This Week's Sewing Goal

As you all might now that I made my very first set of curtains the other week and yes I was super proud of myself. Handmade Cafe Style Curtains

I have many more curtains to make but this weeks sewing goal is to make myslf a top!

If I get it done by Saturday and it fits well I might just actually wear it at this weeks Craft fair.

Will keep you up dated on my new sewing adventure :)

Oh yeh the pattern say's EASY- I will let you know if that is true or not!!
Happy Crafting all!!

Thursday Theme: Handmade Weddings

Your Handmade Wedding  

handmade by Dory Linda Designs

I have only gone and made it easy for you to buy handmade wedding decor or Wedding gifts!

Browse on through at some lovely collections I have found just for you and your special day.

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1vintagelady offers a made to order service for vintage style capelets for brides, bridesmaids and mothers of bride and groom. Also happy to make for special anniversaries, and proms.

 

 These are examples of some of the styles available, and can be made in any colour and size, including children's sizes.

New 'vintage' patterns are being added to the collection as they become available, or if you have your own pattern in mind, this can be discussed.

One Vinatge Lady also provide a chinamatching service and china etc for weddings/special occasions.

Please Email in the first instance to discuss your requirements. 1Vintage Lady Facebook page

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Blue Lily Vintage lovingly hand made goods; from cushions, handbags and home decorations to hand crafted vintage wedding horse shoes and gifts made with genuine vintage silks, beads, laces, wax flowers and much more!

 

This handmade Abalone & Lace Vintage Wedding Horseshoe is a unique good luck wedding charm - a one-off original.

Contact Info:

Blog
Blue Lily Vintage Facebook Page
BlueLilyVintage twitter page

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Dory Linda Designs, where you'll find beautiful quality handmade wedding banners and signs, moss letters, photography props, and decor for various wedding themes. If you are looking to make your wedding or event unique then our lovely refined, detailed, and textured handmade products are just what you need.

For enquiries Email Dory Linda Designs

Can buy or request custom items on Etsy shop   

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Looking for a vintage them wedding then visit All That Jazz Mrc, where beautiful hand crafted button bouquet can be purchased (all made from vintage buttons, fabric and jewellery - £18 plus p&p. )
Or what about this beautiful Old Country Roses tea set it can be the perfect gift for that vintage loving couple or to be used during the reception.
Also she makes handmade tag’s great for continuing the vintage themed to attach to wine glasses/ teacups/ cutlery or as place settings. She can custom make these - they are made on white card and I use vintage buttons and embellishments on them.  

And finally how about this for a Great idea, vintage paper heart cut out- used as either confetti or table decor (made from vintage paper from1940's/50's novels). 

Conatct Info:

All That Jazz MCR Facebook Page 

Etsy Store
Email 

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 Wedding gifts and accessories Ideas from Forage

Once Upon A time cushions, will add a fairytale feeling to the any room. A perfect gift for the fairytale couple. Made from 1970’s fabric and hand embroidery.purchase here

Looking for something a little unique to wear around your neck on your special day, how about the Real Leather white rose necklace or wanting a brooch with that rustic look -another real leather accessory handmade by mwah! 
Email for purchase/price/leather product description.

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And finally  a keep sake gift made by Tabi I love handmade Keepsakes....

This bear is 7.5 inches tall and can be made from any material - the material has be either of cotton or polyester - velour and such materials can be used but the stitching will be done by hand rather than machine. The material doesn’t necessarily have to be new these bears can be made from old-out grown-vintage-special occasion clothes - therefore they are more keepsake-memory-your special bear. I sale these bears from £15 they can all so be personalized with dates-names-slogans. 
Tabi-I love Handmade Keepsakes Facebook Page

 

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Support handmade on your special as it is a day filled with love and handmade is made with love!

handmade by DoryLinda Designs

A 'Super' Market

In a time of austerity, belt tightening, pulling up socks and buckling down etc... getting good value for money is a bit of a priority, for us at least! We're lucky enough to be in reach of some great independent and locally sourced markets and shops, one of which we visited today Keelham Farm Shop.

All the food is supplied by the farm on site or by local producers, great value and quality. Finding decent butchers when we lived in the city was near impossible unless living in one of the more gentrified or affluent areas, and typically farmers markets or organic grocers only offered produce at massively inflated prices.  This certainly is not the case here - by 10am the car park is rammed to the rafters:)

And they've even got a small petting farm around the back.. marvellous! If you're local, you've got no excuse. 

Handmade Cafe Style Curtain

I have just made my very first curtain and yes I'm super proud of myself :)

OK so I did make a few little mistakes - but I know where I went wrong so I can avoid it when I attempt to cover all our curtain less windows with homemade curtains....

I have avoided making curtains for some time now- thinking it is way to complicated!
However, still a novice with curtain making it was somewhat straight forward, just require's plenty of space and good guide.... I had the Queen of sewing, crafts and home decor, Martha Stewart and her book 'Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts'.

I choose to do a Cafe style curtain (Pinch-Pleated cafe Curtains page 206) as the area I'm recreating has a large old shop windows and I want it to be a light chilled out space.

I purchased beautiful green geometric patterned fabric from B and M Fabrics in Leeds Kirgate Market.

So are you ready for the Before and After shots......

Before

After

What do you think?

Fabric

Some great fabric shops in Leeds Market, just picked up these for some home projects. Now beer and lunch :)

Fountains Abbey

Some sunshine today! Not that we want to be moaning weather bores (which currently is a national and social epidemic), we took a day trip out to Fountains Abbey in Ripon.

Last time I was here was over 35 years ago on a School Trip - brought back memories of packed lunches and custard creams :) 

Easter Tradition- 'Figolli' Maltese Easter cake/biscuit

If you have been following this blog for a while you will know that in the Forage house hold at Easter time we indulge in Figolli a Maltese Easter cake/biscuit instead of copious amount of chocolate (we still manage eat our way through some chocolate eggs too).....

However, If you are new to the Forage's Blog catch up and read last year's Easter post which also has the recipe for Figolli Maltese Easter Cake/Biscuit.

This year I branched out and fully decorated my Figolli.....

Traditionally Figolli is beautifully decorated with royal icing and the shapes of the biscuit can range from mermaids, heart shaped to a appropriate themed Easter egg. In Malta you can purchase figolli cutters, which make is so much more easier, when not in Malta you can use cookie cutters.

I have made a butterfly shaped one using a paper template and cutting round it with a sharp knife. I also made a dragonfly shape figolli but I broke it when sliding it onto the cooling rack.

So here it is..... Ok I'm no artist but my daughter loves it!!

Off to in laws to share the tradition yum, yum :)