Make up this Daffodil Easter Basket for your little bunnies… or even yourself (we all need something stylish and cute for the many, many chocolate eggs that will be coming our way!)

First gather your materials:

Yellow felt

Co-ordinating basket lining (I’ve used vintage flowery material)

Interfacing

Scissors

1. For ease make a template for the petals and cut out 6 – try drawing it free hand you’ll surprise yourself how easy this is!

2. Use a small bowl to trace around and cut out a circle to attach the petals.

3. Cut a rectangle out of the felt for the main body of the Daffodil. In order to get the nice trumpet cone shape,  cut each end with a diagonal, this will create the desired shape. Repeat with the lining material and stitch together.

4.  Next cut a strip of felt, (mine measured 10 x1 inch) interfacing and lining for the handle and fuse together. Hand sew into place.

5. To create the trumpet frill cut a long strip of the felt,  stitch wide tracks down the entire length. Pull on the threads to get an even ripple and stitch to the rim.

6. Go off skipping on your Easter egg hunt!

Searching for all things Easter I had my fake bunny ears stand on end when I found Boopsie daisy’s Flickr page. Images flooded with colour and love.

How could I (how could anyone) resist  falling in love with the colours, the flowers, the fun and the bows… this is the world in which I’d like to live… candy coloured forever spring like world…

Boopsie prints feature wide-eyed dolls, dressed up all purdy-like and photographed in the prettiest settings. As with all her prints they evoke that feeling of childlike wonder. Delight your eyes with them at her etsy shop.

Images to make your eyes pop and your heart bounce!

There is a delightful mix of vintage dolls like Kewpie, Strawberry Shortcake and  Blythe as well as the original Boopsiedaisy dolls that feature in some of the prints – Boopsiedaisy dolls are also available to sell.

Surly the love affair with Blythe dolls universal, shes a different doll to the Barbie, shes’ unique, probably a vintage gal (she was first made in the 1970s) has that wide-eyed innocent look that is both thoughtful and creative.  Poetry dances in her eyes, adorable, sweet. You just get a feeling she would make the best of friends too. See her below in bunny-ears with all her bunny friends, no doubt off to plan some merry Easter games.

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With Mothers Day on its way it was lovely to spend some time with my mam recently as she visited me at Extinct Design HQ! We spent time comparing shiny threads and ribbons and off cuts of material, we talked about various sewing projects I had started and techniques and workshops my mum had recently attended… Then, we made a plan. We made some coffee. The the ipod tunes and stories flowing over us in the background and through my bunged up nose, fluey eyed state we managed to finish off some items and get started on some rather gorgeous Mexican looking hearts – possibly to adorn a headband or even to be made into brooches!

Made from my mothers embroidered, layered fabric she had made herself and my stash of ribbons and pom-pom string – a true collaboration!

Don’t forget your Mothers Day Cards and Gifts in Store!

*Next Friday – Covered Clothes Hangers with left over vintage material.

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Really enjoyed this weeks Make-it Friday. Its been ages since I’ve made a small patchwork item. With a colourful mix of vintage materials and remnants I really like the way they all blend together.

The lovely Donna popped round too, it’s always nice to chat about colours and different ways the patchwork can work out.

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This is what I worked on this Friday. I’ve been wanting to make up some Alphabet letters for some time now. I LOVE that I can use these Friday Make-it days to really concentrate and get on with some unfinished projects and explore new ideas.

I LOVE the vintage fabrics but would LOVE to have some more (see what I did there)

Its so easy to do too. The bigger and chunkier the letters the better. Using easy to cut materials that don’t fray help too, like this left over pink soft brushed cotton and heavy upholstery material.

1. Either using a template or freehand (don’t be scared!! Just try you’ll be surprised how easy it can be) draw out your letter.

2. Fold your chosen material and cut out 2 of the shape (Sharp scissors are a must always – a good sewsmith knows you can blame your tools) Remember to cut 2 notches* -V shaped cuts in a straight part of the letter to help you line up the 2 pieces when stitching together.

3. Rights sides together pin & stitch leaving a gap between the 2 notches.

4. Turn letter right way round, stuff and sew!

5. Finish off the rest of your letters to make up a word or a name and you are good to go!

*A Notch is another word for a narrow pass between the mountains – s0 you can see where the shape comes from. I love knowing the origin of these words, especially if it gives me a visual as its easier to remember!

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So heres the pic of the finished Cabbage Wreath – I’m really please with it and it was so much fun to make.

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This is the scraps ball from the recent Make-it Friday. I will be posting a pic of the scrap balls as I think often the make pretty little snapshot blends of the colours used…

Whaddya think?

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Each and every Friday I shall be posting my “Make-its” Feel free to comment, add suggestions or post links to your projects!

These items are just for fun but some just might make the cut for the shop… lets see what happens.

We had lots of fun, but  looking full of concentration here on the task in hand…

The full project & how to to follow for my Cabbage Christmas Wreath & Gold n Green Bow Twist Wreath!

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