Friday Finds: Vintage Cinema

I went to the cinema for the first time in months on Monday, (we saw The Hangover Part 3) which was pretty funny, so it was a good time all round. Anyway, my cinema trip is the inspiration between todays Friday finds theme.

Cinema's have changed a lot over the years, from the first silent black and white movies to todays 3D films and computerised special effects. Howver, when all is said and done the Hollywood of the past has always been portrayed as a very glamorous time. What's more, it's not just cinema buffs who appreciate vintage cinema and old movies. I know very little about cinema and it's past, but I definitely appreciate a lot of Hollywood film paraphernalia, such as these fantastic Etsy finds.

Add a touch of the abstract cinema with the golden age of cinema print by Lucius Art. It's cool and funky, perfect for adding a touch of the unusual to your walls.

Fans of Breakfast at Tiffany's will recognise the beautiful Audrey Hepburn adorning Fantasy Case's iPhone cover. This will give your everyday mobile a big injection of glamour.

If your planning a cinema/ movie themed party/ hen do/ stag do then make sure you head to cake a doodle doo for these cool cupcake cases. While you're there, check out the other styles available.

Fancy yourself behind the camera? Look no further than this vintage film camera pendant from Bling DIY. The crystal lens will give you some cinematic sparkle.

The collector inside you will love these vintage Hollywood starlet cigarette cards from Toast and Marmalade. It's easy to use your imagination to create a fabulously glamorous display suitable for showing off these talented ladies.

Happy Shopping!

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Moulin Rouge on Etsy
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Friday Finds: Masks

Free Chart: Dad Bookmark

It's fathers day on 16th June, so that gives you plenty of time to stitch this free oak leaf dad bookmark chart. It would also make a great birthday present or Christmas present for your father. This cross stitch bookmark pattern is perfect for a beginner as it only uses whole cross stitches, click for a cross stitch tutorial.

You will need

At least 8.5" length of a 2.5" wide 14 count aida band. (Design size is 7.1" x 2.1")
Needle
Felt (for backing the cross stitch)
Fabric Glue
Tassel (Optional)

Embroidery Threads

Stitch the design and trim the aida band to 4cm longer than the size of the bookmark, ensuring that the design is centralised.

Carefully fold over a seam of 2cm at each end, stitch or glue (using a clear drying craft glue or fabric glue) to secure.

Trim the felt to the size of the bookmark.

If you want your bookmark to have a tassel, carefully position it in the middle of one end of the bookmark and stitch to secure it in place.

Glue (or carefully stitch) the felt backing in place. Congratulations! You've just made your dad a lovely cross stitch bookmark.

Happy Stitching!

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Friday Finds: Cupcakes

I reckon it's time for a tasty treat! It's been a long and busy week for me, as my boss was off so I've been on my own in the lab, beginning with 2 very long days on Monday and Tuesday, so now I think I've earned a little treat, and what better than a cute and tasty little cupcake? Even better, why not treat yourself and have a cupcake with me!

Ummm... Delicious!


Right, that's better. Now we're both happy having treated ourselves to a yummy cupcake, lets keep the satisfaction of the moment going by browsing these cute calorie free cupcakes!

Aphrodite delights are the creators of this beautiful cupcake. The look good enough to eat but don't be fooled by the glittery frosting, this cupcakes are bath bombs, so head over and choose from the many cupcake designs for the one you want to relax with!

If you fetish for cupcakes is something you want to display in a big way, then take a closer look at Dash Ambler's cute cupcake dress. It is frilly, flirty and very feminine, so you're girly sized will be happy to!  

We all have a little cupcake. It could be your daughter, a niece, a sister or a friend. Tell them what they are with Nyha Graphics' colourful card. It's blank for your own message, although the one on the card says it all!

If making things is more your cup of tea, then this cupcake cross stitch pattern by And Wabisabi makes the perfect accompaniment. The bold and bright design not only looks fun to stitch, and but also cute to look at once it's stitched!

Cupcakes should come with oodles of frosting. It's even better when topped off with glitter, like this lilac cupcake key ring from  Sweat n neat jewellery. It'll always make you smile when you reach for your keys.

Happy munching!

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Geeky Science Cross Stitch

Well, I am a bit of a geeky scientist! It's amazing how many geeky science cross stitch charts there are out there. I would love to create my own, but I could do with gaining a bit more artistic talent and a touch of comedy value. Luckily for me, there are plenty of people who have an abundance of both, as these quirky cross stitch patterns show.

Nerdy Little Stitcher

Acts of Craftiness

The Floss Box

Alicia Watkins

Happy science geek stitching!

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WIP: Peak District Photo Conversion Update

It has been a while since my last update, mostly because I've been distracted by various other cross stitches, Including my other work in progress, the monochrome fairy portrait Shh Now and my mothers day card tutorial, and a bicycle card tutorial for my dad's birthday. Here is what it looked like on my last update, at the end of January.

And here is what it looks like now.

As you can see, I have nearly finished the first page. The going was slower on the green area as there is more colours, whereas a lot of the sky is block colour, or at most only 3 or 4 colours per square, so it is much quicker. I would have liked to hold on for an update of the finished page, but my sister who is getting married in November, has drafted in my stitching help to make some wedding favours, so I fear that it may be a while until I got a chance to sit and finish the page. It's only taken me about 5 months to do as much as I have. Somehow I doubt my goal of finishing it by Christmas will come true, and I'm less than 1/10th of the way finished. Hopefully I'll finish it one day, and when I do, it should look something like this.

Happy Stitching!

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Friday Finds: Dragonflies

I had originally decided on blossom for todays theme, but it's grey outside, and looks like it's about to hammer it down with rain, so my mood's not really right for looking at spring blossoms. At a bit of a loss, I decided to see if there was anything on the Etsy homepage to inspire me, and I was not disappointed. This beautiful Golden Breeze Treasury was featured, and the very first item, this beautiful pair of golden dragonfly earrings by CyKLu, gave me an idea I could not pass on. After all, dragonflies are beautiful creatures, and come in all sorts of lovely colours, sparkling and flashing in the light as they dart over the water like flying jewels.

 

 

This blank greeting card is the perfect way of sending a special message in a pretty way. It is a print of a watercolour by ARTonStuff, and captures the delicacy of a dragonflies wings perfectly. Check out they other cards too!

 

 

mbStitch is a very talented embroiderer who has hand stitched this bold dragonfly design onto a lavender bag. Hand embroidering takes a lot of time and patience (I should know) and this beautiful piece definitely caught my eye.

 

 

For some fluttering dragonflies and butterflies take a closer look at this lampshade by WEFT Bespoke Design. The cotton is hand printed, and this natural design is perfect to a touch of the outdoors.

 

 

There is a huge variety of gorgeous dragonfly jewellery on Etsy, but this one by Cottage Coppicing attracted me not because of the colour, but because a circle of beech wood has been used to house the dragonfly in a unique and funky style.  

 

 

We all have something we hoard, weathers it's buttons, receipts, or jewellery. This beautiful keepsake box is a great excuse to collect even more things! I love the shabby chic design and colours that Spiral Moon Fantasy have used on this hand painted wooden box.

 

Happy Shopping!

 

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Favourite Earrings

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wedding Cross Stitch Kits

After a weekend spent making wedding Invitatio0ns and shopping for bridesmaids dresses (my sister is tying the knot in November) you might think I've had enough of wedding things for a few days (Ok, I have really) but it has inspired my latest cross stitch kits, charts, and patterns search. After all, the wedding favours for the girls are cross stitch scented bags (I have made 1 and a bit so far for my sister, they take ages!) and I have a few other embroidery ideas for the Hen do, depending on time. So, here are just a few of the very many wedding cross stitch kits out there!

 

Forever Friends Wedding Sampler from Rainbow Crafts

 

 

The First Dance Wedding Sampler from Walkabout Crafts

 

 

3D Wedding Cake Cross Stitch Card from Past Impressions

 

 

Wedding Waltz by Atlas Crafts

 

 

 

 Wedding ABC from Cross Stitch World

 

 

Happy Wedding Stitching!

 

 

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Friday Finds: Wedding Invitations

Work in Progress: Shh Now Monochrome Portrait

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Friday Finds: Friends

 

 



Friday Finds: Trains

Once again I'm off to my sisters for the weekend for more wedding things. This time it's making invitations and Bridesmaid dress shopping, although I'm not holding out much hope of finding Burgundy dresses in May.

Anyway, lacking a car this means I have a fun 2 hour train journey to look forward to. Hopefully my new Kobo and the second instalment of the Hunger Games will provide plenty of entertainment. Train journeys don't tend to be very exciting. However, some train journeys are pretty epic and rather more interesting. One of my friends went on the Orient Express last summer. A steam train I went on once on holiday had both a Victorian feel mixed in with the Hogwarts Train from Harry Potter (It was where they'd done some filming) and even a miniature railway sparks excitement in young children. So this week, to make trains seems a bit more exiting again, I've got yet more crafty items from Etsy for you!

This personalised train cushion from Malooshi is lovingly hand made by mums for your special youngster.  It's bold and bright, and any child will love seeing their name on their favourite train!

If your boy is all grown up then head over to made by Peggy for a closer look at these vintage Victorian style cufflinks. They are perfect for any suited man and a special occasion.

Century21 Art are responsible for this beautiful train print, the photo of which was taken in the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, used for Harry Potter! The print will remind us all of the steam trains of the past. Nothing smells quite like one! This artistic picture is also available in 5 different sizes!

Trains aren't just for boys as these steampunk steam train pendants by Plum and Posey Inc prove. For extra unusualness, these cool necklaces are made from wax seals!

A fun and useful gift is this train soap by Funny Soaps and Bits.  To make bath time extra fun you can even choose the colour and scent!

Happy Shopping!

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Free Chart: Fathers Day Card

This year Fathers Day is on June 16th, so you have plenty of time to make this free cross stitch chart into a fantastic hand embroidered card for him. Don't worry if you're a beginner, as this chart uses only full cross stitches. It only uses 2 colours, although you could use any colours you like. That's the advantage of a pattern, so dig out your leftover embroidery threads and get stitching!

The finished chart will be 4" (10.2cm) x 3" (7.6cm) in size when stitched on 14 count aida. You will need approx. 110cm length of thread for the black (writing) and approx. 180cm length of thread for the maroon (pattern). To make it look funky why not use a variated thread? Or a coloured aida background?
 

 

 

To finish it why not head over to my Project Tutorials to see a couple of different techniques I have used to finish off cards.

 

Happy Stitching!

 

 

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Work In Progress: Peak District Photo Conversion

 

 

 

 



Friday Finds: Farms

Please say that you are also amazed by how quickly the weeks are going by. How is it already time for another Friday Finds! I must confess it has crept up on me after a busy week, so I resorted to my face book page and loyal followers to inspire me for todays post, and I am very happy to report that I was not disappointed. Michelle suggested Sheep as todays theme, however I have previously used Sheep as my theme. She has still inspired me though, sheep are very much a farmed animal, and with the beginning of may new lambs are merrily prancing in the fields, and tractors are busy fertilising and planting. In our agricultural land there is no shortage of beautiful farm inspired items, and here are but a few.

No farm yard is complete without pigs, and House of Ismay have added a literary twist to not only pigs, but many other animals with these quirky brooches made from old copies of books.

This funky farm invitation, courtesy of Sandy Ford Design is personalised for your child, to make their birthday extra special. Check out her shop for other colourful themes. 

Farms by default are messy places, and willies are invaluable. but wellies are fantastic at festivals, in the rain, or even walking. make yours stand out from the crowd by knitting your very own welly topper from Wessenden Woolies

 The Spice Artist have a wide choice of funny sheep inspired original paintings and prints by Merve. The bold designs draw the eye and spread a smile.

The farm yard inspiration behind Jandee Designs is obvious with this cute tote bag. It makes the perfect useful accessory for the farm fashion conscious country bumpkin.



Happy Shopping!

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