Spring Inspiration

I can see one lonely daffodil in my front garden from the living room window. It lay down during last week's snow only to stand tall again hinting that warmer days are to come.

I don't normally pay much attention to spring, I save my excitement for autumn and winter when we have our birthdays and Christmas (I love Christmas) but this year I have surprised myself and I am finding spring inspirational.

I am loving the bright colours in the shops, the yellow daffodils bursting out of the ground and chevron and scallop fabrics that have me dreaming of summer dresses.

As I am feeling so inspired I thought I would share some of my spring cheer with you!

My obsession with anything yellow

Yellow Quilting Pins 

Cloud Napkin Rack from Ikea

Yellow Chevron Fabric from fabricrehab.co.uk

 Easter is nearly here!

I'm hoping to find time to make this cute bunny that I found in one of my Golden Hands magazines.

Colourful Easter chicks, that might find their way onto an Easter wreath or the Simnel Cake that I really must get round to making. I found the plastic eggs in Asda, a bargain at £1 for 12 and so colourful. I think I'm going to use mine for an Easter egg hunt.

Fabric inspiration

Chevrons and scallops are my favourite patterns at the moment. I would love a scallop tiled fireplace.
These scallops are on a cute kids apron at Ikea. I'd love to make a scallop print dress so I am on the look out for fabric. The cute chevron ribbon came free on this month's Mollie Makes magazine and I'm going to use it on my wreath.

What is your favourite season and what is inspiring you at the moment?

Golden Hands

About 18 months ago Chris spotted an advert for a set of 1970's Golden Hands Craft magazines on Freecycle but when he contacted the lady she said that someone else had beaten him to it. Luckily for me, she contacted us a few days later to say that the person didn't show to collect them and did we still want them. It turned out that she lives on the next road over from us. I very excitedly popped round the next day and picked them up. Carole, the lady, explained that she was having a big clear out of her Mum's sewing things that she could no longer use and would I be interesting in taking a look before she advertised future lots. Er, yes please! So over the last few months Carole has been phoning me whenever she has a bag of sewing swag for me. Each time it has been like Christmas and I have been very lucky to receive bags of binding, cottons, fabrics and squeaky toy things. I've so far made a dress using some of the fabric and the bindings have come in very handy making dresses for Ruby (more on those another day).

I often spend hours looking through these magazines and have found them really inspiring. I haven't done any needlework since I was little but armed with a bag of threads and wools from Carole I made a tall ship cushion for Chris (he is a bit obsessed with them) for Christmas. If I did it again there would be lots of bits I would do differently but I am very chuffed with my first attempt. 

Can you spot the bit I missed? I really must get round to finishing it off for him.