Making Children's Clothes- Hair band (CBC)

Today I am sharing my first official Craft Book Challenge Project. 

The book I am using is called "Making Children's Clothes" By Emma Hardy.

I bought this book just last week, it's my second book buy from Emma (I also have "Cute & Easy Costumes For Kids" which is FANTASTIC!), anyway, the clothes are so sweet, and look fairly simple to make. My girls are gona love me this summer!

What can I say about the book in brief?

There are 25 beautiful projects for both boys and girls, ages 0-5 years, full size patterns are included, although my eldest girl is 7, so I will need to adapt the patterns to fit her, but it does not show you how to do this in the book (the only downside).

 The book is full of lovely photo's, it has easy to follow , step by step instructions (if you have some sewing experience), and a small section on techniques.

I love this book and rate it 4/5.

My first project from the book- the hair band.

I used "Spray Flowers" fabric by Cath Kidston (surprise, surprise!).

It was so quick and super simple to make, it took under 30 minutes, I fear I will be making one to match every outfit!

There are also instruction to make the embellishment (yo-yo), I finished mine off with a vintage mother of pearl button.

So what can I make next from this book?!?!

The gypsy skirt?

Love these linen pants!

What do you think girls?!

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The Craft Book Challenge (CBC)

My name is Amanda, and I'm a bookaholic.

It's fair to say Amazon is my second home, I have well over 100 craft/jewellery making books, and 150 on my wish list, EEK! I love each and every one of them, and I am inspired by them every day, but hardly ever complete a project, so I was thrilled to stumble upon The Craft Book Challenge over at Liesl Made.

A little something to sink my teeth into is just what the Doctor ordered!

The Challenge is to make at least one item from a craft book you already have in your library every month—no matter how small, post about your project, then link up over at CBC, simple as that!

There's just one problem! I'm discovering even more fabulous books to add to my never ending wish list :)
 ~

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Tickle me Tuesday

What is Tickle me Tuesday I hear you asking? 

Well it's a fun way to share what's "tickling your fancy right" now!

(Thanks Patty for pointing me in the right direction)

 I'm going to share with you my most favourite painting in the whole world, I first  saw it hanging in a beautiful gold ornate frame in a clients house and instantly fell in love, it is called "Summer Evening on the Skagen Southern Beach with Anna Ancher and Marie Krøyer" by P.S. Krøyer, 1893.

And I have the perfect spot for it in my newly painted craft room. 

You can buy it from art.co.uk :)

These are super gorgeous from The home of Russian Dolls.

 Sorry I'm a little Cath Kidston obsessed of late, but I couldn't resist these carded buttons, they would look fabulous as art in frames.

To find out what's tickling other fancies pop over to Yes Teacher Crafts.

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Cath Kidston "Sew" Needlecase

This week I have been organising my craft space, having just redecorated there's now a place for everything, and everything in its place, I can't have my Cath Kidston sewing basket untidy, can I?! So for this weeks project I needed to find a home for all my different types of sewing needles, and you will never guess where I found such a project?! My Cath Kidston "sew" book of course :)

(needle case featured in the book)

I first bought this book more than a year ago as a birthday present for my Sister-in-law, who is also a huge Cath Kidston fan, although I was very tempted to keep it for myself, I vowed to buy it again, and I did. I'm not going to give a big in depth review on the book, but if you love CK & hand made home-wares, BUY IT, it has more than 40 easy sew projects, stunning images, full size patterns, AND the added bonus of all the bits & bobs needed to make the bag featured on the front cover!

This is my version, I used Cath Kidston "strawberry" cotton duck fabric, and the CK label came from the ribbon that was wrapped around my pj's, cool eh?! so now I have CK name tape I can use on my projects.

I had to improvise a little with the fastener, as the tab in the book was really small and it was virtually impossible to turn the right way once sewn, I would suggest making it a little wider than the pattern piece, or using a button and an elasticated loop, on this occasion I used ribbon to tie, and covered the stitch line with a button.

I also made some name tape for the different types of needles, using ribbon and image maker (my new favourite product), but I will save that lesson for another post :)

I will be participating in some link parties this week, it's been too long.

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Cath Kidston crazy

Yes, the rumours are all true, I go crazy for a bit of Cath, well who doesn't!? So just before the festive period (sorry I know we are now in February! Agh!), I embarked on a huge hint dropping campaign. I would happily own every single item in the shop! but I had one main object of desire:

The town house sewing basket, I fell in love the moment I saw it, and not just a pretty face, practical too, looks are a little deceiving as it is really quite big, lots of compartments to fit all your sewing stuff and more.

Anyway, I got a stack of fabulous Cath Kidston goodies:

Faded stripe pj's.

Bunch flowers day bag, you can never have enough bags!

The little book of buttons & the little book of threads, which are really cool tins.

Town house needle book (which is tiny), but oh no! no sewing box! Mr CLV said they had sold out :( All these gorgeous gifts and I was a little disappointed, I'm not usually an ungrateful brat, but you know how it is when you have just got to have something!

Then, Ruby whispered in my ear "Mum, there is another Cath Kidston bag in the other room" what a cheeky trick to play!

Happy Happy Happy.

Then, earlier this week Mr Postman brought me the latest copy of the Cath Kidston magazine, and in it, my new object of desire, a sweet little Gypsy caravan sewing box:

How many sewing baskets is it acceptable for a girl to have!?

 Hint Hint Hint :)

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