Pencil Art

I came across this the other day and thought it was so fab I just had to share... artwork on pencils by Ghostpatrol.

You can check out more of their work at www.ghostpatrol.net

Stonehurst Farm Victorian Christmas

I had a very successful Christmas Fair last weekend at Stonehurst farm in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, and the weekend put me in the festive spirit (perhaps helped along a little by my first hot chocolate with Baileys of this Christmas!)
These are a few pictures of my stall....

I think I will have a busy start to the new year replenishing my stock!
If you would like to see more of my items, they are on my website www.madetomake.co.uk.

How to make a Hula Hoop Rug

I found these fab instructions the other day from www.familyfun.go.com to recylcle your old t-shirts into a rug using a hula hoop (now I know we have one lying around somewhere) so I'm thinking that this might be a good project to try with the kids during the holidays.

Instructions

1.  For the warp, cut 1-inch-wide loops from the bodies of one or two tees (we found a boy's large worked best on our 33-inch hoop), removing the hem and stopping at the sleeves. Ideally these loops should all be the same color; we used two colors for clarity in our photographs. You'll need a total of 11 loops. For the weft, cut at least 50 loops from the remaining shirts. Save the unused sleeves for the basket project.
2.  Stretch one warp loop over the hula hoop, as shown.
3.  Add and secure a second loop, perpendicular to the first.
4.  Repeat, filling in the spaces, until all 11 loops are in place.
5.  Push together two warp loops at the top of the hula hoop, as shown. This creates an odd number of warp spokes in your wheel, which allows the overunder pattern of the weft to alternate with each new row.
6.  Secure the first weft loop to the center of one of the warp spokes (we chose the doubled spoke from step 5) by wrapping it around the warp and then looping it back through itself.
7.  Begin weaving the weft over and under the warp spokes, forming a tight spiral. For now, treat both parts of each warp spoke as a single unit, weaving over or under the two together. As you work, push the weft material toward the center of the hoop and keep it just snug. If you pull the weft tight, the rug will develop lumps or bends. When you reach the end of the piece of weft, add a new loop by threading it through the end of the first and back through itself.
8.  When your rug is about 8 inches across, begin treating each warp spoke as two individual strips instead of a single unit, weaving over or under each strand instead of going over or under the doubled spoke. This increases the number of warp spokes, improving the structure of the project. When you get to the two warp spokes that you pushed together at the top of the loom, separate them. Treat one of the spokes as two individual strips, but continue to treat the other as a single spoke. This maintains the odd number of warp spokes.
9.  When the rug is the size you want, but no closer than 8 inches from the edge of the hula hoop, snip open your weft loop.
10.  Tie the ends around a warp spoke, and tuck the ends into the rug.
11.  Cut the warp spokes off the hoop one at a time.
12.  Tie the ends in pairs, then trim them to make a fringe or tuck them back into the rug.

Good luck if you also decide to give it a go.  It would be great to hear how you get on x

One for the Christmas List

Came across this today on folksy - definitely one for the Christmas list.  I wonder how many other lists this will be on!!!

Love me Love my Craft limited edition illustration from Ed's Place

Fab Three

It's the last weekend before December - so I thought I would offer a promotion on three of my pictures... all you need to do is pop over to my facebook page to check them out and purchase... www.facebook.com/madetomake

See you over there x

Folksy Friday

For this weeks folksy friday its gifts in the £10 - £20 price range - all handmade and all from folksy.  Hope this gives you some ideas for your Christmas shopping (or even your Christmas list!)

Lavender Rabbit in Spring Green from Pouch

Milk Print from Mrs Eliot Books

Big Flower Felt Gadget Sleeve from Suezybees

Doris Apron from AudreysCat

Parisian Weekend Print from Lola's Room

Attractive Wooden Tray from Beaconcrafts Decoupage

Buttercup bag from Enchanting Creations by Mel

So why not grab a cup of tea, and see what goodies you can get from Folksy this Christmas.

Feed the Birds this Winter

I came across this great simple way to feed the birds this winter - something to do with the kids.

All you need to do is get a toilet roll, cover it in peanut butter, and roll it in bird seed.  Then hook it over a branch in your garden (or where ever you please!) and watch the birds feast.  How simple is that!

Its all in the presentation

With Christmas creeping ever closer, I thought I would share some packaging inspiration for all those lovely gifts...

I love to sit with a glass of wine in the evening after everything is bought and make all those gifts look extra special.

Folksy Friday

This week as part of my gift features,  I am showcasing folksy finds up to the value of £10.00.   These are my gorgeous finds....

Heritage Sewing Machine Tote Bag from Stephanie Cole Design

Owl in a Teacup Print from Sparklehen

Print and Wax Bunting from Mangle Prints

Lichenstein Bottlecap Magnets from It's the Little Things

Rustic Plant Markers from Little Brick House

Flowers and Spots Pencil Roll from Made with Love

I hope you enjoyed this weeks folksy friday.  Pop over to Folksy to check out its relaunch - it looks pretty fab to me!

Foxy Loxy

I came across this gorgeous shop on Etsy the other day - Sass & Peril, selling fab screen prints, stationery, and homeware.  My fave is this Red Fox!

Click below to see their shop...

Here are a few other gorgeous foxes that I have found a little closer to home on Folksy

Mrs Fox in Mirabelle Dressfrom The Linen Cat

Matthew the Fox Orange Acrylic Clock from Big Bad Wolf Design

Little Red Fox Screenprint from Champignons

Fox / Vixen gift tag from Lime in the Coconut

Little Fox Girls Dress from Wild Things

Mr Fox from Little Paper Gallery

Hope you enjoyed my foxy finds x

The Book Tree

With a house move on the cards for the new year, I got a little carried away with the prospect of redecorating and came across these gorgeous tree shelves that I just had to share...

I'm sure I'll be able to fit one in somewhere!!