Handmade Monday 85

Hello and welcome to another Handmade Monday.

This week I've had a lot of fun with paper and glue and paint ...

can you tell what it is yet?

This is actually a project for Craftseller magazine and it's in need of quite a bit more playing time work.  It's definitely work if you're being paid for it, right?!  It's still looking a bit like a primary school project, but I promise it will look professional when it's finished!

Speaking of Craftseller, I was delighted that issue 16 arrived on my doormat on Friday (it's in the shops on Tuesday)

 Craftseller magazine with the free wooden hearts

with my clock project gracing its pages!

 

You'll have to buy the magazine if you want full instructions and template but basically, the sofa is made using fabric, felt and pelmet Vilene with some very simple stitching and then glued onto a painted MDF base with a bit of ripped-up dictionary thrown in for good measure.

It has the look of free machine embroidery (and yes, you could easily use free machining techniques for this) but I just used a simple straight stitch - the hardest part when you're used to sewing in a straight line is getting that sketchy waviness into the stitching!  You soon get the hang of it though.

 And do you remember the last-minute mini heart bunting I made from their free gift for this issue?

These are the ones that didn't arrive at the photo shoot address when they should've done and missed the photo shoot altogether!  Well, they managed to photograph them anyway, and I think they look rather good considering this photo must've been taken after the very last minute! 

 They also gave me a very nice little plug for my website (wasn't expecting that!)

 and they gave me (and my website) a mention on the first page (how lovely of them - wasn't expecting that either!) - there I am at the bottom right.

This month's Craftseller looks like a good read as usual - it's always packed with info, tips, interviews and case studies as well as projects.  I also noticed our online friend and Handmade Monday colleague Cocoa and Heart in there too - but I'll leave the bragging rights on that one to her!

There's a taster for next month too, when they're giving away a 2013 calendar with a different upcycling project for each month (you may recognise the hanging hearts, because they were first seen here, quite a while back - they'll be February's calendar project).  My upcycled gift boxes will be in the calendar too.

OK - I've gone on for long enough!  You know the drill for Handmade Monday (if you don't, click here to find out more).  I'm looking forward to putting my feet up and seeing what's been going on with everyone else - do join me!