Misi Makers for Monday

Here are some of the items that have caught my eye on Misi lately. There are some very talented people selling there. I love Lydia Meiying's gorgeous card designs - aren't these owls really sweet? I think this would make a great Mother's Day card - well, I'm a mother and I'd love it! The combination of colours in this granny square scarf by Squeaky Elliot are very striking (love the bench too!). And I do like a granny square... Because it's cotton it would be great for spring time. It was hard to decide what to include from Bonbi Forest - I like the t-shirts and the scarves especially. So I decided to keep with the owl/scarf theme and include this fabulous green hand printed scarf: Isn't it lovely? I really love hand printed fabric. I'd love to have a go myself but I don't feel at all confident in my artistic ability - so in the mean time I'll just have to admire other people's work.

A Cuddly Little Owl - Pattern

You can now find this pattern at my new blog - Very Berry Handmade.

My Owl for the Owl Swap

Yvette has already done a lovely blog post about the owl needle book I sent her as part of the Owl Swap. Yvette's blog is really worth a look - she makes some fab things, so pop round and have a look at what she's been up to.

I feel a bit naughty blogging about the owl I made too, but it's one of my 50 Things so I want to keep a record of it here. I really enjoyed making it - as you can see from the drawing that I made, the finished result is not too far away from the design idea - this happens so rarely it's always thrilling when it works out! And the actual cutting and sewing went without a hitch too - very rare!!

It all came together so well that I've decided to make a couple and put them in the shop - I listed the first one this morning and here it is. I've tweaked the design a little bit - I've lined the outer with felt to make it more sturdy and so that there's room for more needles - and it has turned out very nicely, although I think I prefer the chunkier stitching on the first one.

I've also been working on improving my photos for the shop and for the blog - I am always totally blown away by some of the brilliant images that people create to show off their crafting. I am never entirely happy with mine so I am going to work really hard on that over the next few months. No more pointing and clicking for me!

It's been a long time without posting - thanks to everyone who checks back here occasionally with absolutely no reward! I have posts to write on storage, on tutorials, on Works in Progress and an update to my 50 Things list. I also have a new cupcake needle book to show off (you can see it on Etsy if you want a peak!). And I am very excited that I'm going to be taking part in a fab sounding Time for Tea Swap being organised by Vonnie round at Blotted Copy Book (ace blog - go round and visit immediately). So I'm hoping to be back with another post very soon.

My Owl Swap Goodies Have Arrived...

There was much excitement when my Owl Swap parcel from Yvette arrived yesterday morning. He's called Edwin (which is a funny little coincidence as that's the middle name of one of my sons) and he is already right at home with us. I love the choice of fabrics and the colours that Yvette has chosen - I don't think you can beat grey and yellow together...very classy indeed. He's soft and squishy too, which I always like in a plushie - he has had lots of cuddles from Danny and Tom - no doubt I will find it difficult to keep him where I want him! I can absolutely see why Yvette said she was finding it very hard to part with him.

I was also really lucky to receive lots of lovely crafty bits and bobs - some yarn, a gorgeous piece of hedgehog fabric, some pretty little ribbon roses and a very very inspirational piece of green flower braiding (I already have an idea about what to do with that!). And Yvette had made a gorgeous card too. Really - participating in these swaps is always so fantastic. Thanks Yvette for all the lovely goodies and thank so much to Apryl for organising it. You can see what all the other owl swappers have been up to at the Owl Swap Flickr group.