Fabric Baskets

One of my most favourite rooms in our house is my craft room. It was just our spare room, but it is now a great place for me to have as a space to do all my various bits and pieces. Sewing, knitting, whatever!

As anyone who does these kinds of things knows, there are lots of little bits and pieces that you accumulate over time, which you need to do various things, and these things need storage. So, for my haberdashery section I purchased three of Ikea's lovely CD racks and then I have made some of my own little fabric baskets to keep all my little bits in them.

So what do you need?
*Some Fabric of your choice, I just used Calico as its plain and quite thick
*Corresponding Threads
*Sewing Machine, or if you don't have one a strong will to sew by hand so many baskets
*Scissors or cutting device!

Recipe:
1. These are so easy to make, you just need to measure the space that you want to fill. Make a pattern for the base by measuring the width and depth of your space and adding a seam allowance all the way around the outside. This is your base. Then the outside of the basket, I just had one large rectangle of fabric which started at one corner and goes all the way around the base and back around to that corner. Add your seam allowance for the two adjoining sides and the base adjourning side, and then at the top I folded mine over by an inch and a half to make a kind of handle to pull the basket out easily, plus a small seam to stop it fraying. When you have made your pattern cut out your fabric.

2. Take your big long rectangle, and with the wrong side facing down fold over and seam the one long edge towards the right side. If you have picked a fabric that is only one sided then be aware that the fold will show the back of the pattern which is why I picked such a basic fabric. You could however back the fabric to have a snazzy fold.

3. Next you will need to put the two short sides together with the original fold seam for the top edge facing the opposite way. Then sew all down that seam.

4. Then take a corner of your bottom piece and pin it inside the corner of the bottom of your rectangle (which now looks more like a hoop of fabric) The seam on the bottom should be on the same side as the side seam. Then pin your bottom to your rectangle all the way around the bottom. The corners wont be perfect, but they will look about right on the other side. Then sew all together.

5. When you have done, tie off your ends and turn your basket inside out. Fold over your top flap and you are done! So simple really when you think about it.

Then you can put whatever you want into your basket and store, store, store!!

I would love to see anything that you guys have made, if you would be so lovely as to share with me. Please comment with a link!

Thank you
X

Our Little House

Just before Christmas 2013 we got the keys to our first home. Huge smiles were upon our faces. Our actual own space has been a long time coming and we are so happy with it. It is a little cottage style terraced house just outside of Birmingham, almost in the country, so we get the best of both worlds. It has taken quite a lot of work to get to where we are now, but there is still plenty to come. But I thought I would share some corners of our home that I love, both things that I have done and features.
I hope you enjoy...

 Our first plant

 Organisation and storage

 It's mine, get out!

I do love a piece of wood 

 We can now grow our record collection quite nicely

I realised I am a wool hoarder, but I am okay with that. 

Bedroom fireplace and pom pom garland 

DIY ombre pillowcase and rocking chair grey update 

Hats 

Bunting 

My camera collection on display 

Our beautiful new fireplace and the main attraction for the house,

we have had many fires now and it is so lovely 

Dream catcher collection 

My man had his record player hooked up so we can listen all day

I am sure I will share so much more than this over the coming months and years, and all my makes so far will surely appear on here fairly soon too. I have been up to so much that I don't know where to start, but I am sure I can find something as I can't wait to show you it all.

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New Name

I am back!

Over the past few months I have had a bit of a busy time. Me and my man purchased a house which we are currently converting into a home. We have already done so much and yet it never ends, as most home owners will know.

So I have a new look coming to the blog which will contain some crafts and bakes as it did before, but also many a home design challenge for a first time home-maker. Make, Do and Mend is certainly becoming a motto of mine and  I am enjoying every moment of it and I hope to help others along the way.

Look forward to speaking to you again soon.
Zoe


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Autumn Notebooks

Autumn is my most favourite time of the year. We can pull all those chunky knits, thick socks, boots and snugly coats out of the wardrobe and start preparing to hibernate over the chilly months. Today I went for a walk with my big scarf on (Yes I know it's warmer today than it has been, but I don't care!) and collected some leaves and acorns and things associated with Autumn.

I have decided that I want to document this coming autumn, keeping my leaves and essentially making an art journal of things that I find. I have many note books in my flat and most are very plain, but I love notebooks that are close-able so I have decided (as I have been banned from buying anymore) that I will adapt some ones that I already have.

You will need:
* Notebooks with firm but not too firm covers (you need to get a needle through there, but not flimsy enough for it to rip easily)
* Needle and Thread
* A button
* String or leather or whatever binding materials you would like.

How to do it:
1. Sew the button onto the notebook, not too close to the edge but wherever you want really.

2. Tie the string around the button into a knot and then wrap it around the notebook and back around the button to fasten.

You are done, simple!

X

Mothers Day

Today is Mother's Day! A day in which people celebrate their Mothers. Why not?! I know that mine is such an important person in my life, she is my best friend, my councillor, my stylist, and my teacher. Without my mum I would not be where I am today!

So, today me and my man took our mums out to a new (to us) place in Birmingham. It is an amazing little place called The Lost and Found. The concept originated from an explorer and professor from the Victorian era called Hettie G. Watson. She travelled the world finding new and different variations of botanics. She kept these in her little hideaway which is why the Lost and Found is tucked away and inside is a magical botanical library. There are different areas to this place and because of this it doesn't feel like your all on top of each other, the atmosphere is great, the food was amazing and the mums felt like they were being treated to a lovely day!

Okay, as usual I got a bit snap happy. So here is some pictures of the food...

The Burger

The Cannelloni

The Roast Chicken

I suggest that if you are near Birmingham, you try here. You will need to book, but it is most certainly worth it! 

X

Bettys

After having a beautiful weekend away with some old friends, and my lovely mother in Harrogate, I am currently munching away on some Macaroons and Moroccan Mint Tea which I purchased from Bettys tea room in Harrogate. Bettys is a famous tea room, they originated in Harrogate but have three others in the Yorkshire area. The first one opened in 1919 by a Swiss man, he combined the mouth-watering confectionery with the warmth and hospitality of Great Britain. Even today it still has the same silver service, great tea and beautiful food. (Smoked salmon, scrambled egg and English muffins are yum!) I would say that if you ever visit Yorkshire, you must go, and if you go early you can avoid the queues.

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One year on

I can't believe that it has been over a year since I started doing this blog. I started it as a reason for doing all the little bits a pieces that I do. But there was another reason too; to gain confidence. This past year has been a tough one for me, and as silly as it sounds, my craft has done a good job at keeping me going, and so has this blog. I have decided to keep going and through doing it, test myself to do things that I wouldn't normally do. I love One sheepish girls blogging for confidence series and I am taking it as inspiration. This next year I am going to challenge myself to as many new things as I can that I wouldn't normally do. I have sort of being doing this so far this year, I gave a crochet lesson in public. I found that lots of people came and asked what we were doing and genuinely seemed interested in it. The cafe we were in even said they should start up a knitting/crochet knit and natter night. I improved my baking skills, tried new things. Became the soup dragon and perfected my soup making abilities. Tried lots of new crafting skills including embroidery, and started a big project (no it's not finished yet) with my crochet skills. I thank you all for continuing to read my blog, and hope that you carry on. :)

Here are some of my favourite projects from this past year

Crochet bag

Bracelets

Embroidered frame

Owl Fascinator

Purse

Crochet Slippers

Crochet Snood

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Snapshot of my week

 

Since Friday I have mostly been walking around in the Snow which gets deeper every day! I thought I would share a few photos that I have taken on my travels. :)

A lovely day :)

Today was absolutely lovely. It started with going for a quick visit to the Solihull vintage fair. I bought a beautiful real fur hat, and a gorgeous bag from a lady who runs a little vintage shop in Redditch. Then me and my man went out for the day into Birmingham city centre. I live around 10 miles away from Birmingham, and going is like a treat! I had to go and collect my new glasses and we decided to take a walk down to the Jewellery Quarter and visit the Rose Villa Tavern and have an amazing roast dinner. While we were there we walked past the Pen Museum, sounds a little different but it was great fun, and I got to make my own pen nib! Lately I have been thinking a lot about the home I would love to have and so I have decided to document any pieces of floor, or ceiling, or anything to do with the home in a scrap book for the future.

X

Bringing me a Little Joy

Do you ever wish that you could own something just a little different than anyone else? Jewellery is something that I love, and always have, but I'm not one of those girls who thinks 'the bigger the better', in fact I say less is more. But what I do love is a handmade piece, because you know it's completely original!

And I have found the most wonderful little lady who brings great joy to me every time I open one of her packages. Her name is Little Joy and she makes bespoke jewellery and objects from a little workshop by the sea on the Isle of Wight;  her beautiful creations are made to bring you a 'little bit of joy in your lives!'.

Some of my pieces of joy...

Lauren Griffiths is the lady behind Little Joy. She manipulates silver, natural materials, ceramics and fabrics into fabulous jewellery pieces. She has a beautiful range of products on etsy, as well as commissioning jewellery and objects at great prices, from as little as £18, with more intricate handmade pieces costing in the region of £120 - £600. No commission is too hard, I should know, I have asked for some strange things to date. The process starts with a chat between Lauren and the client, then she draws up some images before starting on the piece itself. But she makes sure you are happy at every stage. 

Some more joy...

 

I'm not telling you all this because she gives me free stuff, I wish she did! But I am telling you because this little lady is genuinely amazing at what she does and deserves to get both her name and her beautiful pieces out there into the world! 

Even more joy...

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