Meet Doug

This is Doug.

Doug is a pug. He is very good.

This is Tricky.

Tricky is a pug. He is not very good.

When Doug goes to the beach, he does not help himself to someone's picnic! If Doug is invited to a friends house for tea, he does not take a dip in their pond.

Doug is allowed upstairs as he is very useful at holding the door open. Tricky is not allowed upstairs.

Doug is stuffed with fluffy stuff. Tricky would like to be stuffed. Mainly with anything he can eat! When Tricky grows up he wants to be fat.

Doug the Pug is lovely but he doesn't give very good kisses.

Spool doll tutorial

I've made up a basic kit for our sewing club to make in July. We are doing Christmas projects during the day, so I've adapted them into angels.

Contents of kit:
7 spools
1 large bead
5 small beads
Waxed thread/cord
Templates for the wings, hair and dress yoke.
Small piece of interfacing (for the yoke if using fabric).

You will also need:
Fabric to make the dress, yoke and wings.
Wool or embroidery thread for the hair.
Glue
Acrylic paint or permanent markers to add face.
Basic sewing kit.

This is how I put it together.

cut thread into 2 equal pieces. Fold each piece in half then adjust so it has approximately 2 inches longer at the top.

Thread on a small bead so it sits on the bottom loop of the cord.

Thread both ends through 2 spools.

Repeat for the other leg.

Thread all 4 cords through a spool.

Find the longer threads to create the arms.

Push the cord back on itself through the spool.

Repeat for the second arm.

Push all 4 cords through the small bead.

(This is the point where you would add the yoke).

Thread on the large bead.

Hobbycraft trolley.

Last time I visited Hobbycraft, their trolley was reduced to £25. I do own 2 of the Ikea ones and love them. I bought the Hobbycraft trolley as I thought it would be handy for storing my phds. (Projects half done)!!

Putting it together was really simple. The Ikea one was a little more tricky but still quite easy. The Ikea one is made from thicker metal and does feel a bit more sturdy. You can also attach the baskets at different levels where as the Hobbycraft one can only go together one way. The Ikea baskets are shaped where it attaches to the frame, the Hobbycraft one attaches to external holes so the baskets are flat on the sides.

The Hobbycraft trolley has locking wheels and both run smoothly when it is pushed around.

In my opinion, the Hobbycraft trolley is quite good value at £25 but I wouldn't want to pay more. The Ikea Raskog trolley is £50. I've had the Ikea trolley for about 6 years and it is still like it is brand new.

Ikea trolley with shaping around the poles where it attaches to the frame. The Hobbycraft trolley below has the poles on the outside of the baskets.

Able to attach the baskets higher or lower. (Mine are centred).

Hunkydory kit

I got to use one of my favourite Hunkydory kits when I made a card and sign for my mum. Obviously she is NOT 75. She also did not turn up in odd shoes when we were going out for a drink.

Mothering Sunday cards

I didn't have a stamp saying 'Mothering Sunday ' so I wrote it with an embossing ink pen and used some gold embossing powder. The cards were made from a Hunkydory card kit I got with a magazine.

Pug birthday

Today is the birthday of the most wonderful dog in the world. He might be a bit naughty but I love him.

Brooches on a sewing theme.

I've been a little subdued this past week as I've had a cyst removed from my back and it has left me with a hole 2cm deep. Each day I have to get it packed and dressed and it is quite painful which leaves me with little enthusiasm to craft for long periods. However, I have a few projects that I can pick up and do when the mood takes me. I finished these brooches using the sewing machine buttons I bought at the craft show in Exeter a few weeks ago.

Smart dressed man!

The whole time I was making this card, I was humming that zz top song. Our eldest son loves a suit and this is the card I made for him.

Tonic die

This card was made using a die from tonic. It was issue 5 I think.

I also used the papers that came with it and die cut the flowers from some plain card stock.

Guy cards

Some male cards I made and sent last year.

New Year

This year...more posting.

With this in mind, here is a photo of the Christmas cards I made for our parents.

Male Christmas card.

Loved making this card.

I

Hunkydory Christmas cards

I got the Christmas cracker card collection last year (or was it the year before)?!! I loved it but didn't want to use it straight away. However, I needed to get my Christmas cards started and thought it was about time I got it out and begin creating. I managed to make 11 cards using the kit and adding a few bits from my stash.

This is the bits I had left from the kit.

Pug obsession

Recently we were puppy sitting. What a gorgeous thing he is. I think he got a bit fed up of the daily photo shoot!! Here are a few of them. Can't wait to have him visit again.

Hello fish!!

Pond is finished

Shrinking the pond

We are both aching a bit after a day making the pond a little smaller. We have taken away some of the big rocks and made a gentle slope with large pebbles into the water. It now means there is an easy way for wildlife to get a drink or get out if they fall in. We've also removed some of the plants that had filled the pond. A very smelly job!

The next thing is to lift some of the slabs and get some smaller stones delivered so it all runs into the rest of the garden.

Cards made recently

We had another wedding at work so I made the card. (Plus a couple of others).

Drawstring backpack

I made this bag for my auntie so she had a bag for dog walking. It is big enough to hold the bits she needs and it stays out of the way when she bends over to pick up the poop. Her pouch of poop bags clips onto a D ring on the side.

Steam punk inspired card

I always have fun making a card for my son's girlfriend.