Wow! Thank you so much everyone who left a comment on my giveaway! So many of you – and such wonderful softie ideas – I would certainly never have considered a dragon or crocodile – though I have been thinking about a fox for an autumn issue of my magazine. I will definitely be creating one or two of your suggestions over the coming months.
For the moment though, I have a confession to make. I have been away playing – visiting Rosie in Bath – and so I have not yet worked the random number generator and counted down to the winner. I promise I will do so before Friday, and let you know the lucky recipient of the little blue cashmere bunny who will have to wait on my shelf just a little while longer before setting off to his new home.
Inspired by everyone’s ideas, before I went to Bath, I had a good sort through all my softie patterns to remind myself of my earlier creations… and came across the Angel Pigs softie pattern that I designed for Christmas 2011. I’d always meant to tweak the pattern slightly and create some Flying Pigs – and now seemed like the perfect time – what do you think?
I must admit, I think they’re rather cute! And the little blue pig is standing on a bundle of Cath Kidston fabric I treated myself to whilst in Bath. I think they’d make a great present – perhaps for a teenager who has actually tidied her room when asked – pigs will definitely be flying if that happens too regularly!
If you’d like to make your own Flying Pigs, then the Angel Pig pattern works absolutely fine, though I’ll publish the tweaked version in the July issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine.
Back on Friday with the results of the bunny giveaway!
Do you remember my Fuzzypeg softie pattern? He was such fun to sew that I’ve made another – this time a friendly blue bunny in the softest felted cashmere. His tummy is Fox Hollow organic cotton, and he has the cutest woolly pompom tail. But …. he has nobody to love him. Fuzzy lives here with me, and I don’t have room for another rabbit on my shelf, which means that this little fellow is looking for a kind new home – can you help?
For the chance to win this little blue bunny please leave a comment below telling me what new softie pattern you’d like to see in the Bustle & Sew softie store. The winner will be chosen by random selection and I will post worldwide. The draw will close at midnight BST on Tuesday 21 May.
Good luck everyone!
by Helen on April 9, 2013
My main passion is creating new designs. I love the thrill of seeing something coming together just right – even though it will usually take many attempts to perfect the curve of a rabbit’s paw or the positioning of a whisker. I don’t make to sell, which is why I have absolutely no problem with others offering for sale items they have personally made using my designs – although I do ask for a credit as the pattern designer. This is why I was delighted to discover a brilliant Facebook page – Charlie barlee Studio …..
where the very talented Sherrilee offers items made using her own patterns as well as “Flannidermy” Deer Heads made using my Bustle & Sew Fabric Deer Head pattern. Aren’t they wonderful? I love how she’s interpreted my design ….
This made me think – I know there are lots of other talented makers out there who love to create, whether for sale or not – so I decided to start our very own Bustle & Sew Readers’ Makes Gallery. I’ve added Sherrilee’s beautiful deer to it already – and would love others to add their own creations too. The link to my new Gallery page is in my right-hand sidebar and I’m hoping lots of you talented people will contribute – I love to see others’ beautiful creations.
And finally ….. thank you so much to everyone who sent best wishes for Ben’s speedy recovery. I think I correctly understood what the vet said – that he has a form of dry arthritis in his paw, because of which the actual ends of his bones have been grinding on each other – extremely painful. He has been prescribed a course of 4 special injections for pain relief and to encourage his body to produce more joint fluid, and we are very hopeful this will work. Certainly he is much happier already after just the first injection, so please all keep your fingers crossed for him. Oh … he is also on a diet having put on 10 lbs(!) over the last year (now weighing 168 lbs) ….. no more choc drops for him!
by Helen on December 12, 2012
Ooooh, it has been cold here today! As my Mum used to say, “It’s colder in than out!” This is because the (very nice) builder has been here for the last few days knocking out parts of our chimney to make room for our woodburning stove. This means he has had to have the door and windows open to let dust out, and of course the cold air in. I am sure it will be worth it in the end, but meanwhile, I am sitting here typing this post while bundled up in multiple layers (I can hardly bend my arms!) against the frigid air.
Meanwhile, to help me keep warm, I’m busily creating new projects for the January issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine. I finished this one yesterday afternoon and, after photographing her in the summer house this morning, I am pleased to present to you Daisy the Draught Excluder dog.
Much better behaved than I’m sure Ben’s new baby sister will be, although named in her honour, she will sit patiently against the bottom of your door, keeping those chill winds away..
with her cute little upturned nose and bright beady eyes she reminds me of her namesake.
And do you see the pretty printed fabric I’ve used to line her ears? Here’s a closer look ….
It’s a vintage Liberty print fabric, given to me by my friend Esme, one of the members of our Pensioners’ Lunch Club.
I have always loved Liberty fabrics with their timeless, very English appeal, and so was delighted when Liberty contacted me and asked me to design a tutorial using their new range of fabrics.
Aren’t they beautiful? You can see the full range of their craft fabrics here - and I’ll be posting my free tutorial using some of their luscious fabric next week.
