Workroom reloaded

In July I took part, albeit on the periphery, in 'Where bloggers create'. An opportunity to have a nose around other people's crafty spaces. I shared mine, which more or less, was a corner of our living room, but I did say that I was going to be moving everything back into my workroom and organise it properly.

Well, I have, more or less, finished. I'd still like some more shelves, or a cabinet, but most things have found a permanent home.

This table is meant to be for my paper cutter and to hold completed things before they are photographed and then put away. It's also managed to become a general dumping ground!

Wallpaper stored in polka dot swap bag by George.

This next set of pictures are of my 'supplies', ribbon, twine, lace, cards, samples, vintage linen etc etc

Completed items' storage - not very glamorous, they would look much better in vintage suitcases etc. 

The computer and printer corner

 My main work area. The bookcases hold, as well as books, my vintage items for sale, completed things (in the boxes on the top) and bits'n'bobs. I usually start the day with a tidier table than this!

I am using the window area as a display for my collages at present. I bought the dress for its fabric and lace, but it looks rather nice hung up there until I get round to cutting it up, don't you think?

My sewing table (again in need of a tidy!), button jars and the fabric stash.

I am going to be moving an armchair into here soon, so that I have somewhere comfy to sit when I'm hand sewing or doing a spot of embroidery.

TTFN

Louise

It can't be the middle of September already!

It has been nearly a month since I last posted, but I could have sworn it was only last week! Where is the time going? 

I finished work two years ago, (yes Louise, it really is two years) which means it'll soon be the second birthday for Elsie May and Bertha. To celebrate, I'm having a new logo, and there may even be a little giveaway, but that's for another day.

A lot has changed, I only know what day of the week it is because we have a routine. I don't have to hop out of bed in the morning, wolf down some breakfast and get a bus to Liverpool. If my chronic fatigue is bad I can take the 'day off', or just do as much as I am able, rather than the 'all or nothing' of going to an office everyday. The household income has dropped considerably and it can be touch and go, but in the main the pluses out way the minuses.

My days are spent making things, coming up with the ideas for more things, keeping in touch with a load of new friends via Facebook, Twitter and the wonderful world of blogging. I 'know' so many more people now. I may not have met them face to face, but I can spend my time looking at what they have been up to, where they have been, give sympathy or congratulations when needed and share my making life with them.

Anyway, as my Mother would say, "this isn't getting the baby washed" and as it is half way through September, Christmas (I know!) making is calling. Card anyone?

TTFN
Louise

PS The Elsie May and Bertha newsletter for Sept/Oct 2012 is now available to read on the website.

Shop swap

This is about the second swap I mentioned last time.

This second one was to be organised by Keri from Two Little flowers. Unfortunately, I was the only one who was free to take her up on it, so we swapped with each other. The idea was to swap something that we made and sold in our shops, hence 'Shop Swap'.

When Keri had looked at my website she'd said that she liked my knitted things as she doesn't knit herself, so this made my swap easy, I could send her a washcloth and a set of cleansing cloths, in a little bag. I included a a bookmark and one of my little cards as well.

Keri makes some beautiful children's clothes, but as I don't have any children I wondered what I would receive in return. This is what came:

Keri sent one of her tea towels (she sells these, along with some toys, for children to colour in, a great idea), one of her lovely tags, a bird appliqué and some of her own printed robot fabric.

I'm thinking about what I can make with both the tea towel (it's too good to dry dishes) as well as the fabric. I'll post some pictures once I have made something.

TTFN

Louise

Polka dot swap

As I enjoyed the pincushion swap so much I entered a couple more. This post is about the first one, with the theme of polka dots.

This one was run by the Popular Crafts magazine. The magazine is published every two months and they host a swap for each edition. The rules are that you make something for your swap partner with the theme, polka dots in this case, and you enclose a little present, not more than £3 in value. Though the rules say just one little present, I have found that most swappers add a little more to their swap packages. Swapping gives you delights twice, you have the fun of making something and putting a package together and then you receive one for yourself that's full of loveliness!

Anyway back to the polka dots. My partner was named George, she works at Waterstones, which, as it turned out, was of great benefit to me, but that's later. 

Ideally, you're supposed to use items in your stash to make your items, but, although I have some polka dot material, they're quite dull colours. So I cheated a bit and popped to Calico Laine and bought some light blue polycotton with white dots.

I made George a brooch cushion (with a china brooch attached) and a lavender sachet in the polka dot fabrics. Her little present was a set of crossgrain ribbons, plus one of my brooches and a little card.

George made me a tote bag (her first bag, exceedingly well made) with the polka dot element being the bag lining. The bag has my name embroidered onto it and is also decorated with buttons, sequins and felt butterflies. My little extras were some felt birds, mini luggage labels, a tin full of map postcards and (this is where George working for a book shop helped, she gets free books!) a copy of 'All Sewn Up' by Chloe Owens. I'd seen items out of this book in Mollie Makes and it was on my, 'I must have one of those' book list so I was thrilled when I saw it. The whole parcel was wrapped in lining paper decorated with various stamped motifs, so it was a joy from start to finish.

Wasn't I a luck girl? 

I'll tell you about my other swap next time.

TTFN
Louise.