Meet Mogo

I took part in my very own Great British Sewing Bee-esque Creation Challenge this month as I took part in the Hillary's Blinds Country Crafts competition.

A beautiful piece of fabric arrived in the post and the challenge was to create what ever we wanted.... Crickey being creative is quite difficult when you have a completely blank piece of paper. I'm used to being creative but I usually have an idea of at least what shape or use the final object will have, but this time the possibilities were endless, crumbs!

I pondered for some time and decided on a rather cute clutch bag which would double as a padded iPad case. I even solved the ever annoying tangled headphones issue by putting a small zipped pocked disguised as a bow on the front which would be just big enough for head phones alone to fit with no jiggle space. With the dimensions calculated and rough design drawn I was ready to cut and sew, but then my little 3 year old son got ill.

He had chicken pox and suddenly my new clutch / iPad case (and actually the competition) was totally unimportant.

Whilst he napped on the sofa during his millionth viewing of Toy Story 3 I had an idea...
My son is spotty...
My fabric is spotty...
I should make my son a spotty friend.

So my new clutch / iPad case was set aside and I found a pattern for a teddy bear instead.
Pin
Snip
Sew
Stuff

Et voila

Meet Mogo

"He has spots on his tummy just like me Mummy" my son chirped when he met him "his name is Mogo, Mummy"
Firm friends in their joint spottiness, Mogo has been everywhere with us...
Trips in the car...

 Supermarket shopping...

Milkshake treats (he really likes butterscotch apparently)...

And he's even been treated to a sofa snooze under the duvet whilst watching Toy Story 3!

For me this was the perfect use of the Hillary's Country Craft fabric and I look forward to Mogo joining us on many more days out.

Thank you to Hillary's for sending me the perfect fabric to put a smile on my son's face xx

Posted with Blogsy

Another Awesome Day at the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show

I had the pleasure of spending Thursday at the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show in Olympia London. It was another fabulous day. We entered the show when it opened at 10am and left at 6pm packing in 3 workshops, lunch, 2 cups of tea and a biscuit..oh and a few purchased, we were shattered. 

So here's what I came home with

I was completely seduced by the fabric, there were almost too many choices, but picked these new fat quarters for patchwork. Got a couple of solids too (always find solids hard to find and they don't give me a that warm fuzzy feeling... but then I go to do patches and well sometimes you just need them don't you!) but they aren't very exciting so no photo

The workshops were fun too....

In 1.5hours I made a patchwork, quilted table runner - felt like I was on The Great British Sewing Bee with a time challenge - but just shows how much you can accomplish in a short time if there are no distractions

Love this picture - this wasnt a formal workshop but was on a stand they were offering the materials and instructions to make a picture for £5 (bargain). Love this. Not even sure it needs a frame - might just keep it in the wooden frame and hang it on the wall. 

My last class was "Sumptuous Surfaces" it was a strange title and quite a strange workshop - we painted some glue-like substance onto bubble wrap and then printed this onto a special fabric. Then with a heat gun (never used one of these before, such fun) we burnt away the fabric not covered in the glue-like substance - we were left with this strange surface which we then spray painted. Not something I think I'll be trying again, but great to spend an hour literally playing with materials and tools I've never handled before - that's what the workshops are all about really - trying something new and maybe you will like it.

Think this is the 4th time I've visited this show and always love it..... roll on October and the Alexandra Palace Show. 

And the winner is.....

Maggie

Congratulations, you've won 2 tickets to the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show at Olympia

I'll email you to get your address

Hope you have a great day

B 

xxx

The Great British Sewing Bee returns for Season 2

excited

me

oh, just a little

On Tuesday 18th February at 8pm I will be found glued to my sofa with a cup of tea and a slice of cake ready to watch the first episode of - The Great British Sewing Bee Season 2

If you didn't watch Season 1 last year you missed out on a treat - 6 competitors cut, hemmed, button-holed and designed their way through a set of challenges which would turn any sewing amateur pale

All commentated expertly by Claudia Winkleman -wouldn't you love that job???? 

Loved it

Loved it

Loved it

Can't wait for Season 2 

2014 Great British Sewing Bee competitors

Another fabulous #Giveaway

The lovely team at the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show have given me another 2 tickets to giveaway

These are 2 one day tickets to attend the event in London Olympia 13th - 16th March. 

You could go with a friend or attend 2 days on your own

I really love these shows, if you haven't been to this show or one of it's sister events in Harrogate, Alexandra Palace or Dublin you are in for a treat! 

I've been going to this show for a couple of years, there are stalls from big retailers and small enterprises; selling fabrics, yarns and accessories, its a crafter's paradise. But, the part of the shows I love the best are the workshops; I sign up for 2 every year, they are an opportunity to learn something new. This year I will be making a table runner in a 2 hour session and learning techniques to make Sumptuous Textiles (the mind boggles!). 

So all you need to do is leave me a comment on this blog post and I will enter you for the competition. 

For an extra chance follow me on Facebook and leave me a comment there. 

Competition closes Midnight Friday 14th February and I will contact the winner by email. 

Good Luck x 

Happy New Year and Quilty Fun Sew Along

Happy New Year

Feels a little odd saying that in February...what are the rules on Happy New Year, do you say it the first time you meet someone after the new year or is February passed the Happy New Year deadline.... 

Anyway...

I hope 2014 is treating well

So....I've been away a while, life got a little crazy in November last year. One of my peers at work was taken suddenly ill and I was asked to babysit their work and team until they came back in January. I must have been doing something right as I was asked to take over their work as well as mine on a permanent basis. Really great opportunity but I went from a cosy team of 5 to a team of 15 with 8 vacancies over night... lets just say I've been busy! 

So not a great deal of crafting has been taking place here

Life has started to calm down a little as work becomes more stable and we all move into a new rhythm, I've even had my cutting mat and sewing machine out this week to continue with the Quilty Fun Sew Along I started last year. 

The sew along is to make a quilt like this ...

The idea is that each week we make a new patch, with guidance from a quilting / blogging pro and support from a quilting book. But, I'm a little behind - I think everyone else is on patch 12, I'm just starting on 6. But hey isn't it the taking part which is important. 

Here are my creations so far

(sorry about this picture quality....light is just horrendous this evening)

I'm learning lots of new techniques which is good fun and my cutting is certainly getting quicker and more strategic - 28 x 1.5" squares were cut this evening in no time! 

That's it from me this evening but just ask you to pop back in a couple of days - I've got 2 tickets to giveaway for the Spring Knitting and Stitching Show in London

Thanks for stopping by

x

Project Update

I've been following a lot more crafty people and companies on Facebook recently, its nice to have a little crafty injection when I manage a 2 minute break at work to refresh facebook.

A favorite at the moment is And Sew We Craft, they regularly post funny crafty photos and this one really made me chuckle 

It's so true...

Really got me thinking about all the promises we make to ourselves about not starting projects, I hear myself thinking this all the time but I rarely manage to actually see it through 

Somehow my fingers manage to make their way to that new book or that new pile of fabric or just maneuver my car into the car park at the local craft shop...I surely cannot be blamed for these incidents over which I have little control?  

Well in the spirit of desperately trying not to start anything knew, I thought I would own up to the projects which are as yet unfinished (but are well on their way!) 

Ripple Blanket

I'm 120 rows in....yes really 120 rows I had to count twice....but I'm not finished. I don't really know how many rows I'm planning but is isn't quite long enough so I'm still going.

Lovely a warm to sit under and make on a blustery autumn evening

I'm loving the colours.... it's so Missoni 

Liberty Quilt

Not sure I've shared this project with you, other than mentioning I'd bought the fabric and pattern at the Knitting and Stitching Show in October 

As you can see it's a tree, I've cut out about 100 flower pieces, tree trunk and butterflies and am now in the process of applique-ing these on to a fabric sandwich...its actually not taking as long as I'd feared...
tree trunk done...now just the 80ish flower pieces to go! 

Loving working on this, and working with Liberty fabric is such a massive treat 

--------------

Ok, so now I've admitted to my 2 mammoth ongoing projects is it a good time to admit I'm starting another one??

I will also point out right now that I have just joined the Quilty Fun Sew Along being ran by Lori Holt and a raft of quilty bloggers so yes I'm about to start something new....oh well it's the thought that counts right???

This runs right until March 2014! 

And the Winner is ......

.... Kate Hudson - well done

I've sent you an email please send me your address and I'll put the tickets in the post.

Hope you have an amazing time

xx

Weekend Stitching - Patchwork Coasters Trial

I did a spot of shopping last week...

I know I'm meant to be saving money but I spotted this tutorial by Lori Holt on the Fat Quarter Shop for some easy patchwork coasters which I couldn't resist. Plus I keep seeing patterns which use charm cakes plus it is nearly Christmas. And I need some Christmas patchwork in my life.......

so basically it wasn't my fault at all that 2 charm packs from Moda cyber-jumped into my basket on eBay. 

I was a victim really! 

After a little pinning, stitching, cutting and pressing...here they are.... 

My first attempt at coasters didn't turn out to bad....starting to wish I'd taken up the offer of the village craft fair. Oh well I'd probably be stressed beyond belief right now if I had agreed to do, and stressed crafting is rarely fun. 

So my next task is to make some Christmasy placemats and coasters. Just the 3 of us for Christmas this year, pleased I don't have all the family here and don't have to make 15 of them!

Autumn ATC Swap

It was an exciting post week here in the Becca Lou household, there is only one thing better than sending a parcel; it's receiving one. And this week was ATC Swap week. The swap was again run by Ali over at Very Berry Handmade and the theme was appropriately Autumn

I had a idea straight away for my design - as I have a 3yr old son Autumn is generally spent searching for and then jumping in puddles, or me shouting "Nooooo", running and quickly scooping him up if we have gone out without wellies. It is fun jumping in puddles though...as an adult you cant really do it unless you have a toddler in tow! Such a shame.

So here is my homage to jumping in Autumn Puddles

 

Now, the design and creation of the front of an ATC is the easy bit as far as I'm concerned. I don't know why but I always find the reverse so much more challenging and surely that should be the easy bit - it is just a name and contact details for goodness sake. 

To me it is a bit like that last section of school course work - you get the majority of it done but leave the hard bit till the night before the deadline...that was me on Sunday night....eagerly stitching the reverse trying to figure out the right answer before posting on Monday as per the deadline! 

This time it only took me 4 attempts to get it right

1. This is the final version - ink rollerball pen on calico hand switched to the back

My failures

2. the pen looked messy

3. I thought cross stitch might look nice - nope!

4. I wondered about programming my sewing machine but this just looked too formal 

Now look what I received in the post

Isn't it lovely 

It will have pride of place on my craft shelf..

I'm one lucky lady

If you want to see some of the other ATCs created check out the flickr site

Hoping there will be another swap in spring next year, this is my second swap and really enjoying it. If you know of any more please let me know

x

The Belle & Boo Book of Crafts Review and Campervan Bean Bag

One of my little treats at the Knitting and Stitching Show was a new craft book. I'd seen a review of this book previously so when I saw it at the show I had to have a flick through, and as soon as I'd seen inside I had to treat myself -

The Belle & Boo Book of Crafts 

25 enchanting projects to make for children

 The book contains a wonderful collection of projects, including a beanbag which was my prompt to buy the book....I wanted to make a campervan cushion for my son's bedroom to match the campervan blind. So I've road tested one of the projects and I'm still really impressed.

The instructions were really simple and clear to follow, also really pleased that it only took me a couple of hours to make 

(I've got a few projects on the go at the moment so to get something completely finished in one sitting was great) 

Here it is....I've made a cosy little book corner in my son's bedroom, he loves his big boy beanbag and it looks great matching the blind

The book is filled with cute illustrations and many more sewing, crochet and knitting projects from simple to amazing....would thoroughly recommend if you are looking for ideas for children that are just a little more enchanting than the norm

Maybe something to ask Santa for????

Ticket Giveaway - Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show 2013

The lovely team at TwistedThread have given me 2 tickets for the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show worth £25 to giveaway

I've been to a few of the shows ran by TwistedThread previously and absolutely loved them. Read my most recent review of the October show at Alexandra Palace here 

There's such a great range of inspiration and unusual tools, fabrics and classes available to tantilise and send you home with such a creative buzz, I'd recommend the show to anyone who loves to craft.

So, what do you have to do to enter this amazing competition.....
Just follow the rafflecopter instructions - the competiton is open until 14th November, I will contact the winner shortly afterwards and post the tickets to you first class

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck x

More elephant bunting

I posted recently on facebook that I was making elephant bunting for a friend, a different friend left me a comment asking if I had scraps then her little boy would love some elephant bunting for his elephant room.....This friend has always been so kind about my crafty exploits so I couldn't resist sending her a little treat, and whilst I had everything out I needed making an extra set of mini bunting really wasn't any trouble at all.

I sent this as a surprise so didn't want to ruin it by posting pictures last week and having to make up who it was for, blah blah blah....

well I now know it has arrived so can share this slightly different elephant bunting with you ....  so cute - this would look great in any nursery

Using up my stash - Vintage Teacup Candle Tutorial

The general consensus when I admitted my addiction to purchasing candles (which I don't then use) was to turn them into teacup candles for gifts. I found some great vintage teacups in a market a couple of weeks ago and then today I have finished the candles. Yay! I have Vintage Teacup Candles!

I read a few reviews and tutorials before I started and wanted to share what worked for me 

You will need

Teacups

Candle wicks

Candle wax - I melted down old candles

Tip - you may also want to purchase a cheap saucepan and wooden spoon - the cleaning afterwards isn't pleasant. I spent £1.75 on a pan and then recycled it with other metals at the dump

1. Prepare the Wax 

As I was using part used candles I cut them down into chunks before melting.

I've got quite a candle stash so selectively removed any dark sections of candles and then used a knife to shave these into sections. 

TIP - I found a smooth blade much easier to use than a serrated one

2. Prepare the Teacups

I purchased prewaxed wicks with sustainers so they stood in the teacups without needing sellotape across the top

3. Melting the Wax

This was the bit I was most nervous about. I read reviews of wax bursting into flames and that got me scared. The safest method seems to be melting wax in a small pan which is resting in a larger one filled with water

I used a really low heat - my hob has settings 1-9, I used setting 3

The water was just touching the bottom of the small pan and wasn't simmering or bubbling at all

The wax melted really quickly. Very soon I had liquid wax with lumps of wax icebergs gradually melting

TIP - you can add essential oils at this stage

4. Making your Candles

Once you have enough melted wax pour it into the teacups - a little first to secure the wick in place and then fill up to the required amount. 

 Leave to cool whilst you feel smug and enjoy a well earn cup of tea!

And here are the finished articles....aren't they adorable and what a perfect low cost Christmas / Birthday gift

I hope you found this tutorial useful - please let me know if you've made some Vintage Teacup candles