Creative April

Hello there,

I hope you're well today.

If you've popped by my blog before you'll know that I make cards and dabble in sewing.....and that I love to bake cakes.....to be honest I love dabbling in all kinds of crafts. I've tried jewelry making, candle making and both knitting and crochet previously. I love the challenge of taking raw materials and turning them into something new.....and have plenty of craft materials and books to prove this!

So, I decided to set myself a little challenge in April....I decided that I would try and make or bake something new every day of April. I would try and keep things spontaneous by not planning every craft out, but I would also try and learn some new skills along my way.

It's day 10 of creative April now and it's been a fun month so far - I've made some simple projects and tried some new techniques out too. From felt brooches and fabric flowers, to a fruit bowl made with Mod Podge and hole punch circles (or whatever they are called!) to a fab cat tent made with an old t-shirt, some cardboard and two coathangers!

Here are some of my makes so far.....

Day 1 - Zipper pouch

Day 2 - felt cat brooch

Day 4 - 20 minute skirt with elasticated waist

Day 9 - Cat tent! 

Day 10 - fruit bowl made of hole punch circles

I have twenty more days to go in April and I'm looking forward to trying more crafts and learning new techniques, as well as practising some old ones. I'll be posting more posts during the month, sharing my crafting adventures!

If anyone has any craft project suggestions I'd love to hear them - leave me a comment below!

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Forgotten Pleasures

Hello there,

Welcome back to Wedgie's Wonderful World.

Over the festive season I had rather a lot of time off work (lots of untaken leave that I had to use before the end of 2015) and that meant I could spend more time in my lovely craft room - woo hoo!

Last year I really started experimenting with dressmaking and machine sewing generally...it's something I have dabbled in for a number of years.....but I think I've finally got the hang of it. I'm by no means perfect.....but my wardrobe has increased with some rather lovely (even if I do say so myself) handmade clothes and I was able to give some hand sewn gifts for Christmas this year!

50s Style Handmade Dress
with circle skirt

Handmade zipper pouches made using Liberty print 

Then my mum asked whether I could help her stock a craft stall that she is thinking about taking over at her local church in 2016. This got me thinking about all the different small items I could make that might be popular......thats when I remembered my felt stash!

Ages ago I had a real thing for creating felties and other small felt items, so I thought I would give it a go again......and I am so pleased I did! I had forgotten how much I enjoy working with felt to create little items like these felt brooches....

Collection of handmade felt brooches

There is something rather wonderful and satisfying about designing and creating with felt. As long as you have the right stash at home you can make a new brooch relatively quickly....

Brooch making at the beginning

You can also add quite a bit of detail, using buttons and hand stitching to embellish your designs....

Finished felt flower brooches

I made the five brooches in the photo above in one afternoon (and that included faffing about in my craft room to find all the materials!)......so I will definitely be helping mum stock her craft stall this year!

Have you got a forgotten craft that you really enjoy doing? 

I'd love to hear about it.....

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx