This week I've been busy with some things for Craftseller magazine again. I've been working on a couple of things which will be part of a 2013 calendar (yikes!) with an upcycling theme - little gift boxes and my hanging hearts from here.
The gift boxes are something I learned to do way back in about 1990 - a lovely lady called Betty* who used to run the Mums and Tots group showed me this technique - she used to make them from old Christmas cards every year and used them for tree decorations, among other things. I was fascinated then, and they still fascinate me now.
They're incredibly addictive - once you start making them, it's hard to stop and it's not an expensive addiction: they certainly lend themselves very well to recycling. They're really quick and easy, too.
I'm also going to be working on a diary cover for Craftseller, but I have to wait a while to receive some papers which are currently being designed for a giveaway in the same issue. The theme is Paris in the springtime which sounds quite exciting! However, I will only have a few days between receiving the papers and sending the finished diary cover back, a mix of fabrics, papers and stitching - so I need to do some serious planning and groundwork now!
There's also little rabbit which needs to have my attention too - well, it's not actually a rabbit yet, apart from in my head! It's currently a neat little stack of gorgeous fabric, very kindly supplied by Guthri & Ghani
There's a superb natural linen for the body and some very lovely soft organic cotton and bamboo fabric for the clothes. This rabbit will be like a rag doll (but with a rabbit face and big floppy ears) and clothed: there will be a boy and girl version. This one's for Sewing World and will be published just in time for people to make him/her up as a Christmas gift.
*Betty was one of the nicest, most genuine and selfless people I ever met. She didn't have kids of her own but adored running the toddler group and nobody ever went without a cuppa or a someone to talk to - and no toddler went without a hug (or a hand-knitted chocolate-filled mini-stocking at Christmas). Her funeral was so packed, we stood outside in the street. A wonderful lady, and one of those people who helped spread the word about crafts before we'd even heard of the internet. Thank you Betty for everything you did.
Over to you - enjoy your Handmade Monday!
