Styling ideas: Dymo label maker

I'm loving using my Dymo label maker around the house at the moment. It's retro feel, simple lettering and colour adds a nice touch to jars and stops me confusing the herbs and the teas!

There's lots more Dymo inspiration on pinterest - check out my 'dymo labelling style' board. As soon as my Neals Yard blue bottles are empty I'll be making these for the bathroom.

Credit

Merry Christmas

This year, my first in the flat in Cardiff I decided against the traditional xmas tree and went for lots of decorations centred around the fireplaces. 

Holly branches & Pomander Balls 

(Follow this handy tutorial for pomander balls - Instructables tutorial)

Cones, dried orange slices & cinnamon sticks tied with ribbon

Cute deers!

Love the nordic skier (Tiger)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Crochet an Owl

The most adorable little owl I made for a birthday present. I've just started to learn how to crochet and the little owl is my second attempt at making something. Once I got over looking at the daunting instructions and the many different patterns I managed to learn a few basic stitches - chains, slip stitches, double crochet. I found the easiest way to do this was looking at youtube videos and I brought a book The Essential Handbook of Crochet Stitches . I decided the best thing would be to get on and just make something! My first project is something much simpler (It's not yet finished but I'll post it when I do!). Then I came across this lovely owl by Zoom Yummy found here. The pattern is available on etsy at a bargain cost. Great instructions - picture by picture which I think is definitely needed for a beginner!. The pattern is in American (yes american and english have different names for the stitches to make things more complicated!). Seemed easy to convert - ch (Chain Stitch) and Sl St (Slip Stitch) are the same, sc (single crochet stitch) is dc (double crochet), hdc (half double crochet stitch) is htr (half a treble). Now I'm off to make another one under request..

Yarn Wrapped Words

I love these yarn wrapped words that are around at the moment. Full of endless possibilities....jewellery, home decoration..I thought it would make a nice addition to my office cork board that needs a refresh. I choice the word 'flora' but any word that can be written in joined up handwriting would work well. Here's how my attempt went..

What's needed:

• Wire - I used some cheap general purpose gardening wire but any flexible wire such as coathanger, pipecleaners would do
• Thread - I used two coloured twine brought from a lovely craft shop in Bath indoor market. Any embroidery thread or wool would do. The brighter the more effective!
• Wire Cutters
• Glue

Start by writing out the word in joined up handwriting on paper. Bend the wire to form the word, using the handwritten word as a guide. 

Tie the thread around the wire, tucking the end underneath to start. When the  wires cross, wrap the yarn around both to hold the letters in place. 

Wrap the thread around the whole word then make a knot to secure. I carefully put a drop of glue on the ends to stop the wrapped threads becoming loose. 

Owl Bunting

My latest craft project :-) I've slowly been making owl bunting for the new office at work - in my obsession with owls! Inspiration for the owls came from a photo on 'Chocolate fishies' blog and those sold by 'Missy Mack' on etsy. Here's how I made it....

Materials:

Material -for the owl and for the tum

Thread

Felt

Buttons

Brown embroidery thread

Step One: Cutting the fabric

Make two paper templates - A) the main owl body (adding at 1 cm around the edge) and B) the smaller tummy. Pin on to material and use as a template. Each owl needs two A's and one B. 

Step Two: Adding the features 

Stitch on the tummy – about 2cm from the bottom of the owl. 

Add some eyes – I used a larger cream felt and some funky buttons.

Step Three: Sewing the Owl together 

Pin the two pieces of material together (outside facing inwards) and sew around the edge except the bottom. Now pull the owl inside out – it’s easier if the top point is cut flat and the slits made around the edges.

Step Four: Final touches

Slip stitch the bottom together. Now sew on the nose – I used brown embroidery thread. Fold over the beak and slip stitch in place (hidden )

Step Five: Make the bunting

 Thread through the cord and add all the owls! Owl bunting made!!