The shoemaker and other stories....

I do love this time of year when just lighting a couple of tea lights

can bring a pretty and magical glow to my space....

(those little drawers in the background were a £2 find a few years ago

and every so often they receive a fresh coat of paint....they're perfect for crafty bits)

♥

...so finally time to do some catch up today....

sipping coffee and looking out on a wet and very dark

monday morning here in our corner...

...handmade shoes...

mary jane's...ballerinas...buttons and flowers....

For the last couple of weeks 

I've been tucked away making little handmade shoes

which are now part of a free 10 page pdf pattern supplement attached to

downloads of some of the Tearoom knitting patterns....

♥

For anyone who has previously purchased a 15" Rabbit /Bear knitting pattern and would like a copy

to use alongside your existing patterns I can email it to you ...just send me a quick message...

'Mary Jane's TEAROOM Handmade Shoes'

....specially designed to fit those unique and 'not so dainty' feet...

(now added to the free pattern/project page here on the blog too and will always be available)

and I think I may have to make a real life version of those ballerina slippers sometime...

♥

I've added other useful things...

a photo tutorial and lots of pics of all the 15" leg designs have been included for new 

ideas to use with the original patterns....

(Must add...I've been very busy over the last few days since posting on my Facebook page

but it's been lovely indeed to hear from everyone while sending out the pattern

...I feel so lucky x)

♥

Next, my lacy, frothy and (very) colourful crochet summer throw...
Finally, I've used the Stylecraft yarn from my stash and extremely good it was too.
It was very sunny and way too windy on this day but at least you can see I finished it!
(and it does make several appearances in the little shoe pattern)

I tried to keep as much as possible to the original colours as in the small pic there 
from the book.....although it's minus the orangey shades as my yarn was just a bit too orange : )
♥

I finished off all those yarn ends as I went along...
 (and soooo very glad I did or I fear it may never have been completed!)
and tried my best to think ahead where they may be useful 

for seaming and the picot border as each hexagon has it's own colour edging

I do like it and most importantly did enjoy making it...♥

...especially those frilly picots...

It's a big splash of colour which is welcome in my quite white space ♥

.....and I'd like to revisit it at some point using different yarns/shades

(I've something quite definite in mind)
♥

I had a simple and extremely lovely birthday...

Ashley appeared from university along with my favourite carrot cake

It was a special afternoon...the ladies drank champagne served by Mr.H ...

(must add...I don't make a habit of spending my afternoons in this way!)

 watched Downton and the Bake Off and laughed a lot as the rain poured down outside

I got some lovely pressies too including a new Moleskin sketchbook....they know me so well!

♥ ...definitely one to remember... ♥

For Leah....
(who has been recovering from recent knee surgery...
just quietly getting on with it but now well on the way to recovery.... a real trooper)
♥

...and she loves swallows.....x
I embroidered this on my machine using a small piece of organic linen
It was made on an impulse and I used whatever shades of thread were in my tin
....most importantly Leah likes it very much and loves the colours : )
♥

I'm still enjoying decorating my hoops with left over bits of fabric
and I added a hanger made with some vintage lace and stripy ribbon....
I think the aubergine fabric is vintage Laura Ashley
(although I can't remember where I bought it....probably Ebay long ago)
and the rest are left over pieces from one of my quilts...
Rouenneries Deux by French General which is a real favourite ♥
♥

Ooh yes...
using some lovely rooster yarn for my cushion now
...will show you next time...
...along with some more knitting...
♥ ♥ ♥
...time to do some work....

...wishing you a wonderful new week...
....happy crafting...love always...