with a button, pearl, bow and sequin or two.

All stacked up, sewn together and a brooch bar sewn to the back.

Cute, fun and easy from very little materials.

Brambly Hedge Mouse Family

When SewGorgeous was little we loved the Brambly Hedge Mouse Stories. A few years later I came across this pattern in a very old Woman & Home (I think) magazine. Looking at the end of the article it was probably 1993! Sew one Christmas recently she got Mr & Mrs Mouse

 and the following year Mr & Mrs Mouse had done what mice do best and had some babies so she got 2 baby mice

 and a basket that I think came from the Mummy Scarecrow knitting pattern by Jean Greenhowe

They are all sew very cute and sit on an old nursing chair on the upstairs landing.

You can find the pattern I used here - Link to PDF pattern here

Moving - Did I Really Make All This Stuff!

Sadly I lost my Dad in May 2012.  Mum & I have decided to sell up both our houses and join forces.

I have just received an offer on my house which has pushed me to record many of my projects before they have to go into store. I will be moving into Mums bungalow until hers sells so crafting may have to take a bit of a rest as I can't move ALL my stuff into her house, just a small collection to keep me going and only small makes. I guess I'll be making the Christmas stocking fillers early this year!will 

What will follow over the next few days and weeks as I get packed up will be a record of some of my makes during teaching, things I've made for fun and various things that I've made for SewGorgeous over the years.  As I dust them off, and lovingly pack them away I'll photograph them and try and link them to patterns, if /as I find them.  They will be stored until we find a wonderful new home to display them all in. 

I'm really quite excited about it all! At least it's great excuse for a de-clutter and sort out.

Beaded Bottle

I love trying new things and had to have a go at this. I used a miniature Mateus Rose wine bottle. It was quite challenging and don't think I'll be giving them away with the blackcurrant vodka! I'll keep this one for myself.

Mini Jam Jar Pin Cushion Whimsey

Got a little carried away with these - I just love them. Pretty, useful storage and a pin cushion what more could a sewer require. I have them full of yummy little buttons so they are easy to find.

I will probably make more when I find some matching jam jars - the Bon Maman mini ones you get in hotels and gift hampers - as I seem to keep finding things to put in them and they look so pretty all lined up

Felted Flames

I love making felt. Clean, messy fun and never knowing exactly what you're going to get.
This was a little such playtime incorporating some threads and a little hand embellishment too.

It was really hard to photograph, but this one held up against the window was lovely.

  

Although it may get used in pieces or incorporated into some other piece of work eventually

Anyone for cake?

Had some fun felting some old jumpers and made these scrummy cakes. Good for the diet!

Plus two little bottle top pin cushions at the front.

You can't see it very well but the cake stand is a vintage one with crinoline ladies on bought at Hemswell Cliff Antique Centre to display cakes at my 50th & SewGorgeous's 21st Birthday Party.