My fabric - Swiss Alpine

Swiss Alpine white

Fabric designs, crochet and tweed makes

March is still throwing some frosty mornings at me and I'm still very cold in here but the clocks will soon be changing and letting more light and warmth into our lives, hooray!

A quick result for the cat fabric, I did so so, came 85th out of 237.

More fabric has been designed for this weeks Spoonflower contest which the theme is 'spoons', I couldn't resist having a go at some simple designs.

These were the first, spoon outlines.

Next I did these which were slightly inspired by that retro, Festival of Britain type feel and colour.

I looked on the Spoonflower site and there are already lots of simple spoon outline designs so I decided not to enter any of the above. I wanted to do something a little more quirky. Two things came into my head, that lovely nursery rhyme image of 'the dish running away with the spoon', not that I could do anything illustrative like the jolly nursery rhyme books I had as a child. The other thing spoony I thought of were the Welsh Love Spoons, beautiful carved pieces with symbolic meanings. 

I looked some up and nearly started trying to draw them but I didn't have time as the deadline is today. 

Instead I've whizzed up a quick design, called Love Spoons, a running spoon with a whole lot of love to give.

I'm entering the white version, with multi colour hearts, basically because I couldn't decide which colour background I preferred.

I am still updating fabrics and adding to the collection at my Woven Monkey shop. Recent additions have been the range of Breakfast fabrics, now in new colours.

This is a completely new range on Woven Monkey, Savannah Stripes.

Moving on to crochet, I've been willing Spring to get here and I've made some spring flower jewellery. A little brooch, probably end up as a Mother's Day gift and the necklace which I'm finishing for myself.

I bought myself a new ball of wool and this lovely new crochet hook with a rubberised handle which is very nice to hold.

Finally, a couple of Harris Tweed makes for my Folksy shop, a pin cushion and needle case, this is quite a large needle case so plenty of room for stuff.

Thank you if you stuck it out!!

Some recent creations and vintage books

It seems I finally got the cooler weather I wanted which has made it a bit easier for working again. I have to say though that it is noticeable the nights drawing in, I'm sure it's dark half an hour earlier than mid July, lets leave the grim thoughts right there!

I ordered myself some of the mini cards from Moo which lead to some little handmade business card holders to house them. All are in the style of string tie envelopes.

We have a bright pink floral felt one

Green Harris Tweed

This one is some handloomed fabric from Skye Batiks

On the subject of fabric I have my ditsy floral butterfly fabric samples back from print and they are now listed in the Spoonflower marketplace. I need to order myself some for making things.

Did a couple of designs in Regency style, chintzy stripes.

Also popped a new colour of camping fabric into the mix as it seems to be selling quite well following the caravan cushion tutorial in Mollie Makes.

Something else I have recently completed was this embellished linen shirt.
This was inspired by a wonderful blouse my friend the textile artist Corinne Young had made. The last time I saw Corinne she was wearing an amazing creation made from upcycled vintage table cloths, it really did look lovely. I'm not very good at dressmaking so wouldn't even attempt a blouse, my quickie version was to take an old shirt and embellish the bits of tablecloth on to. This linen shirt worked well as most of my tablecloths were linen.

I quite like it but I have had the comment it looks a bit country and western, hey ho, brings out my inner Dolly Parton!!

This brings me round to some lovely old vintage childrens books of mine which I picked up last time I was at my parents. A bit fusty and musty now and with a few scribbles on the pages but there are some fond memories when I look at the illustrations.

One last vintage item, my mum dug this out for me, it was my very first craft apron as a child. Some friends brought it back from Wales for me. I might give it a new life and turn it into something.

Time to go and as this picture says.......

Free shipping at Spoonflower today until 2pm UK time

I should’ve done this yesterday but hey better late than never.

If any readers are interested in buying Spoonflower fabric they are offering free international shipping for just 24 hrs and that runs out at 2pm UK time today.

As well as my designs, featuring the vintage camping range, there are some wonderful and unusual fabrics by loads of great designers. Remember the import tax and Royal Mail handling fee when it comes into the UK.

http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/peppermintpatty

Here are some great fabrics I found on Spoonflower. The 3 pics below in that lovely vintage style are by a designer called Peagreengirl.

This cute design is by Inktreepress