In my browsing for lovely artwork for Wordless Wednesday, I have come across the wonderful little website of Flora Waycott. She has some absolutely beautiful images and patterns on her website, as well as details of where you can purchase her prints (including online through Etsy).
This is one of my favourite, craft-themed images.
Sewing and making by Flora Waycott
I went home to visit my family last weekend, and while I was there I had a bit of a sewing session with my mum. She’s meant to be doing a sewing workshop soon, and felt she needed some prep before she went. We used this old Singer machine, which used to belong to her mum, but she passed it on as she no longer uses it. We had it serviced, and it runs really nicely now.
My mum decided she wanted to make a little bag to put the pedal and wires in. So we raided her as yet quite small sewing stash, and used one of the fat quarters I bought her for Christmas! For maximum practice, we also sewed on a pocket decorated with an appliqué owl, and a long hidden pocket inside for scissors. 
Here’s the finished item, complete with Bryn the dog. I’ve also found some links to some different types of draw string bags on Pinterest. They all have great instructions, enjoy!
Draw sting bag tutorials
My mum sent me a picture this morning of another bag she’s made, this time with cat appliqués. I think she may be addicted!
I’m by no means an accomplished sewist, but I am definitely getting more confident. I thought it may be useful to put together a list of projects suitable for very new seamstresses, looking to start their sewing journey.
A great first beginner project is bunting. There is really no end to what style you can do it in, as there are so many combinations of fabric and methods out there to chose from, but basically it is just lots of nice straight lines you need to sew.
The method I use to make bunting I got from Sew in Brighton, which I’ve summarised in this post. If you’re looking to get going with sewing, I can recommend booking into a sewing class. They’re a great way to learn the basics away from any distractions. There are classes springing up everywhere, so it is best google away to find one near to you.
I am terrified of zips, and this project changed my mind about them. I used this excellent tutorial from Rachel at Transient Expression to make this Russian doll patterned purse which I use as a make-up bag/pencil case.
Tote bags are really simple and also really useful. I have this book – S.E.W. Sew Everything Workshop which has really clear instructions for all sorts of projects, including a tote bag and a more structured handbag style bag which I made as a present a couple of years ago. There are also TONNES of ideas and tutorials on Pinterest!
I also came up with this tutorial which shows how to make a tote bag with a little pocket inside for you to stuff it up really small and bung it in your handbag. It took a couple of attempts to work out the engineering behind it!
While I have made a pair of self drafted PJ bottoms, my plans for this year include making a dress. I have a couple of patterns and fabric all lined up – I just need some time to sit down and do it really. No more excuses!
It’s St David’s day on 1st March, hooray! Last year, I made a felt daffodil and some Welsh cakes. This year, I’ve made a crochet daffodil. I’ve also made some bara brith, which will be the subject of another post coming soon.
I followed (mostly) this pattern from Attic 24. I’m not great at following instructions, so there is definitely some degree of improvisation going on. I did my middle differently as well – two rows of UK trebles, using slip stitches at the end of each row to make a full circle.
The pattern from Attic 24 is really easy to follow, and uses hardly any yarn at all, so it is great scrap buster.
This is so true – what have you made recently that you are proud of? 
Picture from the Mollie Makes website
As promised, these are the rest of the wonderful crafts which have been compiled by Bugs and Fishes. I like the penguin!
Upcycled Jumper Christmas Stocking with Robin Appliqué – Halcyon Threads
Christmas Card String & Pegs – Fizzi Jayne MakesAs you may have seen the other week, I did a Christmas-y sewing project which I linked to the Bugs and Fishes Christmas craft link up. My project was a shabby denim Christmas heart decoration, which you can find here. I took part last year, and was really pleased to take part again.
Anyway, here is the first of three links to some of the other projects. I hope you like them! I will be posting the other projects over the next few days, so keep an eye out. 
Mini Teddy Bed – Grace’s Favours
Shiny Reindeer Embroidered Hoop Art – Candyfloss Ramparts
Teeny Tiny Snowman Pendant – i ManuFatti
Nativity Bunting Tutorial – Hoogally
Floating Pompom Garland – RetroDelicious
I love beachcombing (also skip diving and scanning the streets in Brighton, where people often leave stuff on the pavement to give away – anything for freebies!) Unfortunately, not much exciting gets washed up in Brighton. So every time I go home to Wales, I try and get some beachcombing in. Last time, I got some great pieces of drift wood which I have used to decorate our living room shelves, as well to build a small decorative woodpile in our (broken) fireplace.
Anyway, I thought I would share this link, as it is by far one of my most pinned pins. There are some really good ideas in there – I would love to make one of the Christmas Trees, but there is not really enough room in my house to store it!
We didn’t end up camping this weekend, but instead took an impromptu trip back to Wales. I came back with a bag full of stuff my dad offloaded on me, including old books and my great grandmothers knitting needles. I also did a little bit of beach-combing, and have some nice bits of driftwood, which I have some plans for. 
I now have no excuse whatsoever for not getting on and learning to knit, as I also have stacks of yarn! There are some nice thick wooden needles, and I think they would work well with some of the nice thick wool my sister gave to me a few weeks ago.
Please someone point me towards some fool proof, small, beginner knitting projects.
I was after a quick and effective idea to make a birthday card, so I did lots of hunting around for some inspiration. I really wanted an idea for a nice flat paper flower, but this seems surprisingly hard to find. In the end, I found this great tutorial on how to make fabric hexagonal yo yos, and decided to try it with paper. It worked really well, although I will say a thicker, better quality paper made it so much easier and gave a nice finish. I used two different sized hexagonal flowers to decorate my card – one on top of the other, finished off with a sequin.
I’ve put together a little tutorial on how to make them, and combined with the fabric tutorial, hopefully it should all make sense! As usual, if there are any problems, please let me know and I’ll do my best to help.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Cut out a circle from paper – any size will do but the smaller the more fiddly it gets (about 8cm across is a good size).
2. Fold in half and then into quarters. 
3. Unfold the circle, and mark the centre (this makes the next few folds so much easier). 
4. Fold one edge into the centre mark. 
5. Fold the left hand corner into the centre. 
6. Repeat stage 5 twice more, until it looks like the example below. 
7. Fold the left hand corner into the middle to make a point.
8. Unfold the point, and put the left hand edge on top of the right hand edge, as shown below.
9. After stage 8, you will be left with a little flappy bit.
10. This bit is really hard to explain, but you need to flip the flap under the triangle to the left of the last triangle which you made. I had to try this stage out a few times before I got it right, so please let me know if you get stuck. 
11. Tuck the flap in, and make sure all your triangle seams line up centrally. 
