Wednesday 22 February 2012

Vintage Padded Hangers-Tutorial

I have been asked how I made the padded hangers from my last post (monthly makes) so I thought I would have a go at writing my first tutorial and show you how I made them.
I know there are instructions in books such as Cath Kidston Sewing but this is the way my Mum used to make them and as we all know Mums way is best.


Obviously the first thing you need is a hanger, I have quite a few wooden hangers but a plastic one would also work. You also need something to use as a wadding. My Mum used old stockings on one of hers which worked perfectly well and is a great way to recycle an old pair, although I've even used them to re-stuff a much loved rag-doll who was looking a bit sorry for herself.
But I digress (as usual)


So cover the hanger with the wadding, then measure your hanger
and cut a rectangle of fabric to fit around it.


I then decided how I was going to embellish it  and
decide if it needs to be added to the fabric
before or after you cover the wadding.




I went for the pretty trim and lace on just one end as the other end had some
 embroidery on the fabric already and I didn't want to cover it up.
The trim was sewn on before wrapping the linen cover
 around the padded hanger and slip stitching  into place.



Then add a small button to each shoulder to help keep the
hanging ribbon in place and a bow at the bottom of the hook.


And voila finished
Easy eh.


If you want to have a go with vintage Linens and don't have any, have a look at my Etsy shop  Lavender Linen and lace for the Inspirational packs.



Hope that was clear enough and you have fun making your own--if you do.

Sprak again soon.

Gillx


Monday 20 February 2012

Monthly Makes




I ,like alot of Blogland it seems, have had a horrible cold the last week.  Can someone tell me why we always seem to get these things when we have a busy week ahead. Mr T unhelpfully said that if I took myself off to bed for a day  and gave into it rather than carrying on I would get over it quicker.  
Words fail me.
I did manage to do a bit of crochet towards the blanket swap and have sent off my first load of squares but of course forgot to take photos before wrapping them.
My first parcel arrived a couple of days ago, this one from the Snail Garden.
It was a lovely surprise and they are great squares.



I love the butterfly.


I thought is was a good time to show you my monthly makes.
A couple of padded hangers made from old linen and lace which is part 
of the damage items in the stock of Lavender Linen and Lace.
Both have got tiny buttons on the ends to stop the cloths falling off, hopefully.



I needed a new cushion on the bed and was inspired by  the vintage feel of some of the fabric I received as part of one of the Christmas swaps.

And this handsome fella is in Patch by Cath Kidston.
I'm quite pleased with the result.


Lastly, this little guy has been sent of to Battersea dog home 
as part of their campaign to put a herb sachet in every kennel.This one is full of lavender.
I have tried to find the link to this but it seems to have disappeared.
Never mind I have sent it off anyway.

Have already started on next months so watch this space.

See you soon.
Gillxx

Thursday 9 February 2012

The Things we do for our children…..


Like half of the country this is what we woke up to on Sunday morning.
I love snow… except when we have to drive in it.



As I said in my last post we were going to Wales where my son has just got a promotion for work.
This week his girlfriend has gone to join him so the rest of their furniture has to be moved.
Neither of them can drive a large van(their both too young) so Mum and Dad to the rescue.

So Sunday afternoon was filling the van with all the stuff out of a first floor flat.

I meant to take an after photo but forgot. It was well filled.


Early Monday morning we set off in freezing fog at 5am.

A11-M11-A14-M6-M42-M5-M4
325 miles


7 hours later we arrive at the Mumbles.

2 hours later the other 2 arrived  after having to hand back the keys etc for the flat.
By which time,of course, we had unloaded everything.

So Mr T and I went to stretch our legs and left them to start the unpacking.


His house is the back somewhere.


And not a snowflake in site.
I've never been to this part of the world before
and am looking forward to spending more time in the area.


But not today as after a great meal out at the Bay Brasserie
it was another early start before heading home again.

From Norfolk To Swansea and back in less than 36 hours 
for poor Mr T to go back to work early Wednesday.

To say I ached yesterday would be an understatement.
So some homemade biscuits, coffee 
and my countryliving was the 
order of the day.




Have a great weekend.

Gillx

Saturday 4 February 2012

My Giveaway win



I Won a Giveaway :-)

Just before Christmas  Gillyflower had a giveaway where you could  choose between 3 great Tea Towels.  I love giveaways, they give me that little bit of hope that I might win something, like the tombola at the school fete or a raffle at a Dinner and Dance.

 Do they still have them? We haven't been to one for years and I love getting all dressed up.
Anyway I digress.

A couple of weeks ago I found out I'd won and this week my parcel arrived beautifully wrapped.



I love Angels and have quite a collection that come out every Christmas 
so this was the perfect tea towel for me.


But there was more
3 hearts--the wooden one looks great in my new kitchen.


3 packets of seeds, 3 of my favourites, which will be planted up in the greenhouse when I get back from Wales.
They will push me into clearing out the greenhouse as well which I've been meaning to do for weeks.


And 3 sheets of felt (the white one is hiding). These patterned ones are unusual I will have to find something to use them for.


So a big Thank you to Gill for a fabulous prize.

Also this week I took my sewing machine in to be mended, only to find it wasn't broken.

Talk about wanting the ground to open up! 
The lady in the shop was so condescending, she spoke to me like a child and I wanted to snap back "I know how to use a sewing machine"-- but obviously I don't else I wouldn't have made the mistake.

Big lesson to myself, check everything is in place before assuming the worst.

Still while I was in Norwich I had a wander around.
I went through this arch which I've meaning to explore for years and found this square at the back.
I thought my eyesight was going wonky looking back at the arch.



But it really is that crooked.


A couple of other things I found on my wander.
A Norwich Lanes memorial plaque for the old bakers, these are all over the city but I thought this one was great.



Then to 'Country and Eastern' which used to be the old Ice skating Rink.
This is it now 


But this is apparently how it used to look
I don't think they have quite got the scale right but its nice to know it's still there.
I love the "thrice daily"



Lastly, a Good Luck message to the England Rugby team this afternoon

I think they might need it.



I'm off to the Mumbles for a couple of days
 so see you when I get back and I'll tell you all about it.

Gillxx

Wednesday 1 February 2012

I Give Up.



Today has been one of those days when you had a list of things you intended to do but life intervened
and everything changed and in the end I gave in to fate and had a lovely time getting to know the delightful young lady who is moving in with my son.
 So while the lasagne cooks and I wait for Mr T I thought I would show you my new acquisitions but of course as I write this he comes home early doesn't he.  That just about sums the day up.

Hi I'm back. Now where was I….
Oh Yes

One of the things I have signed up for recently is the blanket swap and I'm going to crochet loads of granny squares to send around to everyone else.  I had a look on revelry for patterns but decided in the end to treat myself to this book that I found on Amazon.



So now I have plenty of patterns to choose from


and other than a couple of basic books this is the first book on crochet that I have bought.


But books for me are like buses, they always seem  to come in twos


This one looks fab and I can't wait to have a go at some of these




But the squares come first, the only problem I have now is that I started doing 12 inch squares and all these patterns are for 6 in squares, so does that mean I have to send four to each person. Might have to find out?

Hope your day was more organised than mine.
I'll be back soon to show you the Giveaway I have won. 

Gillxx