Hen Party Heroes

This post has been moved to my new blog Should Be Sewing, check out all the photos here!

Tutorial: Necklace Display Stand

This post has now been moved to my new blog Should Be Sewing, check out the full tutorial here!

Etsy Picks: Christmas in July

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or are a regular visitor to my Etsy shop, you may know that I am currently taking part in a UK team promotion for 'Christmas in July'. Don't panic! It's not a campaign to change the date, or extend the festive season well beyond it's welcome. Christmas in July is a North American marketing event that promotes festive shopping in the summer months when there aren't any national holidays to boost trade. As an Etsy shop owner it makes sense to take advantage of international shopping trends, especially as the site is so popular in the US and Canada.
So, the Etsy UK Promo Team have coordinated a discount campaign, with those shops taking part, including mine, offering 10% off for the whole of July with the code CIJUK10, and it's not limited to Christmas items! Here's a few of my non-festive picks from the shops taking part.

Nadolig Llawen Welsh Christmas Stag Greeting Card, £1.50 from DyfalDonc

 I lied, this one is a bit Christmassy, but only if you're Welsh. I love the collage style and I can never resist a stag.

Cherry Blossom Ceramic Coaster, made to order by DamsonTreePottery. £12.

I only discovered the Damson Tree Pottery through this promotion but everything I've seen has been beautiful.

Vintage Glass Jewel Deco Wedding Necklace, AlteredEras. £45.

This vintage Art Deco necklace oozes Gatsby glamour.

Oat, Honey and Ginger Soap Bar, WitchWayBeauty. £4.50.

Good enough to eat!

NSPP: Flowers and Further

Quick update on my 'Non-Specific Patchwork Project'. I've had a lot of free time at fairs and while volunteering at Arts Hub so I've made some progress.

 I've been using Gutterman Hand Quilting thread to whip stitch the hexies together, quite pleased with the tiny neatness of my stitches from the front. The thread is nice enough to work with, no snagging, but I'm finding it a little brittle, even though it's meant to be extra strong. I don't know if anyone has any other recommendations?
I've finalised the arrangement for the hexie flowers and have begun getting the body of it sewn together.

 So far as possible (allowing for mistakes) I've kept the grain running straight throughout, I don't know if this is something you're meant to do but it seemed like a good idea. It does mean that the odd hexie that's gone in on an angle winds me up more than it should, but I'm sure I'll get over it.