Other Crafting

I've started to drift into the habit of updating my blogs with several posts in one go. I backdate the posts to the time when I actually did something/ completed something/ made something. I hope this doesn't confuse anyone!

I'd also like to say that as well as this crafts blog I also two other craft related blogs ongoing:

My wedding blog - It details what I'm making/sewing/doing for my handmade wedding. It may have posts that readers of this blog might like to read.
The address is http://thehomemadewedding.blogspot.com

I'm also writing a blog as a 'learning log' in a Textiles course I'm doing with the Open College of the Arts. It contains lots of pictures, musings, sketches, arts stuff and of course sewing.
The address is http://kimstextiles.blogspot.co.uk/

This is why I collect 'treasure'

I, like many crafters, collect things. Buttons, scraps, beads etc etc. So when my little sister said she was going to buy some sort of belt for the Summer Ball I asked what sort of thing she was thinking and we collaborated to create a belt buckle design for her.

First I sewed a layer of net to both sides of a felt shape using just running stitch and whip stitch. 

Then I sewed on bugle and seed beads (individually was easiest!) And satin stitched the ends with metallic thread.

Then came various buttons to fill in the remaining space

On the back I surrounded corsetry steel with more net and then used that net to sew it to the back. I added two buckles so that it can be put onto a belt.

Et voila! A belt that is inspired by and matches my sisters handbag. Money spent: £0.00.

...She'll probably kill me for putting this in but this is the only picture at the ball that shows the belt! This is past the midnight marker so not so flattering!

My Wedding Present

My handsome fiancé bought me this as his early wedding present to me.

Why is it early? Because I'm going to make out bridal party gifts and our wedding rings using it!

But in the meantime I've been melting glass bottles (they make nice platters). 

Skutt Firebox 14 Kiln