Secret Christmas House

Over Christmas and through January I have been working on Robin Betterleys Secret Christmas House. It is 144th scale. The artwork is, as always with the Betterleys, just divine. 

Here is the house and the table, which I distressed today.

This is how the secret insides open up.

The left hand side.

The right hand side.

You have to look closely here at the artwork of the greenery over the windows.

This is with the greenery added over the artwork to make it more textured and three dimensional. Also I have filled the window boxes. There is supposed to be red in the greenery over the windows and the door but I ended up picking it out as I prefer it all green.

 Here is a close up of the greenery, it is chopped up bunka in two different greens.

I did then go on to finish and add the chimneys and the topiary trees either side of the front door, but my camera battery packed in at that point so those pictures will have to wait. I have also added the glitter to the icicles which will hang along the roof edge and at the same time somehow covered myself and the carpet!

New Camera and Blogging Again!

I have not been able to blog for over 5 months because my beloved camera broke. I have been totally lost without it. Not only have I not been able to photograph my projects during the making but I have missed being able to take all the lovely family photographs and scenery. But hurray for Santa Claus, (and wonderful husbands disguised as the pets!!!) as I now have a fabulous new camera in my eager little paws.

My only dilemma now is where to start photographing as I have created so much since I last blogged. Anyway I decided that as good a place as any is my Gnome Home as I loved every single minute I spent working on this project and it turned out even better than anticipated. It is a kit from the talented Sue Herber.

I love the fact that it is topped with real moss so it feels like it is built under ground.

Inside it is a cheerful yellow that does not fail to make you smile, just like the little Gnome heads up on the wall on the top floor!

Here is the Gnomes pet cricket in his cage (unfortunately I cannot now photograph the little fella himself as I cannot get the camera in far enough but trust me he is a sweetie)! You can also see the well in the back corner with the bucket ready to go.

Upstairs there is also a lovely blanket chest with folk art designs on it. Throughout the Gnome home are beautiful rugs.

Downstairs (well down ladder really!) there is the stove, a rack of candles on the wall, a cuckoo clock, a plate rack, table and chairs and in the back right corner a bed that pulls out of the wall.

What Gnome would be found without a stack of logs and a basket of kindling waiting to stoke the stove.

Here you can see the plate rack clearer. 

I have to say I am rather pleased with my first attempt to use my new camera. Hmmm now what to photograph next ...........

Lovely Post and So Many Things Made

I had wonderful post this morning from Little Tea Wagon. I love sweet packaging and nearly always end up photographing the package before opening it. I had such a lovely time opening it up!  

The sticky tape is just lovely!

Inside more sweet packaging and some beautiful little fabric pieces!

This was inside! I love these old fabrics cannot wait to create something. It is almost definitely going to be something hand paper pieced.

Also have ever so nearly finished the quilt for our bed. I fell in love with the darker blue deer fabric from the Kitzbuhel range by Westfalenstoffe, so obviously had to make a quilt with it along with all its complimentary fabrics. It is pieced and quilted only needs the binding!

The silk scarf I have been weaving on my rigid heddle loom with some Noro yarn is also finished and I am so pleased with it!

Fleece Club from Saras Texture Crafts arrived and immediately got washed as it has been wonderful weather for drying fleece. There was Vendeen, Texel, Hebridean and Manx Longthan. It is all ready to spin now so I cannot wait to get started.

On my craft table is the 14th scale Georgian Mansion by Cynthia Howe that I am loving to build. It went on hold for quite some time whilst I built up the courage to do the tiny windows all the mullions were seperate as was the acetate for the glass and the window frames!! The electrics are in and it is so nearly time for furniture.

I have been happily embroidering some hearts as a present for a wonderful friend. It is the first time I have embroidered with fine wool instead of silk but I have loved it and want to start the project all over again and was quite disappointed when it was over!

Lastly but definitely not least as I am so proud of this! I have woven a braid on my new inklette loom. It is the stars and stripes pattern from a free inkle pattern e-book from Inter weave. I did the whole thing in Pearle number 5 and I loved it. So much fun to do and the results were great. This too was a present for my wonderful friend. I may now have to weave another one to keep!

The four shaft floor loom is warped and ready to go and there are plenty of other projects being worked on.

Kaffe Fassett Exhibition

The other week I went to the Kaffe Fassett exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. I have been a great fan of his designs for a long time. My first Kaffe Fassett patchwork was over twelve years ago and there has been plenty more playing with his designs and fabrics since! It was difficult taking good photos at the exhibition as it was fairly dark and you were not allowed flash but this is what I took....

I love this snowball design.

I loved the quilt below, the photo does not do it any justice what so ever. I would really like to have a go at this design maybe even paper piecing it.

Here are some close ups of the design.

More snowballs in the most wonderful coloured fabrics.

The most interesting quilt was actually laid on the floor with a display of furniture and cushions on top of it. There was so many different designs and blocks in it and the colour scheme was wonderful.

The frog tapestry cushion was fun.

It was interesting to see the original designs that had been done in paint with the repeats shown around the edges in pencil. Again the colours that are used together are fabulous.