A Tortoise for May

1 of 4.  Meet May, a soft toy tortoise made from vintage fabrics (thx Elaine!).  May is machine and hand stitched with new and vintage buttons, filled with safe polyester filling, perfumed with a few drops of essential lavender oil.  Her sisters will vary slightly (as you will later see).

 

Under The Gate

These beautiful lilac flowers grow on my garage.

I took these photos today when I came home…

                                                                                   then, under the gate…..

 

Then, under the gate someone squeaked at me.  Next, a black nose appeared and a reaching paw scrabbled underneath.  It’s so nice to be greeted when you come home 🙂

Copyright by Stephanie Faith 2010

Summer and Flowers

Copyright Stephanie Faith 2010

Nautical Bag

I made this medium sized shopping or beach bag for Mum. 

Nautical Applique Bag by Stephanie Faith 2010

Applique shapes I designed and cut from deep blue coloured felt (felt is great for applique as doesn’t fray, you don’t need to back or oversew the edges).  Starfish, anchor, 2 fishys…forms inspired by the deep sea.

I wanted to keep it simple:  the vertical dark blue striped fabric I found very fitting for a nautical theme; the thin gold – glittery – transparent material reminded me of sand; the simple yet bold shapes speak clearly of the sea.  Just added same blue colour sequins for fish scales and silver sequins for eyes – couldn’t not give Starfish eyes too.  Maybe I’ll add a handful of gold sequins for fish bubbles.  (T’is all too easy to over-embellish and therefore ruin).

Machine stitched bag together and stiffened the floppy top with iron on interfacing.  Also machine stitched the gold “sand” fabric, then hand-sewed the rest…running stitch inside the edge of the applique shapes and sewed on sequins.

I might include the template for the sea shapes later…do you like? 🙂

Sea Dog Sweater

Chester Pup got treated to a beautiful cream coloured nautical jumper – – – knitted by her grand-pup-mother.  I am useless at knitting so very pleased to receive this autumn / winter dog coat for my Jack Russell…perfect for colder days.

Chester Pup with "woodworking" tool

The dog coat pattern came from a book called Knitted Dog Coats: Over 20 Designs for Handsome Hounds and Perfect Pooches by Anna Tillman.

Mum knitted this for her grand-pup

This is such an adorable book, the photos alone with the different types of dogs wearing all styles of coats are lovely to look at.  But…if you are a knitter and a dog lover this book is a real treasure!

Below, photos of Chester wearing her new Sea Dog Coat :p

...finished with nautical "sea anchor" buttons!

 

My Little Sea Dog all set for autumn and winter.