Tutorial: Lovely Postcard Coaster

Two years ago I made a set of Christmas coasters using my ever so favourite Belle and Boo fabric. I planned to use them only during the holiday season, but they turned out to be very popular, that I decided to keep them all year round. Every time the late night tea is served I tend to use only these coasters. They do bring joy and make us smile. I though it would be nice to spread the joy at this special time of the year so I wrote a quick tutorial for you to make your own Lovely Postcard Coasters.

It's All About Minis Today

Ove the last two months I have made a few lovely mini quilts. There used to be time when I had no idea what to do with a mini, I did not even see a point in making one because they seemed to be simply useless to me. How wrong I was! There are so many things you can do with mini quilts. You can hang them on a wall to decorate your place or sewing room, you can use them as a place mat or a mug rug or even use it as a trivet and of course they make lovely gifts. I like using mine on our dining table under a vase with flowers or a small stack of books. I also enjoy using them as working mats while doing some hand sewing in the living room. I realised that the most important idea behind a mini quilt is trying new patterns, ideas, new challenging techniques and showcasing your skills and pretty fabrics and they are simply fun to work on.

Autumn, Acorns and Hot Chocolate Recipe

What is your favourite season of the year? I honestly cannot decide. I think I love all four of them because each has something unique and special about it and without one I would not enjoy the rest. After a hot and sunny Summer I am embracing the Autumn with my open arms. I love the slight coolness of the morning air, heavy rains and grey skies, yellowing leaves dancing in the wind and chilly evenings. Autumn is always the time when I start craving hot chocolate. With both hands gently wrapped around a warm cup and savouring every sip of that delicious drink cozily snuggled up on a couch with a favourite book. That's the Autumn I love.

Hello My Sweet Friends!

It feels like it's been so long since my last post here and I miss it so much. With my Little One turning into a real boy and giving up his day sleep and the summer school holidays, I find it more challenging to dedicate any time to my blog than ever before. I am spending snippets of my spare time sewing and reading, but mostly it's all about chasing my Little Monkey. But I do come here regularly and I am so grateful to you for visiting me, leaving your comments, asking questions and following my sewing adventures. Your support and encouragement is very important and dear to me. Thank you all so much! I hope you are having a good and very creative beginning of the year. I cannot believe that half of January has gone by already.

Goodbye Year 2016!

The year is pretty much over. With just a few hours left before we begin a new journey through 2017 I look back and feel that the year for me has gone by too quickly. Sometimes days and even weeks were rushed by without much realisation or productivity, they came and went in some kind of a sleep deprived haze. I know it's just a phase and it will pass like everything in our lives, but my goal for the next year is to slow down and concentrate on the happiness of every single moment no matter what I do or how tired I might feel.

A Set of Christmas Coasters...

...that I made for this Christmas and no one wants to use them. Not because we don't like them, but quite the opposite. The boys are saying that they are too pretty and nice to be used for something like a cup of tea that might stain the coaster. Well, I kind of agree with them. :-) The coasters turned out so sweet that I myself keep looking at them and fiddling with them while having my cup of tea and trying my best to keep my cup on the very corner of a coaster or using a different mug rug all together. That's ridiculous and we should stop this nonsense once and for all and enjoy using the things I make no matter how much we love them. Right?

Molly Pincushion

How many pincushions do you have? Do you always use the same one or a few for different things you make? I remember my Grandma's pincushion (for some odd reason I remember only one, I am sure she had more) that used to hang behind a kitchen door along with some scissors and other tools. It always was there so anyone who needed a needle or a pin for some quick work could find it right away instead of looking inside Grandma's large sewing machine cabinet/table.

There Once Lived...

... a very curious Mousey Mouse. A few to be exact. Who love ride on bikes, sit on chunks of cheese, have tea or watch telly in the afternoon. I adore this lovely fabric with cheeky mice. I was so happy when I found a matching plate, cup and spoon at the Zara Home store that gave me the idea for this project.

Precious Memories

I find it difficult parting with old things, especially things that have some sentimental value to me. Just like this white lace. It was made by my dear Mum a long time ago, when she already was unwell and didn't have full control of her hand. She made me a simple item of clothing and added this crochet lace on some parts of it. The garment had been worn out long ago, but I could not part with it. It was too precious. I kept it tucked away in a box for years. It bore the memory of my Mum, her crafty skills, her hands, her love and warmth, and kindness.

Flowers, Teapot and Butterfly

A very simple, but I should say a rather delicate mug rug thanks to the Japanese cross-stitch design and this lovely floral fabric that I had only a tiny piece of. When I found this teapot and cup cross-stitch pattern, I instantly fell in love with it. Just a few crosses that can be stitched in any colour would make a lovely addition to any mat or a tea towel.

First Christmas Placemat + Embroidery Pattern

Everything first. First cuddles and kisses, first favourite toy, Winter and Spring, first visit to a beach, first walk in a park, first pretty flower and the feel of soft grass under tiny feet, first taste of berries and cookies, and of course the ever first Christmas. So sweet!

So Sweet...

Little note... Oh, I am so excited! Come, have a look. I just finished this candy sweet piece. So much pink and so many tiny stitches. What do you think?

Gone Fishing...

Just doodling away... A boat, a man, a fishing rope, some scribbles on a small piece of "paper" and of course fish. Big. Red. Fish. A couple of pieces of pink "wash tape" to help hold the note in place. That's all what I needed for this simple placemat.

Interesting Discovery

I was going to make a set of four linen coasters with a diagonal flowery cotton stripe in the top left corner. I cut all the fabrics, stitched it all up.

Almost Gave Up

"Patchwork, Please!", a book by Ayumi Takahashi that is full of lovely and inspiring projects. I bought it because I wanted to make "You've Got Mail Wall Pocket" or to be more precise to play around with the paper pieced envelope blocks and try out some other interesting ideas.

Totally Handsewn...

... darling tea companions. They are smaller than your ordinary placemats but slightly bigger than coasters. Just the right size to place a cup on it and a small snack while enjoying a cup of tea in a company of a good friend.

It's Lunchtime, Baby!

Phew! It's finished! At last! It took me sooooo long to finish this project. I don't know why but I kept putting it aside after just a few stitches over and over again. But earlier this week it all came together and I managed to finish this project in pretty much one go. I'm glad I did.

Love, Balloons and Tiny Hearts

I have to tell you the truth. Never before till this year I made anything for Valentine's Day. It's something we celebrate with a bunch of flowers for me and chocolates for everyone, and a nice home cooked dinner, nothing else really. Especially no decorations for the house... never. This year, for some unknown reason to me, I felt different. I felt like creating small lovely things to make this day more special with a splash of pink and red.

I enjoyed so much working on fabric love hearts and the garlands, embroidering little Valentine's tags, making a wall hanging that I am going to show you a bit later in the week and finally sewing the placemats. I think I might keep this tradition going with some extra special additions for the next year.

Selvedges. Interesting Pieces of Fabric

I got two craft magazines recently. Molly Makes and Homespun. These magazines are always full of interesting projects, ideas, photos and inspiration.

Some Sad Things and Some Happy Things

Remember my garden in a coffee cup? Well, I have some sad news. It's gone. Forever I suppose. We went away and one week without watering was enough for this tiny green world to suffer so much that it could not bare it anymore. It dried out. Once we got back home, I tried to revive it but the damage was too much for the little plant to handle. It is sad but luckily I split this plant in two a few weeks after I bought it because it was getting a bit wild in the tiny cup. It's growing ok in a large pot outside. So I should be happy that it was only a small part of the plant that died. Now I have to find some other plant, that can survive without water for long periods of time. Any suggestions?