busy busy busy! and challenge 52 week ten

Its been a busy time here.  It is No 2 sons 18th birthday today.  I cant believe how fast the time has gone!  It seems all my boys are growing up and away in the blink of a eye.   No 2 likes Tarzan and its kind of a family joke so for His birthday I made him two Tarzan and Jane teddies!   He was very happy with them.

Teddy Tarzan and Jane!

I also managed to find the time to make Princess a couple of skirts

Ive also made my niece one of these for her Birthday

I love the different flowers in the fabric

And I finally finished the patchwork quilt for the baby expected in May.  

The quilt has a double lining of wadding in so will be super cosy in the winter

So although Ive been busy I have plenty to show for it! 

Its now the start of the car boot seasons. we went to two this week and I managed to get some lovely patch work fabric for 50p!  Bargain!  I also bought a tea set for my dresser,  Unfortunately Mr CM managed to smash the sugar bowl and one of the cups before we got home!  Oh dear!  I forgive him!  (plus he has promised to get a replacement!)

Princess loves car boot sales and always comes back with a dolly or two.  She soon wont be able to get in to bed for all the dollies! She especially loves little dollies that will fit in her dolls house.  She also collects care bears so there are a fair few of them here as well!

Well until next time. Thanks for reading

Challenge 52 2011 week nine!

Week Nine?   Erm....... I seem to have lost some weeks! Never mind from the list of my makes on my side bar then  I am definitely ahead of my self!
I have been busy knitting away making a blanket for my new Grand baby due in May this year.  I have finally finished.  Thankfully!  it was very repetitive and I don't know why i started it really as I knew it was!  I finished Knitting it at the weekend and sat last night sewing the fleece backing on it.  Its super cosy and I know it will keep babe warm in the pram. Babies  Mummy doesn't drive so she walks quite a lot and this will be  perfect for keeping warm and cosy.  I choose these colours as the ultrasound cant be 100% that she is in fact a she.  So if She is a He then it can still be used!

I finally finished the blanket!

This week i managed to pick up a copy of this magazine.. 

The much searched for magazine!

It has been so hard to get.  Probably due to the fact that everyone I speak to is raving about it.  It has some really good articles in it and unlike many magazines, it covers a multitude of crafts. I have post it notes sticking out of many pages marking projects I would like to try.  I really want to try the cushion covers on the front but as I have never cabled before maybe I am being a little ambitious?  lets just see if I ever have time to create something that needs my undivided attention!  I will give this Magazine a better review  during the week.
  finally a special thanks to Leigh (click for her website)  for helping me to add the signiture for my Blog.  Check out her blog.  She has some fantastic makes on there!
Cheerio for now and thank you for visiting.


 

Challenge 52 week 6

So this week has not really gone to plan.  I didn't post my Valentines swap in time so felt terribly guilty when it didn't arrive at my swappers in time for valentines. (although she was very understanding, thanks Jenna x)

 Mr CM had a stay in hospital due to his recurring Kidney stones OUCHIE!  and I  have been feeling quite down lately.  I think its a mixture of My medication being changed and the middle son leaving home. 

I had planned to go to church today as I desperately need some christian friendship at the moment but with Mr CM being poorly that didn't work out.  This is our church

Then again on the positive side I have made a couple new online crafty friends, did a little crafting, half term has started and I treated my self to some union jack fabric which i have cushion making plans for!  Pink for my chair and traditional for Mr CMs.  

So here's this weeks makes.

This is a canvas that I've covered with African print fabric and beads.  I love the big bold colours that come out in the African prints.  I haven't found a home for this yet but its likely it will reside in our stairway!

I have also made a matching picture frame using the same technique and fabric,  I cant show it here as its a present for someone! Once the person has received it i will add some pictures

I also covered some notebooks to give as presents.I got this idea of using vintage pictures off another  blog but cant remember who's!  If its you please get in touch so I can add a link to your work!

I'm also working on the Blanket that was in Lets Knit February edition.

I cant find a link for the pattern but its in here! 
Its taking ages but I guess that's to be expected when I only really knit for a hour or so in the evening if I have time.  It is for our new Grandbaby due in May so it should be finished by then!  Im doing it in pastal colours as we are not 100% sure on the gender but have been told 75% it will be a girl!  Still better to be safe than sorry!
Well bye bye for now
Until next time Happy crafting
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Challenge 52 week five and Charity shop finds!

We had a family birthday again this week.  It was my nieces birthday and she was four.  I made her a bag and put some necklaces and children's rings inside.  She loved it and said she will use it for school!  The bag is made out of calico, very similar to the bags for life in the supermarkets.  I decorated it with a hexagon patch I had left over from a project I'm working on.

One of my favourite things to do when I have a free afternoon (which doesn't happen very often!)  is to go and look around the Charity shops.  it is amazing the things I find there!  This wee Mr CM and I went Charity shop shopping or as we call it OP-shopping!
We had a lovely time browsing a local high street and had lunch out together alone!  That happens so rarely I can not remember the last time we did it!
Any way......  here are some of our finds

A small wicker basket for the bathroom.  Our bathroom is very small so this is the perfect size for there

A trifle bowl and kilner jar.  Now there are only four of us at home I needed a smaller bowl for making deserts.  This one fits the bills perfectly!  It needed a good clean but after a run through the dishwasher it was sparkling like new!

A porcelain dolly and chair for Princess

Two beautifully patterned sheets perfect fabric for patchwork!

 All this and I spent the grand total of £6.50!  How cool is that!
While we were out Mr CM treated me to this!

 Ive been looking for something like this since seeing one similar on Kirsties Homemade Homes.  It has been put right at the top of my stairs so you see it as soon as you enter the house!  I love it!

Its February already! (challenge 52 week five)

I can hardly believe that its February already!
this week Son No.2 has finally removed all his things from the house.  So hes officially moved out.  Its sad in one way but in another I'm proud that they are making their own lives now.

I also feel I have to make a complaint about Asda Ice cream.  The one below has been on sale at our local Asda for the royal sum of £1.00. Far, far too cheap!  Being this cheap allowed me to add Two pots to my trolley this week.  It tricks you into thinking its a normal Chocolate ice cream.  but once you open it up....... Its got you!  It makes you believe that you just have to eat it with a spoon straight from the carton, to save on washing up a bowl, and before you know it, while watching Lark rise to Candleford you have eaten the whole pot!    Even worse.....   It comes in about five delicious flavours!  Naughty me and shame on the diet!

Naughty Ice cream!

So now to crafting!
Ive been busy making patchwork bags.  I have decided this year to boycott wrapping paper and plastic shopping bags and so Ive been making smaller ones for gift giving and larger ones for shopping.  Here's a couple of the ones Ive made

These are the perfect size to pop little gifts in

Little needle/pin  case filled with some crystal pins

I also made a little needle case to put into a Birthday gift swop I am sending out this week.














Well I hope you are all having a wonderful week and I look forward to reading all your lovely blogs this week
hales xx

challenge 2011 week four!

Yay I'm on time!

This week I seen my second Son leave home to set up home with his Girlfriend.   Its a bittersweet time as most mothers know.  The joy at one less teenager in the house,  One less set of washing each day,  extra time for me.  on the other hand, One less person living here, giving me a hug,  giving me a smile.  Still life goes on and the world turns.

We have a little Doggie called Poppy.   When our Beautiful Jessie-Dog passed away Poppy pined for her and became very attached to our Daughter. Now when ever Princess goes out then Poppy sits on the back of the sofa and windowsill waiting for her to come home!  And you know what?  That dawg can tell the time!  At three O'clock everyday faithfully,  she takes up her station on her cushion waiting for Daddy to return with the Princess! When they return,  What a reunion!  you would think they hadn't seen each other for weeks instead of hours!  I love the way dogs are so faithful to their owners.

So crafting time.......

It was my Nieces birthday and she is a avid swimmer so i decided to make her a swim bag.  I didn't have a lot of time so made it as simple as possible.  I bought a new towel and removed the trimming.  Added some teddy bear fabric and a handle and finished!  The beauty of this bag is that it can be used as a extra towel to dry herself and then bunged in the washing machine when she gets home from swimming with no messing about!   Quick and easy to make and a really practical present.

Challenge 2011 Week 3

Oh dear......................

Its only the third week into the challenge and I'm behind!  Although I have been into hospital for some tests so I guess just this time I am excused!
We recently bought  a 1940s child's chair from ebay. We paid the bargain price of £4.99!  I was so pleased with it.  Although it was rather battered I see a great future ahead of it.  Not only for Princess but for our subsequent Grandchildren and (God willing)  Great-Grandchildren.
It desperately needed recovering but finances being a little tight at the moment we couldn't afford it. BUT.... Then I was looking through my fabric stash and I found some fabric I had bought on a whim about two years ago.  It was perfect so i just had to use it.  the chair is now suitable to be on public display and has pride of place in our lounge! Perfect!
Here are some before and after photographs!

And then after a couple of hours, a staple gun and a bit of Patience!.........................

We just love it.  Its a temporary covering until we win the lottery and it can be covered by a professional with Cath Kidston fabric.  Ohhh sounds lovely doesn't it?

Talking of Cath Kidston......
I recently entered a giveaway on one of the blogs that I follow  kandipandi pop along there and take a look at her makes.  This is what I won.

I was so excited to win and receive this!  It has some beautiful things in it.  I cant wait to try out some of the ideas!   kandipandi was so generous to give this away and it was so great to get the email to say I had won, on the day I had been to hospital for tests and felt pretty rough!  Thank you again my lovely xxx
She has just made the Union Jack cushion from the book and its absolutely fabulous.

week 2 challenge 52 2011

Hello again and welcome to my new blog readers as well as those who have been reading for while.

We are starting to feel better her at crafty mum towers but have been left with a shocking cough.  Still after reading the news with all of the cases of swine flu about we are thankful that we are all recovering well.

This week I have been busy making a few items.  

mug rug

Firstly I made a mug rug (fancy name for a coaster)  for one of the lovely ladies whom i am doing a birthday swap with.  I made it using a old pair of jeans and corduroy trousers of my daughters.  there is even a special pouch for biscuits!

Then I made some hair accessories to put in my handmade gift box/pile

These were made using some felt remnants from Christmas decorations.

A little beaded purse/ handbag.  Again for the gift pile.  This was made using the leg from a old pair of Princesses jeans.  I'm doing well sticking to the recycling theme so far this year!

Then finally Mr bought me a beautiful cup cake stand for Christmas.  It has pride of place on my new dresser (pictures to follow)  I felt like it needed a mat or runner to sit on so Ive made a little cup cake runner/mat for it to sit on.  Oh course this also had to be cup caked themed!

not a very good picture but you kind of get the idea!

So all in all have had quite a productive week.  How about you?  feel free to post your links for your crafts in the comment box below.

Bye for now 

Week one Challenge 52 2011

Week one!

Happy 2011 Everyone!
So after running around after everyone in the family who was ill  throughout Christmas I finally caught their Flu virus!  Feel like a sickly pants so my first offering is something I put the finishing stitches in just after midnight on NYE!

Its knitted door flag/banner for my nephews bedroom door.  Bit of a poor offering to start the challenge off but I hope you understand.  Its hard to craft while constantly blowing your nose and feeling awful.  I'm hoping next week will be more thrilling!

Dont forget to leave your comments and links to your lovely makes underneath!
Happy new year
Hales xx

Challenge 52 - 2011

Hello readers
Although I don't want to believe it myself its nearly the end of 2010.  Where has the year gone!
To start the year I have decided to set my self a challenge.  I intend to make One item (at least!)  every week throughout 2011 And I'm inviting you to join in too!
  Whatever your craft or interest join in and make along! then every Friday link back to here and we will share our creations.  Its all for fun and to share our creations and inspirations.  I look forward to hearing form you xxx