Handmade Monday #29

It's Handmade Monday time!

Welcome to another Handmade Monday, the place to share your makes, bakes and other handmade craft ideas or just find some new inspiration.

How has your week been? I've been enjoying participating in a colourful Instagram challenge for June. It's organised by Adventures and Tea Parties and is #ColourMyEveryDay. The daily prompts have been pretty vague which always makes this kind of thing easier. I've not done a daily challenge like this for ages and to be honest I never normally manage everyday but as they are supposed to be for fun I don't beat myself up about it!

Now here are the features from last weeks linky:
Vicky Myers made this beautiful chevron cushion cover from old jeans. If you read her step by step instructions it is actually much simple to put together than it looks. 

I LOVE Rhubarb and so I couldn't resist these lovely looking rhubarb crumble muffins from Of Faeries & Fauna. 

And a final bonus honourable mention that goes to the super talented daughter of Ginny from Ginx Crafts who made her mum a most fabulous toy Alpaca. Isn't he just fabulous? She did cut up her dressing gown to make him, but how could you be cross about that?!

Congratulations, here is a "Yay! I was featured" button for your blog.

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We are all about sharing and caring here at Handmade Monday so if you do link up please take some time to visit some other links and share a few on the social media of your choice. If you are not a social media fan then comments are lovely too (I know the world of tweets, likes, shares and hashtags is not for everyone!)
We have a Handmade Monday Facebook Group where we share tips and ideas. If you like to link up here regularly you are welcome to join us, just send a request. Every entry to Handmade Monday gets pinned onto our Handmade Monday pinterest board too.

The rules for Handmade Monday are simple:

• Did you make it? Yes - hooray, we'd love to see it!
• Add the link to a specific blog post, not your main site URL.
• Link up to 3 posts each week.
• Mingle - visit some of the other links - comment - share - let's support one another and grow our craft community.

If you're not sure on anything, more information can be found here.

An InLinkz Link-up

Polka Dot Embroidered Tote Bag

Some simple embroidery on bright polka dot fabric turned into a sweet little tote bag.

Red and white polka dot is a favourite pattern of mine, and last November the lovely Caroline from CJ Made had a sewing supplies giveaway that I was lucky enough to win which contained a load of red and white polka dot fabric. I made a top for myself and with some of the left overs I thought I'd try a little embroidery inspired something that I'd seen on pinterest.

source: Harujion Design

To make an embroidered polka dot tote bag you will need:

1 x piece of polka dot fabric 36cm(14") x 77cm(30") for the main body of the bag

2 x pieces of polka dot fabric 10cm(4") x 61cm(24") for the handles

Embroidery thread in your choice of colours, mine are DMC 3824, 3753, 3819 and 973

A sharp needle, scissors, sewing machine, sewing thread

First you need to decide on a design and where you want it. I did a band of flowers to run across the top of the bag. The rest is a centralised band of running stitch. This is a gift for my niece so I added her name to the back too just as an added extra. Just make sure any fancy design element is at least 3" away from the short edge of the fabric or it will get in the way of the top hem later.

The embroidery is worked with 3 strands of thread throughout.

Starting roughly in the centre, stitch about 5" (12cm) of running stitch then lazy daisy flowers on 3 dots in a row, then continue with running stitch the full length of the fabric.

Then pick another colour and repeat the process, doing the same number of rows each side of your original central one.

I did 3 lines of each of my 4 colours so 12 lines in total. To add the name on the back I used a water-soluble marker to write in a fancy font where the last line of stitching was due to go, then worked it in backstitch.

I then waited about for nearly 3 months and this birthday was imminent to make it up into a bag. You don't have to wait this long! Originally this was going to be a cushion but my brother and his family are moving overseas later this year and I suddenly realised that a cushion would just be an extra bulky thing to pack. A bag can roll up to nearly nothing and just tuck in a case so a much better present under the circumstances. Maybe it was just as well I didn't rush to make the cushion cover after all!

So, now it's time to turn your embroidered piece into a tote. Start by pressing everything with the iron, then fold the main piece in half WRONG SIDES TOGETHER and using a small seam allowance (1/4" or 1/2 cm ish) sew up either side. Now turn the bag inside out, press the edges flat and then stitch these seams again, this time with a 1/2" or 1.25cm seam allowance.

This makes a french seam which just makes the inside a bit tidier, especially for people like me who don't have an overlocker (serger). Turn the bag back out the right way and admire your lovely neat seams. 

Fold and press a narrow hem at the top open edge then fold over again an inch (2.5cm) Pin but don't sew yet.

Now make the handles, make both the same. Fold and press a narrow hem on both long sides of your handle pieces, then fold in half again, lining up the edges.

Top stitch down both sides.

Tuck one end of one handle under the hem you made on the front of the main bag piece, about 5cm (2") from the side seam.

Fold it back up on itself and secure with a pin. Repeat for the other end of the handle on the other side of the bag, making sure your handle is smooth and not twisted.

Now repeat on the back half of the bag with the other handle. 

Top stitch round the top of the bag, just away for the hem edge. Repeat another line of top stitching around the top edge of the bag.

See how nice and neat that french seam makes the inside - makes me so happy!

Handmade Monday #28

Welcome to Handmade Monday, our weekly crafty linky.

Hello, hello, hello, it's Handmade Monday time! This is the place to share your makes, bakes and other handmade craft ideas and find some new inspiration.
I finished a long overdue furniture painting project this week, I'll share it all in a week or two but here's a quick 'before' shot:

So with my 'painting head' firmly on it's not surprising I've picked paint based features from last week's Handmade Monday:

Love, love, love this gorgeous painted chest of drawers from The Apple Street Cottage. It's so pretty, I love it .... Did I mention that I love it?!?

Extolling the virtues of good old spray paint, Deanie's Stash gave a complete makeover to an old plant stand that she picked up for next to nothing. Simple but very effective.

Congratulations to both of you, here is a "Yay! I was featured" button for your blog.

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We are all about sharing and caring here at Handmade Monday so when you do link up please take some time to visit some other links and leave a comment. Plus if you are able, do share a few on the social media of your choice. (I know the world of tweets, likes, shares and hashtags is not for everyone so whatever you can do will be much appreciated!)

All the entries are pinning onto our Handmade Monday Pinterest Board.
We also have a Handmade Monday Facebook Group, sporadically we share interesting things we've found with one another. It's not the most overly active facebook group of all time but a nice way to contact one another. You are welcome to join us, just send a request. 

The rules for Handmade Monday are simple:

• Did you make it? Yes - hooray, we'd love to see it!
• Add the link to a specific blog post, not your main site URL.
• Link up to 3 posts each week.
• Mingle - visit some of the other links - comment - share - let's support one another and grow our craft community.

If you're not sure on anything, more information can be found here.

An InLinkz Link-up

Easy Plant Pot Hack

What do you do when your house plant doesn't fit in the decorative pot you have for it? This is a simple fix I've used for years, you may all know it already but just in case not, let me explain.

Just the other day I was looking for a pot to put this little cyclamen in. This red bucket was a Christmas gift from a neighbour a few years ago, it had a sweet little glitter covered Christmas tree in it. The tree didn't survive but the bucket is very cute so I held on to it.

Lots of people seem to be planting their plants straight into decorative pots nowadays. I've done that myself occasionally but really I think you are better leaving the plant in it's plastic plant pot and dropping that into something decorative.

• Better drainage for the plant
• Your decorative pot won't be damaged being against wet compost. On terracotta the wet seeps through and can lift any paint or unstick glue - been there, done that! Metal tins can start to rust at the joints - been there, done that too!
• Less mess when your plant needs re-potting or you fancy a swap round

But what if the decorative pot is too big? This is what I do:

Take a decorative pot, a plant, a piece of foil and a container of some sort. Here I used a little glass pot that had a lovely mini cheesecake in it. What you choose depends on the size of your pots, you might find just an old lid will be enough.

Put the container upside down in the decorative pot...

Shape the foil roughly into a dish shape and tuck it in on top. Press it to the sides to make it as snug as you can. 

Now pop your plant in on top.

If your plant needs lots of drainage you can put a layer of gravel or pebbles on the foil first.

Now the plant is up at the right level, the pot is protected from the wet compost and when you water your plant the water will sit in the foil dish and not at the bottom of the decorative pot where the plant can't get it.

I've done this quite often, especially with those super tall ceramic pots you sometimes get with orchids. They are great for orchids that must not sit in water but not so good if you want to use the pot for something else. An upturned empty yoghurt pot is a good size for them.

It's not life changing I know, not rocket science either, but a simple trick that has helped me out which you might find handy one day.

The Chelsea Flower Show 2017

Highlights of our visit to the RHS Chelsea Flower show 2017.

Something a bit different today. I was lucky enough to visit the famous Chelsea Flower Show on Friday last week so I thought I'd share my highlights. Spoiler alert - this is a very photo heavy post!

The show has been held in the ground of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea, London since 1912 and is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society.

There are a load of show gardens both big and small, a huge marquee they call the Grand Pavilion which is full of displays from plant growers from all over the place, and lots of beautiful stalls selling pretty much everything gardening related you can think of.

Everything was just beautiful but my personal favourite was the BBC 2 sponsored "Anneka Rice Colour Cutting Garden" by Sarah Raven, my photos don't really do it justice, it was a riot of colour and general loveliness.

There were some great gardening quotes in modern calligraphy all over the place.

I love how they used painted upturned jam jars as an edging in this 'Senses' garden designed to encourage kids away for their screens and into the outdoors.

This seems about right:

There were some beautiful pieces from sculptor Simon Gudgeon:

Leaf Spirit

Firebird We all loved the amazing animal sculptures made of drift wood by James Doran.

There's that Joe Swift bloke off the telly!:

If you do ever plan a visit here are my top tips:

• Book early, apparently it got sold out this year.
• Go to Victoria train station and get the shuttle bus instead of the tube. It takes you right to the gates, you'll be walking all day so save your energy.
• Take a packed lunch and plenty to drink - it's really expensive and once you are in you can't come out to get food and go back in - no stamp on your hand for re-entry here, it's not a festival!
• Use the money you save to treat yourselves to a jug of Pimms when it's 'Pimms o'clock' - it's practically the law to have a nice cold glass of Pimms on a hot sunny day here in the UK!

• It's really crowded, especially around the show gardens but people are all nice and there to have a good time. Just wait to get in close, chat to the people standing next to you, you'll get your chance eventually.
• If you can, watch some of the coverage on the tv before, so you can plan the things that you really don't want to miss.

This was a once in a lifetime, special family ladies day out for us, we just had the best time. We got SO lucky with the weather, warm and sunny.

Without exception every member of staff was just lovely too, friendly and helpful. One steward in particular went over and above the call of duty to help us at one point. It was like they really did care and actually wanted us to have a good day.

There are lots of garden shows all over the place but the setting for this one is just fabulous. Yes it's expensive, really expensive, but if gardens are your thing I'd definitely recommend adding it to your bucket list.