Exciting developments

Exciting things are afoot at Dolly Towers. Last month I was very priviledged to be invited to take part in the shooting of a TV advert for Etsy, the US based website I use to sell my creations on. They are having a publicity push in this country and invited 67 UK makers to take part. Obviously we British crafters are a good looking bunch!

A whole load of us took the time to travel up to London and it was such a fun day, especially meeting all the other Etsy sellers, who made such an amazingly diverse array of things. 

The advert aired for the first time last week on Channel 4 but it is also showing on Sky I think. You may have seen it! You can YouTube it (my special version) here

You can browse the items made by all the brilliant UK sellers on Etsy who took part in the advert in this section of the Etsy website

My owlie checking out the competition

Mr Lunaonthemoon and Jojo Hapuska

He's putting up my bunting!

Party Bags: 8 Ideas to break the tat cycle

With three kids, all of whom have birthdays, I find myself dwelling on the party bag conundrum more often than any sane adult should be required to.

Even if you aren't living in competitive mum central, there will still be some expectations placed on you regarding the *ahem* quality of the take home items. Children are the worst critics in some senses, as what they usually want is a plastic bag stuffed with sweets and those cruddy toys that break after a nanosecond, often in the car on the way home. I refuse to waste my money on those bags which usually cost way more than you think they will once its all totted up, and basically embody everything thats bad (IMHO) about modern toxic disposable "kiddy kulture".

OK I said it. Phew.
*dusts self off*
*climbs down from soapbox*

Here are 10 ideas which are in no ways wildly environmental or progressive, but might make a nice change for your kids teeth and in some cases, also to your pocket. If you are really savvy, you'll be checking the stores at sale time and getting yourself even more bargainous bargains.....

1. Books. The book is my first weapon of choice as you can buy for almost any age or theme. If you check out the collections and bulk sets at online book retailers such as The Book People or Red House, you will be able to get a lovely book for each child at hugely reduced prices. There are also discount bookshops where similar deals will be available in most larger towns. Wrapping makes it more of a present but isn't vital.
Age = Any
Cost per child = £1

Jessie Willcox Smith

2. Playdough. Almost all kids love playdough. For a party bag idea, you can buy bulk packs of small pots or bagged rolls online. A couple of colours and a cutter (also readily available in bulk) inside a paper bag is a cute gift they will get hours of play from. If you want to make it more of a themed gift why not decorate the bag or write a leaflet giving some themed ideas to pop inside?
Age = 3-6
Cost per child = £1.50 approx

3. Cookie Mix. You've seen those cookie mixes in kilner jars in the shops, exorbitantly priced, right? Actually it's an easy thing to put together, you can have your child help you, and it is certainly cute. You will need to include a lable with cooking instructions, but thats where you can theme it etc. We recieved a jar of cookie mix like this, with a cutter tied on with the lable, lovely red polkadot ribbon, Minnie Mouse on the instructions, very sweet.
Age = 3+
Cost per child = £2ish depending on your jar, whether you include a cutter etc

Via Pinterest

4. Balloon and Cake. Yes, that's right people, just a balloon and a slice of cake. For children under 3, I propose NO party bag. They have had a great/confusing time already. They aren't meant to have sweets, they can't even unwrap them themselves.  Give the kid a helium filled balloon on a shiny ribbon and send them home sticky and ready for a nap.
Age = under 3s
Cost per child = cost of balloon

A very pink cake!

5. What they made. If you are thinking of having a craft or cookery party, they may already be going home with plenty.

6. Craft Kit. There is so much available now in bulk from lovely craft shops, that if you are in any way craft inclined you might enjoy putting together a little craft kit. Keep it simple, not everyones mother has 40 hours to assist them with knitting, but otherwise, do what you know best. As with the Cookie Mix, you'll need to provide instructions and also remember to tailor it to your audience. If you like the idea but are short on time, check out online craft stores like Baker Ross or Hobbycraft for good deals on pre-made kits.
Age = 3+
Cost per child = depends, but I've previously snagged kits in the Baker Ross sale that came to less than 75p per child.

7. One themed toy. Like the book, one themed toy is really just striking a blow at the plastic disposable mess usually found in party bags.
If your child is having a jungle, dinosaur or horses themed party then you dont even have to think about this one. You could even display them in a fun way as part of the party decor.
Age = any age
Cost per child = variable. If you buy in bulk, you might get it in under £1.

8. Costumes/hats. This idea is more of a pre rather than post party gift, and has significant cost or time implications, but you could really go to town with this idea! Ideally suited to a character party, the notion here is to create (or purchase...) a costume element for each child.
Some suggestions:
Pirates - striped bandanna and scar tattoo
Cowboy - neckerchief and sheriff badge
Princess - cone hat and fan
Fairy - wings and wand
Knights - helmet with plume
Age = any age. It works well at adult parties where everyone has 'forgotten' thier costume.
Cost per child = its either £££ or time cost. You decide.

Book Review: Little Sew & Sew

I have just been reading a beautifully inspiring craft book which I thought that I would share with you.

Little Sew and Sew by Christine Leech (Quadrille 2013) is a sewing and embroidery book with more than 30 projects in most of which are simple enough for beginners, and in any case, are described well with lovely illustrations and diagrams. I love the styling and fresh yet classic approach, it's just a lovely lovely book.

Christine is a busy busy woman, being an art director in the magazine industry as well as craft book author, and blogging her many makes over at Sew Yeah!

As I found this book at the library (love my library - it's all craft books and murder mystery here in the sticks) it will definately be on my Santa List. There are too many cute projects in the book, I can't do them all before they will want me to return it! I can't even decide which to start first, the Kissing Children Tote, the Alphabet Wall Hanging (sneak peak below right) or the Birdcage Tea Cosy. If you want to make someone something gorgeous for Christmas, take a look!

Here's the Amazon link. 

Note: I wasn't asked to do this review, I just did it because I LOVE the book. Thanks for reading and Happy Sewing X 

Why you might think about buying Handmade this Christmas

Shockingly, as it does not seem like more than a week since the summer, it is mid-November and there is little more than a month until my favourite holiday. I have already plugged CraftFEST which is happening over on Creative Connections at the moment, and obviously, that is because I have a stall over there, but please do consider popping over to buy some handmade goodies as Christmas presents. I have made a Top 3 reasons why I feel you should:

1. Handmade products have travelled less far to be with you - even if the raw materials have come from overseas, the final product comes direct from the maker in your own country, it has not been shipped and frieghted hither and thither across the country from warehouse to depot. 

2. Handmade products have been made using traditional and sustainable skills 

3. Handmade product purchasing supports local/regional economies rather than putting money in the hands of large global enterprise, who often filter money and resources away from where they are needed. 

There are so many other reasons - not least that you can get a really cute unique gift for a reasonable price that doesn't "cost the earth".

Happy browsing x 

CraftFEST is here!

Today is the beginning of veritable feast of craft, the wonderful on-line craft fair that is CraftFEST!

Between 16th and 23rd November many great UK makers and designers are gathered under the one virtual roof, making your independant handmade shop a LOT more simple. Please grab a cup of tea and browse, browse, browse. Maybe you might even be tempted to purchase something special ......

My Made By Dolly Stall can be found there too.

Children's Craft Ideas: Fantasy House

Now Autumn is truly here lots of rainy days present themselves asking to be filled up with simple, easy to initiate things-to-do.

I thought that I would share with you a recent activity that has been entertaining my children for hours, which is basically your average cutting and glueing exercise, but maybe also fuels the young/old imagination a bit! 

You need:

Large piece of paper with a house outline drawn on - either by you or your child depending on the age. Add some floors, wall divides or encourage them to do this.

People - you can print out favourite characters from CBeebies, cut them from magazines, draw them yourselves. In our pictures you will see the family from a Milly Molly Mandy Book which we enlarged on the photocopier.

Furnishings - here you need old magazines, catalogues or furniture pamphlets. We also like random bits of fabric, scraps of coloured paper, glitter glue etc.

Glue
Safety Scissors
Coloured Pencils/Crayons
Talk!! This is a great activity to give for them to get on with alone, but if you talk with them about what they are doing and ask their opinions on the house layout etc you will have some delightfully screwy chats I guarantee. 

I hardly need add instructions, apart from to say to any perfectionist adults out there - don't let the kids rampant disregard for scale and domestic order upset you too much! A bath in a tree outside, doors on the roof, birds in the lounge, it's all good - take a deep breath, and admire the finished fantasy dwellings......

Make It! DIY Cat Toys

As much as I love my little cat guys, I do resent how much one might pay for a cheaply produced cat toy, if you went out to buy such a thing. Our kittens love to play, like the children do, with boxes, the wet washing, jingly things etc, but to prevent them destroying the house (that is, both children and cats) sometimes toys are a good answer. 

To welcome my new cats home, my children and I put together some simple cat toys we have had endless fun with.

We made two types of toy, a Cat Wand and some Mice.

CAT WAND INSTRUCTIONS
You need a range of ribbon, or scrap fabric strips,
craft feathers (or collected from garden?),
string (here we used out string from the veg box),
a bamboo cane
and some sort of ball. This is an old golf practice ball, which worked very well.

MOUSE
You need some more scrap fabric
a piece of string or ribbon for tail
some stuffing - toy stuffing/wool work best but you could also add some catnip
sewing kit

I have made a sort of pattern to download free here. Apologies for scrappy hand drawn-ness of it, I don't have the correct software or know-how to make a better one....

Only 166 days to go until Christmas!

I sit here in lightweight skirt and blouse, shoes off, slight tan, posting this about Christmas craft and expecting *ducks* some blogland approbrium.

However, I find that there's no time too early to start thinking about Christmas, so I started planning my Christmas decorations this year NOW. Mainly because there is a hope that I might stock some local shops this year and they will want something worked out a long time before December!

Currently I am working on a lovely bevy of Angels, which I am making from a pattern by Gingermelon. That links to her blog which is full of great stuff, but if you want to go and get the Angel pattern yourself, it's on her Etsy. Such a great pattern for using up bits of felt....

Can't resist adding embellishments

Experimenting with expressions

Lots of different colours!

Last year I made lots of felt decorations from my own patterns. My favourites, which I shall be doing again with some improvements (to the face!) were the gingerbread men 

and these buttony trees.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Bunting Cards Actually

Just popping in, to show you some bunting cards that I have actually made this week. Inspiring myself again! Also, I was desperate to sew but really am just snatching moments here and there, which makes starting any decent project problematic. Fabric stitched cards are always my go-to project in these situations, they keep well for fairs and are always useful to have around too!

On the same session I had an urge to try some washing line scrap doodles, and they turned into these baby laundry cards. Cute!

Facebook turned out to be a good friend to me on this occasion too, because no sooner had I put these pics up to show my friends what I'd been up to, than orders started coming in. Obviously stitched cards are something people might want. Which is great for me because I can make them from all those tiny bits of fabric I love too much to chuck in the bin. Yes, my name is Dolly and I have a problem - bulging drawers of scraps!

Before stealing in duting naptime to paste up this post, I've been out at the fabric shop - couldn't resist a delightful bee print from Andover Fabrics Locally Grown collection, it's a nice simple range and I think that the online pictures don't do it justice as the blue is a much more vintage - y muted colour in the real thing.

Only one FQ, not as naughty as I could have been - just getting some flesh coloured elastic to finish off the Tinkerbell Costume. But I think that is another post coming soon................

Ideas Round Up: Bunting

I have been making quite a bit of bunting lately, but not only that, I have noticed that there is quite a lot of other crafts featuring bunting about at the moment. So what can you do this week that is a bit bunting-y?

Personalised bunting
I have a listing for this in my Etsy shop - this particular bright cakes one I made for my daughters birthday. You can pretty much add any message or sentiment to bunting, printed on, appliqued, the pennant's your plaything!

Bunting Cushions 
An excellent scrap buster, quite a quick sew and looks so great. There are some nice examples on Pinterest. I have a cushion and applique ideas board here

This is by Tracey B Designs on Etsy

Bunting Card
I love stitching stuff onto card! Such a great way of getting a really lovely effect, which makes for a special card.  I have made bunting cards in the past but I don't have any pictures of mine, so here's another lovely Etsy seller Nikelcards.

Non-Fabric Bunting
Bunting can be in any size, any material. I like to sew, but maybe you love working with vintage books, or glass!

Ladybird Book Bunting by The Woolly Dog

Striped Glass Bunting on Folksy by Amy Orange Juice

Cake Bunting
Finally, if you just can't get enough of bunting, check out this Liberty mini bunting for cakes by Jooles of Sew Sweet Violet. This just whispers of true English whimsy - what's not to love?

Cake Banner Bunting on Etsy by Sew Sweet Violet

Make It! Twitter Cushion Tutorial

Hi, yesterday I posted a picture of a cushion that I made, and thought that you might like to know how I did it. It is quite an easy one, and not hard to get a really smart result.

You will need:

A piece of base fabric, such as calico, which should the same width as your cushion pad and length should be the height of your cushion x2 plus 20cm. 
Four pieces of bias binding or wide ribbon each the width of your fabric
A simple motif (Very easy to find in Google or indeed in an embroidery book - or you could just trace around a shape you liked)
A piece of lightweight interfacing. Fusible is easier, but I give the method for non-fusible because that is what I had.
Scraps of fabric, similar weights.


What to do:

First prepare your cushion cover. Press each short end towards the RIGHT side, pin on your ribbon or bias tape and top stitch this at top and bottom.

Now lay the fabric over your cushion pad to determine where the centre is. This is where the front of your cushion will be. I also added bias tape at the top and bottom of my cushion front, which I added by simply pinning straight and topstitching on.

 Prepare your motif: Using a fabric pencil or similar, place the interfacing over your motif outline and trace. Then cut it out.

Prepare your patchwork: I have suggested doing this after the motif because it helps to know exactly what shape and size you need when planning your patchwork piece. I cut my scraps into roughly square or rectangular pieces, sewed them together on the machine, pressing regularly, until I had something the right size. Not very scientific!

Assembling the motif: Now lay the interfacing shape onto the wrong side of your patchwork. If you have fusible interfacing you can press now. If not, use pins. Cut around the shape leaving whatever seam allowance you feel comfortable with.  Clip all the curves. This is very important!

Get out your needle and thread and baste around the shape, turning in your edges neatly as you stitch them under. Satisfying. Don't be too finikity about the stitches. Feel free to use whatever super funky clashing colour you have. It's easier to take out that way!

Assembling the cushion: Pin the motif where you like on the cushion front. I chose dead centre but that's just me. I then machine stitched the motif on, and then (using a stitch ripper) removed the basting thread. I chose a pretty ordinary stitch for this one, but I did briefly consider a proper blanket stitch. The stitch you chose will change the character of the cushion, and I do like a nice hand done applique. But I was trying to be speedy!

Now, last but not least, fold the cushion right sides facing, with the centre front flat and the two pieces top and bottom overlapping. This makes the envelope your cushion cover will be. Fasten and stitch along the side edges. When you turn it out you should have a nice cushion cover. Stuff your pad inside. Does it look like this?

 

Pinterest Challenge - Twitter Cushion

Cushion making is something that I love doing but in general I don't. This is mainly because there are several ladies in my local area who have stalls making almost exclusively cushion related items and as I am in competition with them at craft fairs, I find making different stuff increases the interest in my stall. Machievellian? Or just ignoring a market? I do find that there's a limit to the amount of cushions and stuffed lavender hearts people will buy, and I have always had this terrible urge to swim against the tide...... However, this might be a wrong-headed approach as my bunting and owls (quote circa 2009: I will NEVER make bunting or owls) have been the most financially successful products I produce so there's a lesson in market forces for you!

Recently I was asked very nicely if I would do a children's craft party for a friend. Normally an instant nope, but I know the girl is super into sewing, and at 11 more than capable of using a sewing machine and keen to improve her skills. Apparently her friends also have some sewing smarts, so I was OK with providing some materials and know-how. It might be fun, and I do have a primary school teaching background so am not afraid of a small group of happy girls! They want to do cushions, I'll give them some applique tips, provide materials and templates, and encourage them to design their own. 

To get my creative juices flowing, I made a Pinterest board and thought it might be a good idea to make myself a cushion to get restarted on the old cushion making. 

So I am entering this little beauty into the Pinaddicts Challenge this month because it is a pinterest inspired piece. If you tune in tomorrow I hopefully will be posting a bit more on how I made it because it was a nice EASY project and good for scrap usage too, which we always like here at scrooge central. I have called it my Twitter cushion because after I made it I realised how good it would be as the prize in a giveaway I was planning to run on Twitter. So I'm afraid this cushion already has a new home. It's gone to Amy's Button Box who was the lucky winner of my 700 followers prize draw. Sorry!

The business of small business

It's been a busy old few weeks here, as it always is prior to a craft fair. But always rather an anti-climax on the day, as very few craft fairs feel wildly successful. I never quite sell enough to take that sceptical look off my husbands face. And I have never managed to shake off that incredulous feeling that people want to spend real human money on my creations!

I had a few new lines this time, and some sewn cards, which were fun and quick to make, but sold well. I think that I can definately see myself doing more of those, as they also use up a lot of tiny scraps. I have a few sack fulls of similar tiny scraps - I can't bring myself to throw fabric no matter how small the piece! I always think - 'I could make a scrap quilt/use it for applique'. I'm not sure how knackered my machine will get if I use it to sew cards, but it seems to cope! No appliance can live at my house without consigning itself to a life of hard labour. Also, if not machining them, I can always hand sew the things in front of the telly of an evening. I love projects I can do in front of the telly as most evenings lately the sewign room has been freezing. Sewing my fingers raw in a garrett is only tempting on nights when the football fans have overrun the remote control. 

Other items that I had for sale (and didn't sell - this time - so frustrating not being able to predict what people will buy!) were some more little brooches. Here is a photo of the little blighters - another handsewn under-a-wintery-blanket make - I shall be listing them in my shop now I think - a good Mother's Day item?

 I am thinking of doing the Craft FEST in March - does anyone have any idea of what this is like? I have plenty of stock now..........

What's Up Doc

Everythings gone a bit quiet here as I am gearing up to unleash some new products on the world. Also, I had cleared a space so that I could make some things for my children's birthdays. These are finished and gifted now so I thought I would show you.

Here are the rabbit PJ cases I made, three, which was one each for my daughters and another for a little friend who was also having a special birthday.  Empty bodies, with stuffed heads and limbs, one in flannel and the other two in brushed cotton. I liked the flannel one, once I got used to working with the loopy fabric, it feels lovely and snuggly now.

Busy little fingers

Here at Dolly Towers I have been fiendishly slaving away at my sewing machine, getting the orders book clear and doing some Christmas makering. 

My most favouritist commission ever is finished and dispatched. I hope the eventual recipients love it as much as I do. It was bunting for triplet! baby! girls! They had such adorable names and I hope that now they are out of hospital their *poor* *lucky* parents can have the joy of them. But I got to play with some really lovely Riley Blake fabrics and make them something that I hope they will enjoy for many years.

Meanwhile my own children are growing like happy weeds here in the Hampshire mud. The baby who hardly seems to have been here longer than an eyeblink took his FIRST STEPS this week. His physical precocity is both marvellous and terrifying. I have needed cupboard locks like never before. His idea of fun is: crawl into deserted room, locate smashable thing, smash it. Strewth! My hoarded preserving jars, sob sob. That combined with a 2 3/4 year old who (this week alone) has actually sneaked off to eat: Sudocreme, lip balm, toothpaste, 500g contraband stolen chocolate log, as well as her normal food. I mean, does this sound like they are roaming unsupervised and feral? Well I watch them like a hawk! I'm (have been accused of being) the archetypal Helicopter Mum. Except that when there's 3 to hawkeye that is one tiiiiirrred helicopter.

So there's a few Christmas productions, craft fairs, parties, bake sales, work do's and all that malarky blocking up my sanity time this month! Gotta love this time of year. Onwards and upwards........ Next stop Swanmore Craft and Gift Fair on 8th December

Curtains curtains

Another brief post as I attempt to raise my head above the parapet of chaos my home life descended into upon the arrival of Child 3. In betweenst dreadful laundry and nappy piles I occasionally manage a little sewing, and have recently been actually busy with real paid sewing. Which makes a change!

Last project to be finished, a desperate plea from my neighbour - she is moving tomorrow and has still to finish the curtains for her daughters room. Correction - she had not started them, as they were an embellishment project and she works full time, 200 miles away, only at home at the weekends. So of course I agreed to help and it was all handed over to me to figure out. Hence I have been frantically basting felt circles onto a velvet curtain. Might I say that although these will be lovely and warm in the childs bedroom they are not ideal sewing for a hot evening! Here are some pictures to give you an idea. Unusual, and I hope, pretty when up.