Another Cath Kidston Bag

Here is my latest finish, a bag that came with Cath Kidson's Book "Sew". I got this book a couple of Christmases ago so that is another item crossed off my to do list. The dog template, along with many others, is included in the book and I made it in felt and attached a silver heart charm to the collar. CK has a new book coming out on 1st October, "Stitch" containing cross stitch and needlework patterns together with a kit to make a cross stitch purse. I have already added that to my Amazon wish list.

I made this large tote bag with some Airedale Terrier fabric I bought on ebay. I put a few pockets in the lining so it carries a lot which is useful to me as I always seem to carry half my house around with me! I cut out some of the dog heads and appliqued them onto a t-shirt and on to the bandana Sid is modelling below. He entered the honorary Airdale class at our dog club but when I took this picture yesterday he just wanted me to leave him alone so he could get back to sleep. Sid certainly loves his sleep.

Here are some cross stitch cards I have made in the last few months. The last one, the Tottenham Hotspur football club badge is for my brother-in-law's birthday which is today. I hope he likes it.

Cath Kidston Bag and other sewing

I have had my sewing machine out this week to make this Cath Kidston bag. The kit came with her book, Sew, which I got for Christmas so thought it was time I got on with it. It did not include lining but I didn't fancy a bag without one so used a pale blue cotton blend.

I also made up my Jan Constantine stitching into a cushion:-

As the plastic cover that came with my sewing machine was torn and shabby I ran up this cover from a remnant of pink gingham that was given to me. I made the felt flower brooch a while ago and have pinned it to the front so I know which way round the cover goes.

I am still working on my de-stashing project, 'Country Lane' by Heritage which is coming along slowly but surely:-

The weather was glorious over the weekend so we finally unpacked this remote controlled metal detector car that I bought John for Christmas a few years ago. We didn't find any hidden treasure but "the boys" enjoyed barking at it, chasing it and trying to pick it up.

Archie Barker

Many of my craft projects are inspired by my dogs. This is my favourite photograph of Archie and I have used it to make a scrapbook page. Yes, he is a boy but lilac is one of my favourite colours and I just loved these flowers and the scrap of lace so had to use them.

To decorate a t-shirt I also printed the same photo on to transfer paper, ironed it onto white cotton and used fabric scraps, paw print rubber stamp and embellishments to decorate. The tiny picture of the Airedales I found online and printed it straight onto a scrap of fabric. I attached the whole panel to my t-shirt with velcro so that I can take it off for laundering. I have worn it a few times to doggy events and many people have asked me where it came from.

On the cross stitch front I have just started this circles design from Heritage. As it was bought for me for my birthday about 15 years ago and I am making 2010 my destashing year, I thought I should make a start!

Island Retreat

Here is my latest finish, Island Retreat (top). It is the companion piece to Greek Island I worked a while ago. Both designs are by Heritage but have now been discontinued. I bought the first in a sale at my local craft shop and managed to track the other down on ebay.

We are in the middle of a heatwave here so don't have to retreat to any other island. "The boys" have been enjoying the sun and playing with their toys. Well, Sid and Higgins have been playing with their toys while the Aredales tend to sit and watch.

Felt Dogs and Finishes

When I saw the pattern for Stanley in an old Cath Kidston catalogue I just had to make one for my collection of doggy memorabilia. I was so pleased with him that I made another for the raffle at our dog club. I changed him a little to make him more like an Airdale Terrier as I think Stanley is a Lakeland which looks the same but smaller. The pattern was available free to download on CK's website the last time I looked if anyone is interested in making their own.

I have also finished my Jan Constantine Love Britannia design this week and will probably make it up into a cushion. We saw a range of her cushions in a department store yesterday and this design was 75 GB pounds! so I have saved quite a lot of money by doing-it-myself.

Here are two more finishes. The first is Stitcher's Showcase 2010 Stitch Along, Bouquet for Cheryl which I stitched in Caron Wildflowers 'Night Sky' variegated thread on blue linen and Stitcher's Showcase Spring Exchange, 'Spring Daffodils' which is now with its new owner in the U.S.

Lavender Sachets

I have already shown quite a few of my lavender sachets here as I have them all over my house - hanging from door handles and shelves and tucked into cupboards. Here are a few more:-

The Scotties and Westies design is by Textile Heritage, a Scottish company who have some fabulous traditional cross stitch kits for sale, as well as more modern designs in the last few years.

The second heart I made using a scrap of vintage fabric and lace and the third by sewing the sides of a vintage doily, filling with wadding and lavender flowers and adding a ribbon hanger and ribbon roses.

I usually buy locally grown (Norfolk) lavender to fill my sachets but this year I planted my own in two stone planters I have outside my back door. Since I took this photograph in April they have grown quite a lot so hopefully I will soon have my own supply of lavender flowers to use.

More Doggy Projects

Heres another crop of dog-themed makes, I never realised I had so many! I made the scrapbook page for an on-line challenge. I had to stick to a sketch which wasn't my normal style but I was pleased with the different result and got another page for my dogs album.

I have already shown my Pirate Dog scrapbook page and here is the costume from it that I made for Wilberforce. He wore it for the fancy dress competition at a doggy fun day we attended. You can't see it in the photograph but he is also wearing the pirate bandana below which I knitted from a book called Knits for Dogs and Cats.

Below is a doggy bookmark I made for myself using my Airedale and other dog rubber stamps and stickers. The fibres have tiny dog charms added to them. Next a selection of items made for our Airdale Terrier Club to raise funds for The East Anglia Air Ambulance and Wood Green Animals Shelters. I designed the Airedale in Christmas hat cross stitch chart to make the cards.

Finally, I made this dog with bone card yesterday with a template from Papercraft Inspirations magazine. They have lots of templates and papers to download free of charge on their website and are worth checking out.

Dog-themed Projects

As I am so crazy about dogs much of my craft work incorporates them and here is just a small selection of my projects. The cross stitch terrier chart was in a back issue of The World of Cross Stitching magazine and reminded me of Archie, which meant I had to stitch it.

Also a selection of dog-themed cards including two incorporating photographs of Sidney (looking through garden fence) and Wilberforce, which includes a cross stitch bone.

Budgerigars

I have neglected my blog recently as I have been in hospital for an operation but am now starting to feel better and have picked up my needle again after a two week break. I was definitely getting withdrawal symptoms! I even managed to finish my Jan Constantine design last night but haven't photographed it yet.

I am still trying to photograph and record all my previous work and here are two budgerigars designs. I went through a phase of budgerigar stitching a while back when we used to have a small aviary in the dining room of our old house. I still love the designs and budgerigars, they are such cute, colourful birds, with lots of personality.

The budgerigars in a row design is from a booklet by Cross My Heart and the two budgies are from a special issue (Pets) of New Stitches magazine.

Sewing Accessories

These are my latest makes. Well, I actually did the cross stitch ages ago but only got around to making them up this week. The design is called Berlin Rose and was published in a back issue of The World of Cross Stitching.

Simply Sid

This is a scrapbook page dedicated to Sidney, one of our resuce dogs. He is a Labrador/Great Dane X and pretty big but that means there is even more to cuddle. He had been badly treated before we adopted him and distrusted people but with love and patience he is now a great big, lovable softie we can do anything with. The back of the photo tags tells his story. This is the first time I have tried machine stitching on a page and I also made him the two bandanas he is sporting in the photographs.

Ain't Nodoby here......

.......but us chickens! When I first received this Anchor kit I wasn't sure if I liked it because it was so different from my usual style. But, as I started working on it and the chickens came to life, it really grew on me. I do like the bright colours and it is a perfect match for my terracotta and blue dining room, which is where it now hangs.

The people we bought our house from used to keep chickens and sell the eggs and although the idea appeals to me, with four crazy dogs who chase anything that moves, it would probably be a recipe for disaster!

Jan Constantine Designs

I am a big fan of Jan Constantine's soft furnishings so was pleased when she launched her range of embroidery kits. My work in progress is in the current issue of Cross Stitcher. A previous design of hers I made (a union jack cushion) already won me first prize in a sewing competition and has now won me another prize in the current issue of Cross Stitcher magazine. Here is the design and also the prize - an Oriental lady kit, oriental papers, card making kit and DMC threads.