Claire's Crafty Blog

Mothers Day in the UK!

Claire — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:13:03 +0000

Don't forget its Mothers Day in the UK this Sunday (14th March)

I'm using this opportunity to sell my wares! Special offer in my etsy shop, if you buy one of my lovely knitting needle cases you will get a FREE mothers day card! What could be better? These are a selection of cases for full sized needles, I also have a couple of cases for double pointed needles/crochet hooks/circular needles/cabling needles/etc..... Go on, treat your mum to something pretty! :)

In others news.....Thank you to all who have signed up to my pincushion swap already - I've had a great response so far! Don't forget sign-up is still open till sunday when I will be using my super-organised-spreadsheet to sort everyone out a partner!

A Swap idea....

Claire — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0000

How about a pincushion swap????

All you have to do is make a lovely pincushion for your partner, add a couple of small haberdashery style items (buttons, ribbon, etc....) to the parcel and be prepared to post internationally. To sign up for the swap email me with your name, address, blog/website (if you have them) before the 14th March. I'll sort out partners and then you'll have 1 month to make your pincushion and post it! My email address is: claire [@] paynedesign.co.uk . Make sure you pop 'pincushion swap' in the subject so your email doesn't get lost!

And the winner iiiiiis.......

Claire — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:44:08 +0000

........<drum roll>........

It's the lovely Lynsey of SWIRLYARTS! Hurrah!

Sorry for the slight delay in the announcement. Poor little Hattie has had a tummy bug, so things haven't quite been normal around here. Were hoping she's on the mend now, but its a good excuse for lots of extra mummy snuggles!

3 Year Blogaversary Giveaway!!!!

Claire — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:07:45 +0000

Well, Can you believe it? 3 years of my crafty ramblings - and you keep coming back!? To celebrate I am having a bit of a giveaway. You can win these goodies (and possibly a few more), all packed up in a fruity face mini-tote (once I've finished making it!!!!).

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me what you are making or would like to make! I'm always interested to find out what other people are up to as I've always got an epic list of things to make! I'll post to anywhere in the world so you have no excuse! You have until the 1st March to enter when I will announce the winner and an idea I've been thinking about.....! Happy crafting! :)

Oooh, La, Laaaaa!

Claire — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

I got my Monsieur Orange items from Vista Prints the other day and don't they just look snazzy!?

Postcards, magnets and business cards. All to go in with my orders :)

A Prototype

Claire — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Over the last few years I've been trying and trying to draw the perfect 5 petalled flower and would fail miserably every time. I've no idea why, but I just couldn't do it. When suddenly I had a brain-wave (Fran stop laughing!) why have I never done a 6 petalled flower? The angles are easier for 6 sides! So......

These have been made into brooches and are available in the shop. I also fancied making a big flower hair slide. You'll have to excuse the grey, big, bushy hair. I'm going to get it cut short again next month! It's so difficult to take a photograph of your own hair!

It still needs a little tweaking but I'm hoping to get a few made this week.

Cushion Love

Claire — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Another finished project from my list! HURRAH!

This is the front of a cushion cover for my littelest sister's birthday. It was her birthday last month but luckily she wasn't in any hurry to get her present! Its my first crazy log cabin and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out! :)

Full of beans

Claire — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Well, technically they are full of rice but that would of been a rubbish title! :)

Numbered 'bean' bags for a little girls birthday! Sally didn't believe me when I said the present was heavy because it was just a bag of rice! Its not Katie's birthday until the 8th March so I hope I haven't ruined the surprise too much! But if I don't blog about this now then I'll probably forget! I'm thinking of making some for the shop but need to find an alternative packing to rice so that I can post them world wide *feels a trip to the shops coming on*.

In other exciting new!!!! I've just checked as I was thinking it must be my blogaversary soon - and I was right. On the 25th Feb I've been blogging for 3 years!!!!! make sure you come back for a chance to enter my celebratory giveaway! There will be a big bag of goodies up for grabs!

A Birthday Gift

Claire — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Feeling inspired by Checkout Girl's pink house tutorial, I decided to have a go at my first fabric-art piece and make my Mother-in-laws house! I hope she likes it! It is her birthday today - Happy Birthday Sandra!

You can't really tell from the picture but there are tiny pink seed beads 'flowers' on the climbing plant. I'm ever so pleased with it and feel inspired to actually turn some of my bug drawings into similar felt-art!

Frame, at last(!)

Claire — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:55:17 +0000

At last, I've finally got around to popping a few nice prints we had lying around in frames!

The poppy print was from the Lost Gardens of Heligan and for the back bedroom. Home tweet home was from pocketstudio and is for Hattie's bedroom. Both were bought an age ago and I just hadn't got around to popping them in frames until now. The Poppy print was a funny shape so I had to cut a mount for it myself - it doesn't have the perfect 45 degree angle but no one will ever know! ;)

I have my eye on another pocketstudio print just as soon as I have some funds! Now all I need to do is get some Hattie photos printed and we can start all over again on the 'things to be framed' pile!!!

Being organised...?!

Claire — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:35:22 +0000

I know I'm not really known for my tidying skills, or any other cleaning really(!) but Friday I had an urge to start some tidying and sorting. I think its all to do with sorting Hattie's clothes out ready to go up in the loft.

So, there you have it. Lots of fabric piles all ready to be made into pretty things! Bibs, comforters, iron-on numbers and my sisters birthday cushion cover!

The Felt Lady

Claire — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:04:20 +0000

OH! I was ever so excited when I got home from our little morning baby group today. The posty had left a card saying I had a parcel in the 'BIG BLACK BIN'. Not the nicest of places to leave a parcel but who was I to complain when I opened it and saw the lovely purple package inside. I knew who it was from straight away. It was from THE FELT LADY!!!! Lovely, lovely Sarah holds a monthly giveaway on her blog and I was lucky enough to win (*goes to buy a lottery ticket to see if luck is still hanging around*).

Thank you so much, Sarah, for you generosity! Now everyone, go and buy some felt and other pretty supplies (including yummy buttons) from her shop!

Wipety-WIP

Claire — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:09:54 +0000

A little peek at what I've been doing this evening....

I can't really say much about it as it's a birthday present for a little girl whose birthday it is next month. We know two little birthday girls next month and I know both of their mummies read this blog so its going to be a surprise. Shhhhhh......... I'm makign something completely different for the other one! :)

I've also made a batch of knitting needle cases. A friend is having first pick of them, a present for her mum, then I'll take lots of photographs and get them in the shop by the weekend.

Fresh 'backed' doughnuts

Claire — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

I've finished one of the things on my giant to-do list! Felt doughnuts. They are very simple, and a birthday present for little Alice - She's 2 today! Happy birthday Alice!

Christmas Crochet Disaster

Claire — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:51:48 +0000

I'm not sure I've shown you this, or even admitted to it.....At christmas my sister tried to teach me to crochet a square. Here is her double crochet square....

.....and now here's mine.....

I'm having tension issues!

NEW STUFF

Claire — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 09:16:29 +0000

I've been making a start on that massive list I showed you the other day...the only problem is I keep finding things that need repairing OR I keep having ideas for fab new items to add to it. Can someone please make the day a little bit longer and make the munchkin sleep for more than an hour in the day? Pretty please?

I have managed to finish a few things that I've had lying around for months. These new key rings just needed stuffing and sewing up. They will be in the shop later today. I've also finished a gift for someone but can't show you that until next month. I'll be sure to take some photos (I usually forget that sort of thing!) and I also have a batch of felt doughnuts on the go for a little girls birthday next week. While making them I fancied making myself a giant doughnut pincushion.....if it turns out well I may start a new range of pincushions for the shop! :)

Where to start?

Claire — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:00:00 +0000

I really shouldn't make lists :(

Here I have things that need finishing as well as new things. The idea is when I finish something off that has been lying around for months/years(!) I can reward myself with a new thing! This is only the first double page...there is more!!! Hopefully I'll have some new things to show you soon!

Three a day.

Claire — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:46:01 +0000

Hello there! I'm still alive, although it feels like we've been through the wars a little recently; sleepless nights, teething, colds, etc. But not all bad, last week was J's birthday and we went to the imax in Birmingham to watch Avatar to celebrate while Aunty Boo babysat for us! Also last week, one of my best friends moved off to start their new life in New Zealand. Hi Joy and Danny *wave*. Now, I have a small confession to make - when Joy told me she was pregnant, what now seems like a million years ago, I started knitting a blanket for their ickle bebe. This was about 22 weeks ago.......I haven't really got very far with it......

Its in a lot better shape than it was at the start of last week, I'd only just made a start on the orange! I've figured out I can probably get it finished before the little chap arrives and have it sent to the other side of the world too if I keep up an average of 3 rows a day. No mean feat when you have a 6 month old with a terrible cold who will only snooze on her mummy. Each row has 150 stitches and takes about 15 minutes to do, so I just need to find 45 minutes each day.....anyone fancy some babysitting??!(!)

Bib-a-dee-bob-a-dee-boo

Claire — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:42:08 +0000

I've was a busy little bee at the end of last week, making a batch of bibs. The idea was I had 9 to make and any that didn't get sewn together perfectly for the shop would get used by the munchkin. I got slightly distracted on two of them and I'm secretly pleased that we get to keep these ones!

The rest will be listed in my shop over the next two nights and are made from equally cute fabrics. Pop over and have a look! :)

Lavender blue, dilly dilly....

Claire — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:08:05 +0000

***NEW*** This year I'm making cute felt lavender sachets! (as well as lots of other new and exciting goodies!)

I finished a small batch of hearts last night - here is one in progress! I just need to take some better photographs and then start listing them in my shop later today. Perfect valentines gifts! ;)

More sewing planned for later - Moustachioed fruit totes.....!

Books and Stuff

Claire — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:37:20 +0000

As promised here is my new stash of books that I got for Christmas - well, books and the 2010 sewing calendar! I can't wait to get making some new stuff!

The ironing pile got dealt with last night while we started watching series 5 of lost (Its soooo confusing!?!) but there is more washing being done :( I think we need to get back into a routine after having some lovely family time over the holidays. All I have to do now is tidy off my desk and then my little sewing machine friend can come back out of the utility room! I might start with a square bear! :)

Don't forget my sale is still going strong in my etsy shop and once its gone its gone! 50% off lots of lovely cute items!

It's snow joke

Claire — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:15:55 +0000

Firstly, I hope you all had lovely a lovely Christmas and new year. Secondly, I'm sooooo sorry it has taken me so long to blog this year. I've no idea where these first few days have gone - its almost mid January already and I've not sewn a single thing!

As you can see, we've had a few flurries of snow in our little corner of the UK (as most people have). I don't see what all the fuss is about, I'm sure it used to snow more when I was a kid *thinks back a long time* I remember walking to school in a good few inches of snow. Also remember in sixth form some of the boys snowing in one of the girls car tyres so we had to go to the caretakers house and see if she could borrow a spade to dig it out again.

We had a lovely time over Christmas and the new year. I took Hattie to visit my parents just before Christmas to deliver presents and we spent Christmas with the in-laws. Hattie loved all the wrapping paper (and her present too!). I got some very nice books (which I'll blog later once I've taken a photograph!), a woolly dress (that I'm wearing today!), lots of socks, PJ's, a wok, lots of chocolate (no wonder I've put weight on!), my traditional 'surprise selection box' from mum(!).

Hopefully things can start getting back to normal now. Once I've tackled the MAAAAAHHHOOOOOSSSSIVE ironing pile (I've no idea where it all comes from!) I'll have a little room to sew again! I've got lots of new things planned: fruity felt coin purses, pretty knitting needle cases, fruity shopping bags and a range of new pincushions as well as a whole solar system of smiley planets!

Merry Chris Moose!

Claire — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:34:43 +0000

Hello everyone! Well, I wasn't really expecting to have such a break there as I've got back into the sewing-swing of things. Oh well, these things do happen from time to time and I do have the best excuse!

Little Hattie is now 5 months old. FIVE MONTHS....I've no idea what I've been doing for the last five months other than drinking a lot of tea and eating my body weight in cake(!) but whatever it has been we seem to have got ourselves a happy little girl!

I'll sign off now for a few weeks and wish you all a wonderful christmas with your loved ones and many a mince pie! Merry Chris Moooose! :D

Quilting Ain't My Bag Baby

Claire — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:13:29 +0000

Well, it isn't! If you remember I started this quilt a billion years ago. It was originally intended to be a present for our new baby niece....she's almost 3 now! I loved piecing together the top then lost some enthusiasm for a few years(!) and this year I decided I'd definitely finish it before Hattie was born....she's almost 5 months old now! Yesterday I fished it out from my WIP pile and was determined to get the binding on.

Ta-daaaaaa! finished! The front looks very nice and neat, just don't look at the binding on the back as it's a right old mess. Now that is finished I can safely say I will not be attempting to make a quilt EVER again. If you ever hear me say anything about making another please feel free to whack my in the face with a frying pan in a cartoon styleee (so it doesn't really hurt). Failing that maybe just a pinch to bring me back to reality!

My 50% OFF SALE is still on in my etsy shop and there is just time to order for christmas delivery. Last post to the USA, Japan, Canada and Eastern Europe is tomorrow (10th). The UK is the 21st

Foodtastic

Claire — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:41:44 +0000

Firstly, I apologise for the rubbish photo, its far too dark and dingy these days to take any decent photos indoors and far too cold to pop outside just to photograph a bit of felt food! As you can see I had a busy little time last night; after Hattie had been put to bed and before J got home from work. I was going to make some felt biscuits for Franny's little girl to go with the tea set I've got her for Christmas, so I had a search on Flickr for a little inspiration and decided to make some felt food instead! I will make some biscuits at some point before Franny comes to visit but yesterday I was having to much fun with these! I can't wait for Hattie to be big enough to play with felt food!!!!

SALE!

Claire — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 08:19:15 +0000

I'M HAVING A SALE!!!!

I've decided to have a super sale in my etsy shop. I have so many plans to make new things in the new year and have no room to store them until I have sold some of my other stuff. There is 50% off most things, so have a pop along and get yourself (or a loved one) a lovely bargain!

Sale includes all plush fruit and rolley monkeys, pincushions, knitting needle cases, ipod cases, lots of lovely brooches, keyrings.

And the Winners are.....

Claire — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:18:02 +0000

Using the random-number-thing-a-mi-bob the lucky winners were comments number 7 and 14. I can't work out how to do a screen shot on J's laptop so you will just have to believe me! :)

comment 7:

Re: Christmas Giveaway!!!!

by Deb D on Fri 27 Nov 2009 22:46 GMT

What a sweet idea for Christmas tree ornaments! I would love a new car for Christmas. Mine is getting old and the repairs usually cost more than my car is worth.

comment 14:

Re: Christmas Giveaway!!!!

by Carol on Sun 29 Nov 2009 03:21 GMT

My mother already gave me the gift I wanted the most! She paid for an online class I really wanted to take! She's the best!

These are super cute ornaments!

I will be emailing you ladies shortly to get your addresses and post off your prizes. Thank you all for your comments and I hope that you get all you want for Christmas. Me? I want a happy first Christmas with my little family (but I wouldn't say no to some nice fabric! ;)

Christmas Giveaway!!!!

Claire — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:02:55 +0000

Hello all! To celebrate the coming festivities I'm going to have a mini giveaway. Two lucky people will each win a set of 3 of my handmade glittery Christmas trees. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me what you would like for Christmas. Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you if you win and I'll get the fantastic Mr Random number generator to pick a winner on Monday (30th November).

VOTE FOR MEEEE!

Claire — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:15:53 +0000

Quite excitingly, some of my christmas ornaments have made it into this weeks etsy voter! I would like to thank whoever nominated me and ask for your vote! CHRISTMAS CLAIRE needs YOU!

CLICK HERE to go and vote! And come back tomorrow for a christmas giveaway! :)

Tidy!

Claire — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:49:03 +0000

Look here! I've been tidying my desk - I knew it was under a big pile of felt, fabric, buttons and stuff - and there it is! Isn't she pretty? And all ready to do more sewing before christmas!

Claire's Crafty Blog

Mothers Day in the UK!

A Swap idea....

And the winner iiiiiis.......

3 Year Blogaversary Giveaway!!!!

Oooh, La, Laaaaa!

A Prototype

Cushion Love

Full of beans

A Birthday Gift

Frame, at last(!)

Being organised...?!

The Felt Lady

Wipety-WIP

Fresh 'backed' doughnuts

Christmas Crochet Disaster

**NEW STUFF**

Where to start?

Three a day.

Bib-a-dee-bob-a-dee-boo

Lavender blue, dilly dilly....

Books and Stuff

It's snow joke

Merry Chris Moose!

Quilting Ain't My Bag Baby

Foodtastic

SALE!

And the Winners are.....

Christmas Giveaway!!!!

VOTE FOR MEEEE!

Tidy!

NEW STUFF