And oh yeah...

I finished this today (I made 5 of them actually):

A Mini Christmas Bag! It is made using a printed PVC material, like a laminated cotton and stands approximately 9" tall by 8" wide with handles about 7" high, with the cutest robins and Christmas puddings!

I designed this with the thought in mind that it can be used as a gift bag to hold Christmas presents - a gift bag that can be re-used, or as a bag for children, or even as a shopping bag for someone of any age!

I just fell in love with the material and knew I had to do something with it... Do you like it? Please let me know your thoughts. :)

Have a great day,
Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014

I have been busy!

Evening all...

I have been busy! Apart from exhibiting at a billion fairs recently, most of which I forgot to advertise on Facebook but there you go, I have been working really hard thinking up, designing and making the following items, I hope you like them:

Christmas Reindeer Cushion

Yes, I know, but it is only 81 (ish) days away! ARGH! Sorry. Anyway... I haven't made cushions before and so I thought I'd just experiment a little and I am really happy with the result! The material is cream cotton and the decoration is made of felt, beads and gold thread but the best bit is that it is made using freehand machine embroidery. I am really into that at the moment...more in a future blog.

Next up:

Hand Made Lavender Bags

As the title suggest, hand made lavender bags! These are made of a satin/silk material and filled with French lavender heads and closed with a beautiful lavender coloured ribbon. These are a true classic and always sell well at the fairs.

Pink Heart Divided Purse

Strawberries Divided Purse

Yet again the titles should say it all but to add to that, they have cute little aplique felt pictures on the front, they each have seperate pockets that fit cards and cash as well as mobile phones and so they are pretty, versatile and durable. Plus with an added keyring they are even more inviting.

And next we have...:

The Reversible Mini Shopping Bag

This is such a cute little bag that is made of strong canvas materials that has no pockets or closures that get in the way making it perfect for reversing. I only made a couple but one sold on the first fair they went out at.

You still with me? There's more:

Country Kitchen Print Tissue Box Cover (and tissues)

Olive and Black Tissue Box Cover (also with tissues!)

These are something I have been wanting to make for quite some time and get asked for the most, I had just never tackled them - until recently. They actually took me a long time (and multiple efforts) to make them to fit and each have ribbons underneath to tie around the base of the box.

And finally...

Upcycled and Vintage Beige Shpping Bag

This is one of my favorites that I have earmarked for me - I have said that if it has not sold by Christmas, I am keeping it myself! The material is a hesian/calico/muslin type (found at a market), the handle is an old leather belt, the doily is from a vintage shop in Bakewell that I have decorated with vintage beads and the metal findings came from an old leather rucksack that had seen better days. I made it with a cream lining and a hanging internal pocket that fits a mobile phone or cards/money, the belt adjusts to any length you like and it has a magnetic snap to close. I LOVE this, if I do say so myself...

You will find these items in the Etsy Store soon or if not, pop along to a fair I will be exhibiting at. I promise to try and keep my Facebook page up to date for these...

Thanks for reading, leave me a comment if you wish :)

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014

Latest Items

Evening all,

Just a quick one to show you these two new items I finished today and have added to my Etsy Store; firstly these Cute Cupcake Coasters:

Yes, I know you have seen coasters not so long ago, but these have different base colours and these have solid colour backs, meaning they are predominantly made to be cupcake side up, but they can still be turned over to show pink, yellow and blue back grounds. Cute, yes?

And the next, remember the padded phone case I made before? This is the next style:

 

Teehee! This mummy blackbird is looking after her blackbird chicks, high up in the tree tops! Cute. Well I think so anyway... I simply love making these, I love the childlike naivity to them. They are quality made and take quite some time but they have a look that says 'put together in a flash'. This is just about to go in my Etsy Store along with this one:

This one just makes me want to take a strole up that lane and see where it take me...yep, that's the romantic in me ;)

Anyway, thanks for reading, please pop over to my shop or give me a Like on Facebook, or even leave me a comment! Could do with some. 

Have a great weekend.

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014

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