Sewing Table Makeover

This month for my Minerva craft post, I have made a few accessories for my sewing table. I don't have a huge space but I have been leaving my machine out all the time of late and it means I can snatch an hour of sewing here and there without the set up and clear up which eats into this precious time.

I saw this fabric and thought it ideal for my sewing table. I made bias binding using the patchwork pack. There is always a moment in my sewing where I need to tell myself to keep calm, what about you?

Ta dah!

The kit includes: 

A fat quarter pack, pattern, thread and the oh 'sew' 

appropriate fabric.

The pattern has a variety of things to try. It is great if you have just got a new machine or want to have a play with one that has been handed down to you. You can make really useful things but nothing that requires anything to actually fit!

I did however have to do a little bit of pattern joining - Look at that, eat your heart out Patrick and May!

Covered Notion pots. Quick and fun to make out of some 

recycled body cream pots.

A pattern box for those pesky vintage patterns I like but 

can't get to fit...

A pin jar for my machine feet, bobbins and unpicker. 

I added a little crochet flower too.

The final sewing table makeover:

I hope you have been inspired to dust off your sewing machine by The Great British Sewing Bee BBC TV series or maybe by my little table of sewing loveliness.

Thanks Minerva. Love Jo x

Brooch Swap

A little parcel arrived this week...

 Look at my lovely felt brooch from Bee at The Linen Cloud, such teeny tiny stitches. I love it!

It has found a happy home on my brown velvet blazer from my university days but I still love to wear it now with jeans.

Thanks Bee and thanks to all the other swappers for bringing a little Spring into our step.

Jo xx

Spring Swap Friends List

Thanks to all you fun loving followers who have put your name down to join in the Spring brooch swap. Look out for your name listed below and if it is not there, I am a noggin and you need to tell me so I can sort it out!

I did the old fashioned paper in a hat thing and this is what it turned out....

Emma Elliott and Ellie Foster
Swallow barn and Dorothy Griffiths
Penny and Hannapat
Chrissie and Gilly
Deb Hickman and Ladybird Diaries
Clicky needles and Amy 
Mamasmercantile and Not enough time to craft
Jessies Needles and Plain Jane
Rachel Jaques and Robbie Parker
Linen Cloud and Pretty Little things in a box

Get thinking, making and creating with your talented minds and hands and don't forget to get in touch with each other to swap addresses. We will aim to post around the 14th March or sooner if it suits you.

I had an odd number (Duh!I didn't think about that) but I will make two and send one to both Bee at The Linen cloud and one to Angela at Pretty Little things in a box and they can send me one each - is that fair or am I just bagging two??? I don't know how else to do that one.

Happy swapping! Jo x

Roll up, roll up...

OK so if you are in the states you are freezing cold and if you are in the UK you are soaking wet right? So I thought we should all cheer ourselves up with a swap and here's how it works.

The theme of the swap is pins/brooches/embellishments etc, you know the ones, the ones that we wear on our coats, hats or handbags that strangers in the street say 'ooh that's nice, where did you get it?'

If you want to make a brooch pin to swap and receive one yourself enter your name in the comments below and I will pair people up in one weeks time on the 28th February. You can share this post on your blogs too if you like.

To give us lots of time, we will send our creations before or around the 14th March. 

If you are feeling a bit nervous, play to your strengths - it could be felted, sewn, crocheted, knitted, collage, beads, buttons anything you like as long as it cheers us all up and speeds us on into Spring.

Roll up, roll up are you in?
Jo xxx

Happy Post

I was delighted to receive my Christmas decoration swap organised by Marianne at Ladybird Diaries. I genuinely didn't know how touching receiving something made by somebody else's hands actually felt. It was really emotional (not tearful) just inspiring. Somebody made this for me in their own time, with their own hands, in their own home. WOW!

This is my second parcel from a blog friend and I always forget to do that suspense shot of the unopened parcel - I just get straight in  there. But I loved the stamp.

 

So what was there in this awesome present?...

 

 A fabulous Christmas tree garland. It is funny because that is what I sent Rosie at The Old Magnolia Tree as her gift but we did different themes. I absolutely LOVE it.

 

Want a closer peek?

 

 

It is perfect on our kitchen shelves.

 

and compliments our advent calendar.

 

Rosie sent a sweet card with a heartfelt message and a little bundle of lace ribbon too.

 

Finally there was a beautiful intricate doily which I am going to put on my dressing table upstairs.

 

How lucky have I been? I am truly thankful Rosie. Thank you to Marianne for organising a really inspiring swap.

Have a Happy Chrismtas.

Love from Jo X