Acid Toadstools and a Magical Mystery Tour

you knew I meant fabric right?

I made this little toadstool fabric lavender and rice warm bag, and matching pincushion for Katy. Now Katy's birthday was quite awhile ago, and I really meant to send her something but no matter what I made it just never seemed quite imperfectly perfect enough to give as a gift. I here worriedly this morning waiting for Katy to open my bag of goodies. I even had back up lavender and rice bags to substitute if she didn't like this one. Luckily she did so that was a big relief.

In addition to the pincushion and warm bag I gave Katy a bracelet made with onyx, and green jade, with a cute little apple toggle clasp. I stamped her name on a small jute bag, and made a card which I forgot to take photographic evidence of because I'm a total dork. But it doesn't matter as we had a fab day out. Katy drove and I navigated us to a lovely little quilt shop in Darley Dale, followed by lunch at Caudwell's mill and then a mooch round Scarthin Books in Cromford and a cup of tea. It was a fun outing and next time I promise to be more organized and get a few more local crafter's in the mix and convoy ourselves around Derbyshire's pretty (and crafty) places. Chatsworth anyone?

green apple bracelet

tattoo lavender and rice warmbag

Sewn using the smallest piece of tattoo fabric cut from the edge of the half yard of fabric I bought on Bainbridge Island, WA. I was too cowardly to cut a larger piece just yet so practiced with a small piece and made this small lavender rice warm bag, a perfect little warmer for your hands or small aches and pains. I plan to make another with the fabulous tattoo fabric, I think I may be in love with it its so cool, and far less painful that a real tattoo, unless I manage to sew my fingers together. Which is always a possibility with me.


I started the bag with the intent that I would make it for Katy, in the umpteenth time I have attempted to make a present for Katy and it ending up being not quite right. I'm probably my own worst enemy in that regard, and imperfect perfectionist, if such a thing even exists it most definitely is me.

M thinks this is one of the best ones I have done, I mumbled that its off center as it was on the edge of the fabric, he said he liked the stars along the edge. Which I guess I do too, I may be popping it in my etsy shop a little later and see if anyone is interested in it. I suppose I best go get something useful done in the mean time, like putting the kettle on, a very useful thing.

Coffee on the brain and the PIF winners.

coffee themed lavender sachet

First of all let me tell you the names drawn to receive a Pay it Forward handmade gift from me.

Yvette, Jacqueline , Chloe I drew your names so sometime in the next 365 days you will receive a handmade gift from me. All you need do in return is hold a Pay it Forward on your blog or in life so that the good will and happiness can move on into the world. I will try to get things made and sent to you as soon as possible but with only three weeks until we fly to visit my parents in Idaho you may have to wait till I return home again.

The lavender sachet above is one for Out Framed gallery, its made with plain cotton fabric, lavender, ribbon from Katy, and the coffee cup was drawn with a fabric paint pen. I have a few more to complete before the day is out, which I really should be doing now, but its lunch time and I'm hungry so its break time.

p.s. this is my 344 th blog post so I think I will have to have a giveaway at 350 don't you think? plus the first week of April marks two years of blogging that's pretty good for me.

p.p.s don't make funof my dinky baby sewing machine! :oP

Out in the West

Have listed another lavender rice bag in my etsy shop. After yesterday's quick sale I thought it best to make another lavender rice bag and pop it in the shop, I won't hold my breath just in case yesterday was a fluke but I'm still pleased it sold and will have to soldier on up to the post office before the end of the day.

warm and cozy

more lavender and rice warm bags

I've been sewing again, more rice bags I'm afraid, I just love making them, it makes me happy to make something that will be warm, cozy, and comforting. M has dragged one up to the framing shop for me to see if they would be interested in having one or two on display. I'm not sure about that, as I doubt my skills very much at this new found sewing lark, though I doubt myself at most things anyway so its no great stretch.

Sorry about the poor quality of the second photo, if the sun ever feels like peeping out from the clouds today I will attempt to get another photo. The fabric is Cath Kidston, a small sample scrap I ordered but wasn't really sure about but I think it looks really nice on the lavender bag.

another one with Cath Kidston fabric (sorry about bad light)

My Dad says I should try and make some ipod covers, which I might but seeing as i don't actually have an ipod (just a quite cruddy Sony MP3 player) I haven't tried yet but I may try and give one a go Monday. What do you think? and would you consider buying any of my sewing items? lavender rice bag or otherwise? depending on how much more sewing I do before my brain switches to something else.

I think its time for a to do list

have a go at making and ipod cover
drag beads out and make at least one bracelet
update etsy shop before everything expires
finish owl design for swap and make it
get thinking cap on for Crafteroo Challenge
2x lavender drawer sachets/door hangers
sketchity sketch sketch
make cinnamon rolls.. (OK that's not really a to do list but someone asked me for the recipe and now I can't get the thought of ooohie gooey cinnamon rolls out of my little brain. )
watch Supernatural (what it can totally be on my to do list)
(along with) drink copious amounts of coffee

and more stuff but I have lost interest in this whole list writing thing as H whinging about wanting cake and balloons and apparently I "HAVE" to watch the end of A Knight's Tale with him for the 10 thousandth time..

Toadstool ricewarmer

rice and lavender warm bag

With sorting out the Owl swap I haven't had a chance to blog about any of the other things I have been making in the last week or so. I admit I haven't made a lot as I have felt seriously unmotivated to get anything done but I have dabble in a few things besides the paper hearts from a few blog posts ago. I have made these two beautiful warm bags, the top one was made with a scrap of adorable toadstool fabric that Anna sent me last summer that I have been hoarding away for the perfect project.

My sewing is improving slowly, and I am seriously considering ordering some fabric and one day accumulating a small fabric stash. For now I'm happy with my little scraps and bit of blue fabric from Laura Ashley that I bought with some specific presents in mind, the rice and orange oil warm bag below being one if them. It was a present made for my friend Lou's birthday last Friday. I dropped a few drops of orange oil onto the rice because I had run out of lavender, but the orange oil smelled lovely and I hope she gets some use out of it after her hockey games.

rice and orange oil warm/cool bag

I should be working on making owlish things for the owl swap, and though I have some ideas spinning around in my brain I haven't even cracked open my sketch book yet. At the moment H is watching another episode of Ruby Gloom which is the most fantastic little show for little gothlets in training, and for you inner goth. Its brilliant, with the cutest theme tune, you must watch it... I want to make some sort of ruby gloom crafts.

*wanders off singing ruby gloom*