Everyday Pattern

I've been clearing out a few kitchen cupboards recently in a general spring-cleaning sort of a way: getting rid of a few of our more random student-y bits and pieces and several of those gadgets, glasses & dishes with terribly specific jobs that we just never use...

I now (finally) have room for that lush set of floral crockery I acquired back in November and have been able to get rid of many boring everyday mis-matched dinner-plates and replace them with these patterned lovelies which had been long-neglected in the back of a cupboard:
My fellow vintage crockery geeks may wish to know that these plates are stamped "Doverstone, Staffordshire, England" and the pattern is "Canadiana". They are lovely and solid, perfect for bashing about in the washing up bowl on a daily basis. Another of my charity shop finds, the plates have matching tea plates, bowls and this excellently chunky teapot:
It's nice to have a bit more pattern in our everyday dining, and I think the "new" plates go rather nicely with the swirly Bilton ones we're also using at the moment....
... inherited from my parents who after years of eating off these opted for something nice and plain in cream! :)

A Credit Crunch Sampler - your votes needed!

Sorry for the lack of posting the past couple of days, I've had a friend visiting and have tried to be a good host and neglect my blog etc instead of him! :)

I've got something rather fun to show off today - my entry for Folksy's Make the News competition, to make something inspired by a recent news story.

One of the most written-about stories of 2008 has been the economic crisis - known as "The Credit Crunch" here in the UK. To, er, "celebrate" the credit crunch I made my own modern twist on old fashioned embroidery samplers made to commemorate a year or special event:
As a crafter, I've been really interested in how an almost wartime-like "make do and mend" attitude has been cropping up in connection with the credit crunch. Now the mass-consumption bubble has burst people are rediscovering the specialness of handmade things, and "old fashioned" hobbies like sewing are experiencing a revival:
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/sewing-machine...
I couldn't get the idea of credit crunch themed embroidery out of my head, and made this in a bit of a sewing frenzy one night this week. It's freehand embroidery on white felt - the technical term for my embroidery style is "naive" (haha) but I do try! - framed in an embroidery hoop.

If you like it, please do vote for me by leaving a comment HERE before midnight (GMT) on Sunday 11th Jan! Thankyou muchly xxx

EDIT: voting has now closed

Very Special Ornaments

I've been working on these ornaments for a while now, but they've been top-secret up until now as they were a surprise wedding present...Each ornament depicts a different one of the couple's interests or favourite things, and they were luckily very well received (phew!).
I'm happy with how they all turned out - and it was a lovely moment seeing them all laid out together like that when I'd finished them - but my favourite is probably the camera, as I love proper old-fashioned cameras and really enjoyed sewing this:

Shopping, Sales and Sponsors

Lots of things to mention today!

First up, I'm having a small January sale over in my Etsy shop: hurrah! This is your chance to pick up some Christmas ornaments for next year at bargain prices, and there are a few other goodies included as well. When they're gone, they're gone, as the saying goes, as anything unsold by the end of January will be vanishing from my shop (though obviously some of the Christmas things may reappear next winter!)

Secondly, I must show off the lovely corsage I got in the post yesterday:A yummy Christmas gift to myself from the super-talented Nonsuch ... to join this delicious creation in adorning my winter wardrobe. Fantastic quality as always and very sweetly packaged in tissue paper and wallpaper with a yummy freebie (mmm... chocolate...) and a cute doodle on the envelope:Nonsuch is also one of my newest blog sponsors ... and as there are so many great shops signed up for this month I'd like to introduce you to the rest of them.

Creamrose makes fabric-covered buttons for your crafty projects (like this cute tea-themed set), fabric button jewellery plus lovely bright accessories like these chrysanthemum hairclips that are sure to make you smile:OuOu sells super-cute gocco-printed notebooks and printed notecards featuring adorable boys and girls and the cute critters that keep them company like this friendly (cocoa-drinking) green dragon:Sallyent is also known as Tinkering Textiles and is - unsurprisingly - in love with making what she calls "textiley things"... purses, bags, brooches and even daschunds all in lovely vintage or geometric prints:Bombus is "saving the planet through decoupage" and making some rather nice things along the way - everything from map-covered plates to stylish greetings cards. My current favourite is this scissors card, perfect for sending to anyone crafty:
Pouch has a great eye for colour and a snazzy bit of retro pattern, and works with vintage fabrics to make one-of-a-kind or limited edition bags, purses, belts and adorable lavender owls:
Askey Illustration sells fresh and modern artwork - as limited edition A4 prints or open edition mini prints - and also offers graphic design services, such as logo design and custom illustration. I have my eye on this print ("the last one") at the moment:LauraFallulah makes bright and funky handbags, purses and accessories inspired by "kitsch 50's/60's design, tattoos and fabric". She's having a sale at the moment and has lots of great bargains available, like these whimsical rose-appliqued pumps:
And last (but by no means least) BigFish, seller of an awesome array of crafty supplies: this shop is supplies heaven for the colour-obsessed crafter, with felt balls and ribbons and buttons galore!