Mummy Cat and Kittens Finished - Working on Denim Divas.

So the cats are all sewn and stuffed. Boy those skinny tails were a job to stuff. Several versions of stitching, finally decided Mummy cat looks best nice and neat with seams inside. Tried her with felt, like the kittens and  with same fabric as the front, hated both. They are the top two.

I've just put some gathered lace around one or two as I think they remind me of ballerinas standing on their tippy toes.

Lovely smiley faces embroidered free style and using some of the stitches on the machine. Really pleased with the faces. The brooch pins have arrived so I can get these ready for sale now. I will be selling a Mummy, plus one kitten, which will be a brooch. Blogger has turned this picture round how annoying.

Now the Divas have been a bit slower than I would like. Here they are legs part stuffed, faces, dresses and arms all ready. Just have to stuff the arms, stuff the top of the legs and then fit them together. The legs are really long and skinny too, so take an age to stuff. 

I use this stuffing from World of Wool it complies with BS standards for toys and is washable too. Not the cheapest but I find it stuffs easily and goes quite a long way. Plus the company is very efficient. I've just had my 2nd lot and I ordered Wednesday and its been delivered today.  Cheaper stuffing is available but it clumps and is not washable.

Quick mention for my newest follower the lovely Georgia Coote do click on her name and have a look at her super blog. She's really talented at designing fabric!

Now kettle on and back to stuffing. Roll on Christmas I can offer a stuffing service for turkeys. Well a girl has to earn money somehow.

Alchemy 3 Exhibition at Colchester Slack Space

Wednesday evening I went to the Private View of this diverse exhibition. I wasn't feeling too good as I have had some mystery bug all week. So it was a very quick visit and then back to a temperature and bed. Thankfully today I am better!

These dinosaurs are made from small household electrical appliances, mobiles, computers and other similar throw away goods.

Do you see anything you once owned? Lots of TV remotes on this one.

They are great fun.

I really like the way my art has been displayed. This white box is so effective.

Really lucky to get so much into one exhibition.

Also ongoing at Slack Space is the decoration of these giraffes. They are to be displayed at Colchester Zoo to celebrate 50 years of being open. A very patient artist is painting purple circles. He then has to paint white circles on the top half. I think he will be a bit dotty by the end.

Big Clowder of Small Cats

Lovely day here, so walked Molly twice and been to church. Rest of the time cutting out and sewing the small kittens.

Kitten mug shots. Tons of ends to clip. I'm loving that each one has its own expression. Machine embroidery with stitch and tear backing. Also used medium iron on interfacing to stop the fabric fraying. It's shirt fabric from my stash.

Heads and bodies united on top of felt. Decided to do a rainbow clowder of kittens.

Turned out pretty good!!

First cat, top one, did the face and realised the stitches showing on the back looked naff. Second one looks much better. You can see the size as the background squares are 1cm.

Tomorrow I'm going to start on the Mummy Cats face design.

A Clowder of Cats

Been cutting out all afternoon. Five Retro Divas made with denim, checks and spots. Should look good when sewn.

And a new pattern

Mummy kitty will be a soft stuffy and baby kitties will be broaches. Lots more to do before these are finished.

Had a great time at The Minories Spring Fair.

Busy, Busy Bunny

Normally I make my textile dolls and rabbits one at a time. But I have a busy craft fair coming up so have made a warren of rabbits over the last few days.

Eleven flat bunnies - not yet stuffed. All 1970 fabrics so they just had to be orange. I've used the two blues to liven up the colour theme.

I got a new gadget presser foot for my sewing machine.

It turns the fabric in a circle whilst you sew.

So that a straight zig-zag based stitch now makes a flower shape. Fits most makes of machine and under a £10 note from Ebay, where else. Also treated myself to a freestyle machine embroidery foot - I don't want to sew my finger again :-)

I've used a different stitch on each set of eyes. Legs, arms and ears all sewn with different shades of orange.

New label too, MB heart = Mad Bird made with love. Sewn on the hem of old table linens. A darn sight cheaper than those you order on line too.

Next on the list are five Denim Divas as I was given another pair of old jeans.

Head's buzzing with ideas for the Make do & Mend classes too.

x from the Mad Bird.

Make Do And Mend - New Classes

Taking big breath, I have booked a local Community Centre in Bures Suffolk and sent adverts off to the local village magazine so now I am committed to doing my first class!

Posters are ready to put up in the village and also at other nearby villages.

In the past I have taught a lot of classes for machine knitting and more recently have been at Colchester Slack Space with Mixed Media. But all those classes were done for someone else. Its a big thing to put yourself out there on your own. To start something from scratch.

Now I hope the phone rings and I get customers!

Handbags and Gladrags

After living with a very,very cold house due to running out of heating oil. Oil delivered then boiler would not re-light, then no hot water as the backup immersion heater failed too. Thankfully Robert my plumber took pity on me and came out on a Saturday to mend things for me. That was his good deed for Easter. So now Molly and me are toasty warm again.

To keep my self busy I have made a batch of vintage fabric aprons. Plenty of free patterns on Tip Nut . No pictures because the camera decided to hide in the glove box in the car!!! Naughty camera.

We had a very successful class at Slack Space in Colchester, Cherry and Linda blogged about that here and here again my camera was still missing.

Cherry, Andrea Farmer and I went to the opening of Miss Annabel Dee Gallery in Leigh on Sea Essex. We all have art on display in her spring Open Exhibition. You all are going to have to peek at Andrea's blog as that camera was still AWOL.

Now I have caught up with the camera, so you lucky people you get pictures of my first attempt at making a handbag.

Lovely vintage embroidery rescued from a damaged tray cloth.

Vintage doily, edging only, sewn onto a strip of fabric. Fabric given a wavy edge by using an embroidery stitch on the sewing machine. Then gathered up and sewn firmly with strong thread. Button covered with same fabric and sewn into middle. Then all sewn to bag. I think these would make great broaches too.

Another doily on the corner, with vintage buttons.

Finished bag. Main fabric is a pair of fine cord jeans and top & handle are old curtains. Same fabric used for lining. As with any first time make there is always something you could do better. But I will be making more as I have booked a craft fair for 4th May.

Note one pair of men's jeans leg 34 inches will make two bags. One half of a pair of curtains 60 x 60 will make two or three linings, top and handles. The curtains cost £4.50, jeans free, donated by Gilly, trims under a £1 and iron on facing for two bags £1.50.

This is the pattern Glam Shopper have a look at the other bag patterns. They come with actual size patterns, some pieces have to be joined. The instructions are clear but could have had a bit more detail as a lot of knowledge of sewing is assumed. So if you are a real beginner you may need help. Really nice ebay seller and as she was late sending my pattern out, she sent me four of the patterns!!!! I promise I did not nag her.

Handbags and Galdrags written by Mike D'Abo. I got to meet him and the rest of Manfred Mann at a concert. Went back stage straight into the dressing room where the band were in various stages of undress. Mr D'Abo was in his underpants and calmly signed my show poster. Ho hum something I will never forget. Paul Jones was pretty nippy getting his trousers on too.

Hope you are all well :-)