Made by Loulabelle...made by you - now in shop

Ages ago I posted about the Trapeze Sling Tote pattern developed for my first workshop. Well, finally I've got round to adding the pattern to my folksy shop - yippee! The pattern includes detailed step by step instructions and clear diagrams to help you create your very own bag. If you want to check it out - here it is.

Knitting work in progress

I've taken the plunge with the most complicated knitting pattern I've attempted so far - not really sure now is the time for a challenge, but hey ho, the great thing about knitting is you can always unravel it and make a scarf!


The 3.5 centremeters pictured here is the product of four evenings - this may take a while! If it avoids the scarf fate and acheives its ultimate purpose, this frothy, minty green yarn will end up as a delicate, lacy, vintage inspired balloon sleeve top designed by Rowan... just don't hold your breath!

Letterpress memory frame

Freya stayed over at Grandma and Grandad's this weekend (never thought the prospect of a lie-in could be quite so exciting!) and when I picked her up, this wonderful gift was waiting for me. Dad's background and passion is in printing and his prized letterpress collection now resides at the bottom of the garden. Every time I look at this beautiful letterpress frame, I'll be thinking of the time Dad spent in his shed adding varnish, backing and a perspex front, and can't wait for Freya to understand why this frame has such special meaning.


I've been meaning to start a memory box for ages now, but this is sooo much better! The first thing going in this frame will be her hospital tags, booties and a few special photos, but we're going to take our time adding other photos and bits and peices that each mean something.

I've found this post about making a letterpress box into jewellery case - maybe Freya will use hers that way one day too!

The much more successful easy-peasy skirt

After weeks of time spent on the aforementioned crochet monstrosity, I've cheered myself up with a super easy sewing project. Now that we have a walking toddler on our hands, skirts are a wardrobe possibility, so I thought I'd whip one up.


Take one length of fabric, fancy it up with a contrasting strip and a bit of ric-rac, sew into a tube, make a casing and insert elastic and hey-presto! I love the fact that this took about 30 minutes including time choosing fabrics and it looks really cute on.

Ah, feeling good about my skills again!

The not so successful crochet project

You know that feeling when you start off all enthusiastic about a project and then, weeks later, you just want it to END? Well, I'm sorry to say, me and this crocheted top definitely fell out of love. Having now tried it on its new owner, I know why - it's because despite being a 12-18month size, it has turned out to be ENORMOUS. Particularly in the arms - and our family have pretty long arms, so one can only imagine what it would be like on the less orangutan-ular.


Anyway, there it is, in all its enormous pink and purple-ness (see, I can't even bring myself to like the colours now!). Should just about fit in time for the hot summer months - I'm going to have one hot toddler this summer!!!

William Morris was right!

I bought this Orla Kiely poppy meadow butterdish a couple of weeks ago when I was supposed to be buying gifts for other people. It felt very naughty at the time but whenever I make my toast I feel a quiver of pride that this little beauty sits in my kitchen cupboard. This little butterdish is my personal testament to the quote from William Morris: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

Here's another late Christmas post! Inspired by an episode of Kirsty's Homemade Home in which she made a beanbag with Manda from TreeFall Design, I decided to make a toddler-sized version as part of Freya's Christmas present.

Manda's pattern was sold out at the time so I hunted about and found this free version which has a child and adult size. I raided my fabric stash and used a combination of vintage sheets and curtains in golds and oranges. This was really fun to make - like stitching together a giant chocolate orange!

So far, Freya doesn't quite seem to know what to make of her new bedroom furniture - I had visions of her clambering all over it to read her books, but at the moment she's more interested in the fun rustling sound it makes when you hit it than sitting on it!

The other newest addition to her room is also in this photo - Dobbin the Rocking Horse was her Christmas gift from Grandma and Grandad and was originally the equestrian friend of yours truly! He's a very noble chap with enormous amounts of patience and good listening skills!