Things To Make & Do - A Quick Catch Up

I have had a hectic few weeks at work due to organising our company's annual event at the Imperial War Museum Duxford - I work for a model bus company and every year we help sponsor Showbus which is a bus rally held at the museum. Having worked all of last weekend, it is only now that I have found the time and energy to update you all on all the things I have managed to cross off my to-do list over the last few weeks.

Firstly, it was the 1st Birthday of Keira, my friend Christine's little girl. I decided to make her, her very own version of the Teddy Bear that I have made for her cousins Willow and Emily.

  Due to the lack of time, I decided for the first time to stitch it where possible on the sewing machine, I would normally hand sew as I feel I can make it neater, This actually worked really well and saved me loads of hours of painstaking hand stitching. I also decide to make him a little more individual, so I trimmed his nose a little bit more than I normally would, this worked well, though I got a bit carried away and he does have a small bald patch! oops!!

Next to be finished was the George cushion for my God Daughter Willow. This was promised to her on her 2nd birthday when I gave her the Peppa Pig one, luckily being only two she didn't hold it against me that it has taken four months to finish.

And last, but by no means least, is the Debonair Jumper . After a few weeks putting off finishing the last sleeve, I have finally sewed all the bits together and have my very first self-made jumper.  I hope to wear it very soon, but have to confess I am a little scared in case I ruin it ,or catch it on something, as it has had a lot of time and work put into it, I would be heartbroken to spoil it!

I have spent the day whilst typing up this being very lazy and watching lots of Audrey Hepburn films. Which has given me an idea for an Audrey-inspired post, so watch this space!!

Wendy x

Sew It - Peppa Pig Pillow

It was my God daughter Willows 2nd birthday party a few weekends ago and much fun was had by all. We were very lucky to have the most wonderful weather and spent a gloriously summery afternoon relaxing in the garden whilst Willow and her cousins played in and with her new sand pit, and ate their weight in cake and crisps.

On the gift front, I bought willow a book which was one of my very favourites when I was a child, The Jolly Postman. I was absolutely obsessed with this book and every time my mum would take me to the library I would return it only to take it out again! To accompany the book I wanted to make something homemade and so I hit upon a cushion cover appliquéd with Willows Favourite Peppa Pig.

~ Peppa Pig Appliqué Cushion ~

Ingredients:

1 Pillow Case

Pink fleece fabric for body

Scraps of fabric for appliqué

First I started by finding a suitable image of Peppa online, I chose this cute fairy one which I think works perfectly. I printed it out as large as I could on an A4 sheet so that I had a rough guide for cutting out my pieces.

To make the cushion I bought a child's single duvet set from Asda I unpicked the seams of the pillow case and then cut it in half to make into two cushions (the other cushion is still to be finished which will be George).

I next raided the stash of fabric scraps my mum had sent me a few months ago (thanks, mum) and created Peppa along with the bright pink fleece throw I had bought from Asda last year, which I used for her face, hands and legs! I used iron-on Bondaweb to hold the bits in place whilst I zigzagged around all the raw edges, Finally, I finished with a few buttons on her crown and wand and added some French knots for her eyes.

Lastly sewed up the sides to make the cushion, I used a tutorial (this is a good one!) to make a very simple envelope cushion cover, and I was done!

I am pleased to say that it went down really well, though my button sewing skills took a bit of a testing as they were mercilessly pulled at, but thankfully the metallic thread seems to have them held in place, for now at least!! 

Wendy x