10 minute project...

This cute pincushion ring can be made in about 10 minutes flat. It's sweet, quick and an easy project to make when you're felling crafty but are pressed for time.
Also you can make it entirely out of recycled materials!!!

You'll need: a scrap of fabric (outer circle)
a piece of felt or denim (inner circle)
thread
stuffing
a plastic top from a drinks bottle
elastic
ribbon
drill or dibber
a needle and a pin
a glue gun
scissors

So come one...get your bits and bobs together and lets start making:

Before we start : plug in your glue gun (if you haven't one use a strong adhesive and leave to dry overnight)

Step 1: cut a circle out of some fabric and a smaller circle out of a stiffer material like denim or felt.

Step 2: centre and pin the inner circle into place. Sew a running stitch on the outer fabric just short of the inner circle. I've used red thread so you can see but I would have used white cotton thread otherwise.

Step 3: pull the stitches together to form a ruff and so your circle becomes a little pouch...

Step 4: fill with stuffing or roving (wool for needle felting), pull tight and stitch into place so it doesn't undo. You should have a tight little bundle.

Step 5: drill a hole with a craft drill or use a dibber to make two holes in your plastic bottle top.
Step 6: cut a piece of elastic and place through the holes to make the base of your pin cushion ring.

Step 7: once you pulled through your elastic, place on your finger and tie a knot on each end so it fits perfectly. Snip any surplus elastic.

Step 8: place a dab of glue under the knot so to keep it in place and a large dab over the elastic plus around the inner rim of the bottle cap. Place your stuffed pincushion top into the glued cap and press down firmly into place. Leave to dry for a minute.

Step 9: place a few dabs of glue and add the ribbon on the outside and tie both ends into a bow. Stitch a small tack stitch to keep the bow secure.

Step 10: Et Voila, C'est fini!!!!

Help us get the word out...

Post it on your Face Book page, on Twitter and where ever you can...yup people, I'm talking about our gorgeous poster which was designed by the talented illustrator Rebecca aka "One Sugar Please"!

A big thank you to our lovely sponsor Ship Shape Studio for being so awesome and generous plus we also need to say TA VERY MUCH to Sanna Panda for screen printing a cute limited edition tote which will be given to the first 25 people to visit the Craft Guerrilla table on the 3rd of December.

Christymas fair designers. Lets take a sneaky peek...

Miwary

I love Miwa and her absolutely bonkers but totally wearable stylish creations. She'll be at the Craft Guerrilla Christmas Fair on December 3rd at Vestry House Museum so pop in and see what gorgeously fab, inspired by nana's attic creations she's ll be showcasing!

I love her 3D fabric tea cups and I'm hoping she'll be bringing a few. I know someone who'll be very pleased if she gets one of those for Christmas!!!!

BUT...If you can't wait...have a peep here: http://www.miwary.com/

Remember that it's free to get in... and the first 25 people get a special edition printed tote courtesy of Sanna Panda & Friends!!!

Decorations a go go!

OK I'm maybe asking too much of myself but I really like the idea of making my own Christmas decorations...even though I realistically don't need the extra work this is something which I know would give me immense pleasure.

I'm fed up of shop bought, loud, glitter & tinsel overloaded decorations and as much as I love a bit of "bling" sometimes I crave a little bit of visual quiet.

So could paper/felt decorations be the answer? Personally I'd say yes.
Simple non fussy and pretty decorations that you can make and enjoy at the fraction of the price plus come the end of the season you can recycle as next year you'll be able to make some fresh ones out of scraps from your December recycling box or out of any pretty wrapping paper you've kept from the previous year.

I have so many Christmas baubles and decorations at the back of the cupboard that I fear one day that it'll come to life and will start giving out advice like "the trash heap" in Fraggle Rock!

There are so many types of on line paper decoration tutorials and by far this blog has been one of the favourite ones : http://www.curbly.com/chrisjob/posts/9452-how-to-make-modern-paper-ornaments

Not just one tutorial but a whole selection of really lovely
projects...which is rare.
Have a look at the gorgeous yet simple tutorials and get making!

These paper baubles are great and I've made some similar ones with recycled high quality paper magazines.
I'm definitely going to try making the paper trees...and the paper strip decoration...and the wreath...and...Oh darn...I think I'm going to try to make them all!

Sushi anyone?

Because this Christmas I will be surrounded by 6 children all under the age of 10 I think this will be the perfect gift for them. This way we can sit down, make and keep ourselves occupied for a while...

I love this tutorial and the best thing is that it's both perfect for little girls for dolly play time as for cookery obsessed little boys. I think I'll be making some for myself too as it's too cute to resist!!!

For full instruction and pattern please visit this awesome blog : http://taoofcraft.typepad.com/taoofcraft/2010/08/felt-sushi-tutorial-and-pattern.html

Christmas fair designers. Lets take a sneaky peek...

Its with great pleasure that we welcome back to our fair James Ward aka Jimbob Ceramics! I must confess that I simply love animals in clothing so...obviously Jim has struck a cord in my little animal lovers heart.

His beautiful and quirky ceramic home wares are adorned with hand drawn illustrations. Tea pots, cake plates, mugs and stacking coffee cup sets as well as some very lovely prints...so come on, treat the animal in you to some mighty fine shopping!!!

Bliss...

After yesterday's inspirational talk by the knitting queen Debbie Bliss I threw my hand at a little bit of woolie crafting. I'm not a natural knitter or crocheter come to that...which is odd because as I child I loved sitting with my gran on the terrace crocheting dresses for my dollies. I seem to remember that I was quite good too but I think that when it comes to these types of crafts that the old saying "you never forget, it's like riding a bike" doesn't apply. Well not in my case anyway.
However I can do the basics so I picked up a crochet needle, a nice chunky size 12 hook and made a multi strand neck piece. It's actually quite cozy and soft so it also functions as a scarf thingy...not sure it would classify as a snood or scarf but "thingy" will do for now.

It was really easy to make. Crochet a few different lengths 2 row crochet strands, lay them out on a flat surface, place them in decreasing size order then attach ends with a piece of your yarn or stitch together so you're left with what could look like a multi chain open ended necklace. So you're attaching the strand onto the last strand then onto the next. You should still have two ends and not a continuous loop.
Form a small loop with the biggest strand on one end and sew a chunky bead on to the other to fasten shut. Et voila!

Now that I've reignited the passion for all things wool I'm pretty sure that my main problem is deciphering patterns. The actual process of knitting and crocheting is straight forward and simple and what I find scary are the abbreviations, terms, the variation of terms between US and UK patterns and so forth.It's like a language in itself!
I guess if explained and if my attention span wasn't so short then I would be able to master the knit!
Hum, maybe in the new year we can get a tutor in to run a knitting workshop for A.D.D. knitters.
I'm sure a lot of you would like to learn to read patterns...non?!