Crocheted Morris the sensitive panda

Morris the sensitive panda

After buying the book 'Meet me at Mike's' by Pip Lincolne at Jo Flannery's fabric sale I just had to make Morris. He's such a sweet little thing and his expression makes you want to give him a hug to reassure him.
My eldest daughter and my son both want to own him so I'm going to have to make a twin to avoid a fight. Luckily he is quick and fairly simple to make.
There are loads of lovely things to make in Pip Lincolne's book, like the cutest baby knickers, but will have to make another Morris before starting anything else (yeah right).

Daisy Rag Doll

I made Daisy with 2 of my fat-quarters

Last Saturday I went to a fabric sale at The Lane in Bedford. It was run by Jo Flannery of School of Craft. There were loads of quality fabrics available but I was really good and only bought some felt (for cupcake workshop) 4 fat-quarters and a book called Meet Me at Mike's.
With my fat-quarters I wanted to make a rag doll, more of a childhood reminisce than for my baby daughter!  I made her in a few evenings and my middle daughter thinks she looks very posh!
Her hair and shoes are made of felt and I found some lace in my stash to sew to her hem.
I can feel more rag dolls coming on - poor Daisy is lonely!

Harvest Time

2 of my 5-a-day!

These 2 mini pincushions fashioned as an apple and pear took literally minutes to make. I thought they would be much more fiddly but in fact were really easy.  I did machine the sections together first and then finished off with hand sewing.  I think I might get addicted to making them, probably end up with a basket full!

Followers Widget

I've just added a followers widget to my blog in the hope I will get people to follow my blog (whole point of it really?).  Still getting to grips with Blogger but still early days!

Rose Cross-Stitch Mural

My utility room wall

 I used the same pattern as the cross-stitched rose to paint this design on my wall in the utility room. I used sample emulsion paint pots from Homebase, and as they were on offer this didn't cost very much at all.  It really looks very effective and if I'd known how well it would come out I would have been braver and painted it in my front room. 
I have copied the idea from designer Eline Pellinkhof.

I drew a grid on the wall first to make sure the pattern was uniform.

Vintage Teacup Pincushion

Cross-Stitch Pincushion

This is one of my first attempts at cross-stitch from an idea from The Making Spot.  I used 28 count even-weave which is very tiny so I nearly went blind stitching it!  It was worth it though as I think the finished project looks great.  This would make a great gift for someone even if it's used just as an ornament.

Mollie Makes Magazine

An old copy of Golden Hands

My Mollie Makes magazine came today.  I get very excited when it arrives as I love this magazine so much, I have many back issues piled up and when I need to escape I will look through them.  It reminds me of my Mum collecting Golden Hands magazines back in the 70's.  She had lots of unfinished projects on the go, my sister says I'm like her.  Miss you mum xx

Hand-Made Felt Cupcake Workshop

Hand-Made Felt Cupcake Workshop

Learn to make a felt cupcake in a social and fun setting.

All materials are provided and only basic sewing skills are required.

Decide on flavour – chocolate, red velvet, vanilla or carrot cake and decorate with beads, embroidery stitches or crochet flowers and embellishments! Go home with your finished cupcake and pattern

Tuesday 6^th November 2012 7pm

Fancy 35 Roff Ave Bedford MK41 7TH

Workshop Fee: £16

Please bring your own scissors

thesewingmistress@gmail.com
 

 



Felt Cakes

Counter Display at Fancy Coffee and Cake Shop


 

Here are some of the felt cakes I make displayed on the counter at Fancy Coffee shop in Roff Ave Bedford.  Coming soon is a workshop on how to sew a felt cupcake - I'll keep you posted!

Hexagon Patchwork Cushion

Hexagon Patchwork Cushion and Knitted bébé Door-sign

Here's a photo of the rocking chair in LJ's room.  It was a bargain at £30 from Ebay and I love the shabby chic feel of it.  I re-covered the seat pad in Laura Ashley fabric and made the hand-stitched hexagon patchwork cushion cover in neutral colours as I didn't know if I was having a boy or girl.  The knitted bébé door-sign was one of the first baby things I made when I found out I was with-child again. It is from a beautiful book called Simple Knits for Cherished Babies by Erika Knight

Elephant and Mouse

Elephant and Mouse

These toys are from the Molly Makes and Making magazines.  Very cute but very fiddly! Poor mouse has no clothes :-(

Happy Stars Crocheted Garland

Happy Stars Garland

This crocheted garland is from a beautiful book called Cute and Easy Crocheted Baby Clothes by Nicki Trench.  It was quick and easy to make and looks wonderful in LJs room. There are loads of other projects in the book that I'm itching to make.

Union Flag Shirt

Proud to be British!

Continuing on the theme of the summer, this is my husband Mat wearing the shirt I made for him for all his Jubilee gigs in June.  I've used this pattern to make him several shirts, this one, he said, bought him lots of positive comments.  He is always very supportive of my makes and encourages me to be creative, bless him!

Patchwork Union Flags

 This year you can't help seeing union flag designs all over.  The diamond jubilee and the Olympics have given us the excuse to wear red,white and blue to put out the bunting! I wanted to make a union flag and spent ages working out the dimensions to make sure it was as accurate as possible. I used a bundle of red,white and blue vintage feel cotton to make this one for our utility room.

I used the pattern again to make this spotty version for my sons classroom for the Jubilee party they held at his school, and of course the bunting made great decoration too. By the way, is it union flag or union jack?  I don't know for sure but I think when referring to the union jack it's got to be on a ship? Are pirates involved?

Saffrons 'Fancy' Tea-dress

Saffrons 'Fancy' tea-dress

This is Saffron of Fancy coffee shop in the cupcake tea-dress I made for her. We have known each other since we were 16 and met in the Engine and Tender pub in Midland Road lol! She looks really good in the dress, I don't know how she can stay so slim surrounded by all those delicious cakes!

Bunny Cushion for Abigail

Bunny cushion for Abigail

This cushion design was taken from a craft magazine, I thought it was so cute I just wanted to make it but had no idea who for.  My sister-in-law then had her baby girl Abigail and I figured it would be a perfect present for her.  The cushion is pink spot cotton and the bunny is felt appliqued on.

Fun crochet thing

Crochet Pot Cover

After being taught to crochet by my Mum when I was a child, I rediscovered it while pregnant with LJ who was born June '12.  I have def caught the bug and find it very therapeutic.  This pot cover is made from odd wool bits using trebles and chain stitches, with the three flowers for a bit of interest. I did cover the pot first with cotton fabric so the label didn't show through.

The Sewing Mistress Blog

Hello, welcome to my blog - an online diary and photo album about my hobby - making things! I love to sew, crochet, knit, patchwork and quilt, and to buy lots of pretty fabrics and trimmings just for the sake of it and add to my stash! I have a backlog of things I've made I'd like to share with you and I will add new things as I make them.
I hope you enjoy looking through all my makes - and you're inspired by them too!

Sam x