A Little Felt House Giveaway !

Yup, I've decided to hold a giveaway on my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/littlefelthouse just as soon as the page reaches 150 likes! And if it goes well, I'll do another at 200 likes :)

So, I'm going to spend the week picking and choosing some special Little Felt House goodies out for the giveaway, and all you have to do for now is share the link and like the facebook page!

As soon as I get to 150 likes I'll do a simple 'comment below' style entry for the giveaway.

Yay if you like free stuff (YAY!)

:)

E x

New hand sewn felt birthday & greetings cards :)

Well, back at Little Felt House, there's finally been a little quiet time to craft with felt!

What I love best :) I've been making up a few new birthday and greetings cards:

So far, a hand embroidered cake, and some number cards. And on the back:

I had this 'Hand Sewn by LITTLE FELT HOUSE' stamp made a while back, so happy to have finally used it!

I really had fun making these - I don't have enough time to sew! I also made up some printed fabric cards too, with rubber stamps and a mixture of fabrics - linen, upholstery scraps and floral cotton.

So, that's all for now, but hopefully I'll be doing more soon! :)

E x

My Facebook Page - Little Felt House for Handmade Goodies :)

In the interest of keeping things well connected, I can't believe I've only just thought of linking you my facebook page for Little Felt House.

Unlike this blog, which is a bit more lenient in it's content, the facebook page is solely for items crafted under the 'Little Felt House' name. It's still a hobby, not a business but sometimes it's just nice to share what you do, and maybe hopefully receive a little feedback - good or constructive! :)

So, here you are then:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Felt-House/112211542123070

Click click click!!!

Handmade Cushions for Mothers Day

Well, I can blog about this now she's opened them! Happy Mother's Day, Mum!!

So, last week I sent my Mum a huge box of goodies for Mother's Day - moisturisers, black tea light candles, Yankee votive and holder, fabric, coffee, and these homemade cushions!

She's just had her house renovated, and decorated throughout, and gone for a cream & black colour scheme downstairs - hence cushions for the lounge. The granny square one is the one I made first - a crocheted cover, front and back, over a fabric covered inner cushion. I chose a brown moleskin type fabric for the inner, as the colour shows through the crochet nicely and blends with the hints of taupe in her decor.

I also made the simple, envelope style opening pillow from some striped fabric I had, and this amazing one from a beautiful lambswool jumper.

Sadly, my gorgeous other half machine-washed the delicate little beauty and shrunk it beyond all use :( Whoopsie. It felted up the wool so nicely though - it was like heavenly woollen fabric to use and sew up. Made such a snuggly cushion! I used the buttons from the neck to detail the front, and small buttons to do up the back. The closing on the back is slightly off-centre, as I had to work with what I had from the jumper, and as I'd centred the textured panel on the front, it threw the back out slightly, but not to worry.

She was super pleased, and is going to make some more coordinating ones herself. It's been nice to do some crafting again! Great to get the overlocker out, my needles and crochet hook.

Next - back to what Little Felt House is all about - sewing with felt!

Watch this space x

Three Cliffs Bay, Gower

So, last month, my superawesomeamazing friend came to stay with us for a couple of days. I was so excited, it's been so long since I've seen her, and we had a fantastic weekend. Part of which, we spent at Three Cliffs, a stunningly beautiful piece of coastline about 30 minutes away.

(I'm the one on the left with my trousers rolled up from where I'd been in the sea)

Back to craft-based posts soon, I promise :)

x

Oooh, something I didn't tell you about February!

All in all, February was a great month.

I didn't get to spend any time at all on my rag rug, but the now not-so-new day job is going well, and my bestest buddy ever and her awesome boyfriend came to stay for the weekend. (I'll post some pics from one of the places we went to shortly)

Also, there was Valentine's Day :) Not only did my gorgeous other half take me out for a scrumptious three course meal, but surprised with me with a perfect boquet of 12 red roses!!

Aren't they stunning! I'm so lucky :) Very blessed and loved, it's an amazing feeling.

I promise there will be some crafting blogs coming up, but sometimes you just have to share other things too :)

x

Tuna, Asparagus and Cannellini Bean Salad

Well hello March!

I am *so* behind with my blogging, it's crazy! It's not that I haven't wanted to, I've just had so little time. And as ever, when I have no time, the first thing that goes out the window is crafting :'(

We still need to eat though, and it's been salad week in the Bishop-Harrison household this week, with Sweet Potato and Feta, Roasted Mediteranean Salad, and this:

My Tuna, Asaparagus and Cannellini Bean Salad.

Another made up recipe:

1x Tin Tuna Chunks in Spring Water
1/2 Bunch Fresh Asparagus, boiled for 5 mins, and dunked in cold water until cool
1x 400g Can of Cannellini Beans, rinsed under cold water
50g Baby Spinach
1x Medium, cubed and boiled potato, left to go cold
Handful Petit Pois, cooked as the asparagus, above
Red Onion, finally sliced - as much as you like
2x Eggs, Hard-boiled.
3x Dessert Spoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 1/2 Dessert Spoons Balsamic Vinegar
Teaspoon Wholgrain Mustard

Cook your eggs, asparagus, petit pois and potato first (not in the same pan!) and leave to go cold.
Mix the cooked vegetables with the tuna, beans, spinach and onions.
In a seperate, small bowl or cup, mix the oil, vinegar and mustard, pour over the salad ingredients and mix again.
Finally, de-shell your eggs and slice/quarter and serve with your salad.
Add fresh, buttered crusty bread on the side and enjoy.

Serves 2 as a main, or 4 as a starter.

Hurrah for February!

Well, am I glad January is over! It's not that I don't like it, its just that its a long month - one that you feel should be full of best intentions, resolutions and lots of motivation. That's not so for me; in fact, it has none of those things! I have spent the month learning my new day job, but that on its own doesn't feel like much of an achievement. There's been little time for crafting, or for anything fun. Hopefully February is going to be where my year really starts!

Fingers crossed there'll be time to craft, see friends and family, and plan out a great year.

Plus, I've downloaded a Blogger app for my phone, so now I can blog on the go like I'm doing now.

Onwards and upwards!

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New Project - Braided Rag Rug

A new year brings new projects. Thankfully, I'm settling down in my new job I began in December, and I'm finally fitting in a bit of crafting on an evening.

I posted last year about huge amounts of jersey fabric I purchased at a bargain price. I've used bits and pieces, but there's just so much, and this has also been a useful way to use some of the larger pieces up.

Technically, the idea behind the braided rag rug, is to use rags! But not having much in the way of rags, and having so much of the jersey fabric, I've decided to do a small rug/mat in a single colour.

The fabric itself is a grey patterned knit fabric with a kind of speckled back to it. Without really realising it, as I was braiding the cut strips, they curved in on themselves, so that in the end, it is the back of the fabric that shows.

I began by cutting long strips (it helped that my fabric was circular, as I could just cut long spirals for huge, continuous lengths) and rolling into a ball. I tied three balls together, looped over a door knob and began braiding. The trickiest part was stopping the balls from getting knotted up, and it definitely helps to not make your balls of rag string too long. When they get close to running out, I simply sew the next piece on. You can knot it, but that will give you a knobbly appearance when finished.

I've nearly finished my braiding (I've literally just used up this piece of fabric I had, so the mat/rug will be as big/small as it's going to be, I'm not making a specific size) so a little more and then I'll begin to sew it together.

Sorry the pictures aren't great - crafting on an evening means artificial light which is never my favourite! 

Can't wait to get this finished! Hoping the weekend will give me a little time to get some more work done on it. Yay for crafting again! Was really starting to miss making things!

Felt Wedding Wreath - Ending 2011

Well, not only are we in the New Year, we're over a week in, so it doesn't feel all that new anymore! Hence, here is me apologizing for not blogging over Christmas and New Year! It's funny - you have more time than usual (less work) and yet, so much to do, and so little actual free time.

Things are necessarily any better at the moment - I started a new job mid-Decemeber, and I've just been assigned a new role there, so it's pretty busy, taking a lot of my time learning something entirely new, and also getting used to the earlier-than-normal starts. Enough moaning though :) 2012 has been pretty good so far.

However, before I get started with blogging about 2012 crafts, I just want to round up the end of 2011. The two main things I created in December were a Wedding Wreath, which was our gift at my partner's Uncle's wedding the week before Christmas, and a Christmas stocking for my lovely other half.

The wreath came about as a) I love working with felt, and making wreaths & flowers, and b) we wanted to give a personalised gift. Hence, a white and pale pistachio wreath! Finished with the happy couple's initials, and the date of the wedding. Here's wishing you a very happy life together, Steve and Cheryl.

Sadly, I did that really annoying thing of wrapping up and handing over the gift before I remembered I'd not taken a photo of it. Luckily my partner had taken a shot on his mobile phone, so although not an amazing picture, certainly better than nothing!

The Christmas stocking came about when I found myself home alone on the 23rd. Adam was at work, so I thought I'd use the bit of quiet time to whip up a stocking. I ended up making it all by hand, so wasn't such a quick project in the end, but he's definitely worth it :) and it was a funy way to spend the evening.

It's red striped wool fabric, lined with black jersey, with a tartan trim. Blanket stitch around the toe area, and then a felt 'A' to add that personalised touch. I was really pleased with how it came out, and it looked so cute with all Adam's little pressies in!

I was so lucky with all the lovely gifts I received at Christmas. My friends and family know me so well! In my bunch of lovely stuff I got 3 craft books - one on felt projects, one on vintage chic on a shoestring, and a knitting book full of glove patterns! Can't wait to try out some projects from these, and also a few other things I've had in mind, asap.

I've also just about finished two more granny square cushion covers - one regular sized and one mini one, so I'll post about those as soon as they're finished. All I need  to do now is get settled into my new job so I can't start making the most of my free time when I'm at home!

Onwards and upwards then... here's to another good year!