Busy Times and New Items

Hello all,

Wow, what a busy, busy time it has been of late...and it is still, so this blog will be short. I just wanted to let you know that I have been busy exhibiting, mainly at the Old Methodist Church in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, but also at the Bakewell Town Hall in Derbyshire too. All have gone quite well with sales and orders made, so mustn't complain!

These are a few of the items I have been making recently in between fairs:

 

These are Purses or Mobile Phone/iPod Cases in the Bunting Theme range of items I make. The patterns on the exteriors have been made using a tequnique called 'Freehand Machine Embroidery' and you don't need a fancy machine for it, just an embroidery foot if you like, or an ordinary foot with some quick moves, or even no foot at all with a lot more skill (this does need a good machine though and some other equipment).

For these, I used a regular foot and manouvered in straight lines whilst concentrating on giving a childlike, naive kind of look - which I have absolutely fallen in love with recently. 

The purses are made using cream coloured calico material, they are lined in felt and have a complementary zip and key ring attached. I think they are great and they have been selling well... You can find them in my Etsy Shop now.

Next up:

Two new styles of Children's Bags. These are great little bags and I have been selling quite a few of the Owl Print ones recently, so I thought I would make a couple more designs. The pink one above sold the first time it was out as I only had enough material to make the one...

And next:

 

Cupcake Drinks Coasters! I saw this material and knew exactly what I was going to do with it. They have a yellow background on one side and a blue background on the other and are covered in fabulous cupcakes. They are flanned lined too, so they will soak up any dribbles easily and as they are cotton, they can be washed as many times as you like. I have only one set of these left at the moment too... (hotcakes!)

Anyway, that will do for now, please leave any comments below, share this or Like me on Facebook please. Thank you.

Coming up: Map, Music and Cupcake Bunting, Embroidered Cards and Tissue Box Covers... Watch this space!

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014

Padded Purses and/or Phone Cases

Hi all,

In reference to my last post's teaser, here are pictures and details of my latest makes:

These little beauties have been really fun to make! I am calling them padded purses simply because they are, but they have multi-uses. They can be money and card purses:

They can be phone cases as they are padded:

Or they can be protective make-up cases:

The choice is yours! All have detailed hand made fronts, all have padding both sides, all are lined with thick white canvas and all are finished with a cute little ribbon pull.

The sizes do vary a little, the landscape one for example finished a little smaller than the others, so would be useful for a small phone or iPod (as well as money etc) yet the other two fit my rather large (and old) Samsung.

Tree Lined Avenue

Desert Island with Palm Trees and Hut

Summer Landscape with Gorgeous Sheep!

What do you think? Pictures never do items like this justice as they areally are quite £D but you get the idea. Because they are made from felt too they are really soft to hold yet pliable and strong. I love them, naturally, and I am only going to make one of each landscape/theme, so that clients will receive a unique, one-of-a-kind item.

I am taking them to a Craft, Gift & Food Fair tomorrow and Sunday at Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, so we'll see what happens! Let me know what you think to them.

Thanks for reading,
Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014

New Items!

Hi all,

Just a quick one to say that those of you who watch my Twitter and Facebook feed will have noticed I added three items to my Etsy store last night. For those of you who don't follow me, here is a little preview in pics:

Vintage Sheet Music Bunting

 

 

Finger Puppets (as mentioned in last blog)

Peg Bag complete with 25 pegs FREE!

All are my own designs and all can be found in my Etsy store now - please go and check it out as there are loads of details on them. The Vintage Sheet Music Bunting is only £1.99!

To come, a little sneak preview:

Watch this space!









Thanks for reading, follow me on Twitter or Facebook if you like; you'll get to know about new items quicker! Thank you.

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014

Finger Puppets for Children

Evening all,

I want to share with you a little project I have been working on; Finger Puppets:

I have wanted to make some for a while and finally managed to do it. But these are a little different in that they are kits for children to have a go at making. But first, let me tell you about them.

This is Paula Pig:

Paula is very cheeky and loves to roll about in mud to keep her skin soft

This is Eric Elephant:

Eric is very funny and he loves to splash around in water

This is Crystal Cat:

Crystal is a glamor-puss and loves cream

This is Derek Dog:

Derek is friendly with everyone and loves to run and run

Cute or what? The kits come complete with all the components needed to make the relevent finger puppet including felt body pieces, noses, googly eyes, ears, mouths, threads etc along with a simple instruction leaftlet that I compiled for each one. All that is needed is an embroidery needle, some PVA glue, some safety scissors and a grown-up's help (where needed). They really are fun and will keep your little ones occupied for quite a while.

This is the pack and instructions for Paula Pig

What do you think? They will be available in my Etsy Store soon. I am exhibiting at Baslow Village Hall this coming weekend so I will take them there, and see how they go!

Thank you for reading, please share this if you like, or Like me on Facebook. Have a great week.

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014

This Weekend...

Hi all,

Just a quick one to say that this Saturday and Sunday I will be exhibiting at the Matlock Bath Methodist Church, Derbyshire again, from about 11am - 5pm each day, with all my goods and some you haven't seen yet...! It's Father's Day in the UK this Sunday, so why not pop along, with the old pops, and see if you can buy him a well deserved treat?

A tiny section of my stall last time

Just before opening time

The entry is free, you will be subjected to fine foods to sample including locally produced cheeses, chutneys, honey, fudge and muffins as well as sampling the finest of craftsmanship in sewing, jewellery making, painting, card making, and artistry you don't find on the high street as well as a few branded named stalls. There really is something for everyone and with numerous car parks, even more chip shops and amusements, Abrahams Heights, Gullivers Kingdom and much, much more, it will be a day worth spending out with us.

See you there!

Oh, and if you come and say hi and mention this blog, there's a free gift in it for you! ;)

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

Crayon Roll

Afternoon all,

So as promised from last time's teaser, this is my new Crayon Roll:

Something for the children. This Crayon Roll can be thrown into a school bag, a day bag or into a suitcase for a holiday...the possibilities of use are endless.

The materials are all cotton meaning it can be washed easily if need be and are really attractive prints. The tie is ribbon and matches really well and the ric-rac adds to the cuteness!

The roll comes complete with 12 mixed crayons, all around 3 and a bit inches long and ready to use. Please see it in my Etsy Store soon...

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014

An Order of Bunting

Hello all,

Just a quick post to tell you about an order that was placed while I was at Matlock Bath in Derbyshire last week, for this bunting:

 

A lady saw mine pinned and hanging in front of my table cloth on the stall and then saw my Green & White Shopping Bags and asked if I could make some in that material. Of course I jumped at it! I love to do things slightly different and I welcomed the order. She had a few requirements that were different to that advertised and that made for a challenge. Love a challenge!

So this bunting is double sided as it will be hung in a window, it is double interfaced for durability, stability and less see-through-ness (I know), it makes up to the required 85", it has 1" gaps between each flag, it is sewn and then zig-zag edged and finally, it is bound using the same material.

It sounds so simple, and really, it was in terms of practice, it just takes some time and a lot of care, that's all. BUT I love doing it! So it makes it all ok.

Do you like it? Leave me a comment or Like me on Facebook if you will. Thanks.

Oh, and a little teaser of my other latest project:

This is to come in the next blog...stay tuned.

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014