Chatsworth House and More

Good afternoon folks,

As promised in my last blog, I have made the 'made to order' order of Chatsworth House in Freehand Machine Embroidery and it has been packed very carefully and posted off on it's 16 hours flight to Birmingham, AL, USA :)

Here is it:

Click to Enlarge

It took what seemed like FOREVER to make, as I guess you'd expect (!) yet I loved every single minute of it. It has multiple layers giving a slight 3D effect, and made using subtle colours so that the main 'bit' pops - namely the house itself (complete with gold window frames!) It is in a 20cm x 30cm white frame and can stand or be hung. I hope my client loves it as much as I do.

The windows were fun to do

Here's a little shot of the making-of process:

Looks quite simple really...

The funny thing about this was that the evening I had finished it, and flopped on the sofa with a well earned cuppa, a program came on the TV about Chatsworth House and I had to turn it off - I couldn't look at the house any more! I had been 'Chatsworthed' out... ;)

And sew, sorry so onto my other items:

These are my latest design of Freehand Machine Embroidery iPad Air and iPad Air 2 cases, but this time, I have added a little pocket on the back to hold earphones.

I have a Kindle case and it has no pocket, so my earphones get stuffed in the pouch with the Kindle and it's not very good. At least with these cases, there's no chance of scratching or marking your devise.

They all have pretty interiors too. At my last fair I discovered that people will buy tablet cases for other devises and tablets even if they are a little too big - so that's an advantage I guess.

Next up:

Another batch of my Carrier Bag Key Rings after the last load went to quickly. The resounding noise was "oooh!" at the last fair when people discovered what they were. However one lady said they must contain very small carrier bags, but I showed her they are in fact full sized carrier bags, just flattened, folded and rolled. I still think they are brilliant! You always have your keys so you always have a bag. Simples.

And next:

Yep, another Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop in Freehand Machine Embroidery, ready for my stall at the my next fair. This is piece number 4 and while ever there is a demand for them, I will keep on making! I simply love these and while they take a long time to make, I enjoy doing so.

The penultimate for today:

Another re-do due to good sales and popularity - these are Rice and Lavender filled Hand Warmers. They are an ideal item for this time of the year and they smell delicious. As well as the rice, they contained French Lavender Heads, from Provence no less. My work room smells heavenly when I am making these... You just pop them in the microwave and then you have cold hands (or ears!) no more. Lovely.

Finally:

I showed you one of these last blog and so now I have made a few more, here they are. These are really fun and cute and yet are practical at the same time. I have several other styles lined up for these so watch this space.

So that's all for today, what do you think? Please let me know, I'd love to hear your thoughts and share this blog if you like.

Thanks for reading,
Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2016

More New items :)

Evening all,

So over the last two days I have been busy making some new things, two repeat items with a little difference and a new item, so without further ado:

As part of my freehand machine embroidery cards range (I have made a rabbit before, which was cute, but this one I think is even cuter!) this is my new style rabbit. Rabbit #2 if you like. He has different fur and a pink inner ear and a cheeky little smile too ;)

Just look at his face! Arr. These kinds of cards sell really quickly at the fairs, below are a couple of pictures of the first batches I made and you can just see the Rabbit #1 at the base of the second picture:

It's a really great feeling when someone picks up a card (or anything I have made) and admires it, then gives lovely comments on it and then buys it - to give to someone else as a gift/greeting that hopefully they will appreciate too. I know that I have made that item and I have made someone have that reaction to it and taken action upon that reaction, and then, that item that I have made, is going into somebody's house! It's just fab. :)

Next up:

I recently made just one of these iPad Air cases and it sold at the first fair I took it to, so today I managed to make two of them, similar to the last but again slightly different, to add variety. These have been made using sturdy denim, with cotton linings and cotton freehand machine embroidery birds to decorate. They both close with an elastic loop over a button and they are padded too, to protect the iPad. If I had an iPad, I would have one of these...

And finally for today, I made two sets of these:

Click the picture to enlarge

These are children's bedrooms or children's play rooms bunting! I love this printed cotton material and it came in a flash to me today to make these, just something a little bit different. The colours are so cute and would look good in any room - it doesn't have to be for children!

I made them to be 8 feet long, they have 12 flags per set which are approximately 8 inches tall and there is an 18" piece of overhang at each end so it can be pinned or tied easily as necessary. The pattern is also on both sides so it doesn't matter which way you hang them and they don't have to be up against a wall, unless you want them to be. What do you think?

That's it for now, these items will be taken to the fair on Saturday - more details later.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment if you wish.

Julie.
(C) FMN Crafts 2015

New Items

Good evening all,

I have been busy (as usual) and have a few of my creations to show you, I thank you for your time.

First up, my new Freehand Machine Embroidery Double Sided Purses:

I just love them. I decided to use the bird design (because I love that too) and I think it really works. I also decided to use an interior that packs a punch and so have co-ordinated the insides with the outer fabrics. Adding a pop of colour in the zip just brings it all together.

I came across the ribbon of 'Hand Made' tags recently and have started adding them to a few of my creations, and I think it adds even more of a professional touch. I will of course only add them when/where appropriate, but I think I like them on these purses. Plus, you could add a split ring and attach your key...

I also made these:

I think it must be because Spring has just arrived, but these seem to fit really well. Again, double sided, lined to make you smile and each having a happy zip. Is a happy zip a thing? Well, it is now.

Next up, my Freehand Machine Embroidery Denim iPad Air Case:

Even though I don't own an iPad myself, I know a gazillion people who do so I am sure these will sell quite well. As you can see, I used a rugged denim for the outer and a bright pink fan material for the interior. I made a template of an iPad Air for the measurements and this suits really well. The case has lovely little freehand machine embroidered birds, it is fully padded to protect your iPad and it has an elastic with button to close. And I know, as in the instance of my mobile 'phone cases, there are A LOT of cases in the market, but there are none like my own designed, hand made ones, made with much love, care and attention to detail. PLUS, if I make more than one of any of my items, they are still unique as all hand made items will be ever so slightly different.

Getting off my soap box now.

And finally for this evening, these Roll-up Shopping Bags:

These are so cute! I have had this vegetable material for quite some time and in the past have made children's bags and aprons but I saw it again today wrapped up and thought, hmm, what can I do with that? Sure enough, these bags popped into mind. I have made roll-up shopping bags before too, but not for about a year and so I got to work. These bags are of a substantial size being around 15" tall and 13.5" wide, enough to get plenty of shopping in and yet roll down really small, making it easy to grab and go, or pop into your usual bag, ready for the shops. They are lined in cream calico and have webbing straps to make it light, yet sturdy and as you'd expect, all stress areas are reinforced for durability. And the best thing is they are made of cotton, so they can be washed easily when needed.

This is how to roll them up:

Easy!

That's all for now, please let me know what you think by leaving a comment or take a look at my Facebook page.

News coming soon of upcoming fairs. Stay tuned...

Julie.

(c) FMN Crafts 2015

Chalk, Lavender, Kindle and Coins...in that order!

Hi there,

Four items to tell you about today (yep, been busy again!) First up, these are the OTHER two designs of Chalk Boards I mentioned in the previous post:
 

 

The first one is a crackled gold on a black base and it gives a real rustic, perhaps chabby chic look as I chose frames that could be recylcled.The second one is yellow-ish gold colour and I decorated it with red trim and flowers. They are great because they are small enough to fit in so many places of your home, office or craft room!

Both have black-boarded glass to write on, both stand on their own although they could be hung, both come complete with chalk and both cost just £5.99 each. Bargain! Find them soon in my Etsy store and remember, there is only one of each...

Now, onto the second of today's delights... Do you like lavender? The smell I mean? Well if so, I have the perfect little drawer filler for you:

Look at the cuteness! These little organza bags are just over 3 inches wide and are full of French Lavender heads. They smell gorgeous. And at only 99p per bag, who can resist? They are finished with cute lavender coloured ribbon and they can be placed in an underwear drawer, a scaft drawer, on the bed-side table or just about anywhere you like. They aid relaxation and sleep... If it gets to a point where you can't smell the lavender so much anymore, you just gently squeeze the bag which will crush a few heads and the aroma will fill and calm your senses once more. Find these in my Etsy store soon too...

Next up, is a really pretty new style of Kindle Fire HD Case I designed and made just this morning:

 

I bought some doilies and few months back and they sat on my shelf sinse then, because I didn't know what to do with them. Then, just this morning, this idea popped into my head. I have made Kindle cases previously, and although brilliant (if I do say so myself) they are in an envelope style - this time I wanted to make a sleeve style instead. I also thought I would keep this line quite modest in materials as opposed to my usual floral and spot, earthy maybe and so I used a cream exterior, white interior, white doiley, brown button and string for closing. I thought about adding a handle, key ring or even an ear-phone holder but thought against it in the end. Maybe later.

I took measurements of my Kindle, worked it all out, then interfaced the exterior and padded the interior. I actually quilted the interior to make for greater padding and quality finish and I think it looks realy nice. The doiley is hand sewn on and the button and string have a little give to allow for ease of opening and closing, yet they keep the Kindle secure and in place. My Kindle looks very at home in this and I am pleased how it turned out; I will be making iPad and other tablet cases soon so watch this space...

And finally for today, I finished these a couple of days ago:

 

Mini coin purses. These are in fact the second batch, I forgot to tell you about the first, but because I only had three left I had to make some more... They are quite small so they are known as coin purses, they all have interesting linings and they are have cute little zips. I usually reserve these as basket fillers for Fairs, but I may put some in my Etsy store if there is an interest shown. And the best bit? They are only £1.99 each! Wow. 'Can't make it for that'. Well actually...

(I like to keep my prices as low as I possibly can. As those who make things will know, if I charged for the time it takes to think up, design, make and re-make items, I wouldn't get anything back - there is no way I can charge for my time. But hey, I love doing it! I like to charge a price that is fair and that I would be happy to pay myself - I think this is the best way.)

So, mammoth post over, what do you think? I would love to know. 'Like' me on Facebook if you wish or leave a comment here.

Thank you for your time and for reading :)

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014