Settling for a bit of this.........

 and a bit of that:

Going one step further than the patchwork cushions:

And dipping my toe in the world of quilting:

Even the beloved man got to join in this little patch (boo!!) of creativity by tidying up this sad little thing:

Loving it's transformation:

And for the grand price of........

wait for it...........

£9!!!!!

Wicker chair from the car boot sale, the seller swore blind it was a genuine Lloyd Loom but I don't think anyone believed him as he couldn't raise his £10 asking price. The beloved one bargain him down to six whole pounds. Wandering around we found another stallholder selling cans of spray paint for £1 so bought three to transform the chair from it's sickly lilac to a lovely antique white.

The fabrics are leftovers from assorted makes - the obviously Ikea birdie print and the deeper green was left over from the bathroom blind, the light green used to be Owen's bunk bed curtains, the tiny scarp in the centre was one of Heather's slings, the granny floral was left from making the caravan curtains and the pinky satin trim was the lining of another sling. The reverse fabric is Craig's old duvet cover, he's far too grown up for a mama made wild floral bedroom don't you know? As for the crochet flowers, well surely you recognise that yarn? Yes, it's the half skein left over from the cardi I just made Sophie. 

So there we go - super happy with my bargain recycled piece of loveliness, and doubly happy with my first little foray into quilting. Not a patch ( I know - again!) on some of the beautiful quilts I covet daily on fabulous blogs, I wouldn't want you thinking that! The stitching is a bit on the wavy wandering side, and the placement is a bit skewiff in places creating a few little ruffles when the ends were reached, not to mention that a little of the lining is held in place more by luck and repeated hemming than by any level of skill, but hey it's my first attempt and it certainly won't be my last. And now I know why those books are so detailed......and to follow them too!!

Another project finished, no more to be started until I finish the ones in progress. Back tomorrow with another completed...........I hope!

-x-

Let the light shine.

After many, many years putting up with the same dusty old dull lampshade it was time for a change. I stripped off the silky purple fabric from the frame and chose a piece of white gauzy fabric leftover from trimming Helens curtains:

Still dull and boring so I added a few lengths of ribbon and ricrac from the scraps box and this is what we have now:

Brighter, cleaner and more in keeping with the newly refurbished on a shoestring room. And I managed not to bleed on it after several stabbings of my finger whilst handsewing the trim!

-x-

Recycling..

I've hit a snag with the rainbow bright. I am trying to decide which of two paths I should follow to compensate for the rapid decrease in yarn to finish the project.So to take my mind of that, or to await a flash of inspiration, I decided to have a play with the sewing machine. I came across a ring sling I made a couple of years ago (an easy make - just straight lines and a couple of pleats) and decided to re-use the fabric for a new make.

I'm definitely getting the hang of this sewing lark as it only took me two hours and one footstamping episode before I came up with this:

It's even got buttonholes that match each side! Go me!

I haven't tried it on Heather yet so it may well end up going back in the cupboard and being long forgotten about. Or pressed upon some poor unsuspecting mum to a smaller girl. But it looks about right. Hopefully.

And in other news - still no gift knits! I'm rubbish at being organised. So now it's February and I should have two items tucked away and waiting to be gifted and another two should at least be in the planning stages. Well actually I'm ahead on that side of things. I have a neverending list of things at the planning stage. It's just deciding what to make next. And of course knowing that I have the stash to work through and plan to.....

So how you all doing with the gift makes? Or the scrap busting? Better than I am, I hope :-)

Off to have another long stare at the rainbow bright and hope for that flash of inspiration to strike.

-x-

PS - And now I'm looking at this post I'm wondering if maybe I should have made the dress so that the straps went under the bodice rather than over.......... although I did think I preferred it the way it is at the time.

-x-