Spring refurbishment

Last weekend I had a massive clearout of clothes, books and general bric-a-brac. It really felt so good! I also decided that I need to have a spring re-fresh here and started work on that.

My spring re-fresh necessitated some sewing. Regular visitors to this blog will know that I mainly write about knitting and crochet. Over the years I have had a bit of a love-hate relationship with sewing. When I was in primary school, and first learnt to hand sew, I loved it. I loved the order of tiny neat little running stitches, went to a sewing club and made a beanbag frog (sadly he is long gone (along with my childhood!), but trust me, he was gorgeous!).

I then had a long gap where I did not attempt any kind of craft, before picking up knitting again, then learning to crochet, and somewhere in there attempting a little bit of sewing. It was that little bit of sewing in there which caused the hate and frustration! All my cut edges were wonky, my stitches suddenly seemed to look uneven and untidy, the thread would snag and knot so that I had to start over, and frankly it all just seemed to take so long!

However, over the last year or so, with some perseverance I am slowly rediscovering my sewing ability and finally starting to like what I am producing! So, on Sunday, realising I wanted to refresh some of the furnishings and generally perk things up a bit at home with some fresh spring colours, I got sewing!

So, 'enough of this waffle' I hear you cry, 'what did you make?'

Here they are!

 I started slow - just a little cushion cover, using 2 pieces of fabric and a zipper fastening.

Then I moved on to hanging scented hearts - attempted several times over the last few years and responsible for not a little of my previous frustration! I had an epiphany with the construction of these last summer when I bought the book 'All sewn up' by Chloe Owens - I never knew you were supposed to cut notches by the stitches - felt so frustrated that  my little hearts did not go into the correct shape when I turned them right side out. Still, this time I think I have really got the knack!

I've now made 6 of these little cuties in total - I think I am a bit addicted to them! 

So. what's next on the list in my sewing marathon?

2 cushion covers (probably patchworh as I don't think I have single pieces of fabric large enough)

Some little purses of differing sizes

More hearts?

A travel project bag for my crochet at the weekends

A runner for my dressing table

Anything else I can think of before I run out of fabric!

I'm sure I will share the results with you here.

One last thing before I go - I wanted to show you my latest lovely dressing table acquisition - this gorgeous Wedgwood trinket tray

I saw this on eBay - the pattern is 'Angela', for a bargain price. I initially bought this for something to stand candles on, however, when it arrived this morning it looked too gorgeous for that! I think I may have to use it for trinkets and look for something else for the candles!

I so love these delicate little painted illustrations of flowers and butterflies - they are just breathtakingly beautiful!

Until next time.....

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