A little thank you from me....

Something completely amazing happened last night, I stormed through 3000 likes on facebook...can you believe that.  I am so happy I could burst.....thank you!!!! In the past I have done a Giveaway to celebrate, although I am always a little sad that only just one person gets to win, so on this occasion, I'm doing something a little different.

I've decided to share one of my embroidery patterns that I developed a couple of years ago. The Berry Fairy is one of a series of little fairies that I drew and then stitched after recuperating after an operation, mainly for me to make into pretty things for my daughter.  It does look lovely framed in an embroidery hoop as shown or alternatively print it off and simply give it to a little one to colour in, which is what we did as fun activity at my daughters 4th fairy themed birthday party.

♥♥♥ YOU WILL NEED ♥♥♥

Pattern
Embroidery Thread (Floss)
Embroidery Hoop
Needle
Transfer pen/marker or a disappearing ink pen
Fabric

♥♥♥ TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED ♥♥♥

·       Trace the pattern onto your fabric by your chosen method - Either place your fabric on top of the pattern and trace the design using a disappearing ink pen (this is how I do it).  If you need a better light source, you could also hold both the pattern and fabric up to a window or use a light box. 

·       Place your fabric securely in to a hoop.  Make sure your fabric is nice and tight, my Nan always told me you should be able to tap the fabric like the skin on a drum!

·       You’re now ready to start embroidering! Take a look at the Stitch & Colour guide, which is just that, a guide!  Feel free to use your own stitches and colours. 

·       Oh and one more top tip from my Nan, make sure your embroidery thread (floss) is no longer than the distance from your fingertips to your elbow, this will stop your thread from knotting and will keep the thread in tip top shiny condition.

 

♥♥♥ STITCH & COLOUR GUIDE ♥♥♥

 

You will need 5 colours of Embroidery Threads (Floss).  I used the following Anchor shades:

Red – 1025

Pink - 1023

Green - 238

Flesh – 1012

Brown - 936

But feel free to use your choice of stitches, colours and brand of threads!

All are stitched with 3 strands of Embroidery Threads (Floss) unless otherwise indicated.

To print this pattern, highlight the picture above, then 'Right' click on your mouse, then select 'open in a new window' and then print using the keys 'CTRL' and 'P'

 

 

 I hope that you enjoy stitching this pattern and please do send me a picture, I would love to see what you create.

 

Finally, just a little note, this pattern can not be re-sold or reproduced and is intended for personal use only.  Commercial us is Prohibited.  All designs are © Sarah Edgar 2013

 

 

Thank you and enjoy!

At last...

 

 

 

 

 

After days of anticipation the snow finally arrived.  We had a little visitor at 4am who came through to let us know.  Much to our relief, said visitor amazingly went back to sleep.

 

The view from my sewing room was as beautiful as ever.  I didn't see many birds today apart from a few pigeons trying to take cover in the hedgerow.   I for one was quite happy and content sewing in the warm, drinking lots and lots of tea!

Yes I am honestly still here

You would be forgiven for thinking that I had truly dropped of the planet, if your only contact with me was reading this blog. Ok hands up it's official, I am the worlds worst blogger...ever!!!!!

I promise you though that I have been extremely busy and 2012 proved to be an amazing year. Little Kitten Homemade has grown from strength to strength, I've had some press features and my first tutorial published. Here's some of the highlights.......


Some of my favourite makes from 2012

My first published tutorial

Gorgeous customer photo!

 

 

In addition to Little Kitten Homemade I also set up a new venture in partnership with my lovely Mum...hello Pretty Fabrics and Trims!

 

which means that I now get to play with rolls of gorgeous Tilda Fabrics and buttons, ribbons...lace...heaven!!

 

 

Anyway I will not make any promises about how often I shall post, as from experience, I know things always get in the way, but I will promise to try and do better!

 

'till next time

 

And the winner is.........

Sorry about the awful photo, I couldn't get my screen capture button to work...how annoying! Anyway....drum roll......... and the winner is......

number 12, which is the lovely Jenny Arnott!  Yay!!!!

Jenny, please send me an email with your address and I'll get your bunting in the post on Monday!

Thank you to everyone who entered and for your support of my little shop both here, on my website and on Etsy.

1000 Like Giveaway

My goodness, I can hardly believe it, but this week I reached 1000 likes on Facebook....eeeek! As a huge thank you I am going to have a Giveaway here on my Blog

Up for grabs is this pretty bunting, hand appliqued with hearts and love birds

HOW TO ENTER

There are 2 ways in which you can enter to be in with a chance to win this pretty bunting:

1. Leave a comment on this Blog post

and

2. If you are a follower of my Blog or become one, you can leave a second comment

That's it, nice and simple.

I will happily post worldwide so everyone, from everywhere, is welcome to enter!

RULES

Strictly a maximum of two comments per person and I must be able to contact you through your comment. The Giveaway will close TOMORROW that's Saturday 3rd March at 8pm (UK time) & the winner will be announced shortly afterwards.

Good luck everyone and thank you once again!

UPDATE - The Giveaway is now closed, thanks all for entering xo

Pretty things and something for me

I have had a very busy couple of weeks with orders, for which I am very grateful.  It's fantastic when my stock sells, but I do so love making appliqued bunting. I love the whole process from putting together the fabric options, to deciding upon the felt colours and then adding the little details. Here's some of favourites that have gone in the post this week:

Pretty Pinks with Itty Bitty embellishments and lace trim

A bespoke order with a pretty vintage feel

Gorgeous Delilah fabrics, with the appliques in a mix of upper and lower case

Having had such a busy time, my orders book has been well thumbed and as I kept picking it up I did think it was a very sad looking thing with it's black plastic cover.  So, I set to making it a pretty cover

Out came my collection of precious fabrics, that I have squirrelled away for just such occasions, my cotton lace collection, linen tapes, ribbons and wooden buttons 

I really, really, really enjoyed making this and sad as it may sound, I shall give me lots of pleasure, each time I pick it up

I hope that you have a lovely weekend, what's left of it and a great week!

Flutter flutter little butterflies

A couple of weeks ago, I made a Felt Love Bunting for the gorgeous Tina from ARC kisses

When she got it home she then asked if it was possible to add some extra butterflies to the twine.  Now I love making something new and you know how much I adore butterflies

I wanted the butterlies to have a 3D quality and this is what I came up with

and then I got thinking, how lovely would they look sewn onto my bias tape

and I have to say I am loooooving them

Each one is carefully hand stitched and then given a Little Kitten Homemade 'flutter'

and of course they can come in any colour

oh and what about adding some twine and making them into a flutterby garland

 or a mobile, oh my mind is full of ideas

but in the meanwhile I hope that you like my flutter flutter little butterflies