Thursday, April 15, 2010

my creative space: red and white polka dots

I think one of the best things about becoming a crafter is being able to make my own gifts- it is so much fun thinking about what I am going to make, choosing fabrics, planning the design, and putting it all together. I went into a couple of gift shops yesterday, saw some gorgeous things and it was so neat to think....'I could make that!'
Here is a little something I have just finished for Amelie, my nearly 3 year old's birthday next week. A while ago I made a personalised pillow case for a little boy  so I decided to make one for Amelie too.  I  appliqued her name and then embroidered the hearts and the words 'Good night sweetheart' onto the pillowcase. It was so tricky pushing the needle through the two layers of fabric I think I ended up with bruised thumbs!
I learnt a good lesson doing this project..... gather all your supplies before starting a project.  I stitched about 6 of the hearts using the last of my favourite pinky red embroidery thread I had, then went to Bernina the next day to get some more and it wasn't there. So I had to choose a different red and unpick the hearts I'd already done! And I forgot another lesson from last time too...check the iron is clean before ironing onto white fabric!!
I'm pretty sure she is going to like her new pillowcase and I think I will be making lots more of these for my friends children :)
And for more polka dots....I made a different type of waterproof zip purse last night, using oil cloth for the outside and parka nylon for the inside. I boxed the corners for this one- it was a lot quicker to make than my plastic covered ones so I might have to put some of these on my Felt shop too!





Right, I'm off to the fabric shop now while my sister takes the girls around the Mount- lucky me!!! She is starting a new job next week though so my creative Thursday mornings will be a bit different soon!
To see what other crafters are up to in their creative spaces visit Kirsty's here
Megan x

25 comments:

Jennie said...

Its gorgeous Megan!
You are good to unpick the pinky red - I probably would have just carried on in the new red!x

Seaside Siblings said...

What a lovely gift, bet she is going to love it.

sewfunky said...

loving the pillowcase! :)

Unknown said...

I love it, looks so cute on her bed....

PJ said...

A lovely gift idea!

Sarah - Red Gingham said...

This is really cute and the fabric and red thread just perfect. Great for presents! I really should be making some presents myself but instead I'm reading.

Kirsty said...

Beautiful! I love the goodnight sweetheart stitchery.

dash robin said...

Oh, that is lovely. Your space is always so pretty and now I understand why. what attention to detail in un picking those hearts...I must admit I would have picked out some new threads and given it a mixy matchy look! Hope your little love adores it.

A Life Less Complicated said...

hehe I will have to join those who wouldn't have unpicked the hearts! I love the pillowcase though and I bet Amelie does too

btw Mum has one of those plastic cover things for her iron which she swears by - her work shirts are all white. I wouldn't know where to buy them from though

Cotton Kiwi said...

Just beautiful Megan! What a lucky daughter you have. I'm sure she will treasure that pillowcase long into her adulthood!

Chickie Little said...

Ooh I like the idea of a personalised pillow case. Maybe I'll have to make one for when my daughter is old enough to need pillows :)

Love polka dots, they are so cute!

Unknown said...

SO cute! Love the pillowcase! xo m.

Steph said...

What a beautiful pillowcase and an equally beautiful name (were so close to using Amelie). She will love it and I bet it becomes a treasure she'll keep forever :)

Megan said...

Your poor thumbs, especially the unpicking and resewing of the hearts! I'm sure that it will be very much appreciated and loved for a very long time. I still have some of my favourite pillowcases from when I was little that my mum sewed for me.

mel @ loved handmade said...

That pillowcase is really lovely.

Gaijin Wife said...

That's so pretty!! What a lot of hearts. I got a blister from spending an hour painting the deck. Sewing on fifty hearts would have given me permanent arthritis.

Hey, I'm a friend. With children...

I think Terror, Mayhem and Chaos would be more appropriate though.

Right, off to pack a flying 6m long carp into my suitcase so I don't forget. See you soon.

Nick said...

That is such a lovely pillowcase. I love anything red and white. I bet your daughter will love it. xxNick

Unknown said...

Very cute.
I am liking all these polka dots you are using.

Karen said...

What a gorgeous gift, and your little bag is very sweet too - I am yet to try sewing oilcloth!

Anonymous said...

That is just gorgeous Megan, it looks really lovely on the bed with the surrounding fabrics too, well done. Glad to hear that you look at things and think "I can make that" - it's a great feeling isn't it. Now, just find the time to actually do it! x Joanna

Selina said...

Love the pillowcase! Such a great idea!

Jo's Place said...

Love the pillowcase, it looks amazing :)

Rosalind said...

Oh great job, love your goodnight message to her. Very sweet.

Katherine said...

So cute! Handmade is just so much more - what a special gift.

Cathie said...

that's beautiful Megan!
I have an Amelie aswell.
your little one is very lucky to have such beautiful gifts handmade especially for her.

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