bee handmade

spring is in the air

The clocks sprang forward today. Yesterday the weather was making a determined effort to hang onto winter. I bought some pretty ranunculus to try to banish the dreariness.

Thankfully the sun is shining today. The feeling of hibernation is beginning to lift! I'm going to pretend it's spring whether it's cold or not.

This is some crochet I'm starting to work on.

It's a cluster stitch worked in 3 colours of Rowan cotton glace. There has been a lot of cluster stitch action recently, some beautiful examples have been from Moonstitches and Applehead. Gosh, I wish there was a yarn shop nearby that had temptations like this. I would be like a kid in a sweet shop. I spend a lot of time scouring the net for sources but it is nice to see and feel the yarn in real life.

I'm not entirely sure what it's going to be yet. Maybe a spring scarf. It will have to go on the back burner today though because it's full steam ahead with the miles and miles of wedding bunting. I'll post some photographs of the work in progress soon.

I'll leave you with a picture of May enjoying the view outside.

auricula cushion

auricula cushion, originally uploaded by lisamf.

I love auriculas, the colours, the shape, their velvet-like texture ... I appliqued individual petals onto some linen and embroidered some small yellow stamen to add a bit of texture in the centre. The binding is my first attempt at using a binding making tool. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to use and it definitely beats labouring with a tape measure and iron!

I'm not entirely happy with the cover. If I was doing it again I think I'd make the petals more defined.

I think it's good to talk about projects that haven't turned out exactly as you'd like them. I wouldn't want to convey the impression that I'm always entirely happy with things I've made. This cushion cover served it's purpose in being a bit of light relief from wedding preparations. I optimistically decided it would be a wonderful idea to not only make our wedding invitations but also embark upon creating about 40 metres of bunting. What a loon! The invitations are finished and posted but the bunting is still consists of abut 99.9% folded fabric and 0.1% actual penants. My tiny sewing area will shortly be resembling a sweatshop. Eek.

lavender bags

lavender bags, originally uploaded by lisamf.

I made these from some scraps of Laura Ashley fabric . The tetrahedron shapes were constructed from a rectangular piece of cloth. I then attached a fabric-stamped label with buttonhole stitch.

I made some tree decorations at Christmas using red fabric with little stars stitched in white. Unfortunately I stupidly forgot to take pictures of them in the mad rush of wrapping. Note to self ... start making Christmas presents earlier in the year. So many good ideas left languishing in notebooks!

I think I may try a pin cushion version next.