Tuesday 25 December 2018

Merry Christmas to you all

Good Evening,

A quick Hello, then bedtime! Totally worn out! 😴😴

πŸŽ„Merry Christmas to you xxxπŸŽ„

πŸŽ…I hope you had a great Christmas!!πŸŽ…

Ours was loud, messy but fun!!


Conor and Katie

Lego Chess


Here's to 2019 rolling in!
xxxx

Monday 19 November 2018

Sew busy the weeks flew by!

Hello to you all!

Wow, where did the weeks go?
Time is going so fast!

A few weeks ago Cara broke her wrist doing Hip Hop (dance) She fell backwards and landed awkwardly! That has been an adventure and a half!!

The past few weeks we have done a little but of "finishing touches" to the house! Its not perfect but its home! Thats all that matters!!

As usual Ive been busy sewing too! I think I am totally addicted!!



Memory Bear 

Friends Together 

Sunflower Hangers

Snakey

Holding my Sewing
Machine to randsom

Christmas bags
I have a few craft fayres coming up soon so its all sew sew sew here!!

Hope everyone is well!
Bye for now
Heather
xxxx

Sunday 21 October 2018

Sew-a-Softie Tutorial


Martin Monster
Designed by Katie
Sewn by Heather 
@heathermakes_sewing on Instagram


I asked Katie, aged 11, to draw me a simple drew picture so I could create a Halloween softie.  Anything too complicated and it would of been much more difficult to create a pattern from the picture.

Here he is ... Martin Monster! 




I enlarged the drawing to 150%.  If you do not have a photocopier then just draw the picture bigger.  


Materials needed:-
  • Drawing or pattern
  • Felt
  • Cotton
  • Needle
  • Scissors
  • Toy stuffing
  • Pencil or chalk


How To Make:-

Step One
Cut out all the parts that need to be sewn onto the body.
(I photocopied martin Monster several times so I could cut all parts at once then cut the felt pieces)

Step Two
Draw around the body parts on each chosen coloured felt.
I did the blue body as all one piece as this made it much easier to sew together. 




Step Three

Check you have all the parts needed (please do not notice that I forgot to cut out the tail!!)

Now you can see all the pieces that you need to sew together and then sew onto the body.



Step Four

Start to sew!!  Any stitch that you can do is fine.  There are no set rules here!

I did the hands and feet first, then sewn the eyes one.

I did all three layers of the eyes at the same time because the black thread would not be seen through the green and white once the back went on.

Then sew the white part of the eyes onto the blue body. 




Step Five

Sew on any 'tummy parts'  Again I sewed all three layers at the same time then did a running stitch around the big purple part.  

I then sewn the tale up.  Again I sewed all the parts at the same time.  A quick running stitch around the blue, then sewn the green and pink circles all at once onto the end of the tail.  

Step Six

I placed the mouth where it was to be sewn on, then followed the mouth line by sewing through the paper.  the paper tears off easy at the end.  just be careful not to pull to hard otherwise the stitches will be pulled too.

Sew on his teeth.  



Step Seven

Once you have the front part sewn together, lay out hands and feet and horns where you want them.

Pin into place or clip them on or just remember to stop sewing and place then in position when you get to that part of the body.

Katie decided at the last minute she wanted black lines on the horns!

When sewing up leave a two or three inch gap to put a little stuffing in if you wish.
Once you have stuffed, them carry on sewing u to where to started.

I only stuffed the main part of the body, not the hands, feet or tail.  



Step Eight

Stand back and smile because you have created a beautiful monster!


Martin Monster  

He is now sitting on Katie's bed!  I just about had time to take a photo before he was whisked away!!



I hope you enjoyed my very first tutorial!

If you make a monster please tag me in the photos as I would love to see what you made from a childs drawing!

Anyone of any age can make a softie.  It does not matter if you can hand sew in a straight line or not, I can't!!  I used a running stitch ... if you look closely at the photos, the stitches are running all over the place and not in a neat line at all!!  Give it a go ... you will not regret it.


Instagram heathermakes_sewing
Twitter xstitchchick #HeatherMakes

Thanks for reading!  Happy sewing!!
Participant in Sew a Softie

Hugs Heather
xx ✂✂✂ xx

Saturday 13 October 2018

@heathermakes_sewing

@heathermakes_sewing on Instagram

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Good Afternoon all,

The last few weeks we have had a really good declutter of our home.  Along with a few room swaps!! 

All I can say is WOW!  I never thought this house could look so good.
(Its a very odd lay out as its spread over floor levels!!  Weird or what lol)

This weekend my kiddies are at their fathers, so I thought ... mmm sewing weekend will do me thank you!!  

But no, James and Naomi (James' girlfriend) are heading from Belfast to mine to finish off the rest of the rooms!!

Oh ooo ... my quiet weekend of sewing out the window, but ... they said they will do it!!

Naomi loves to clean and organise so she is in her element.  I love to sew ... so happy days for everyone!!

Anyway, the point of this post ... as I was sorting out my stuff that was still boxed up from moving house a while ago (this is a very small house and I have, sorry had, too much stuff there was no where to unpack it too!!)

My 80's bedroom

Penpal letters and
the keys to my very first car


James' card  from his Great-Grandma for starting school!
James is now 3rd year University!
A lovely keep sake to find!! 

Well I'd better start sewing before James and Naomi arrive, otherwise I might end up with a hoover in my hands and not a needle!!  I wouldn't mind but the house is gorgeously tidy ... I think its an excuse to check its still tidy haha!! lol

I am making a jacket for Naomi's stuffed toy sheep ... long story ... that a post in it's self!!  I shall write one later on! Oh maybe she misses Shauny the sheep, since he has been here all week!!

Have a great weekend all

If any of you are on Instagram or Twitter, pop on in and say 'Hi!'

Hugs
Heather
xxxx

#sewing
#handmade

Tuesday 9 October 2018

A change is as good as a rest ...


The past 2 weeks we have had a big change about in our home. It is an odd house with many levels! Storage is very tight so most of our belongings were in boxes under beds, or children sharing a room that no longer suited. 

The main room in everyones home is the living room ... well for us it was just a room that never got used. We are not ones for watching TV at all. Id rather be sewing, kids out on bikes or in their rooms chatting to friends, building lego or doing art! 

So that great big room that ended up as a 'shed for bikes' or 'storage unit' for James' uni stuff over the summer, was a waste of a room whilst we struggled for everyday storage of what we used ...

So ... we had a massive change around in the house! Its been a hard slog ...

I have taken over the living room! Its lovely and bright. New sewing bench up which is lovely and high because I bought the wrong legs ... thats a great mistake haha Sew easier to work at!!

The girls have gone into my old room, One of the boys into girls old room! Now means none of the boys are sharing. Also means the biggest bedroom now has cupboard and unit space for storage!!

The new living room is now in the dining room, which is open plan, plus right next to the kitchen!!

Love it when a plan comes together!

Happy days ...

Yummy new living room
My New Sewing Space
My lovely
organised fabrics




Have a Brilliant Day
Hugs
Heather
xxxx

Wednesday 26 September 2018

The things kids think ...

Good Evening,

This week we have been painting a room ready to have a big change around in the house! The aim is to create more space! My sewing station is now going into the living room ... sounds odd, but we hardly use the living room. We are not big on TV. Everyone potters around doing their own thing! The living room is the biggest room but also the most unused! Also swapping a few bedrooms anout too so the rooms suit the child and amount of 'clutter' they have!! 

So, Caras stuff is in my room at the moment ... I spotted this on her whiteboard ...


No 1 are her teddys. Totally no clue what a banana queen is haha. As for No4 ... she means dont put on her school uniform on Friday as school is closed hahaha! This made me giggle!!

Hope everyone is well!

Bye for now, Hugs
Heather
xxxx


#daughter
#funny
#todolist
#whiteboard
#organisation

Monday 17 September 2018

Sew .... What have I been upto?


Good Morning All,

Well, we seem to have settled back into the routine of school, the 7am alarm is a killer though haha! I got too use to being lazy, I think!  


Katie's lovely fluffy PJ's are too small for her (it's her own fault for growing lol) so, she said I could use them for a memorybear. The panda face would of been too big. So, I secretly turned the PJ top into a cushion cover. I put it on her bed and said nothing. She was totally delighted at bedtime!! 😁 Gold ⭐ for mummy!! A 5 minute sew gave me a smile I'll remember for a life time!!


Katie and her panda cushion

Last Thursday it was Roald Dahl Day 2018 Omagh Integrated Primary School joined in with this amazing celabration! They also went to watch a play at Drumragh Integrated College! Cara's class could go dressed as a character from one of Roald Dahl's books or dressed in his favourite colour ... yellow!!

I couldn't get yellow leggings to fit Cara so I altered a small pair by adding fabric either side. Then personalised one leg 😁 Since the fabric matched the Pineapple bag I had made a while ago, she used that as her school bag for the day!! One happy Cara!!

Cara ready for Roald Dahl day

The day finally arrived!! International sew a Jelly Roll Day 2018 (Saturday 15th Sept) 

The jelly roll is Play All Day by Moda. I bought it from the  USA!

I made a Tote bag with some of it.  I just have a few finishing touches to put to it then I'll post some photos!

Sew a Jelly Roll day
15th September 2018

Have a brilliant day, stay safe
Hugs Heather
xxxx


#HeatherMakes
#sewing
#handmade
heathermakes_sewing on Instagram
@xstichchick on Twitter
#HeatherLovesToSew

Friday 7 September 2018

Oh Im having fun ...

heathermakes_sewing on Instagram
@xstichchick on Twitter

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are well and have had a brilliant day or evening, depending on where you are in the world!

The first week of being back to school seems to have gone smoothly! Lazy weekend deserved by all I think! I certainly need it!


My sunny sewing space
Katie the Swimming fish

I made another memory bear.  I made him a co-ordinating tie!
🐻😍 Gorgeous πŸ˜πŸ»  



The end of the week ... fantastic ...
Katie was in the paper
I got flowers
and a new book!!

Off to be to read!!  Have a brilliant evening or even day hahaha

Please feel from to leave a comment as I would love to know what you are upto!

Bye for now,
Hugs Heather ✂✂✂✂
xxxx

#HeatherMakes
#sewing
#handmade
heathermakes_sewing on Instagram
@xstichchick on Twitter
#HeatherLovesToSew



Tuesday 4 September 2018

Instagram Beatrix Potter Swap

Hello,

I hope everyone is well, fit and happy!  Its starting to get a bit chilly here, in my little part of the UK!

Over on Instagram, I took part in a Beatrix Potter crafting swap.  I totally loved it.  

My parcel was received by my partner yesterday, so now I can reveal what I made and sent.

Her favourite character is Hunca Munca from the tale of two bad mice.  I had great fun making and creating a tote bag and a lap quilt.  I also added in a few extra goodies










I must see if I can find anymore swaps to participate in!

Have a great day and stay safe.
Hugs Heather

#HeatherMakes
#sewing
#handmade
heathermakes_sewing on Instagram
@xstichchick on Twitter
#HeatherLovesToSew

Saturday 1 September 2018

Memory Teddy Bear & Making Memories πŸ’–

Hello to you all!, 

The past few evening I have just been having a 'mess about' with different techniques.

Also having a go at making a memory bear!

I must admit that making the bear is not a difficult or complicated as I thought.
I will definitely be making more!  

I also made a corner book mark, another tote bags along with quilt blocks πŸ˜€







It has been a busy few week here. Back to school next week so my little fashion trendy children had to have their hair put back to 'normal!!  They were very disappointed! I must finish getting the school uniforms sorted!  I hate this part of returning to school hahaha!!  I shall enjoy the tidy house though!



I am going to get my bear finished whilst the children are at their fathers, then organise the uniform for Monday!

Have fun, stay safe.
Hugs Heather

#HeatherMakes
#memorybear 
#sewing
#handmade
heathermakes_sewing on Instagram
@xstichchick on Twitter
#HeatherLovesToSew