rubykittyruby

Spring days start early.  The sun rises and the dawn chorus breaks into song, and I unearth myself from underneath the duvet.  My Sunday's been productive so far, and I'm typing this at about a quarter to eight in the morning.  Laundry's already washed and pegged out on the line, and I'm already washed and full of porridge.  I thought I'd begin with a round-up of what crafty things I've been up to.  First of all, this piece of slow stitching.  I'd a grand idea about making a frame for it, covering sturdy cardboard with papier mache and white paint, then gluing on sea shells.  Only I've had a change of heart.  I've got so many works-in-progress that I need to get things finished before they get totally out of hand.  So I added a backing fabric to this stitched piece, and used embroidery thread to blanket stitch around the edges.  All it needs now is a couple of loops sewn on to hang it by.  Plus, maybe a few weighty beads added to th...

  Signs of spring on its way are everywhere you look.  Sadly these pretty hellebores aren't in my garden, but I saw them in a community flower bed, along with these primroses.   I think we're in for an early Easter this year, what with Lent starting next Wednesday.  I've been thinking about 'giving something up' which is what you traditionally do during Lent.  Abstain from something you enjoy.  I used to give up chocolate, but never managed more than a few days.  So instead I'm thinking of actively doing something instead.  So far my ideas include listening to a piece of classical music each day (as I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to classical stuff).  I've got Clemency Burton-Hill's 'Year of Wonder' book, where she picks out a piece of music each day and tells you a bit about the composer or other background to the piece.  I can base my listening on her selection.  I've set myself a New Year's Resolution in previous years to...

If you've seen recent posts you might've noticed that I've been making scrappy squares, not with any particular purpose in mind.  Just had the urge to make 'em and knew I'd find a use.  Well, I have.  I've assembled them into a rather crazy looking bag.  The shape's based on that of a traditional Japanese rice bag, made of five outer squares and the corresponding number of inner ones.  I've lined the bag with a lovely Rose & Hubble cotton bought at the Harrogate Kntting & Stitching Show, quite a while ago.   The loops were made with felted wool from the Bazaar scrap pack.  I'd been wondering what to do with them, and this seemed as good a use as any.   I've yet to find a suitable ribbon or cord for the closure, but I'm thinking of making fabric twine.  Cutting a couple of lengths of material, then twisting them together,  Possibly added a couple of chunky beads to the ends of the twine.  I'll experiment, and see ho...

  I made a Japanese style rice bag the other day, and thought I'd have a go at another.  This one's larger, a good size for storage or it could even have a long strap attached and get used as a beach bag or similar.  Initially I used a ribbon for the closure, but swapped it for a length of cord, as you'll see from later photos.  The fancy ribbon came from a stack of four posh soaps I'd been given as a present.  I'd tucked the ribbon away, knowing it'd come in handy sooner or later. The fabrics chosen were mainly pink on the outside, and more varied on the inside.  After finishing that bag, I impulsively decided to make another!  I'd some pieced-together stripey fabrics lying around, made a few weeks ago without any real idea of how I'd use them, so I incorporated them into the third bag.  I backed the stripes with interfacing, then trimmed them to the size I wanted.  7 inches square, if I remember rightly.  More fabric was chosen for the...

Here's the allotment.  Not providing much in the way of food at the moment, but oh boy!  Isn't it pretty?   Yup, no doubt about it.  Prettiness everywhere you look. Back at home, my sewing machine's playing up.  I changed the needle which improved things, but the tension's not right and I've tried different makes of thread and that helped a little.  I think the machine needs servicing, so will find out where I can get it done locally.   While it was grudgingly behaving itself, my stroppy machine obliged by sewing the seams of this little bag.  It's based on the Japanese rice bags that I've seen being made in YouTube videos, and was an easy make.   Five squares of fabric for the outer, five for the inner, small rectangles for the loops, cord and beads for the tie.   I used cotton material, without interfacing, so the bag's quite floppy.   A denim version would look rather handsome, don't you think? ...