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

Sun is shining

So it seems that the spirng is upon us. Although I am not managing a lot of sewing and crafting at the moment (having three children is proving, ahem, time consuming) I have been occasionally allowed to sneak toward the sewing machine. The Folksy and Etsy shops are ticking over and so I think I should just be thankful for small mercies! Here are a few of my latest listings.

Shoe bags

Shoppers

Really like the shopper - I am tempted to keep it but them really I should just make myself another!!

Motto Monday - Quit your jibber jabber

Turns out that Mothers Day was lovely, I got so many cute handmade cards and declarations of love, plus a box of chocolates, that I totally unwound and (falsely) imagined that at last my day off had arrived. Of course, Monday arrived and I got downstairs to the kitchen to gaze upon the unmitigated carnage of one roast dinner and a lot of breakfasts with out any washing up. Hence the above message to self  for my hastily reignited Motto Monday. Bleurg. You can get this from Tee and Toast at Folksy

Felty Goodness - a giveaway

OK so yesterday I was moaning a bit, but today I bring you festive joy! not my own, I am afraid, but a very nice giveaway from That Fuzzy Feeling who makes the most lovely felted goods.

For a chance to win chocolate and adorable felted things (I mean just check out these owls in a nest) please click on the link above to go to her blog. Good Luck!

Craft Fairs

I have been busy all week putting the finishing touches to things for a big craft fair today. After the children kept crying in the night (sore throat season) I nearly thought I wouldn't make it. Got there OK, no family of miserable wretches in tow, set up my stall, waited. And waited. And!! no customers. Well, not many. Come on people isn't it December?? Obviously in Hampshire there is a lack of festive cheer. So my Folksy and Etsy shops are still well stocked and apart from a few orders of a non-urgent variety, no commissions to finish either. What's going on?!! Come on people I need something to do before Baby #3 comes along and I have to put the dust jacket on my sewing machine for the rest of the winter. Go on, go on, go on, go on (repeat to fade).

Christmas is coming!

I have been hard at work making plenty in anticipation of a Christmas rush (here's hoping!). The last craft fair I did was not all that busy but I have my fingers crossed for the rest of the month. In the meantime, for virtual shoppers, I have created some new Christmas decorations which I am quite chuffed with, as well as a few old favourites.

On Etsy

On Etsy 

On Folksy

On Folksy

I've been FOFFED

Very exciting as I have been dying to find myself on Found On Folksy! So at last I can proudly bear the badge.



The blog post in question is on Scandinavian style, and there are some fine examples - including of course my very own red folky heart. *Chuffed*

New in my shop(s) for Spring!

I don't very often post shop updates here on my blog, as you can get your regular Made by Dolly fix on the Facebook Fan Page. However, I have a few new and seasonal lines starting so I thought I would give you a photo guide of what's new this Spring (so far!)

Large Easter Egg (Detail)
Apple Coin Purse
Small Easter Eggs available at Etsy and Folksy!
Mushroom Coin Purse with gingham loop

Happy Year of the Rabbit!

Rabbits by (from Left to Right):

Asking for Trouble
Made by Dolly
The Glass Mountain
Sara Carr

Nervously go I to the Craft Fair

As I have had an epic FAIL as regards getting stalls for any of the larger fairs I applied to this year, I am in the ridiculous position of doing my first Christmas season stall on the 18th December. Hopefully people will still want Christmas Decorations, and anyway, what a good time to be selling my last few off. As it is, I am in two minds about making many more for the sale itself, I know that the last thing you want is to run out of stock early, but neither do I want to be stuck with lots of out-of-season merch. Because lets face it, online sales of Christmas items are not going to carry on for many more days!  I guess my only alternative is to get upstairs and make some enduring classics for gifts and the like.

My best seller, on Folksy and in the little stalls I do at toddler group are my fleece cuddly dinosaurs, the wonkier they are the more people seem to love them. I have done so well with local commissions this year on the dinosaurs, both large and small, that I can only hope that their appeal will endure after Christmas, as I do like making them!

Happy Fleece Dinosaur Chewies

This is my prototype for a friend who wanted a Triceratops doll.
He turned out so cute, I am making her a blue one for her son, this one can stay mine! 

Sunday Showcase - Latest Purchases!

Instead of merely showcasing the work of a Folksy shop I like this week, I thought that I would share some items that I have bought from Folksy, to illustrate that I really do shop there as well as sell from it, and promote it! I might well witter on about handmade but am I really doing the handmade christmas thing?

I got the gorgeous heart stained glass decorations from my good friend Amy who trades as AmyOrangeJuice. If you visit her website you will see that she also undertakes large commissions and has won awards for her work. These hearts are managing to look pretty despite the dreadful weather also on display!

The ceramic star is one of a couple of personalised decorations that I had made as Christmas presents, which came from a ceramic artist/sculptor maker called Angela Tait. Her Folksy shop, Tait Gallery, is full of lovely small ceramic items perfect for gifts. I hope that the stars will be appreciated as I really love them and hope they will be a treasured keepsake for ever.

If you want to commission something special for Christmas you may well need to get a move on, but why not visit the Folksy shops of these fine craftspeople and see what they have to offer you?

Christmas Decoration Swap

As I commented in my post on Saturday I have been participating in a Christmas Decoration Swap co-ordinated by Sew Scrumptious. I didn't want to talk about it too soon, mainly because there is no point in sending a surprise package if you have been putting photos up of the contents up on the internet. But I sent the parcel a few days ago now so I am hoping that it has arrived/will arrive soon (Royal Mail, reliable or not? You decide.).

The rules were you had to send a handmade decoration, some chocolate and a card. I decided to have a go at making my christmas card as I really should! It turned out OK considering I don't have a lot of card making stuff. Overall I was pleased and I hope my swap partner, Funky Cinderella - a fellow Folksy seller - will like what I have sent her. If you don't want to view the parcel contents, LOOK AWAY NOW:

Folksy Friday - Winter has arrived

Beautiful wintery things from
1  First Frost bracelet from Mi Mi B
2 Winter Fields Brooch from Lynwood Crafts
3 Silver Winter Earrings from Willow Wire Creations
4 Melted Snow Glass Decoration from Kumari Glass
5 Autumn Leaf Christmas Decorations from By Sally

Trrying a new look on the old FF as I always have trouble getting the pictures to look well positioned.
I know I posted this Thursday night but I am busy tomorrow!!!

Monday is Motto Day

Our mantra for the week is brought to us by Pants and Paper

October Folk Fest - Penultimate day! Fabric Love

October is nearly over and so is the October Fest listing club on Folksy. Today I listed a cute autumnal heart keyring which I have created whilst in the midst of making a lot of hearts for Christmas. I have chosen a few of the Folk Festers who listed something today that gave me a surge of fabric love!

By me! Made by Dolly

Audreys Cat.
How amazing is this 1960s fabric?!

Pants and Paper
Cute and with a lavender scent

You can't fault this gorgeous Liberty fabric

October Folk Fest - Day 26 - I love Pink! No, Blue! No, Pink! Blue!

Pip Designs

Court and Spark

Pants and Paper

Milliebeads

Damselfly Gemma

One Sunny Afternoon

Day 20 and the gorgeousness continues

The Button Fairy

Funky Cinderella

Girlybunches

Audreys Cat

Look! The sky was blue, and it was a lovely day. I've been at the zoo looking at the lemurs sunbathing. All is right with the world xxx