French Knots

Patching it together

I'm very photo led in my blogging so when the camera and computer have a fall out and decide not to talk to each other things grind to a bit of a halt. I managed to get them to have a quick chat this morning so ...

When sorting through a pile of bags under my sewing table I came across this lovely English Paper Pieced patchwork, it was given to me years ago by a dear friend and contains some wonderful patterns and colours.

 and really deserves to see the light of day

as it is already brilliant for hiding under! So I've started hand stitching a few more hexies, as they are lovely and big I think it will grown quite quickly

I'm picturing it backed with an old brushed cotton sheet, all soft and snuggly for curling under on a cosy winter afternoon.......perhaps not this winter though! 

Reflections and hopes

I think it's common to remember the negative things or to let the bad things carry more weight than the good, so I have been mulling over last year reflecting on where it took me. When I discovered how wonderful it was to share my passion for creating with other people and set up French Knots Craft Studio I had no idea how many lovely people would come to share it with me bringing their enthusiasm and willingness to learn and share.

When the room came available it was too good to miss even though I didn't really have the time to set up a business, and still don't! Marketing and advertising are still the hardest thing but as I've taught 85 people since March I hope the word will spread. Being able to let people use brand new Pfaff sewing machines, hosting a charity open day and sending off dozens of handmade bracelets, working with other talented tutors, designing new workshops to introduce people to new skills and making a website (still the most gobsmacking feat for me a technical numptie!) Learning to keep accounts is still a work in prgress but I've got my tax return filled in.Phew!

So this was an amazing end to the year -
my first published tutorial in a national magazine! So exciting I still have to keep looking at it :) And there's going to be two more in Popular Crafts too! As I took the pictures I couldn't really believe that my little jars would be in print but there they are. I love the thought that perhaps other people are making little pin cushion jars of their own.

For 2012 I've got some new workshop ideas, will be collaborating with some new tutors at the studio and have some blog and website plans too. Tutorials and tips, book reviews and an occasional interview series 'Meeting....' asking some talented crafters about their passion and inspiration. Oh and kits too, I've a design in my head just waiting to come out, and a couple of sewing patterns I'd like to get out there too. Good job The Baby Brother is at playgroup for two hours twice a week - without 4 child free hours a week I don't think I'd get everything done!!!

Christmas 2011

So Mr FK got tendonitis and a foot swollen like a sausage for Christmas and I got a pinched nerve in my neck, lucky us! Thank goodness for ibuprofen :) My Little Helper got up at 4am and we manged to keep him penned in our bed till nearly 5am before he woke his sister, then downstairs for stockings and presents.  A lovely day, lots of cooking and eating repeated on Boxing Day with more family coming round. Then mainly sitting about waiting for Mr FKs foot to improve, plus a Drs visit then a quick trip to hospital for an xray - on such dark rainy days it's no trouble to snuggle up inside and play Uno, watch family films and chill out.

While rummaging around in the eaves for the Christmas decorations we came across a big blue Ikea bag, these vintage red velvet curtains were inside - we've been here nearly 11 years and they've not been used since we lived in our other house. What a find! They look fab in the kitchen over the french windows keeping the winter chills out.

Also in the bag were a pair of curtains made from some very old floral Sanderson fabric, High Summer, which I have no memory of what so ever! They are being remade and lined with old blankets for the living room as they go perfectly with the greenyblue walls. Thrifty me! What better bargain than using something you already own? I'm looking at our furniture with fresh eyes and planning some more thrifty makeovers in the New Year to cheer me up once all the decorations come down.

 

Merry Christmas

There has been a lot of making going on, mostly secret for now till presents have been given. Shopping is done, wrapping too and just some baking to do tomorrow. Time to relax! Except Mr FK has torn some ligaments in his foot and it's puffed up like a sausage so I'm doling out medicine and The Baby Brother keeps him supplied with cushions to rest it on.

The perfect excuse for us to all cuddle up and watch a Christmas film after today's Advent activity - making reindeer food. Bit of knitting, light the wood burner, ignore the rain outside and pretend it's snowy instead sounds like the best way to relax into Christmas.

Thank you all for visiting French Knots this year, it's been a busy and exciting one and I truly appreciate your comments and company.xx

 

The Little White Rabbit ~ Footprints in the Snow

I've never reviewed products on my blog before but this lovely little rabbit is so very appealing! It's from White Rabbit England a children's lifestyle interiors company run by sisters Charlotte and Victoria.

The Baby Brother was keen to investigate the little embroidered bag and was delighted to find a book inside with the softest White Rabbit to cuddle too. I have to agree with him as it feels sumptuous not the usual acrylic fun fur but something altogether more stroke-able. 

We snuggled up to read the book together and he enjoyed the tale about The Little White Rabbit and his friend Henry the owl who wisely used footprints in the snow to help the little lost bunny find his family. 
 The book is printed on a nice tactile paper and the whimsical illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to the story, The Baby Brother enjoyed chatting about the pictures but thought the Little White Rabbit was perfect for cuddling!

 

 I had a look through the other lovely things that White Rabbit England sell and have a serious case of the wanties for the  Cottage Night Light which reminds me of the little night light that stood on my bedside table when I was a child. So sweet!

Simple Advent Calendar

On Thursday it will be December, so this week my thoughts have turned to my annual advent calendar planning.

I have a string of decorated envelopes that are pegged onto ribbon, with a slip of paper in each announcing that day's activity or treat. The children enjoy taking it in turns to open the envelope and see what is inside. I do plan the more complex or time consuming things for the weekends so we have the time to enjoy them and the quicker things for busy after school weeknights.

It would be easy to make your own, either with decorated envelopes like mine or slips of paper tucked into a fabric advent calender. Activities range from a visit to the Christmas Market, decorating the tree, making salt dough ornaments or Reindeer food, colouring Christmas pictures or filling in a Christmas crossword.

Of course we have the annoying chocolate type too, otherwise there would be a riot!

Lest We Forget

Woooosh!

I love Bonfire Night! The smell of the fireworks, the weesh of the rockets and the aahhs of the appreciative audience.

Of course you have to write your name with the sparklers 

Even if you are too little to know how to write yet! Not so little any more though as he's started playgroup 2 mornings a week, he loves it and I must admit I do too. I dash to the Studio and get some work done guilt free. It's got much busier than I thought it would and squeezing in workshops planning and preparation, buying materials, writing tutorials for magazines (eekk!) and taking the accompanying photos, printing leaflets, building a website etc etc all takes time I haven't really got. So I need to fit it into my two 2 hour child free slots a week. No problem!

I've learnt so many thing over the last few month building the business but one of the most satisying was creating the website, the hosting company are brilliant and made it all so easy even I could do it! Just need to stock the shop with more goodies, well actually make the first but you know what I mean. Do take a look if you have a moment and let me know what doesn't work :)  www.frenchknots.co.uk

Guess what this is? One of the 4 amazing Pfaff sewing machine I have in the Studio now for people to use, I could spend all day in there playing with them myself. I'm also selling the sewing machines so if someone fancies taking one home with them after a workshop they can. Perfect!

I have several 'back of an envelope'  lists on the go at once, plans for new workshops, new magazine tutorials, new things I want to make. Woosh! It's all good!

 

Thrifty Thursday

I've mentioned before that a local church have a Coffee & Jumble every Thursday morning, The Baby Brother and I both enjoy going. He likes smiling at people so they give him one of the biscuits and enjoys choosing a car from the toy table. I like rummaging through the curtains and table cloths and finding some cheap treasure to bring home. This week I bought this little jam or sugar jar even though it's lid is missing, it's such a lovely shade of teal I couldn't leave it behind and it was only 20p. 
A pretty Midwinter cake stand for 50p

 
and best of all a pair of jolly floral curtains for my kitchen

 
I lashed out £2 on these, they are very long but will still need a bit of something extra to make them fit my french window, I'm going to line them with a blanket so we'll be toasty warm this winter. I think they are barkcloth, the roses are such perfect autumn colours and will brighten up my kitchen perfectly.

It was my Dad's 70th last week and some of us got together in the soft autumn sunshine to help him celebrate. My Littlest Sis and I indulged in a few cheeky glasses of afternoon wine - what a treat! And the boys young and old enjoyed playing trains

 
 
Chugga chugga choo choo!!

First Love

While crochet is my current favourite, embroidery is definitely my first love. I remember choosing a pattern to stitch for my needlework o'level. My teacher was horrified at the size and complexity of the winter scene I had chosen, naturally being a know-it-all 15 year old I wouldn't be dissuaded! I so enjoyed stitching each of the little skiers, skaters and snow covered houses, it's upstairs somewhere I think. I really should find it, so many hours of work from over half a life time ago.

Anyway when I saw Charlotte Lyons  inspiring design in Mollie Makes I knew it was the perfect project for a special someones birthday. I had an old linen serviette that would be perfect as the basis for the design.

 
 
I enjoy the whole process, rummaging through my collection of embroidery threads some were my Mum's(many discontinued colours) some from jumble sales and car boots and some I have collected over the years.Choosing a colour palette that appeals and brings the pattern to life for me. Then choosing stitches for texture and form, sitting for a few snatched moments here and there adding stitches to the growing picture. Remembering how much I love it, embroidery, my first love. Often neglected for newer pashes but always there waiting for me to rediscover it.