Five New Items

Good evening all,

It's been quite some time sinse my last blog, sorry about that, but I have been busy! First thing I want to show you is this:

Now, before you think you've seen this before - you haven't. Well, sort of not... I made this is a smaller size, the same as my Old Bakewell Pudding Shop, but this is a whopper. This is in a frame 16.5" x 13".

For this one, I based it on the first one but I had to scale it up. There are so many windows and so many panes on this thing that as you can imagine, it took quite a long time to make! In fact it was just under a week from start to finish. I used the freehand machine embroidery method and each piece is interfaced and sewn on. I like the way there is a small 3D effect by the layering (the photo's do nothing to enhance this).

I really love it, what do you think? I plan to take this to my next craft fair and hope it will cause a bit of a stir...

Next up:

 

The second of my Vinatge Doilies Throw Cushion. I sold the first one the first time it went out at a craft fair, actually to another stall holder and as I had some more, I made another. These doilies are just so nice, it's a shame they are not showcased better, well, now they are. I added lace, calico and a golden button and made it an envelope back. I am sure this can easily fit into many areas of someone's home. It measures 16" x 16".

And the next:

These are Mobile 'Phone Cases with Earphone Pockets. I have made these recently in different materials and using a freehand machine embroidery decoration, but I simply love this butterfly material and thought it would work well on denim. It does! Each case has a different button and elastic to close, making each case unique and each have a different colour pocket and spotty cotton interior. They are fully padded using fleece so mobile 'phones will be safe (and warm?!) whilst inside. With it being an elastic closure, it will keep the mobile safe but is quick and easy to open if it's ringing.

 

 

 

These fit my mobile which is a Sony Xperia but I make them to order too, to fit any size mobile. They can also be used as a glasses holder! Look:

Next:

 

These are really cute little pieces of art work using mixed media. I have combined fabrics, laces, crochet, beading, buttons, felt and embroidery to make these unique pieces and I am sure they would bring a smile to any room. I simply loved creating these as things look so random! (They're not by the way...) It gave me a chance to add a little bit more freedom and creativity to my work and my work room looked a complete mess! I loved it! Usually I am so disciplined and strict with myself, you will never find a piece out of place in my work room, sometimes I feel I am a neat freak and it can become annoying. To myself! But in this case, oh boy, I had an area about a foot square to sew in... I couldn't be neat with these and that was just fine with me. :)

 

 

 

They are set in 8" frames and can stand or hang. I have left the glass out of the front as I think they are quite tactile and need this, however the glass is inside the backing so it can be used for protection if so desired - the individuals choice.

I am sure there will be more of these to come.

And finally for today:

These are a selection of Cord Keepers. You know how earphones get so snarled up and messy? Well now there is no need with these little beauties.

 

 

I used small pieces of material, I interfaced them for stability and durability and used good old Velcro as the closure method. You simply roll up your earphones over your fingers, pop it in the cord keeper, roll the material over and secure. Then just chuck them in your bag and get on with your class, your conversation, your meal or whatever and when it's time to go, you know your earphones will be neat and tidy. Simple!

Well that's all for now, thank you for reading, please leave a comment if you wish.

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2016.

New Year, New Items.

Is it too late to say Happy New Year? It feels like it, but anyway, I hope you had a great festive season and are now back into the swing of normality. My family and friends have been gallivanting all over the place, whereas our Christmas was relatively calm, so it's not been difficult for us to get back into work again.

And in saying that, I have a few new things to share with you, so without further ado:

 

You may remember that I made some of these Covered Notebooks last year, but this time I have added a closure and pen/pencil holder in one, to make it more user friendly. I looked at them and realised that it would need a writing impliment and yet there was nowhere to put it, so this is what I came up with. It's a lot better to have a pen with the book and hopefully they will be even more appealing to when it comes to sell.  I have found that if people don't need to think too much and items are 'convenient', they sell better! 'Tis true.

On a similar theme, I made this: 

This is actaully my diary, that I covered using the Freehand Machine Embroidery technique (which I love) and I used denim and cotton; an all time favourite combination of mine. This is an A5 size diary, whereas the notebooks above are A6 and I am really pleased with the outcome. I used a press-stud for the closure with a button sewn on top. I always use a pencil for my diary and so slotted one of them in using it's little clip and hey-presto. What do you think?

Next up:

The next in the line of Mobile 'Phone Cases, this one decorated using Freehand Machine Embroidery and this time I made a front pocket to house ear-phones. Like the book covers, it occured after thinking "where can I put...?" Like the cases before hand, these mobile cases are fully padded, made using quality materials and lined in smooth cotton to protect your 'phone and can be made to measure. There are many more to come in this style as they have had the thumbs up from those I have shown it to already....

Next up is a re-do:

These are the Mini Lavender Bags again using the above technique and filled with French lavender heads. My workroom always smells wonderful when I am working with lavender and I feel strangely calm... These are a re-do that will continue to be done as they always sell well at the fairs :)

And finally:

This was an order... Ceri, a great pal from the fairs who has a Phoenix Trading stall, saw a lady walking around a fair last year with a bag that had fury cats on it. Ceri, being a cat lover, came straight to me and asked if I could make something similiar. Of course I obliged! There was a bag already on my stall that she liked the style of and asked for it to be bigger, with a zip closure, internal pockets and fury cats. Ceri drew how she would like the cats to be designed which I copied with the material and we agreed it would look like they are sitting on a wall. Once complete, I took it to her and she liked it so much that she used it right away! What do you think? I really like it actually. And there is no other one like it in the world...

Just before I go, do you remember this?

This is The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop designed by myself and made using Freehand Machine Embroidery, well I have made a few and one lady from Birmingham in the USA bought one. She messaged me a few weeks ago saying that she liked it so much and that she would like a companion piece! She said she has visited the UK a few times and she was impressed with it's charm so after a few messages backwards and forwards about what she would like, she settled on Chatsworth House. Wow! I know it will be a challenge but as always, I am up for it and at present I am up to the drawing, colour/materials choosing and tracing paper template stage. Watch this space...

That's all for now, thank you for reading, please leave a comment if you wish as I'd love to know what you think and/or head over to my Facebook page for a more regular hello.

Take care,
Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2015

New Purses

Good afternoon all,

Just a quick blog to show you my new purses:

Click the picture for a bigger size

These are made using fab cupcake materials! They are different colours per side, have a complimentary interior and zip and a little ribbon to help opening and closing. They are just to right size for all you 'pursey' needs and look great.

Click the picture for a bigger size

You may recognise these...only they are a little different. These are my new range of Freehand Machine Embroidery Denim Purses. I made ones similar to this, only they had cream on one side and denim on the other and the other ones are decorated with flowers. These are made using firm denim on both sides and I really like them! Regular readers will know I love making items using freehand machine embroidery and these are just great for that. Like the cupcake ones, they are the same size and also hold a multitude of sins.

I have a fair coming up at the weekend and I will be taking them there - if there are any left I will list them in my Etsy Store afterwards. They make great gifts...

What do you think?

Thanks for reading, leave me a comment if you like,
Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2015.

Afternoon all, I hope your Saturday is going well so far,

I would like to show you the fruits of this week's work:

These are my new Freehand Machine Embroidery Greetings Cards.

I have made a batch of six designs and of course, I love them all! This is the Thank You card:

This has been sewn onto cream card which has been sewn onto cream card (!) in two seperate sections to give definition. I simply love the willow pattern style material and I only had a tiny piece left, which works well as a jug.

This is the Birthday Cake one:

 

I love the way this turned out, it is sewn onto pink cotton which is sewn onto the card. All these cards have materials that have been interfaced to give stability and durability and adds to the quality. Writing using Freehand Machine Embroidery is fun! It takes a lot of practice and a couple of steady hands but it looks great when done. Even when you get the wobbles, it still looks great!

Here is the giant Cupcake Card:

 

YUM! I simply love using these materials and adding spots to florals - I don't think it'll ever get old... This one has been sewn onto a cream calico background before sewing to the card. Have you ever sewn onto card using your sewing machine? It's a great feeling - it goes 'duff duff duff' and it's so cool! Ahem, moving on...

Here is the Birthday Bunting card:

 

You can't go wrong with a bit of bunting - on most craft projects - and cards are no exception. This is really cute, if I do say so myself...it evokes feelings of party and celebration.

Next up, two designs made on linen (which I also love to work with), first the Hearts:

 

These two linen cards are plain, in that there are no specific occassions labelled so can be used for many things. I love the way these are more about the textures than the others and are inviting to touch; very tactile. Here is the second one named Bird:

 

It's really nice to work with neutral colours i.e. browns and creams and I always see these materials as 'quality classics'. This card has a button sun and sewn in grass sections too.

And this is what the inside of most of the cards look like:

Sew So nothing evasive or getting in the way, just lots of space for you to write your greeting without taking away the attention of your words.

I will be taking them to a fair I have in a few days time and if I have any left after that, I will put them in my Etsy Store.

What do you think? Do you like them? Please leave me a comment, I'd love to know what you think. Thanls for reading,

Julie.
(C) FMN Crafts 2015

Good evening to anybody who pops over to read my blog!

I have been working on this over the last two days:

Can you guess where this is? It's Sheepwash Bridge, Ashford-In-The-Water, nr. Bakewell, Derbyshire in the glorious Peak District!

I know it's quite a small picture (you can click on it to make it bigger) and the photo's never do the finished product justice (plus it was photographed once behind glass), but it's really quite cute! (If I do say so myself...)

A closer shot (reflection in glass, sorry)

Detailling in the bridge and trees

The area where the sheep were sheared after washing

The opening where the sheep were lowered into the water

It was designed and made over two days, each piece has been interfaced, heat stuck on and then sewn using a Freehand Machine Embroidery technique, particularly useful for the 'drawn' look and the attention to detail. This one is framed with the same appateur as the Bakewell Pudding Shop, only it is a larger mount and a larger frame.

The history behind this bridge is that back in the day, farmers bought sheep to the nearest side of the bridge to us in the design, lined them up, plopped them into the water through the opening in the wall allowing them to swim to the other side of the river, hense washing them, where they were helped out and finally sheared. (If I remember right that is...) As far as I know this practice doesn't occur any more but visitors come in their droves each year to see the sight and the beautiful village of Ashford-In-The-Water.

This is how it began!

What do you think? Leave me a comment if you like...if you have come from Facebook leave me a message here or there please :)

Thanks for reading, pass it on if you wish.
Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2015