Brothers & sisters

After this one, two more book covers (protège-carnet de santé) for the rest of the family..

I really hope the book fits inside! Because by the time I cut the fabric, did the embroidery which kind of shrinks the fabric and then sewed it all together, I seem to have lost a few millimetres here and there and none of the covers ended up the same size.
If the book it's meant for doesn't fit, I'll make it my mission to find a notebook that does!

Here they all are together..

I moved my workspace from the bedroom floor to the kitchen table..

In the next episode, I have a desk!

P.S.: the illustration on my Blanca Gomez calendar is very apt: it's been raining for 2 weeks solid and it's becoming quite annoying!
P.P.S.: you'll be pleased to know I've started work on Advent calendar #2!
P.P.P.S.: our laptop was broken, hence the lack of posting for a little while..

The flower and the bee

I'd seen embroidery hoops being used for home decor on a few websites before and always thought they looked really pretty. They're such a simple way to add a splash of colour to some plain walls.
Look at that gorgeous wall, seen here..

You can also stick of bit of foam or cork at the back and turn them into pinboards, which is what I did to put up in my future sewing room (still need a table!). With my gorgeous floral fabrics (love the pink one!)..

Explanations here or here. I used foam sheets for the back, I didn't even glue them so not sure how long they'll last but I think they look good and will come in handy!
Pins are from my favourite stationery store Paperchase.

My initial idea was to make one for the kids bedroom for photos, cards, drawings etc but I don't think the hoop is big enough so will need to think of something else..

And this is my workspace!

Where the wild roses grow

That's it, we're all moved in to our new house! I've taken my sewing stuff out of the boxes, now I just need to buy a small table to put my sewing machine in the spare bedroom. So, normal service is about to resume!
There are so many things on my Sewing To Do list! Gifts, things for the kids, and also quite a few decoration projects. I dream of a home full of handmade things (not necessarily handmade by me!), I have lots of ideas but not much experience - I shall keep you posted!

With my sewing machine still in a box, here's what I made the other day..

I can't remember how I came across the tutorial as I found it on a wedding website! Instructions here.
It's a really nice little project. I only made 8 flowers but I think it would have looked quite nice too if there'd been more and closer together..

Coup de coeur Monday #7 - My new music box!!

I don't know which brand it is, I found it in a very nice wooden toy shop in Amsterdam this (child free - yippeeee!!) week-end.

WARNING: only watch if you have a minute of your time to waste! Or would like to hear Y breathing/chatting/biting into the sofa.
Sorry, haven't worked out how to turn the video around..

Isn't it so beautiful? I LOVE that music..
I don't want to put it up in the kids bedroom, I want it in mine!

Lovely day

I have been quite lazy and generally unproductive for the last week or so, but finally I have finished something! Here it is..

A frame for lil sis, again inspired (eg copied) from this diary - the last thing I wanted to make for her birthday. See, good thing I started early, her birthday is now only 3 weeks away! - she's in China at the mo, spreading the word about my blog and looking for potential factories to produce my creations. 

Ha ha, joke - but she really is in China!

In reality the colours are a lot more vivid, I really need to buy a new camera to take better pictures than this!



ABC

I haven't been doing nothing for the last few days. In between looking for - and finding! - a house to move to; constantly being after a soon-to-be 1 year old who's learning to stand up, go down the steps and who loves opening and emptying cupboards and drawers, and eating bits of food or fluff off the floor; trying to keep my house tidy; organising the kids social life; thinking of what to do and what to cook for Y's birthday week-end and making endless lists, I've also been making this:

I spent a lot of time on it today and phew, finished it on time for Saturday!

Happy 1st birthday my dear little baby!

Coup de coeur Monday #6 - Orla Kiely

If you live in the UK, you must have seen this Orla Kiely Stem print before, right? It comes in mugs, tea towels, cushions, notebooks, lampshades, kitchenware, handbags, even a radio and lots more.. I love that print! I remember fervently bidding on ebay for a couple of chairs covered in that fabric and being soooo disappointed when I didn't get them.
But I got a nice sideboard with Stem wallpaper at the back a few months later.. Good things always come to those who wait..
 
Patterns and colours are very 60's-70's - which I love! - this is my dream sofa!

Some more pics just to please the eye.. 

Love the cars print too! You've probably seen it here on my pennant for the Olympics and here on the kids Christmas stockings.

Orla Kiely recently created 2 childrens books too, that I bought for Y's birthday (and a little bit for myself too - I am forever buying kids books) and they're absolutely gorgeous with a very nice retro feel. There's a numbers one and a colours one.