A Scrap Here and There

A picture heavy post today – and not so much of the rabbit* for a change – as I’m pressed for time and might have to go back over to the U.K. at the weekend to give my sister a little break in the care of our Mum.

It’s Kate and Gun’s ScrapHappy day so I’m joining in with some creatures made from scraps to show you.  Remember the dogs I was making for a garland to bedeck my stall with at the upcoming Christmas Fair in aid of the dogs retirement home?  Well there are now five of them and I think that’s how it’s going to have to stay as I’m not sure I’ll get round to making any others now before the event is upon us.

I still haven’t decided how I’m going to join them in a garland but it will come to me I’m sure.

I also made another whale pincushion and, even though you know it makes me feel bad to stick pins in it, I have.

Who says you can’t have a floral whale?

Sorry about my depth of field in the whale photo but you get the gist and this might be one of my Stitching Santa gifts.  (‘depth of field’ – get me and my fancy camera talk.  Unfortunately, I can talk the talk but can’t always walk the walk where photography is concerned.)

Talking of fund raising, I just received some new ribbons I ordered for the dog collars I make.  They are very nice quality woven ribbons and are very bright and breezy.  I love the Red Riding Hood one, so cute.

From the same company I ordered this lovely jersey fabric which I might make into a warm, snuggly dress for the winter – or a tunic if I haven’t got enough of it.

I saw the writing on the selvedge but ignored it

Kids indeed – what nonsense!  I’m not afraid to wear a swan dress.

I had a happy unbirthday today because the very generous Claire sent me a gift of this little pouch which is just the right size to keep a packet of mini tissues in.

Such gorgeous fabric and the little snap hook on the end will make it just right to clip into my handbag and save me rummaging in the depths when I need to dry a tear (or blow a nose).

I have a couple of knitting and crochet finishes to show you but they will have to wait until I’m back from the U.K. and have,  hopefully, participated in the Christmas Fair on the 25th of this month.  Everything is a bit up in the air at the moment and days, let alone weeks, must be taken one at a time.

* ‘Rabbit’ – short for ‘rabbit and pork’ which is cockney rhyming slang for ‘talk’.  Just in case you were wondering.

Having a Whale of a Time with Scraps

I used to think life was too short to stuff a toy – or was that a mushroom? – but I’ve been persuaded to change my mind.

I took a fancy to this pattern for a whale partly because he’s so cute and partly because it’s a pattern by Jodie over at RicRac and she is an amazing pattern designer.  Plus, did I mention she was having a sale at the time?  I may have bought three or four patterns

Anyway, I made him from scraps of some lovely canvassy fabric in seaside colours and put into use the tin of sardines I bought just because I love the illustration on the tin.  I can’t stand sardines.

This is another of Jodie’s patterns which I thought I might be able to do something with to decorate my stand at the Christmas Fair in November to raise funds for the Twilight Retirement Home for Dogs.

Nothing wrong with my pattern cutting or stuffing skills here – he’s just cocking his back leg for a wee 😉 Honest!

 

The dogs aren’t free-standing so I’m wondering about making a garland to hang in front of the stall – or over it even if I can figure out a good way to do that.  Anybody made a garland with ‘softies’ before?   Tips and hints would be appreciated and possibly followed slavishly.

 

Non-matching cotton reel for size purposes. He’s quite dinky.

Nothing to do with whales or dogs but my reasoning will become apparent – my daughter is an ‘aerialist’ – that is she does classes using an aerial hoop which sounds scary but is very good for upper body strength apparently.  It was her birthday so I made her a card using (mostly) freehand machine embroidery – although I did use a machined feather stitch around the outside of the constellation fabric (which was a scrap – so there’s my ‘reasoning’ if you read on)

I don’t know what this particular pose is called but they all look so elegant.

I couldn’t resist another whale photo and a better look at the sardine tin.

I might even use that design for a future freehand embroidery project.

The whale is actually supposed to be a pincushion but, when I stuck some pins in him for the photos, they looked like harpoons and I felt so bad I took them out again 😦

All made with scraps so I’m joining in with Kate’s Scraphappy Day here where you can click to see what the other participants have been doing with their scraps this month – see I told you there was ‘reasoning’ involved.

I have been spending quality time with visitors (this was a scheduled post) and being a visitor myself  over the next couple of weeks so don’t worry if you don’t see me around as much as usual – I haven’t disappeared under a pile of unlaundered dog blankets and left to suffocate.  Although if I’m not back after a couple of weeks feel free to check.