Guitar Playing Bear

So today is a fun make, there is nothing serious about this at all!

Its a bear playing guitar, I'll just give you a minute to bask in the glory of that.

The pattern came from issue 25 of love sewing magazine, The pattern is actually for a panda but I didnt have any white or black felt so I just turned mine into a teddy bear and so it didn't become bland I made it a jazzy coloured guitar.

I omitted the flower headband because mine is a lil boy bear , and instead just gave him a axle rose style bandanna. I did give him the beads though, which was nice because I have a huge tub of beads that I hardly ever use! 

I especially like the strings detail, Although I miss-counted and only did five strings not six! So its not an entirely accurate guitar.

I think its really cute and it was a perfect sew for looking after a poorly boy on the sofa, not majorly poorly just tired and grumpy, we watched films and I sewed up this little fella. Who I'm naming.........

KEITH! After my brother in law, who plays guitar and has a certain teddybearness about him.

He has a tail which I completely forgot to photograph. and I added a tummy patch which the pattern doesn't call for. Stitching wise I did the whole thing by hand using a small running stitch. I also didn't use much stuffing although it takes more felt than you'd think!

All in all , its cute so WINNER! 

Much Love

Frankie 

xxx

Pin Cushion Owl

The only reason I started to make this is because I didn't have any hand stitching projects on the go and I needed something mindless to do. The pattern is from love patchwork and quilting magazine [I can't find a picture or a link sorry!] and is meant to be made in woven fabric. But I chose to make it in felt so that I could sit and relax in the sofa whilst doing it.

It sat half finished for ages because I wasn't in love with it, I knew it wasn't going to be a stuffed toy and then I had the brilliant idea of sticking pins in it! Which it works pretty darn well for if I do say so myself! Arnold as he is now known sits next to my machine whilst I'm sewing and is always ready for me to shove pins into his soft lil head! And the pocket at the front is perfect for putting my unpicker and snips in.  

I strayed from the instructions and just made it up as I saw fit, I also filled it with stuffing and then put a bag of rice in the bottom to make him nice and heavy. I did think at one point he might make a cute doorstop but this idea is better and it gets more use this way, he collects all my stray pins and sits neatly on my sewing case when I tidy everything up.

All in all I'd say its an okayish finish, I like that I've found a use for him and its nice to have something cute next to my machine. And I think I might make a few of them using woven fabric as well, especially since I already have the pattern traced and ready to go. 

much love 

Frankie

Too Late . . .

Do you ever make some thing and just wish you had finished it a little tiny bit sooner? I knitted this owl ages ago and only finished it yesterday, four days to late. When I picked out the colours I didn't think it would look like this in the end, I'm really glad he does but if I'd have known I'd have worked faster, Much faster.

 

Without further ado I'd like the introduce you to..... "Mr I would have been perfect for a 4th of July post, owl"

 

 

Here he is Mr Red White and Blue!

 

 

Isn't he sweet? He's going to be up in my Etsy shop very soon! If you haven't been over for a visit in my Etsy shop please do pop over and take a peek (you can find a link on the right hand side of this page). there's lots of lovely handmade completely unique owls in there, all looking for new homes!

 

 

I sign all my owls with my initials, I think it gives them a personal touch. Reminds people that this object was made by an actual human person not just a machine! (Although sometimes I do feel like a machine, not the cool Terminator kind. More the plodding along Wall-E kind)

 

 

I had to add a bow tie to make him look festive!

 

 

And multi coloured pompoms!

 

And as its WIP (Work in Progress) Wednesday, I better tell you what else is being stitched together in my house at the moment.

• I'm finishing off another owl this one is larger much like my black, white and red one.
• I've started a dress in a really nice linen, I'm using a old pattern I worked with a few times and that I love (more on that later) so I can take part in the OWOP (One Week One Pattern) That Handmade Jane is hosting! I'm so excited!
• But right this second, my work in progress is my scatter cushions, lovely future mother in law was getting rid of some dark brown fabric, so I'm using it to cover 8 cushions! I know right 8 but trust me they all need doing my old cover were so grotty!

What have you been up to this week?

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Woo's A Pretty Owl Then?

This owl was slow going, probably because I've been doing a little bit of everything at the moment! But its finally finished! I love making owls , I have so much fun deciding on their little personalities and was accessories they should have.

I feel like I should call this owl "Molly Ringwald" Because it reminds me of the movie Pretty in Pink! If you haven't seen Pretty in Pink buy it and watch it immediately! this is the film my mum showed me when I realised I didn't dress the same as the other kids.

 

 

Here she is! I decided to do block stripes this time in a nice set of pastels, and then used pops of colour as accents.

 

 

So in love with her lil dinky feet/flippers?

 

 

She is filled with toy stuffing and rice to add weight!

 

 

Don't you just love the bow! Couldn't resist a girly touch!

 

 

This little lady with be winging her way over to Esty shortly (depending on how long Little Knitwit decided to nap for!)

 

Other than trying to get this finished lots has been going on! Little Knitwit has been testing how much he can get away with and testing mummy with it!

 

I've been trying to find a time to shoot my vintage inspired pyjama set , which I still haven't worn in an effort to keep it nice! I did however recommend the elastic I used to a lady at Tesco and managed to slip in that I'd made my own jimmies', she was less than impressed, but how can you expect someone who made their own wedding dress to be impressed by pjs! I know a wedding dress! Amazing!

 

And this week I also had the opportunity to go to my very good friends 21st birthday! And I used my up cycled moustache bag! Hopefully pictures of what I wore it with will be up soon!

 

How you've had a good weekend!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

 

   

And loses herself in her dreaming and sleep
And her lovers walk through in their coaches

Pretty in pink, isn't she?
Pretty in pink, isn't she?

Once Upon A Time...

There's nothing I like better than burying myself in a good book. When the new Harry Potters came out I sat myself on the sofa and didn't move until I was finished. The first time I read The Great Gatsby I read into the wee hours just to see what happened to Gatsby. When there was the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon I brought all three books one day and had finished all of them the next, I was disappointed but I finished them.

 

But recently I've been stuck in a bit of a book rut, mainly because pretty much my entire collection of books is currently living in our loft until we can find space, (Mr.Knitwit does not read and therefore does not think that space is necessary, he is wrong, very wrong) I've been reading the same books over and over again, I'm getting to know all of them by heart and was starting to go a bit book crazy. I'm sorry but a good bubble bath is not a good bubble bath unless you have a good book! But I struck lucky, Mr.Knitwit of all people came home with a new book for me, given to him by a friend at work! Which of course required a new bookmark!

 

 

I cross stitched this and then backed it with felt, its really cute , but no never again. At least not with the cross stitch fabric I have, its like 1 million holes per inch (this might be a small exaggeration) but yeah it made my eyes hurt and my head hurt and my hands. And it frayed and split and just generally wound me up. But in some good new I'm going to give this away to someone who has more patience and better eyesight! So it wont be wasted.

 

 

I wish I had more patience! It's so adorable! And I know so many people who would appreciate them as gifts!!!!

 

 

It is cute, must resist , must not try again, will scream.

 

 

This is the book Mr.Knitwits work friend gave me, I must admit I was sceptical at first, this isn't really my sort of book, I tend to steer towards the bonnets and bosoms side of things (particularly when they include a certain Mr.Darcy). But I had run out of things to read , so I decided to give it a go, that was yesterday evening and I have about a quarter of the book left to go!

 

Don't worry I wont tell you how it ends!

 

Have you read anything good recently?

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx 

  

What Came First The Owl Or The Cowl?

Hello Campers! I finally got round to finishing of some projects and adding to my Etsy shop again!

And the Two projects from today have been made using to same wool! Ooooooh interesting!

First of all we have another......Cowl! Yes I know your sick of the sight of them, but I haven't quite run out of ideas yet and I'm making them for the craft fair in September!

Its been made using this wool, that I wrote about here I decided to use my diamond pattern again and used green buttons as accents! These button don't actually do anything, they just look pretty! And everybody knows how hard looking pretty is! Don't they!

And then I also made this bad boy which is currently for sale in my Etsy Shop! Which you can visit by clicking on the banner at the side of this blog or on THIS link! (See aren't I lovely? two whole links!)  

This is one is a doorstop owl! And features the same wool!

Two little felt feet for waddling!

He's larger than my usual owls and measures roughly 10inches.

I am in LOVE with this colour scheme! Bit sad its not valentines day really, I could have given him heart eyes! I actually think he looks like a sort of kitsch art deco-ish piece! (Deco-ish is definitely a word, I'm sure of it!)

 

Incidentally if you do happen to order something for me, this is what it looks like when you receive it (minus the box obvs!)

This was a custom order for a friend and what's inside is a surprise! Hence no pictures but I'm sure I'll be able to blog about it as soon as its received!

I feel like I've been super productive today!

Much Love

And surprising amounts of energy!

Frankie

xxx

P.S  For anyone who's still wondering about the title question? The Owl of course! Owls always come first in this house!

Etsy Shop Update!

I've added another item to my Etsy shop! Well two! But they come as a pair! A pair of love birds of course!

 

I'm still so in love with them! They are like a little fairy tale!

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see where I originally blogged about these owls here at the end of Pinterest week!

 

The link for my Etsy shop is on the right of this page so have a click and come and have a peruse! Go on you know you want to!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

I'd Love To Stay But I Really Moustache!

It's Day 11 of Pinterest Fortnight and today we have a recycling project! Woop! Every now and again I have to take a long hard look at my wardrobe and decide what to do, these moments usually come when I realise I can't close it or that the rail is going to fall down! When I do I make three piles , Keep, Charity, Fix/Remake. Now the Keep pile is always the biggest (obviously) and the Charity pile is usually the smallest but the most intersesting is always the last pile. And this is what wound up in the fix/remake pile today!



You can't really see the stains here but  assure you they were horrific!

I brought this clutch in a closing down sale YEARS ago for my brothers wedding, and let just say after the wedding this purse had a hard life! Now I like to think that I look after my things BUT, this purse was mainly used in the years between turning 18 and getting pregnant with Little Knitwit! So it got fairly abused! If this purse could talk! Well actually, judging by some of the stains on it, if this purse could talk it's language would be a little slurred at the least!

It needed a little bit of TLC and some updating!

So without further ado here's our Pinterest inspiration!

Moustaches seem to be so popular at the moment , in fashion and in home accessories! Sadly I cant find the origin of these cushions but there lovely all the same!

I painted it red to get rid of the stains! and to give it a new lease of life! Thankfully it dried a lot darker!

And here's the finished result!

 

I added a moustache using self adhesive felt! It's perfect and I love it! I actually can't wait to take it out with me! And its even better knowing its the only one in the world!!!!!

 

Now i really Moustache!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Oopsie Daisy

Day 9

 

So I was a little bit naughty yesterday, there was no blogging yesterday, in fact there was no crafting yesterday! Instead their was just lots of fun to be had with Little Knitwit and Mr.Knitwit!

So I'm taking this as Day 9 Pinterest Fortnight inspiration.

 

 

I did nothing! yesterday , knitting was left untouched, my sewing machine stayed under its cover, I did no washing or mopping or dusting!

Instead we played, and rode bikes, and had kisses and cuddles and tickles! And lots of good old fashioned family fun! Which I think is very important! So I am counting this picture as Day 9 as Pinterest fortnight!

 

But I'm back today with Day 10! And its another accessory! I think everyone has something that they like to knit without even thinking. You know the project you do at three in the morning when you cant sleep? Or waiting in line at the bank? Mines flowers but I wanted to do something productive with those flowers!

 

Here was my inspiration.

 

 

I  know there felt and not knitted but I just love the colours and the textures! It can be found here.

 

  

And this is just so perfect! Now I have a love/hate relationship with this blanket! It's the sort of thing I don't think I could make and just sell. This sort of blanket is the kind of thing you make for your own baby or a baby you know your going to love very much. Or is that just selfish? I wish so much that I had seen this picture when my niece was a baby , her mummy would have loved it!

 

So I compromised and turned my flowers into! Brooches!

Now I love a good brooch but they seem to have dwindled out of fashion recently. Hopefully they'll make a come back!

 

 

I made two, I small yellow one and a large blue one! Now I don't like to play favourites but the blue one takes the biscuit for me! They are hand knitted with beaded centres and felt leaves!

 

 

Yep blue definitely wins it for me!

 

 

Now here come the posed pictures, and a small confession! When I did my cowl blog post, and decided to do a picture of me in it. I MIGHT have tweaked my makeup and hair a little bit, and put on a clean cardigan. Actually that's I lie, I applied a full face of makeup and did my hair and picked out a matching cardigan, for pictures on a blog. Turns out I am a lot vainer than I originally thought! That was until today when I realised I couldn't actually be bothered to apply makeup and do my hair so I just sort of used the camera to cover my face? Life is to short to spend every five minutes re applying your lip stick!

 

 

I did put a coat on though so you could see it in action!

 

 

 

Also today is my own Darth Vader Birthday, so Happy Birthday Daddy!

 

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx