At last something to see

I am very pleased to say that this weekend I actually made some things. I probably didn't get as much done as I had hoped, but I am still fairly pleased and it felt good to be creating again.

I started off on Saturday with a felt making session. The felt will eventually turn into hotwater bottle covers. I love feltmaking but it always takes longer than you think, so I need to have another good session or two.

I then finished up a batch of tea cosies, followed by starting some door stops, which are similar to my draft excluder's (thanks for Ellie at From the Wilde for the idea), they are not quite finished yet, but are very cute.

My first fair is on the 20 November, at The Place in Sherwood, Nottingham, it has a wonderful selection of local makers and is always really enjoyable. I just need some more making sessions first!

Cosy Pebbles

I had a fantastic weekend, as I got to spend two days making things and still managed to spend a day with my fella. Perfect, I love bank holidays, if only I could have 3 days off every week.

I have been busy making more things for my Pebble collection, I have loads of ideas, so its been really easy to get stuck in and make.

My main problem at the weekend was running out of materials, I am now completely out of white felting fibres, wadding and organic cotton and could do with stocking up, again!

I am really pleased with what I have been making and have loads more ideas to develop. I think my main problem is my photo's, it always seems to be dull when I am ready to take photo's, so I think I need to re-take some of these.

In fact I have a big box of work that needs to be photographed and then listed on Folksy.

Sew weekender

I had another fairly productive weekend, but they are just not long enough. I find I am just getting into a flow and its Sunday night again, would love to be able to spend more time making things, but that just not possible. (Sorry trying not to make this another rant about time.) For various reasons I am not really enjoying my proper job at the moment, so I don't think that helps, as I seem to spend the whole week day dreaming about doing other things. I am sure it will get better soon and I have been through similar moments before and I know I am lucky to have a job, so not really moaning, honest!

Anyway I did some more work on my Pebble Range. Didn't produce quite as much as I had hoped, but I completed another cushion. This is made from gorgeous hand woven organic fabric, I felt that kind of suited the organic nature of this range and I love the colour/ Really pleased with it, but the embroidery on the front took ages, but I think its worth it. Going to make some more incorporating handmade felt as I really like the pebble embroidery on the felt.

I also made pebble tea cosy mark two and I am really happy with it and think now I have worked out the best way of doing this will be able to make a few quite quickly. Again I want to make some using handmade felt.

I started to embroidery this piece, again using handmade felt, but this time with some colour added, but ran out of grey thread, doh! I really like it and I'm going to make some more like this, I am thinking I could also adapt slightly for cards.

I think this week I need to have a felting session after work, so I have lots of felt ready sewing at the weekend. I have recently been felting and then putting the felt into the washing machine to finish off. I really like the effect as it makes it more textured, it also makes the felt more sturdy, which when producing items like cushions and tea cosies is definitely a good thing. The negative side, is that its really hard to make large pieces using this method and I am getting through my felting fibres like there is no tomorrow. So roll on the weekend and another sewing session.

Sorry for the strange placing of the photo's, blogger seems to crash every time I move something, so I gave up.

More pebbles

I have been trying to find time to develop my Pebble range a bit more, I have loads of ideas and have been busy sketching and developing ideas on paper, but what I really need is a few days sat at my sewing machine.

I made this tea cosy sample at the weekend, fairly happy with it, but there is quite a bit I will be changing.

I have also been trying out my pebble design on various fabrics, including handmade felt which has then been put into the washing machine for extra textures and bobbly effect. Really please with this, but as this shrinks the felt it could be a very time consuming and expensive way of going about things.

I have also been trying out linen as I think it might be better to embroider pebbles directly onto a fabric rather than onto handmade felt and then attaching the felt to something. Today I have treated myself to some beautiful organic linen fabric in some very gorgeous mutted tones.

In my real job I was sent a sample of padding PCV, or 'Pleather' as we call if (Plastic leather), I really like the way this has turned out and really like the contrast of textures. But not sure if wipe clean fabrics (especially cushions) is the market I am going for!!

So the plan is to continue making some product samples over the next week or so and hopefully I will then have a small range, which I can continue to develop.

Felt Flowers

I have been making my Felt Flowers range for a while now. I love making these, I love that I get to combine lots of techniques, I especially like that I get to sit down in the evening and do hand embroidery (its very relaxing). I also like these pieces as I think they are fairly unique, I haven't seen too many things which are similar, they are also fairly organic and I never quite know how its going to turn out.

I have been thinking recently about how I can develop this style. At the moment I just make cards and pictures in this range. But for a while I have been thinking about what else I can make. The problem I am having is that they are fairly delicate, so am I am not sure how well they would transfer to usable items such tea cosies and cushions.

I think I need to do some experimenting and try and produce some sturdy versions, but I am worried that this could mean I loose some of the elements I like. I think I need to spend some time making samples. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them.

Pebbles

I have been working on some new ideas, based on my afternoon sketching whilst sitting on a pebble beach in Suffolk. At the weekend I did some samples using handmade felt and machine embroidery.

I was really please with the initial ideas, so made a cushion cover. This is now available in my Folksy shop. I am in the process of making another pebble cushion cover which is slightly different, I will let you have a peak when I have finished.

I have lots more ideas based on this theme so need to do some more samples. Its nice to do something a bit different, I love doing my bright flower pieces, but for a while have been wanted to do something more muted and adult. I can't wait to get back on my machine and do some more.

Frames and names.

Just wanted to show you the latest name picture I have made for my gorgeous new niece. I wanted to frame it in a deep frame, as often my pictures seem really pushed up against the glass, but unfortunately Ikea didn't seem to have any. So I had to change the plan slightly, but it actually looks fine.

I'm back

My blog has been rather neglected over the past couple of months. I have been really busy in my proper job and have been working very long hours, so haven't had much free time, so unfortuntley this has meant Petal Textiles has been very much on hold.

But the project at work has now finished, so I am hoping things will go back to normal. I have really missed being creative and can't wait to go get started again, but I have lots of domestic things I should probably do first, including spending some time with my fella, who has also been very neglected.

This week was Sherwood Artweek. I had work in an exhibition at St Johns Church and in Apollo blinds. Sadly I was away working for most of the week, so wasn't as involved as I would have liked and didnt manage to see any of the other exhibitions.

At St Johns I exhibited 9 small textiles pictures and a wall hanging. I kind of ran out of time with the wall hanging, so have some ideas I want to develop further.

Busy, busy, busy

Things are so busy at the moment, both at home and especially at work and things won't calm down until the end of June. So I've basically had to except that I won't get much time to make things over the next few months.


I was meant to be doing at craft fair in Beeston on the 8th May, but that's been cancelled, which is actually quite good. I am also involved in a community exhibition in June, called Sherwood Art week. So I need to make some things for that.

Yesterday I came up with a plan of what I'm making, so I'm feeling a little better about it. I'm also involved in organising one of the exhibitions, unfortunately I said yes before I knew about this big project at work and sadly they both clash so I won't actually be around for it and I would have said no had I known. But I am where I am, I think in future I just need to think more carefully about what I take on.

So I'm going to spend the next few weeks producing stuff for the exhibition and then I'll be working most evenings and weekends. So I think everything else will be on hold until to July, but I can't wait to get started again.

More Lollipop Flowers

This week I managed to complete a custom order for two personalised name pictures. Its been a while since I had made one of these and I had forgotten how much I enjoy making them. They are really relaxing, as once you have made the felt, its all sofa based tasks such as needle felting and hand embroidery. I have made lots of these now, so they don't require too much thought, which is nice sometimes as I can just concentrate on choosing colours and adding different textures.

A couple of months ago also made these, but haven't had chance to do anything with them yet, but I'll get round to mounting them soon.

Too much

Its been a very hectic couple of weeks, hence the lack of blogging. Last weekend we went to Venice for a long weekend to celebrate my birthday and our 10th anniversary of being together. I've got loads of wonderful things to share with you about Venice, but I just need to find some time to download and sort out my photo's. I've been working away some of this week, which is really bad timing and has not helped.

Also got some personal things going on which is meaning I'm not having any spare time and I am generally feeling very exhausted and emotional. So have not made anything for a few weeks now. I haven't even had time to do some relaxing knitting, which sounds so lovely right now.

And on top of all that its Handmade Nation Nottingham on Saturday. I have been helping to organise this, I'm really hoping its going to be a great event as several of us have put so much work into it. I'm also having a stall, but with so much going on I haven't had time to make anything new, which is a shame as I had loads of new ideas and things I wanted to try out. I'll be so glad when Saturday is out of the way. I'm hoping that things will then calm down and I can take a few deep breathes and re-group and maybe start doing some creative things again.

Anyway you can still buy tickets for the Handmade Nation screening - from the Nottingham Craft Mafia website or if you find yourself in Nottingham on Saturday pop along to the craft fair which is open from 11am - 9pm. It should be a great day.

First felt of the year

I've been busy making felt for some custom orders . It been a while since I have done any felt making so I have been really enjoying myself. I have discovered that its much easier to do it in the kitchen as I can stand up, which seems to help things felt quicker and stops the back ache.

The felt shown is for a hot water bottle cover. I'll show you some pictures when its finished.

Commissions and Sales

So far January has been a pretty good month. I was expecting things to be really slow, but I have had several sales in my Folksy and Etsy shops. I have also had a commission from someone I work with for two felt hot water bottle covers. And yesterday whilst working in the Nottingham Craft Mafia shop I got a commission for a felt lampshade. So its been a great start to the year.

I was going spend the day working on some ideas for a new project, which hopefully is going to lead to something to show at Sherwood Art week. But I think I better do some felt making first.

The top photo is of some unfinished heart brooches. These are made from layering fabric and then cutting back to reveal the layers below, machine embroidery is then added. I hope to add them to my shop this week.

This lampshade is for sale in The Nottingham Craft Mafia shop, I have been asked to make a purple one.

Wooo hooo!

Just had my first ever Etsy sale. It was only a handmade felt heart, but you have to start somewhere. Feeling very pleased.

I have been on Etsy a while, but with no success and had let most of my listings expire, but a friend of mine has recently started selling on there and has been doing ok, so I thought it might be worth giving it another try. So last week I spent some time list some new items and having a sort out. I decided to go on the Etsy forum and see if I could get some feedback about my shop as this can be really useful. Not only did I get some really positive as well as useful feedback, one of the people looking also brought something. Yey!

So this as well as a really nice hot chocolate at lunch has cheered me up. I am not very good in January and the grey weather doesn't help, roll on spring time and lots more sales!!