A Bunny from Down Under

I was all giggley this morning when I opened my postbox to find an envelope postmarked Adelaide, Australia.

It meant that my LucyLocketRecyclesHerPocket Bunny-Hop-Bunny-Swap bunny had arrived from my swap partner Levineke.

I opened the envelope to find these:

How gorgeous are they?? A lovely calico bunny with her own dress and pinny! She came with a matching card and a great little book about her home town.

Levineke says that she's only been crafting for a short time - but WOW is she talented. You should see the quilt she's making which can be seen on her blog.

I shall have to find somewhere special for "Levi" (as I've named her) to sit - away from grubby fingers and the like.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. You've made my day xx

A Day at the Zoo

Today we decided to brave the REALLY cold and REALLY windy weather and make a visit to Twycross Zoo. It's only 10 mins away but it's the first time we've been in 18 months!!

Set in 40 acres, they concentrate on conservation and education, and now take part in many captive breeding programmes for endangered animals (about 3/4 of the animals there are officially classed as endangered species).

We saw loads of monkeys and I managed to capture the face of a baby gibbon (of some sort) peeking out from under its mum's arms.

Easter at School

DD's pre-school had its Easter Bonnet Parade and Fair yesterday. In an effort to "recycle" we used the bonnet we made last year and I russled her up a dress from a couple of really soft and fluffy fleece blankets.

Here is the little madam modelling said items.

We also made hard-bolied decorated eggs to take too. DD covered hers in a few feathers and glitter glue. Mine was going to be "Super-Egg" until I realised that we had no felt-tips in the house - so the effect was a little underboiled (LOL!!). She insisted we take him anyway. And in case you were wondering - no, neither of us won a prize!!

The "What Hand Are You?" Poll

Just realised that I didn't leave anywhere for anybody to leave any comments after they've voted!!

I'm left-handed and left-footed but I play cricket and golf right handed - but I think that is years of swimming breathing to the left having an effect with the twisting.

DS is left-handed but DD is right-handed (both to right-handed fathers), so teaching her to write letters etc now is becoming increasingly hard.

I use the PC mouse in my right, as well as can-openers but I eat with my fork in my right.

A Present to Myself

After weeks of bidding and getting outbid on Ebay, my new "toy" arrived this morning.

I treated myself to a little Overlocker.

Hopefully this will make my duvet covers and cushions more professional looking as I won't have to pink the seams - they'll be sewn like shop-bought ones!!

Vintage Swap

I've now signed up to do a Vintage Swap on Meridian Ariel's blog.

The object of this swap is to create items with a vintage vibe. Take inspiration from Vintage Posters, images of old sewing patterns, vintage knitting patterns, charity shop finds, replica style fabrics etc etc etc.

I've been paired up with Megan AKA vInTaGe Violet so will need to get my thinking cap on again!!

My Bunny is off to Australia

The deadline for the LucyLocketRecycledHerPocket Bunny-Hop-Bunny-Swap is tomorrow, (see here for my previous entry). So just in the nick of time the bunny I've made will be flying up-up-and-away as she's going to Australia.

I can't blog a picture of here - in case her new owner is looking!! - but here's a little glimpse

Hope you like her Levineke

You must see this ...

... Dana at Old Red Barn Co. is giving away a quilt to one luck person who comments on her blog entry.

Get your self over there - the prize is FABULOUS!!

Playtime Down on the Farm

I was asked to make a padded playmat for a little boy who just loves rolling about on the floor.

We picked a farmyard fabric and as it wasn't quite wide enough, bordered it in navy blue and used the same fabric to back it.

I padded it with 2 layers of wadding - which made it a bit bulky to sew - but made it nice and comfy for him to lie on

A Trio of Taggies

I've just finished 3 special order tagged comfort blankets. All 3 had satin backs as opposed to the normal fleece backs.

I kept the taggie colours to just the same 5/6 on all 4 sides instead of what I usually do and try to get 20/24 matching seperate colours.

Although I say so myself I think this has made them nicer looking.

Reveal of Easter Swap

As my contribution (for Miaou) has arrived with her - and she likes it(!!) - I can now reveal a full picture.

I was a little bag with 7 pockets of various sizes that can be used for storing anything - makeup for in your handbag, sewing bits and bobs etc.

It is made a bit like origami where instead of folding paper you fold fabric and stitch in place. I can't take credit for the design - I found it in a Patchwork magazine!!

I used a vintage style fabric that had bunnies over and used pink fleece as the reverse. Held closed with an band and a button.

Update on my Patchwork Blanket

I've finally finished the blanket (you can see the start of it here)

I added a ribbon tag on each square (2 on each of the corner ones) and backed it with a spotty fleece. To keep it stable I machined around each round.

It was complimented by 2 taggie cushions.

It has been well received and this has given me the confidence to seriously think about making them "off-the-peg" to sell.

Mothers' Day Presents - made by me

As it was Mothers' Day, a gift was in order to show MY mum how loved and appreciated she is.

She got a really pucka mobile phone for Christmas - which she is still trying to work out how to use(!!) - as the "brick" that she had previously was on its last legs.

So with this in mind I made it a sock. It's pink heart fleece on the outside and lined with plain pink cotton. I added a little ribbon loop attached by a really cute heart shaped button.


I also made her a bag that she can use to store her knitting projects in - she is currently working on some baby bits for my sister's evergrowing bump plus a jumper for DD.

I made it from a pretty blue floral fabric and lined it in plain blue and used two circular handles. I'm not sure that the proportions/shape are quite right but she was pleased with it anyway and it's currently being put to use!!

A Lovely Few Days

I decided to treat myself to some ear-rings made by the lovely Dior @ Chickadee Cards - See entry on 19th Feb. I haven't really worn ear-rings since my son was born over 14 years ago - mostly as he used to pull at them and then just due to laziness - but they reminded me of the "danglies" that used to adorn my earlobes.

They are made from individual jump-rings which have individual clear, silver and opaque beads added. The are lovely and light and very tinkley (sp?!)



And as I had to then wear them, I got DH to take me out to lunch on Saturday - as he flew off to the USA today for a week!!



He had organised some flowers before he went and they arrived today. Not the normal bunch but an Azalea. Now I just need to water it so it won't die!!

DD made a card at school which she bought home along with a little lidded pot that she's decorated and which will now be used to house my new ear-rings.