Crazy patchwork keyrings

A little bit of crazy patchwork for you today.

We're trying to get together some new goodies to sell on our Buns & Roses craft stalls, so I rustled up these little keyrings.



I pieced together scraps on my machine, then made a sandwich with the crazy patchwork piece, pelmet vilene and a single piece of fabric on the back.



Stitched over the fabric joins on the top piece through all layers, then round the edge, and finished off with pinking shears and an eyelet and keyring.



Rather nifty I think. Hope they sell!

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Bag lady

Hello! Just a quickie to prove that I am still alive!

I've been working on all sorts of different bits and pieces recently, mostly little things to keep me occupied of an evening without too much thought or stress!

The patchwork bug has well and truly bitten me so I have been playing about with shapes and different fabrics.

Here are three bags for life that I decorated.



The hexagon flower is my favourite. The fabric was a bargain from Samuel Taylors in Leeds.

I had a few issues making the diamond one and it's not exactly perfect, but with the button and a few beads I think I pulled it off!

And the hexagon border one is pretty successful too I think.

These will be on sale at our next Buns & Roses craft stalls - we have two coming up and have sold quite a lot of goodies on the market stall so we're trying to restock!

I am also working on a quilt. A bit ambitious but I am using a Japanese folded patchwork technique and each piece is finished and quilted as you make it then stitched together at the end, so it's not too bad.

Other works in progress include something for my dad and step-mum for their new house and to celebrate their wedding and pieces for my embroidery certificate.

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Buns & Roses at the I Love West Leeds Festival

On Sunday, Buns & Roses WI took part in the I Love West Leeds Festival, this year in Bramley Falls Park.

It was a beautiful sunny day and we were there to sell our wares on our craft table and help the kiddies make name plaques for their doors.



Here's Helen, Hayley and me at our stall. Doesn't it look amazing?! We sold quite a lot of stuff, mostly thanks to the wonderful Liz, Secretary at the West Yorkshire Federation of Women's Institutes, who did a great job promoting the WI.





Here you can see everyone hard at work creating their plaques. We had lots of amazing helpers on the day and it was hard work, but enjoyable.

You can see my plaque hanging below the sign in the second picture. It's now on my office door at the Federation.





And here are some that the kids made, hanging to dry in the sunshine. They all got really into it and there were some very clever and creative uses of the stash we provided.

The I Love West Leeds events are going on throughout the month, so if you're local then do check out the festival website.

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Carr Manor Craft Fair

Sam and I had a lovely afternoon at the Carr Manor Primary School Craft Fair on Saturday, despite not selling very much.



Here's our stall, doesn't it look pretty? Sam brought the tablecloth and bunting, which is essential for any craft stall!



Here are some of mine and the Buns & Roses goodies - cards, owl bookmarks, bags for life, stitched pictures.



And here are Sam's items - her gorgeous bath products including salts, scrubs and bobmbs. Find out more about her crafty exploits on her Corsets, Crafts and Cupcakes blog.



Don't the jars look fab? Sam invested in a stash of Stampin' Up! goodies so she could make all her packaging. It looks so beautiful all together.

Today I'm at The WI office in Rodley - not on official business but just taking the opportunity to work in a different environment and see some of my best friends at the same time!

This evening I'm off to the Craft Club in Headingley to share something (as of Sunday afternoon when I scheduled this I have no idea what I will be crafting!), then it's a pretty usual week.

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Owl be there for you

On Saturday I helped to run the Buns & Roses WI craft stall at a fair at the Cross Keys pub. It was a bit chilly with quite a breeze at times but at least it was dry.

Here is our table.



We've really got lots of lovely things on sale now from some of our talented members, and it's always good to help make them, and B&R, a few quid, as well as spread the word.

While I was there I made a few owls using the fab new punch. So much fun to play with this and use up some of those tiny little scraps of paper and card that I just can't manage to throw out!



Here's a Cajun Craze owl with googly eyes! If he had a mouth I think he'd be whistling like he was trying to avoid a question!



Here are a few variations in colour. I got some coloured lollipop sticks to make bookmarks.



And here's another bookmark and a brooch. I think the orange one is drunk!

I love the Two-Step Owl Punch as it is so much fun to use and you can make loads of little pieces like this really quickly and use up loads of scraps.

Lots on this week, with WI meetings, work and a bit of crafting too!

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A scrapbook page and The WI

I had a lovely day out yesterday at the West Yorkshire Federation of Women's Institutes AGM. I went with my good friends Hayley and Siobhan and of course met a lot of lovely WI ladies from around the county and beyond.

We were running a craft stall for our WI and I am very pleased to say we sold quite a few goodies, including about 20 of my cards!

Here is our stand - doesn't it look good?!









We started off by singing Jerusalem then had all the usual meeting stuff - financial reports and updates from the various committees.

Then, Buns & Roses were awarded a trophy for getting the most new members!



I did a short presentation on stage about my visit to Denman College last week. I was so nervous but I think it was OK! I also manned the desk for the college at lunchtime and got to chat with many WI members.

There was also a craft competition. The theme was Seasons, so I did a scrapbook of the Formula 1 season in 2009 when Jenson Button won the world championship.



I didn't win, but it was good to have a try.



I made the flag by weaving strips of paper. The journaling is written on some of the Newsprint DSP.



I used chipboard and a button for Jenson's name! I coloured around the edge with a blackmarker to make it stand out.

Well that was just one day in my busy week and there are many more to come!

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Denman College - Day 5

I'm now back in Leeds after a fantastic week at Denman College. I was really sad to leave and say goodbye to everyone but as I was the last to go I could wave them all off!

I had another amazing night's sleep and a good brekkie then a final walk around the grounds.

Here are a few more pics - there wasn't a cloud in the sky!









There are lots of pretty flowers and the odd mushroom!



Big trees!



Christmas Cottage looks beautiful as always!





I sat down to do a few more stitches - this is the view from the Drawing Room.

Neil and Rob from WI Life called in to say hello and get a couple more pics of me and my work and then I was off to get the train.

It has been a wonderful week and I really hope I can go back soon. The college is open to everyone and there are loads of courses as well as day schools. You can even stay there as a B&B. Go take a look at the Denman College web page for details!

I still have busy times ahead - Stampin' Up! training tomorrow, West Yorkshire Federation of Women's Institutes AGM on Tuesday (I will be doing a presentation on Denman and helping to run a Buns & Roses craft school), Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue workshop on Thursday (let me know if you can come!), craft fair on Saturday ... the list goes on! Also got planned a drink or two with Sam, the Formula 1 is on, need to do some work. Oh, and finish my goldwork!

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Bits and bobs

This afternoon I am annoyed as the UPS man came while I was giving Bodd a bath so I won't get my new goodies until tomorrow now. At least I got a lot of work done this morning and the cat is nice and clean!
Anyway, here are two more pics from the craft fair at the Cross Keys last weekend.


The other girl is Hayley, our treasurer at Buns & Roses WI. We already have one fair booked for next year so could be millionnaires soon!
Right now I'm going to brave the rain to buy something for tea then an evening of stitching. Am working on my mum's Christmas present at the moment, hope she will like it!
*EDIT*
Just as I was going out the nice UPS man came back! So now I can play this evening.

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A crafty weekend

Yesterday I was at the Cross Keys for their Autumn Fair, which was cold but good fun all the same! I went with Hayley (Buns & Roses WI treasurer and fellow craft nut) to sell cards and other goodies. There were eight stalls and all were fab (especially the cake ones!) but the rain was rather annoying! We had lots of giggles and were visited by my SU sister Lynda and some WI people.
Here is me on the stall ...

This morning my lovely dresser arrived so all my SU goodies are now properly organised! It makes the living room look much better as well and I'm really pleased with it - eBay bargain at £35 and delivered free!


This afternoon I will be watching the MotoGP and prepping for my class tomorrow where I get to share the joy of Stampin' Up! once more.

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Time for a brew?

Then why not enjoy with one of my funky stitched coasters?! These were great fun to make and really quick too.
I still have lots of other things to make from last week and tons of other work stuff to coordinate and organise as well. Going to be a bit of a crazy week!

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I did something crafty!

I have finally managed to do something crafty over the past couple of days!

I'm having a stall at a craft fair in Leeds at the end of September and just started to figure out what I'm going to be doing there! I'll have lots of cards to sell, of course, and have been making some stitched items as well.

The first are these cross stitched bibs. I think they're so cute, hope they sell!



I've also started on some little pictures using designs from the same series, more on those when they're finished!

The fair takes place at Armley Prison on September 25th from 10am. If you're in Leeds please do come along and help raise money for Yorkshire Cancer Centre.

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