Wednesday 4 May 2011

Giveaway News and More!!

I have reached 50 followers!! I am so chuffed!! And so I shall soon be doing a little giveaway - just need to have a little think and collect some goodies so watch this space!!

Yesterday I picked up Free And Easy Stitch Style by Poppy Treffry from the library (I *love* the library).

I fancied doing a bit of free motion machine embroidery after seeing the lovely Kirstie Allsopp have a go on Kirstie's Homemade Home last year.

Many years ago at school one of my GCSE assignments was machine embroidery - I painted a rose onto silk and then embellished it using the machine. Goodness knows what happened to it - perhaps it's in the loft?

The book:


It has some lovely ideas inside and clear instructions and tips on how to be successful, one of the most important being it doesn't have to be perfect!!:





So using this picture as my inspiration, I had a go:


And this is how it turned out:


I'm quite pleased with it and it was sooooo much fun!! I need to invest in lots of colourful thread though as I only have a limited selection, but I can see myself doing lots more of this.

This morning I collected a lovely basket from a lady on Freegle  who was giving it away. I need it to hold my yarn as Bear is just obsessed with wool!! If it's not shut away he spreads it around the whole house, cartoon style!!:


Don't you just love secondhand stuff? In fact, in our house we have only ever bought two items of furniture brand new - our wardrobe & bed. The rest came from junk shops; eBay; family castoffs or the tip!!

I love painted furniture so the majority of it gets a coat of cream paint, I'll have to take some pictures of our secondhand finds and show you in another post.

Hope you are enjoying the lovely weather, don't forget to check back soon as in the next week I should have details of my very first giveaway!!

S x


7 comments:

  1. I LOVE that basket of yarn. it looks so good in there. What a fantastic find.
    I'm another lover of secondhand. Most of our things are like you, passed on or bargain finds.

    You made a great job of the embroidery, it looks fab!!

    :)

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  2. I LOVE this book. I have it!!! I got it out from the library and loved it so much that I bought it for myself! Isn't machine embroidery so much fun? I really enjoy all the things I can create. I really like your cupcake. SO pretty!

    Sarahx

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  3. oh i totally dig your cupcake sarah b! i get quite a bit of my clothes & accessories from secondhand shops. :)

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  4. Ooh, I look forward to the giveaway :) That book looks great, and I love that basket!
    Ashley x

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  5. Squeal, I love your free motion machine embroidery cup cake. You clever thing. I'm going to try and find that book in my library. I love it when someone (like you), :), does a bit of a book review and shows us how great a book is.
    Look at all the lovely yarn in that beautiful basket.
    I love second hand shops, you just never know what you will find.
    Have a wonderful day,
    Anne xx

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  6. Hi there...I have been following for a while, but just haven't commented yet. I do love your blog, right up my street. The Poppy Treffry book is great...I also have it out on loan from our library at the moment. You have inspired me to have a go though!! Well do you...I love the cupcake.

    Much love Naomi xx

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  7. That cupcake is so cute!

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S x