Wonky log cabin blocks and a concertina notebook

On a day when the News is full of doom 'n' gloom - crumbling concrete roofs making schools unsafe, the situation in Ukraine, attacks on retail workers rising, Asian Hornets being found in the UK and the dire thread they pose to our bees - it was good to lose myself in crafty pursuits. When the world feels like it's going to Hell in a handcart there's a lot to be said for immersing yourself in sewing or drawing, knitting, embroidering or whatever your favoured craft is. This morning I made further wonky log cabin blocks, getting a little production line going, cutting out strips of material, attaching them, pressing them flat, pinning more strips on.

Before I got started on the blocks though, I made a quick concertina notebook, complete with covers made of upcycled Amazon cardboard packaging and covered with Gelli prints.

The pinkish-red is the back cover, the blue one is the front, and the pretty ribbon is courtesy of a charity shop.

I think I'll make some of these as Christmas presents. They're so easy to do, and handy for jotting down notes or even sticking little photos or keepsakes inside. I am particularly pleased with that blue Gelli print too. I love the abstract circles and ovals from the stencil used, as well as the bubble wrap.

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Sari scraps, PVA, a couple of books and a necklace

I'm typing this as snow's falling, and has been steadily all day. It's not settling to any great extent, though I bet by tomorrow morning the paths will be slippery with ice. Which always makes me paranoid about falling over and at the very least looking undignified, but at worst breaking a bone or twisting an ankle. Oh well, it's ideal weather to stay inside and craft, isn't it? I finally got around to listing packs of sari scraps on Etsy this morning. I only made up six bundles as I've no clue whether they'll sell or if I've set a reasonable enough price point. Time will tell. This is a link to the listing, if you're interested. This vaguely pink fabric isn't from one of my Etsy packs. It's from a bit of experimenting I was doing yesterday. I'd seen a post on Instagram showing how a DIY version of batik could be done without using hot wax. The Instagrammer used PVA instead, and I wanted to try this out....

In praise of wool

Just a quick post today. I'm offering you a short but peaceful break from the overwhelmingness (is that a word?) of Christmas. By now you've probably eaten your bodyweight in sweets//roast potatoes/pigs in blankets/cake/After Eights ... whatever your festive indulgences are. You're under-exericsed, over-stimulated, feeling broke and possibly guilty about an argument with a relative or friend you've never entirely got on with. So, here's something to take your mind off all that. I've two videos to refresh and revive, and they both concern wool. Interesting fact. Well, I found it interesting. About 1% - yup, one per cent - of the world's textiles are made of wool. Out of curiosity, I also googled how much is made of cotton. That's higher, but it's only about 24% and that's heading downward instead of up. Synthetic fibres are the bulk of all textile manufacture. Anyway, back to woolly wonders. My firs...

HOW TO MAKE: these decorative birds

I suggested yesterday that I'd run through how to make a fabric bird wall or window hanging (can't think of a snappier title for it than that!) so here goes. I'll start with the first decorative hanging I made. It's something you could make in any colour combination you want, and would look good hanging at a window with translucent beads that'd catch the light I used five birds for this, but you could make it longer if you prefer. (Incidentally, if you're wondering about what's hanging off the bottom on this, it's a metal Christmas decoration, shaped like a lantern. For some reason I thought it looked appropriate to leave it there, looped over the end.) WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO GATHER TOGETHER: Assorted scraps of fabric for the front of the birds - aim for a mix of colours and textures. Silk looks good, as does anything with embroidery or intricate patterns. You might aim for a hippy-ish boho look, or maybe you're ...

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