What would you turn this into?

I recently purchased a remnant of fabric from a charity shop for a couple of pounds, which I think is gorgeous and summery. It makes me smile.

But I have a problem in not knowing what to make from it... and am open for suggestions.

Here is the fabric...

It is a creamy white with yellow, black and grey flowers splashed over it - obviously! and feels a little satin like but withou the brassy high sheen effect.

It is approximately 5ft x 7ft in size.

I can hand sew and have a sewing machine (although I am not too experienced on this yet!).

I am thinking of something to wear preferably. What do you think...?

Fur coat sadness :(

So after finding my total bargain of a real fur coat on ebay, it arrived today.

I was so excited. I carefully opened the packaging and it was packaged well and the feel was glorious!

But... I lifted the coat up (obviously aware and expected the couple of splits on the sleeves that were disclosed) and to my dispair I discovered the the sleeves seem completely shot! Where the skin is so dry it is just cracking and spliting :(

Not sure if this is an over-exageration on my part but I'm not sure if they can be repaired, what do you think?

I have read how to repair and I was feeling quite confident with the couple of repairs that I was expecting but I am really not sure what to do now... the skin seems so dry in the sleeves it appears to just crack and come apart. Was thinking about some how gluing a separate material lining to the back of the sleeve's fur as I know if I stitch the splits another part will just go.

Has anyone had any experience with repairing furs? What would you recommend? I really don't want to have to take to a furrier as that is going to cost a bomb!

Help me restore this wonderful coat...

Fur baby, yeah!

I have always wanted a fur coat. I may be upsetting the apple cart here but to me faux fur just doesn't feel the same.

I always have a scout on ebay and in the charity shops but have never been successful in finding what I'd like.

But on scanning ebay this lunch time with only 10 minutes to go I found it!

A real rabbit fur jacket and in my size.

I looked at the current bidding - £1.50, one bidder. I waited until the last 2 minutes and put a bid in... I WON!! for the grand sum of £2.20!!! :o

There is a tear, they don't say where (ooo I rhyme!) but with my crafty abilities I think I will be able to easily repair this.

I can't wait for it to arrive :)

PS. I know that not everyone is happy with fur, I do understand and each un to there own and all.

Addiction!

I fear that my new year's resolution to be more thrifty has started an addiction!

I was working from home today and had to nip out to the shop at lunch and decided I needed a little scour of the charity shops. And once again this has left me with a truly fantastic hawl...

Next faux fur gilet. This is actually sized for a 10 year old but fits my size 8 frame perfectly. I love it!

Zara wool cardi.

F&F 100% cashmere sweater. I felt this on the rail before I saw it. A real snuggle sweater :)

I have a really thing for brogues at the moment and when I spotted these brand new grey Clarks ones for £4.50 I couldn't leave without them!

This wicker picnic basket was immediately ear-marked for my new hobby and storing my fabrics. I only have a small collection at the moment and its mainly made up of scraps and pre-cuts for patchwork and quilting but this basket does the job perfectly.

Updates on January Monthly Makes

I had a slight panic at the weekend because I have been so busy and felt that I hadn't been crafting with the possessed-glaze that I had at the beginning of the new year. The difference being that I am back at work now and I work full-time. The last couple of week's have been a little full-on at work.

I have managed to finish the Cath Kidston Patch bag though...

             

I am quite please as this is the first thing I have sewn (bar buttons and odd repairs) in a long long time and I have to say that I really enjoyed myself. You may notice that I have substited the suffolk puff that is meant to be in the middle with a large blue button. I wasn't keen on the puff ;)

When I sat down to work on it I was amazed at how quickly it came together. However, when it came to sewing and hemming the actual bag I resided to the fact that I 'needed' a sewing machine.

Those of you who follow me on Twitter or read my blog will know that recently got myself a small sewing machine. I wasn't sure what to expect about it's quality and what I will be able to achieve with it.

I can however say that I have had a little play with it on scraps of material and got a little frustrated to say the least! Not wanted to be defeated, a little browsing and research about using sewing machines followed on the t'internet. I learnt a few key things and attempted another dual. This time I came out the victor.

I have a project lined up and I feel that the Beldray will be a vital asset. With my love of Cath Kidston, I bought a bundle of mixed Cath Kidston fabrics already pre-cut into 4" squares. I am going to endeavour to make a feature for a quilt cover. I fear that I won't have time to complete this Make before the month is out though, so am planning ahead for a February make :)

In the meantime, my make is two-fold. I signed up to Me and My Shadow's - Take One Jumper Challenge and the produce is going to be part of my January Monthly Makes.

Now this was my first time at felting, so off I went and I found myself a 100% lambswool sweater from a local charity shop. I felt a little bad as its by Jaeger but I justified the planned felting of said sweater as ok because it was three sizes to big for me anyway and it only cost £2.99. So I proceeded to whack it in the washer on the highest setting, followed by a hot tumble - as per the instructions that peeps had given me and I have ended up with a sweater that would easily fit a six year old!! (and duly felted of course)

As I said, I am not going to divulge my plans for the sweater but will post them as I go along :)

Thrifty Finds

I love a bargain and its an even better bargain if it is clothes or hobby related.

Although I am only in the office a couple of days a week the small town of Alton does offer several well stocked charity shops which offer great respite for an odd lunch hour.

These include Scope, Oxfam, St Michael's Hospice, Cancer Research, British Heart Foundation and Cardiac Rehab, all within a two minute walk of the office.

Whilst browsing my 'new' favourite shops during yesterday's lunch hour, I come across a couple of great finds at bargain prices.

I have been searching for a pair of smart 'winter' shorts to wear with tights and these Topshop green wool ones hit the nail on the head (so to speak) and they were only £4!

In a different shop, I found this gorgeous green Boden top for, get this... £2.50!! bargain! I wasn't planning a 'green theme' it just happened that way :) They had a couple of other Boden items but unfortunately they were too big.

In a different charity shop I found - Buttons, with a capital B! I'm not just talking a few small plastic packets like I have become accustomed too... I spotted a whole jam jar full of them little gems.

Since Christmas and my vigor to get more crafty again buttons have featured on the horizon a couple of times. I think I have become a little obsessed with wanting to collect more and more of them!

Anyway, I practically ran across the shop to the shelf they were perched on and swooped on them like a bird of prey!! There are all different colours and all shapes and styles of buttons - leather, plastic, wood and glass - ahhh my pretties!! But the best is yet to come... the price! I located a little white sticker stuck to the bottom of the jar - £1!!!!!!!!!!! :o I say no more :)

Now that I have about a jar and a half of buttons, I needed a bigger container. I knew I still wanted a glass jar but where could I find one so big. It wasn't until I was passing the local Fish & Chip shop whilst walking Rigby when I spotted the biggest glass Gherkin Jar ever (well - that I have seen)!! I promptly stuck my head round the door and asked my friend Perry (yes I know - first name terms with the fast-food distributors - not good!) when he next has an empty jar could he stick my name on it... two mninutes later I was walking along the road with a empty, clean, 10-inch tall glass jar - happy bunny :) The only trouble is, the jar isn't even a quarter full now! the button hunt continues...

New Year's Resolutions...

I am not aiming high, just little things that I'd like to do...

1. Keep a fringe
2. Be more thrifty
3. Be more crafty - be more creative and make more things (joined Monthly Makes 2012 on The Felt Fairy's blog as incentive)
4. Get back on the squash court and to match fitness (seeing the Consultant on 12th Jan to find out what can be done)
5. Keep an up-to-date blog :)

Goodbye 2011 x