Happy Days

After having a rather turbulent 2 weeks, I buried my head and did a few crafty pick me ups!  Some good has come out of it as I've got lots of stuff finished (although I wouldn't want a re-run of the last 2 weeks).

Remember in my last post I was doing a patchwork hexagon hoop - I wasn't altogether pleased with the white fabric I had chosen but I was at the point of no return.  To rectify the choice, I added some embroidery stitches which has made me a little happier!

My bark cloth curtains were an unexpected find on Ebay - a snitch at only £3.00, it was a
wonderful turn-up. 

Having spent quite a lot of time cooing over CK's Patch book, and loving the flower picture in there, I set to with making my own.  I used a pretty frame I got way before Christmas.  It was one of those moments where I thought 'I'll eventually find a use for it' (that was my justification).  I think it was meant to have a 'crafty' project in it rather than a photo!

I was quite pleased with the result and it was fun cutting out floral flowers and arranging them.

Hopefully, service will resume fully next week!  Have a great weekend.

For the love of

embroidery hoops and patchwork hexagons, both of which I can't get enough of at the moment.

I remember seeing in Liberty's a couple of years ago, fabric displayed in embroidery hoops which I thought was a novel idea.  I soon came home and replicated it.  You may remember me posting about it.

As my love of hexagons grew, I fancied combining the two.  One, I made towards the end of year using various oddments of fabric.

The one I'm currently working on is a little more structured.  I'm kind of wishing I hadn't used the white fabric but we'll see what the finished article looks like.  The hoop is a big one - 12" in diameter.

It is a cheap way of creating a new hanging item for your wall.  If you don't fancy sewing hexagons together you could just display some pretty fabric with some ribbon, alternatively there's lots of lovely wrapping paper around so that could be another use with the hoop.

Have a lovely weekend!

Something old to something new

At the start of every year, I always have a good clear out - most goes to charity some gets free cycled, other bits and bobs either get sold on Amazon or Ebay.


This year, I thought I would do that, but also utilise my crafty stash and other items round the house to give everything a bit of a lift.


Re-work scraps of wool and an old hanger into a nice woolly one

an old treacle tin into a container for some bulbs

some old jumpers into a cosy winter cushion

vintage fabrics and scraps of lace into lavender sachets

and an old tin of paint to add some colour to the bannister rail

Who know what else I'll come up with!  What's on your agenda this month?

Up I come!

Hello folks - remember me! You may think I've been hibernating all this time (since September), but you know how life just gets in the way sometimes?  No excuses, just plain day to day stuff here at The Blueberry Patch household.


I hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year?  Isn't the weather different to a year ago.  Unlike the last few days, it could almost be Spring here (albeit cold).  The birds are singing, the bulbs are growing, I still have pinks and roses flowering. All very odd.

Anyway, plans are afoot for lots of projects and makes - most of which I'll share with you, but here's one I made earlier!

I'll be back again shortly (I hope!).

Have a good weekend.



Too many projects

and not enough of this

Why oh why do I start endless projects which I probably won't end up finishing any time soon!

Christmas stockings for the website

Wool to start a scarf

A random knitted tortoise (I think it was the patchwork which attracted me to it!)

Knitted 'paper' chains for Christmas

However, I did finish one project off last week - my patchwork ironing board cover - at last.  It's only taken over a year to complete!

How many projects have you on the go at the moment?

A spot of vintage

Morning all - remember me! I can't believe it's almost 3 weeks since I was last in blog land.  I must do better.

The month hasn't been turning out as well as I would have liked - lots of faff and grief, and more importantly getting used to a new routine of one child in secondary school and one still in primary. We have a very tired 11 yr old at the moment who's going to bed earlier and earlier!  Mind you he's out of the house for a total of 9 hours, then homework to get on with - all good stamina building I guess....

It can only get easier (I hope).

Back to 'a spot of vintage' - whilst in Greenwich in July we had a jaunt round the vintage fair and shops.  I'm always a lover of the vintage clothing but I'm not a dress person so never end up buying anything but I love the style.  Anyway, I came across this -

a vintage crochet sleeveless cardigan-esqe number.  I tried it on and actually quite liked it.  As it was a reasonable price, I snatched it up.  Having had it hanging on the hanger since we returned it may well stay there.  I'm not sure of it's age but it's in good condition and is made from wool.

You know the phrase - 'if you keep something long enough, it'll eventually come back into fashion' - that's never held quite true for me but I'm obviously getting to the age now that things are coming back into fashion which I remember.  I now have a pair of shoes which went out and are now back in again!

I bought these

brogues from Laura Ashley about 15 years ago, obviously wore them and they have been languishing in the back of the wardrobe for some time.  I'm always reluctant to get rid of shoes and I'm glad I didn't with these, as lace-up brogues are all back in fashion.  I'm not sure whether a 15 yr old pair of shoes counts as vintage but I can pretend!

These vintage costume dolls were a bit of a 'random' purchase and a very bizarre one according to the rest of the family, but as they put a smile on my face, why not!

Have a good day and I'll pop along to say hello shortly, along with sharing some holiday snaps which are still on the camera...

A spot of customisation

Today was day 1 of a child free house and it feels so quiet - no friends door knocking, the dull sound of electronics and TV's in the background, the clank of lego being tipped out, the bickering.....,requests for endless food and drink - I actually miss those sounds! even though they drove me mad.

Jack went back yesterday and Toby had his first secondary school day today and boy was he excited - despite the early start to walk to the bus, not relying on me to remember things, learning how to do a tie! and not returning till 4.30 each day.  We took a photograph of him in exactly the same spot as we did when he first went to school 7 years ago - how time flies.

I'm really looking forward to his return and the success of accomplishing so many 'firsts'

Anyway, with the onset of chilly mornings, I thought I would customise an old denim jacket.  I've had it the best part of a decade and really wanted to jazz it up a little.

I sewed a CK patch I've had for a while on the arm

and with some Liberty print bias binding I then sewed this around the cuffs.

and then round the bottom edge

I'm pretty pleased with the overall look and has given my old jacket a new lease of life.

(double click to zoom in)

Have a great weekend!