In the hoop postcard

Well I had a couple of hours to myself this afternoon whilst Bethany was at playgroup so I thought I'd have a go at a fabric postcard. I'd seen them on Etsy and loved the idea, so I bought an "in the hoop" design from Embroidery Library. I found some pretty fabric from my stash and the great thing about these postcards is that you don't need very much material - a fat quarter will make loads of them!

I was pretty pleased with how it turned out, considering this is my first attempt at an "in the hoop" project and I've only tried applique a couple of times too. When it came to the back, I couldn't resist dusting off my box of rubber stamps. I knew I had a postage stamp one somewhere and when I found "You mean the world to me", I just had to use it. I can see another addiction coming on!

and it's still snowing...

I love to watch the snow fall, there is something so magical about it isn't there?... then the novelty wears off when I realise we've ran out of milk or something and I've got to go out and fetch it. Anyway at least today I have the new designs at Embroidery Library to drool over (http://www.emblibrary.com/). I love this site; apart from the fantastic new designs every week, they have some great tutorials and a gallery which always gets my creative juices flowing. My laptop is having a new hard drive fitted as we speak so hopefully Lily (my embroidery machine) will be up and running again soon. Until then I have been browsing through Flickr for more ideas - there are soooo many fabulously talented people showcasing their creations on that site and I've discovered some really great blogs that way too.

Whilst my laptop has been out of action I have had the chance to get back into crochet. I hadn't done any in years and there is plenty of room for improvement but I was pretty chuffed with how this little crown hat turn out for my daughter. She really likes the gem stones on it. It's prompted me to have a go at a waistcoat for myself and I've just won a vintage tank top pattern on ebay so thats another project to add to the list.

Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by to read my first post and Happy New Year to you! We've got off to a really chilly start in the UK and I'm told its going to get worse later this week so what a brilliant excuse to stay indoors and get crafty (not that I usually need an excuse)! I'm hoping to share loads of ideas instead of them just swimming around in my head and vanishing in the mists. I'm into most creative pastimes - sewing, cardmaking, scrapbooking, crochet - but my BIG passion is machine embroidery. I have a Husqvarna Quilt Designer 2 which I lovingly call Lily after my nan who was the queen bee of creativity! Lily and I share many a stolen hour in between working, doing the ironing, hoovering, toddler taming ... well you get the idea. Anyhow, my laptop is currently sick which means my embroidery exploits are limited at the moment because I can't download anything to my card so in the meantime, I'll have to show you some of my recent projects.