Pamper Your Pooch

Pamper Your Pooch by Rachelle Blondel

Published by Kyle Books

25th September 2014

Hardback Edition

 

 

They say that dog is a man's (and woman's!) best friend - so show your pooch how much you care by making any one of the 30 lovingly handcrafted projects in this book. Divided into four chapters - Eat, Nest, Play, Wear - the ideas are practical as well as cute and include everything, from the Rest A Weary Head Bed, Plaited Fetch Toy and Travelling Dog Bed to the Jaunty Neckerchief and Bow Tie for Boys, and allow you to pamper your pet without spending a fortune. There is even a Bath Day Towel and Muddy Paw Towel, as well as a Dog Coat for the fashionable four-legged friend and recipes for Bitesize Biscuits and the ultimate Doggie Birthday Cake!

 

Yes people, you did read that correctly - Rachelle Blondel, co-writer of Granny Chic with Tif Fussell, has written a second book, and this time it's for dog lovers everywhere!  Pamper Your Pooch is exactly that - 30 ideas to make your dog, and ultimately you, happy.  There are recipes for doggy treats, clothing ideas and toys to make for the four-legged companion in your life (and if you don't have a dog, you can treat your cat too I'm sure)!  There are lots of photos to accompany each project, taken by Kate Whittaker, including Rachelle's own dog Stanley getting in on the action!

 

Stanley modelling his dandy dog coat

 

 

 

My girls loved this book - from the first page they were saying 'oh make this mummy' 'or this' - basically I think they selected the whole book to be recreated for our two dogs here!

 

 

My first task I think though is to bling up our dog leads as they are looking a touch shabby! I think a new crocheted lead will be just the ticket!  Add it to your Christmas list, quick!

 

 

 

 

G x



The Varifocal Challenge

Yes, I, at almost 41 years of age (when did I get that old?!) have had to accept the varifocal challenge! Man, that makes me feel positively ancient - but I have to say, the chap that fitted my new glasses yesterday had varifocals and he was probably only half my age!!!!

Yes, after an appointment last week, when I confessed that I could no longer use my current specs for both tv watching and sewing/knitting/crochet work that the optician suggested the varifocal option! It was either that, or go for reading glasses, and as I didn't think I could really handle having to swop from one pair to the other constantly, I decided that I'd give this a go.

Choosing the blooming things was the hardest part.  No kidding, I think I must have tried on nearly every pair in the shop.  The girl who helped me really liked one particular pair which I wasn't 100% keen on, so we kept trying until I found these ones.  Thankfully everyone else seems to like them too!

I have to say, Specsavers were brilliant at both my appointments, and I have 30 days to change my mind if I don't like my choice.  I was apprehensive about trying the new lenses, more apprehensive than when the optician said I have a freckle on the back of my eye and I have to go to the hospital to have it checked out, and a sleepless night occurred where I worried myself stupid about having made the right choice - daft eh?!

I have to say when I tried them on yesterday I was amazed that I could see! My prescription has been reduced a little but you wouldn't notice.  The only thing I have to remember is where to hold my head to look at things but I wore them all afternoon yesterday, and felt confident enough to use them for driving too and had no problems.  I had a small headache by the end of the day but nothing to worry about. 

It's day 2 today and it felt a little odd putting them on first thing but it's certainly not as a big a worry as I had anticipated it to be.  So are they a keeper....?  We'll see!


G x

My Rag Doll

My Rag Doll by Corinne Crasbercu

Published by David and Charles

14th May 2014

Paperback Edition

 

 



This is the ultimate rag doll sewing book. Learn to sew cute rag dolls and their gorgeous clothes to make the perfect present for little girls. There are 11 adorable dolls to choose from, each with their own charming outfits. Each doll has her own name and personality and will delight children and adults alike. 

 

The step by step sewing instructions are suitable for intermediate to experienced sewists, as well as very enthusiastic beginners! The basic doll pattern can be used to sew all the dolls and then altered according to hair and eye colour and hair style. Includes full-sized templates for the doll, clothes and accessories.

 

The dolls come with a variety of hair colours and styles and their own individual outfits. Choose from Fleur who has pigtails and her own doll sized knitting bag; Jean who likes the outdoors with her red boots and dungarees; and Red who has gorgeous red hair and a fabulous red cloak to match.

 

There is a summer time doll with cute espadrilles and straw bonnet, a ballerina doll with a tutu and tiara, a wedding doll with a beautiful dress and veil and a bedtime dolly with her own nightdress and matching teddy. And don't forget the delightful school girl doll with her own very special school satchel.

 

 

There is no doubting, visually, this is a beautiful book.  I could have included all the photos right here because they are all so gorgeous! I first saw it advertised in Love Sewing magazine and requested a copy from the publishers.  Initially there was a problem in that the book came with the patterns needing to be enlarged by a further 40% but now they are available to download for free online.  How easy it is going to be to actually make the dolls and their beautiful outfits is another question entirely but if they look like the contents of this book, I'd have two very happy girlies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The patterns contain full written instructions, but they aren't accompanied by photographs detailing each stage, which if you are a visual learner, like me, makes it a bit harder, but then I just like to be spoon-fed instructions!  I'm thinking if I started now, I might have a doll made for Christmas?!

 

 

G x

Woodland stitching

Last week was a busy one - the sewing machine worked her socks off for me, and by Friday I was shattered!  It was the little one's birthday, and she has decided that for her new bedroom (that won't be ready til next year!) that her presents should be for her room which is to have a woodland theme!  She didn't want any toys or games or books - and she's only 6!  I got her some clothes but then decided that I'd make some bits for her new bedroom.

I found this bedding in Asda and she was happy with that so at least we had a starting point!

Then I decided to make some cushions for her room.  I searched that wonderful place Pinterest for some inspiration and decided that I would make two cushions - one with toadstools on it, and the other being a fox design. 

She loved them thankfully.  Then came the challenge.  I'd seen a toadstool cushion to go onto an Ikea stool that I thought would be perfect for her room - only prob was that when hubby went to Ikea, they had sold out of the stool I wanted.  We did a bit of searching but couldn't find one that was suitable.  Then, the day before her birthday, hubby had a brainwave - we'd make the stool, the whole kit and caboodle by ourselves! 

He found a stump from the garden, cut and nailed some mdf to it, and then left me to do the rest.  This is the result:

When she was asked in assembly what she had for her birthday, she replied 'a toadstool'.  I don't know if anyone believed her though!

Then it was just a case of making 32 toadstool cupcakes for her class to eat on her birthday - easy peasy really!

By Thursday I was ready for a rest, only I had to make 5 tutus for the now 6 year olds' ballet class as they were performing in a parade on Saturday as ballerina fairies.  Four metres of stitching netting is a little trying but thankfully all were finished and the girls looked fabulous on the day.

I'm off for a lie-down!


G x

The tale of Burda 7798

Thank you for all of your lovely comments re my sewing doubt.  The very next day I decided to just 'go for it' and start sewing whatever happened.  I did make one change though, and decided not to start with the dress, but to do the sleeveless top first - I don't get on very well with sewing sleeves!  I chose a different fabric that I had brought with top sewing in mind, and began!

Advice had been to cut a size larger than I am as the pattern comes up small, so I went to a 14 instead of a 12.  The instructions were self explanatory and I didn't have any problems until I came to sew the bias on the neckline, and after a number of efforts, realised I'd used the armhole piece instead and that's why it didn't fit properly!!!!!

As usual, the zip and I fell out big style.  I need to learn to sew a zip properly.  I make it up, I do it wrong.  I get it in, in the end, but it takes hours and hours!!!!!!

So here it is, ta-dah!  It does fit, but the neckline isn't as close fitting as I had hoped it would be.  I don't know if this is the style of the top, because I went up a size, or did something wrong.  Not sure how to rectify it at the mo.

I did wear it on Sunday though and it was fine.  So I'm pleased.  Just took me a long time to complete!  I'm not sure I'm going to tackle the dress until I can sort the neckline out though, so bear with me on that one!

I did make a cake to go with the top-wearing though.  I used Lisa Faulkner's chocolate cake recipe and then finished it off with kit kats and m&ms.  There is still half left if anyone wants some?!

My tiny owl knits cowl is on the backburner for a while as a friend has asked me to commission a blanket for her new baby daughter.  We looked at flowers initially but I couldn't work out how to get them to join for a blanket, so we are going for tiny squares, and dots as she is a Dottie!  I'm using Stylecraft wool which I've not used before, but know that Lucy for Attic 24 recommends it, and I have to say, I'm impressed.  I also ordered it from Wool Warehouse and it came in a lovely drawstring bag to keep it all in!

Today is the first day of Autumn - can't wait to get the woolly tights out!


G x

ABC Crochet

ABC Crochet - an alphabet of Amigurumi animals by Mitsuki Hoshi

Published by Harper Collins 360

31st July 2014

Hardback Edition

 

 

 

Now, I've not attempted any Amigurumi, yet, but I think this new book by Mitsuki Hoshi might be the one that starts me on my journey.  It's an alphabet of animals from an Alligator through to a Yak.  There is no Z for Zebra, but Z is for Zoo instead!  I did think there would be patterns in the book for every animal, but no, that is not the way Amigurumi works.  Most of the animals are made from the same pattern, so you don't need to include twenty six versions of the same thing!

 

 

The book contains some basic instructions for learning the basics of Amigurumi, and of how to read the description so you know what you're doing -very important! Then it shows you the patterns in pictoral form and then shows you, step by step, with photos how to make each part.  I don't think it could be much clearer than that!

 

 

The book gives a complete break-down for completing the bear, right through to the assembly part.  It then shows you how to do some of the other animals, though in a more concise way - a seal, a rabbit, a koala, a lion, a chicken, a duck, a hamster, an otter and a panda.  Once you've mastered these, you should be able to do the whole book!

 

 

Happy hooking!

 

G x



 



Confidence blip

Argh! is how I'm feeling right now.  I've bought a new pattern, infact my first ever paper pattern I should add, as all of my others are from books.  I bought it because the gorgeous Hettie Brown made this dress just last week and I fell in love with the dress so ordered it for myself to make.

Photo from The Woven Nest

The pattern has been delivered.  I have fabric to make the pattern. I still need the zip but that is neither here nor there.  I started tracing out the pattern this morning but have just run out of tracing paper.  I need more to continue but even as I trace, my head believes that I cannot make this dress, for it is too difficult for me.  I have little sewing confidence, I doubt myself at the best of times.  I have not rushed out to buy more paper and a zip.  I do not know if this dress will be made.  Of this, I feel a little sad.

On a more positive note, for fear of depressing all and sundry, we spent the weekend oop-north as hubby was entered into the Great North Run.  Saturday was spent wandering around Durham and Sunday was 'Race Day'.

 I love the name of this shop

A huge vintage clothes shop that would make even Dawn O'Porter squeal

Unfortunately we did not get to see hubby running his race on Sunday, or anyone else for that matter, as by the time we had dropped him off in Newcastle town centre then navigated our way (2 girlies and 2 dogs) around a very poorly signed diversion to South Shields, we couldn't get to the finishing line to see him cross over, so we waited at the family reunion area, under the flag of 'T' as pre-arranged to congratulate him on his success.  He came in 10,283rd place in 1:57:33 which he is very pleased with.  I'm glad he did it and am very proud of him.

I'm also getting on with my Tiny Owl Knits cowl.  It feels like I have done loads but in fact am probably only a third of the way through!  There are lots of ends to sew in but I am mastering the circular needles which had taunted me from on high for so long.  I am no longer afraid!

 

When we arrived back, oh so late, yesterday, I found my copy of the latest Pretty Nostalgic magazine on the doorstep.  My article on 'taking tea with Agatha Christie' is inside.  This made me grin from ear to ear!  I've also been sent a review copy of the new Poirot book by Sophie Hannah - it arrived on Friday and I did stop breathing as I opened it!  So far, it's very good!  You'll have to check out my other blog to find out what I think in the end though!

Right, I'm away to ... well  I don't know what to do... the non-sewing sewing has left me feeling a bit empty.

G x

At Home with Modern June

At Home with Modern June: 27 Sewing Projects for your Handmade Lifestyle by Kelly McCants

Published by Stash Books

10th March 2014

Paperback Edition

 

 



Whether you're moving into a new home, launching a home makeover, or just sprucing up a room, this book, At Home With Modern June, by Kelly McCants provides plenty of ideas on how to infuse individuality into every room in the house. The 27 budget-friendly projects have a retro style and use materials such as oilcloth, laminated cotton, and chalk cloth in addition to quilter's cotton. Easy-to-follow instructions and helpful photographs guide you to success. You'll make drapes, bed skirts, floor mats, and much more. All that's required is a bit of ingenuity, a little time, and some basic skills.

 

This book reminded me, in a way of those by Cherry Menlove.  Kelly McCants is an American author who started out blogging, and now has an online store plus two books to her name.  She's a bit of an oilcloth addict, and this is reflected in her first book Sewing with Oilcloth, this new publication focuses more on fabrics.

 

 

 

At Home with Modern June is divided into

Kitchen and Dining Room

Bed and Bath

Closet and Pantry

Living Rooms - inside and out

and there are 27 projects to be completed, ranging from repurposed bunting, an embellished café curtain, bar stool makeover, makeup tray, and a sewing machine cover.  The concept also isn't 'modern' but much more 50s retro which is preferable to what you may think 'modern' entails! Is there anything in here that I haven't seen before?  Probably not, but then most books spin off the same ideas; there are only so many original thoughts one can have.  Though I particularly liked the chalkcloth place mat which I haven't seen before!

 

Photo courtesy of Modern June website

 

Bar Stool Makeover

 

Grr's Chicken Scratch Apron

 

 

Shower Curtain

 

 

 

It's a bright, cheery publication, with lots of illustrations and clear instructions.  If you haven't checked out the blog yet, you can find it here.

 

 

G x

 

Taking a trip in Enid

Yes, Enid got a dusting off and a pulling-away last week as we ventured off on our summer holiday.  We decided that Wales was our destination this year, and we did have a lovely time - apart from being stuck in the middle of hurricane Bertha arriving not long after we did! However, it didn't dampen our spirits and we got out and about as much as possible seeing the coastline of Aberystwyth, Borth and Barmouth.

We managed about 2 minutes on the beach at Barmouth before the wind decided to fill out bags and clothes with sand and we left! Rapidly!

No filter - it really was this blue!
 

Girlies loved roaming the campsite and being allowed down the track to the playground where they made lots of friends, and just 'hung out' with them.  It was nice to be able to let them go and relax knowing they were safe too.  We also had some 'life changing' moments for the girls too, as the now 8 year old had her ears pierced as a total surprise (we had told her she had to wait until she was 10) and the almost 6 year old lost her first tooth!  Thankfully the tooth fairy found the caravan and all was well!

While in Borth, I found a fab shop selling vintage and retro items - at reasonable prices!  I know, I was shocked too and went back 3 times in all!  I managed to get some old Country Living magazines for 25p each, and a brilliant crock-pot and cup too.  If you are ever in the area, do drop in, they have some great treasures!

I was very tempted by this coffee pot set



I got one of these fab orange print cups and the crock-pot on the bottom left shelf

I managed to read my way through 3 books in the 10 days we were away, which was quite good going.  It turned out to be a blessing because I came home to this pile of post - honestly, we were only away for 10 days I tell you!  My review pile is now into triple figures.  I need more days in the week!

The girlies have now gone away with my outlaws for a few nights in their campervan, and then its off to my parents for a few nights, and to go and visit London again with them.  They went last year and loved it so much they want to do it this year too!

I have plans to do so much while they are away.  It's day 2 already and the sewing machine hasn't seen the light of day yet.  I plan to make loads but I bet it doesn't pan out that way.  This afternoon though I'm continuing with the nearly 6 year olds poncho in the hope that I can get it completed asap.  Then I plan to get the machine out!

This gorgeous book arrived today for review but I'm not allowed to show you any more until 1st September so you'll just have to wait to see what's inside!  I am a lucky girl!

I also ordered this which comes out in October.  Hoping for lots of original content and to not be disappointed.  I hate ordering crafty books without a proper look inside first as so often I get them and then don't want to do anything that's inside.  Is it just me?!

I've also got my #grannyhottie to finish from foxs lane as the final step went live today.  Strange as it seemed initially to be making this in August, we actually lit the log-burner last night as it was really cold.  Today hasn't been much warmer, and oh so wet.  It's looking and feeling a little autumnal out there - but I don't mind as I'm an Autumn baby and it's my favourite season by a mile!

G x