Monthly Archives: August 2010

Hairslide/Clip Tutorial

Posted on by Abi
It felt like time for a tutorial, so today I am going to teach you all how to make a hairclip. These are great for children and adults alike and make fantastic gifts.

What You’ll Need
Small piece of felt
Undecorated Hairclip
Needle
Thread
Buttons
1cm wide ribbon or cotton tape
Step 1
Cut a small length from your ribbon or cotton tape. Sew the ends together and then stitch a long running stitch along one edge, pull your thread to gather the ribbon into a rosette.

Step 2
Cut a rectangle from your felt fabric. This needs to be just slightly longer than your hairslide so the clip will be completely covered when finished. Sew your rosette to one end of the felt. Next sew a button or charm to the other end.
Step 3
Now we need to build up the design, use whatever you fancy, trimming cut offs, lace flowers etc to create the background design. Remember to overlap them slightly.

Step 4


I then used ribbon roses and buttons sewn on top of my fabric background.

Step 5

To finish we have to sew our design onto the hairclip. Flip your design over and lay the hairclip on to the back. There is usually a hole either end that you can sew through. Try to do it from several angles to make sure the clip is secure.

Ta Da! You have a beutiful hairclip!


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CSN Preferred Blogger :)

Posted on by Abi

I have just had an email asking me to become a CSN Preferred Blogger! You may remember that I reviewed some products from one of their stores somewhile back. I’m very excited by this opportunity to review another item, CSN have several stores selling everything from lights to furniture. They are definitely worth a look, a lot of the items also have free delivery on top of good prices.

I’m not sure which item I will review this time. Last time readers suggested items they’d like to know more about, is there anything you’d like me to review this time? Here’s a list of their UK stores (they are also in the US).

http://www.csnstores.co.uk
http://www.allmodern.co.uk/
http://www.cookwarebycsn.co.uk/
http://www.furniturebycsn.co.uk/
http://www.lightingbycsn.co.uk/
http://www.tvstands.co.uk/

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A Walk Along A Beach

Posted on by Abi

Some of my older blog friends may remember a post I wrote about the tranquility of walking through the countryside and really taking notice of your surroundings. Well this post bares a similar message but a different location.

I am lucky enough to have family in West Sussex, the beaches are pebbly, the sea is thick with seaweed and salt but the surroundings are beautiful and ever so relaxing.

Sometimes the British seaside can look a little tired and washed out. It’s heyday is probably behind it and many buildings stand in exactly the same condition as they did 30 years ago, but older and more worn. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

There’s something very romantic about the salt battered beachhuts that line the coast. They come in many varying colours and sizes, they really feel like a nod to the past. I absolutely adore beachhuts. They have featured in our work in the past and will again in the future :)

The colourful fishcrates all stacked remind me of fishing as a child with my Father, I always threw my catches back (as I’m not much of a seafood fan) but the memories are very fond.

Watching boats bobbing around is probably one of the most calming scenes you can ever see. There’s usually a chorus of seagull calls in the background.
The low tide breakwaters all mossy and covered in limpets, climbing over them to reach the next stretch of beach brings back memories of collecting shells with my brother.

Do you have a special place you go to relax?

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