Paper roses

I saw a similar design to these online at some point, and adapted it to make my own, much improved roses. Remind me, why does anyone pay for flowers for their wedding, these you can have in any colour under the sun, and in my opinion are much more attractive, as well as being free. One page makes one rose, so work it out folks a 287 page book, gives you 285 roses, costing you a grand total of 30p if your at a jumble sale or £2.99 at a charity shop.

I used pages of Harry potter 4 as I had already read the book out of it's cover, but I've seen them made from maps, and even a good quality wrapping paper or wallpaper would do the trick (hint: wallpaper samples are free!) 

Ok, disadvantages are that it takes a great deal of time and patience, it took me about 3 hours to make twelve, but having made just one in an hour from scratch, the next 2 hours making 11 meant I was defiantly quicker, I managed to set up a little production line for myself, and I reckon a team of 5 and a sea shanty later could produce 1000 in 4 hours at a push.

 (Now I've worked out how to add videos to my blog, you may be seeing a few more of them!)

cue APP-rentice jokes!

I felt it to be an APP-ropriate time to move away from the cupcakes, vintage lace and typewriters side of me, towards my more gadgety side. I APP-arantly like setting myself seeming impossible tasks, but this was a fun one. I'm considering making these, less than 1 inch squares, into some sort of finished thing, maybe framing them in the correct positions, in a black frame or turning them into a cushion, or some cool hanging/mobile, not sure yet, you're a worldly bunch, comments APP-reciated (for anyone who remains confused at my sudden capitalisation, laugh at this video with me....

).

 I think it would make an awesome quilt if you made each square 10 inch, get onto it beavers. 

Sorry you'll have to scroll down a considerable way, so I compiled what they look like together for you.

Here they all are separately if you wish...

Fabric Cutlery

The other day I saw a whole host of fabric food and utensils, in a shop in lewes, which were just beautiful. I fancied having a go myself, and started, with what have to have been the most difficult shapes, I'm sure, knife, fork and spoon, fun though, and I'm sure if I was to make anymore, I'd be much more prepared for what was needed.  

Vintage Fair Haul

My Mum, aunt and cousin and I went round an essentially blooming expensive car boot today, but yet still managed to find ourselves some bargains, which I thought I'd share. Well you know the nice vintage typewriter that I have at the top of my blog page, and that also became my business card design, for those of you lucky enough to receive one, well I found one...and I couldn't leave it. 

Amazingly the guy said £8 (I was sold even though it doesn't work) but then he just went on going, without prompting, and gave it to me for £5. Thank you very much sir. So thanks Mr. Google for providing me the last photo, but it will shortly be replaced by my very own, watch this space. 

Oh and I leo spotted this lovely lady, the cover of some sheet music, a little fragile, but really worth a pound, or so I felt.

Started projects

During my last 4 weeks before I go off to Bristol uni, I am doing what I do best, Starting projects and not finishing them. But I thought I'd keep all you many folks up to date with these little experiments.

Firstly a couple of days ago I started an Alice in Wonderland trilogy of machine embroidered panels, I hope to frame. I've just done the "drink me" panel so far, or at least one version of it, and I am yet to decide the other two, any suggestions appreciated, I was thinking maybe playing cards, flamingos, hatters hat?? It's a start anyway, and I'm only experimenting at this time.

Then, when my mum asked me to move the make-up that I am no longer even wearing from her bedroom (fair I suppose), I decided to make a nice little case for all the brushes. It's in no way perfect, a bit of a mess actually, but at least it might keep me organised, and it is functional. I actually think the wobbliness is rather charming, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

And then my latest started project is one that I hope I can do a lot of. I planning to stock up on books from charity shops and jumble sales, classics mainly, I imagine, that I can self illustrate. I sort of had the idea of using a book as a canvas to paint on, a piece relevant to the book, but more of a piece of art than just a front cover. I worked on Harry Potter 7 today because it was one of the few books we had that remained drawing-less, and that I felt I knew well enough to be able to illustrate. So here is what I did.

For those of you who don't get the reference, shame on you! And I hope this is due to my inferior painting, rather than your lack of knowledge of the Harry Potter series. This is an illustration of the seven Potters, quality scene, quality novel.

Cassette ipod pocket

Hey all, back to creating again, last night I decided to made a fabric cassette case, because although they have been around for ages, I have never actually got round to doing one myself, and hey I had nothing better to do than start a sewing project (on a new machine) at 9:00pm! I decided to make it an ipod case, because well, that's what most people do, but I also have the problem of not knowing where to put my ipod if I am doing anything, notably cleaning my church, and I don't know whether anyone else has noticed, manufacturers have stopped putting pockets in items of clothing. This was the motivation for attaching a long tape for around my neck and making a sort of retro makeshift necklace at the same time.

So here's what I've got:

Works pretty well, I wore it out today, and people recognised it as a cassette which was what I was worried about, so I consider it a general success. Here are some more pictures...

I'm Back with a gift!

Hey folks, if anyone is reading at all, I'm back from staying with my sisters for 10 days in Bristol, got to use a sewing machine, what a joy. We made several coffee bag cushions for the cafe we are starting up, as well as upholstering a couple of really gross Freecycle chairs so they now look beautiful and vintage, wow it is so easy to see how Cath Kidston did it all those years ago. I'm afraid I come back bearing no photos because I was camera-less but no doubt I will post them at some point.

Be not afraid though I do have something to give you all: some great music by a friend from Bristol. Robin Mitchell gave me some of his music to bring back to sell or at least spread down in the South East, he would be most appreciative of the interest (and so would I because otherwise my over inflated sense of my own sales ability after watching the apprentice would be just that). He looks a little mournful in this photo, but he's a happy chappy really, honest.


So either go to this website robinmitchell.bandcamp.com and pay him directly for an mp3 and very low price


or pay me to create you a lovely CD with a nice cover and a selection of great tunes, where I get a cut of the profits and you get a nice hardcopy to add to your collection. Or I suppose you could ignore this completely miss out on some great new music and I continue to look like a bit of a muppet. Support if you can!


His new song Constanta is a charity single for people in Romania, it is only minimum donation 50p (I will not be taking a cut for this, go to the website above). It is a great song, reviewed "i really like the song." ok, amittedly by his sister, but check it out guys. 



Oh and also, taking off my saleswoman hat for a minute, I just got a reply to an email I sent to Tom from the apprentice, I had to share because I was so excited, it sounds like he replies personally. It went something like this:


"Hi Lily,
Thank you so much for taking the time to get in touch, and for your
support. I’ve been overwhelmed by the response. I’m really glad you
enjoyed the show, thanks for cheering me on!
Regards, Tom"

I really love this guy, Tom if you're reading, Marry Me!!!


P.S My friend Abi also has a craft blog going, and it's great, her projects are much more advanced, ambitious and amazing than mine, so check her out at abimakesthings.blogspot.com/