Stencils

Back in April I bought some stencils at a table-top sale at Saltash Wesley Church. This wooden box I sold at a summer fayre last month was one of the best results. I used a shade of paint called Aqua Light for the background then used Aqua Mid for the stencilled decoration and the inside of the box. I went over the design in Modge Podge Sparkle varnish.

Making pencil cases

A pencil case is one of the easiest and most useful things you can sew. You only need two pieces of fabric and a zip. Cut the fabric about one inch longer than the zip. I usually use a 7 or 8" zip. The height of the fabric depends on how deep you want the pencil case. I'd recommend about 5". So if i was using a 7" zip I'd use 2 pieces of 8"x 5" fabric. Put the zip and one piece of fabric facing each other so the right side of the fabric is facing the top of the zip like in the photo.

Sew together. You may need to use a zipper foot on your sewing machine. Add the other piece of fabric to the other half of the zip in the same way, right sides together, sewing on the wrong side.
Now half open the zip and put the right sides of the fabric together so that your pencil case is inside out. If you have be using a zipper foot you can put the regular foot back on. Sew the fabric together about 0.5" from the edge. Where the sides meet the zip be careful not to jam the machine, you may need to change the foot or hold the fabric very flat and taught. You can turn the pencil case right side out through the open zip.

Polka dot border tip

When I'm painting boxes I find they don't look finished until I've decorated the edge of the lid with dots. Here is my favourite technique: Tear a strip of newspaper (about 3x the thickness of the lid edge) and, using a simple office hole-punch, punch holes along it in as uniform a fashion as possible.

Place the strip along the edge and secure with masking tape. Because it is newspaper it is really flexible and you can crinkle it up inside the lid so it is extra secure.

I use a colour slightly lighter than the main colour of the box to dab over the stencil. It's good to use a really dry brush or sponge and a really small amount of paint. You can take the stencil off and re-use it but it goes soggy after a couple of uses so for a large box I make a couple of strips.

Free crochet pattern: coaster with cute border

I was messing about with some yarn, trying to make some doilies that lie flat (something I have trouble with no matter how mathematically sound the pattern is) and I came up with this quick pattern. It's simple but has a pretty last row. It's very quick to make as it consists of double/treble crochet (I learnt to crochet from an American book (Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller) so I'm more comfortable with the American stitch names despite being a Brit) and most of the stitches are worked into spaces.  The small circle in the photo was made using a 3mm hook and the larger one using a 4.5mm. For this to be used as a coaster a 3.5 or 4mm hook would probably be ideal.

Perfect for beginners.

coaster with cute border (US abbreviations)

ch6 join with sl st to 1st ch to make a ring.
Round 1: ch3, 15dc in ring, join with sl st to 3rd chain =16dc
Round 2: ch4, dc in next dc, ch1, *(dc in next dc, ch1) around. join with sl st to 3rd chain of beginning.
Round 3: sl st in 1st ch-1sp, ch3, dc in same space, ch1, *(2dc in next ch-1 space, ch1) around. join with sl st to top of beginning chain.
Round 4: sl st in 1st dc, sl st in first ch-1 space, ch3, dc in same space, ch2, *(2dc in next space ch2) around. join with sl st to top of beginning chain.
Round 5: sl st in dc, sl st in first ch-2 space, ch4, dc, ch1, dc all in same space, *(dc, ch1, dc, ch1, dc all in next space) around. join with sl st to 3rd ch of beginning. weave in ends.


coaster with cute border (UK abbreviations)

ch6 join with sc to 1st ch to make a ring.
Round 1: ch3, 15tr in ring =16tr
Round 2: ch4, tr in next tr, ch1, *(tr in next tr, ch1) around. join with sc to 3rd chain of beginning.
Round 3: sc in 1st ch-1sp, ch3, tr in same space, ch1, *(2tr in next ch-1 space, ch1) around. join with sc to top of beginning chain.
Round 4: sc in 1st tr, sc in first ch-1 space, ch3, tr in same space, ch2, *(2tr in next space ch2) around. join with sc to top of beginning chain.
Round 5: sc in tc, sc in first ch-2 space, ch4, tr, ch1, tr all in same space, *(tr, ch1, tr, ch1, tr all in next space) around. join with sc to 3rd ch of beginning. weave in ends.

Big weekend of events

Yesterday I went to three events. First the Saltash Wesley Church Table Top Sale, which was great. There were some nice card making supplies, handmade accessories and some interesting ornaments. Then I went to The All Things Vintage and Lovely Fair at Plymouth Guildhall. There were loads of beautiful stalls and the singer was great but it was so busy you could hardly move in there. Finally I went to Peverall Methodist Church for their table top sale. By now I'd spent most of my cash so I couldn't get the lovely framed paintings on offer there. Did get a mini cake-stand though. I guess it's for sweets rather than cakes. I'm going to use it for displaying cake and candy style pin-cushions. I'm planning to use the felt cupcakes project in Jane Bull's Made By Me book.

Weekend events for bargain hunters

There are loads of nice events this weekend for shoppers seeking vintage and handmade items in and near Plymouth. Here is a list:
Saturday
Table Top Sale 12-2pm Peverall Park Methodist Church
Spring Fayre 12-3pm St. Budeaux Community Hall, The Green
Table Top Sale 9-11.30am Saltash Westley Church sports hall
Art and Craft Fair: The Terrence Room, Endsleigh Garden Centre
All Things Vintage and Lovely Fair 10.30-4.30pm Plymouth Guildhall
Sunday
Rattery Craft Fair 10am-4pm Rattery Village Hall
Car boot sale: 9am-12.30 Peacock Meadow, Plympton

Cute ornaments

Successful stroll along Mutley Plain, Plymouth last week. Got this lovely lady with cats ornament from the Devon Air Ambulance shop. It was only 50p, presumably because part of her bow is missing at the back but I don't mind about that. I love the colours, her face, the cute cats and especially her fringe (we have the same hairstyle).

Then I saw this adorable dog in the YMCA shop. I have seen ornaments of dogs with bows like this before but not with quite such a friendly face. I had to give him a new home.