Cath Kidston -esque Draught Excluder

A while ago it was a friend’s birthday, and a mutual friend asked me if I could make a dog draught excluder for the birthday girl, just like the one from last years Cath Kidston catalogue.

I agreed of course, but I have never even made a softie so had no idea how to form the head bit. I spent a good few hours staring at the computer looking at how to do it, then just went ahead and had a bash.

I am so pleased with how it turned out. It’s not perfect, but both friends were delighted with my handiwork. Thank goodness!!

Birthday Shopping

At the beginning of September it was my birthday. I had a lovely day where we went out for pancakes (a dutch speciality) topped with bacon and apple, then we headed off to Haarlem in search of this shop. My parents had sent me some money in my card, so where better to spend it than a shop that sells Cath Kidston and Greengate. Bliss!

I picked up a set of 2 tea towels and these gorgeous spoons made from pottery.

A set of tins. My husband asked what I was going to use them for, I quickly answered ”for cakes”, which satisfied him enough to stop me feeling guilty for being frivolous!

I then popped in to Dille & Kamille on the way back to the car and bought a jam funnel, 2 rolls of red and white string and a couple of little baskets. Perfect

Oh and we even managed to get a babysitter so we could go out for a nice meal, shame the babysitter has now gone off to University in the UK……

New Shop

I have BIG news.

I have just opened a little shoppette (it is too small to call a ‘shop’) on Etsy. After some lovely emails from some supportive people, especially from Vanessa, I thought “what’s stopping me?”. So I just got on with it. 

The shop is called Heart of Holland and you can use the blue etsy button on the side to go straight to it. I will mostly be using dutch fabrics with perhaps a little Cath Kidston occasionally or some other special fabric. At the moment there is only drawstring bags for sale, and I will be making mini tote bags for little girls, aprons and bunting as well when the rest of my supplies eventually get here. 

Please drop in over the next few weeks and see what else I have added. I would love to hear your feedback.

I hope you like what you see.

Thanks for your support

The Mini Quilt

Well folks here it is. I’m afraid my photography skills are pretty limited, and, as they (whoever they are) always say, it really does look better in real life.

So what do you think?

I have never hand quilted anything before and there were a few injuries on the way. My husband asked it I needed “one of those things you have to stop all the finger pricking”, but I’m afraid no thimble covers the whole hand does it?  

Any way, I love my little cup cakes and when I can find my mini pegs I will put it on it’s little wire hanger and place it in my sewing room.

A little W.I.P

Above is a sneaky peak of something I have been working on. I was inspired by this: 

It was made by the lovely Amy, she is a very talented lady and she has an etsy shop here.

I have done most of the applique work on mine and I am going to do some hand quilting, which is another new thing for me to try so you may not get to see the finished result for a little while. But that’s OK, isn’t it? 

Napkins

Remember this Cath Kidston fabric? Well I said that was probably going to make napkins with it and that is exactly what I did.

I found a great tutorial on Film in the Fridge’s blog.

The size of the napkin is quite small, but they are perfect to use at breakfast or with morning tea or coffee. (Served with cake of course)

I think the ric rac really finishes them off well, but you could of course leave that off, and just have a plain reversible napkin.

Notice Board

I have had one of those cheap Ikea cork notice boards for ages and have been meaning to cover it in fabric. This weekend I did just that. The weather was good so I could go outside and spray the adhesive on to the board, then apply the fabric.

I chose some pretty blue Cath Kidston fabric I had in my stash and finished it off by glueing some cream and red ribbon around the edge with fabric glue.

It looks really pretty, now all I need to do is go looking for the pushpins so I can put it to good use.

Until next time……

Sunday Stash 6

 

This is some more Cath Kidston fabric, I love CK. I am going to make some napkins with this.

Sunday Stash hosted by Tamara at 1/4 of an Inch.

Check out the other stashers here

Happy Stashing!

 

 

I am off on holiday to the UK for a week to catch up with family. So have a great week and I will be back soon. xx

Pretty little bunting

As you know my daughter loves pink (so do I), plus I love Cath Kidston as you saw yesterday. So what could be more perfect than pretty pink bunting incorporating some CK and Tilda fabric.

My daughter’s bed and the bunting in situ, it really looks delightful.

It was super easy to make, I just cute 2 triangles for each flag with pinking shears, sewed around the edges, then attached some binding. Job done.

Until next time………

Sunday Stash 5

This is some Cath Kidston fabric I picked up on Ebay

Sunday Stash hosted by Tamara at 1/4 of an Inch.

Check out the other stashers here

Happy Stashing!