Got the t-shirt? Now get the badge!

Wow! Look at me – The second post in a week; I’m in danger of turning in to a blogging goddess! As promised here’s another mini feature explaining my lengthy absence from cyberspace……………

I treat myself to this!

The London Emblem Badgemaker 5 – Bloody Marvellous!!!!!!

I’ve wanted a badgemaker for ages but since returning to a life filled with freemotion machine embroidery it’s become a necessity rather than wishful thinking; I NEED to make badges, pocket mirrors, bottle openers etc – I REALLY DO!!!!!!!!

Hence the purchase – A rather pricey item, but boy has it been worth it 🙂 Here’s the linky thing if you fancy finding out more or want to invest in one yourself:  http://www.allaboutbadges.com/product_info.php?products_id=42

So what does it do? And, more importantly, what have I done since getting it?

Well, obviously you can make badges – In three sizes as it happens; 25mm, 38mm and 55mm. But you can also make keyrings, fridge magnets, bottle openers, pocket mirrors, medals and freestanding photo frames. Marvellous!!!!!

At the moment I’ve got the 55mm set up – the perfect size for incorporating some freemotion gorgeousness 😉

Ready for some of my designs? Here we go:

Sugar skull themed fridge magnet.

Also in badge, keyring and pocket mirror options………

A floral selection – Inevitable really!

It’s come to something when I can write neater with a sewing machine than I can with a pen in my hand!

An apple for the teacher – A really simple idea but a lovely gift whether it’s in badge, keyring, fridge magnet etc form 🙂

VW’s – You don’t seriously think I’m going to miss them out? Do you?

Of course I had to do a T25 option……..

And it would be rude to leave a classic Beetle version out!

And now of course there’s Christmas to contend with and festive versions to make………

And what sort of person would I be if I didn’t pay homage to my favourite seamstress and her co-stars?

Incidentally, Monday 16th September marked 100 days before Christmas (and just like last year I’m making references to Sally Finkelstein!) The ‘nightmare’ has once more officially begun!!!!!!

Anywhoo, that’s the end of my second mini-post. And, as you can see, I haven’t been resting on my laurels whilst keeping quiet in blogland – I REALLY have been busy. And it’s set to get busier!!!!! Ho hum!!!!

Happy Crafting folks!!!!!!

Sat stitching like Sally Finkelstein ;)

Last week I said I planned to make something nice to show off the new stitches I’ve been practising – but I’m so completely enamoured with feather stitch that I haven’t had time to attempt anything else!

My aim for this week was to replicate the heart featured in this great tutorial from A Simple Quilter:

http://asimplequilter.blogspot.co.uk/2008/11/christmas-ornament.html

But once I’d sat down and started I decided that I had to make a few changes to my original plan as the very first line of turquoise feather stitch immediately reminded me of Sally in a Nightmare Before Christmas……

Sally Finkelstein – Seamstress extraordinaire.

I think it’s the patchwork that did it. At any rate I decided not to opt for additional stitches or seed bead details but instead plumped for feather stitch to delineate the patchwork sections and blanket stitch to edge the outline of the heart. To finish, I chose to use a die cut pleatherette flower, assorted loops of ribbon and a flower shaped mother of pearl button. I’ve also included a ribbon loop for hanging and filled it with micro aroma beads which I’ve fragranced with ‘Baby Powder’. Here’s the results:

‘Sally’ heart by Big Blue Bully Bus 🙂

So, it’s another week of me feeling very pleased with myself; It’s also been a very productive process as it’s given me lots of inspiration for how I could adapt the idea further to incorporate different fabrics other than felt to create the newest addition to my repetoire – ‘The Sally Heart’.

I think that both her and my Gran would heartily approve of my efforts 😉

Officially, it was a 100 days until Christmas 2012 yesterday – So let the nightmare begin!!!!!