How Great Britain is!

Finally I've managed to finish middle sons Freddie's canvas!  It's taken me that long that I can't actually remember when I started it! Anywhere he we go hope you like...

Ever since the Olympics, Fred has been obsessed with Great Britain and especially the Union Jack, so after buying everything and anything with a Union Jack on for his bedroom, he asked if I'd do him his canvas the same...

Once marked out, it was time to start painting...

 

Fred chose the paints, so we had pillar box red, antique white and a metallic blue...

Couple of coats of each, the wooden letters also painted in the blue.  Then time to distress with sandpaper, I used several grades to give a more natural worn feel, using higher grade on corners and edges and a finer grade on the front and sides of the canvas

Finally attached all the letters to the canvas (after much discussion as to whether they should be straight, squint, skewhiff LOL) and voila!

Hope you like?! I think it'd also work really well with a decoupage Cath Kidston floral type theme, or some pastel patterns, vintage style.  Anyway on to the next one now, Samuel. He's coming up for two and has blue/white room in Peter Rabbit Fabric so will try to include the fabric in the canvas somehow... 

time for her baby...

So I've  been busy making some bits for my babies room.  I had already made the bedding with the fab Peter Rabbit material for his cot and so decided to add a few bits to his room...

I got a pattern for a door stop (original link/pattern no longer available but think this one is better! Though wouldn't bother interlining unless really thin material) which i'd made for a couple of family members, and it's so easy and cute I thought i'd use for baby Samuel's room.  Seriously it's so easy and you end up with this!

I then got a little giddy and went 'off-pattern' to create some tie-backs...  

Needed: Spare material

4 x D Rings

Thread

Cut 2 lengths (whatever you have hanging around, approx 20" x 4") of fabric and 4 small tabs (approx 3" x 1").  Fold the two lengths in half  - good sides in - and sew down one length (leaving 0.5" un-sewn at each end) then turn right side out and press.

At the same time press the smallest hem on each side of the long length of your 'tabs', these are used to attached your D-rings.  Sew down each hem, no need to back stitch as these will be en-cased in the actual tie-back.  It's just for a good finish...

Fold these tabs over the D-Rings (I had some from old tie-backs I no longer used) and sew across to fix in place.  Don't worry if not very neat as will all be covered up shortly!

Fold in the ends of the tie back lengths (you can do this when pressing and press these for neatness, but no biggy), and then slot in the 'tabs' and pin in place...

Sew round the full length approx 5mm in from the edge, start half way down a length as will be covered when folded.  The edging not only gives a professional finish but attaches the 'tabs' to the actual tie backs. 

Once sewn you are left with these fab tie backs! 

Hope my instructions were okay, thought i'm aware some pics initially would have been good!  Any questions just ask!

Fay x

P.S Up-cycling at it's best, all made from off-cuts x

some time and some motivation!

So it's been a while since I managed to update my blog and today I decided that I just had to craft as it's about the only thing keeping me sane at the moment!  I had a little of the Peter Rabbit Toile style fabric left which I'd got from The Remnant House in Harrogate and as I was unsure if I would be able to get more I decide to use the last to make a pillow case and duvet cover for my sons cot bed.

I had a baby blue fitted single sheet in my 'spare' bedding and as I doubt my two eldest boys will ever require baby blue, and baby Samuel will be in his cot bed till he's old enough to have grown out of baby blue, I thought I'd put to better use and use as the backing for the cover and case!

I cut out using old bedding as a template, then pinned and sewed the pillowcase first, followed by the duvet cover.

While I will use button fastening for future sets, I did use sew on velcro this time as I had no suitable buttons available and was too impatient to finish! LOL.

I do like to cut off the corners so you don't get the 'bulk' once they've turned the right way.

A quick iron and I think you'll agree they look lovely! Can't wait to make some more...

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed!

Fay x

P.S My blog is and always will be about my crafting, and while I don't want to get personal I do want to make you aware that I am going through some difficult times at the moment personally and at my 'day job' please stick with me as I love to do what I do and I will get through this.  I hope that my crafting inspires you as that would make me very, very happy!