Christmas Robin....

Have just made this Christmas Robin for my niece using this Hooty and Tweet Pattern by Melly and Me:

http://mellyandme.typepad.com/photos/designs_by_melly_me/hooty_tweet_email.html#tp :

I think the pattern is meant to be for making an owl but I think it's worked really well for a robin too!!  I tried to make it look funky with it's stripey tights and my niece loves the fact I added bells to it's feet!!!  It should look really cute sitting on the mantel piece at Christmas.  I sewed a ribbon in the top of it's head and I think it also looks cute hanging from a door handle! 

This robin even ventured out into the garden to hang out in a tree!

And an update on a work in progress... the personalised cushion I am making for my niece as part of her Christmas present...this is it so far...

...the front will be her initial appliqued onto a patterned fabric of hearts and the back - for now, as I am not sure whether I am entirely happy with it - is this little girl holding a heart which is based on this pure innocence stamp by Heather Ellis

http://heather-ellis.co.uk/page2.htm

Luvly Fabrics!...

I have just taken delivery of some fabrics I ordered from
http://fabricrehab.co.uk/

Am really pleased with them...they are gorgeous!

I am planning to buy this chair from
http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/rosegreyinteriors/product/child_s_heart_chair 
for my two year old niece for Christmas...it matches her "big girl's bed" her Mum and Dad have recently bought her and I thought it would look lovely with a little cushion on it!! 

I have bought a 30cm x 30m cushion pad and plan to design a double-sided applique cushion for her from these fabrics!!As you can see, the fabrics only arrived yesterday and I have already done the first side of the cushion...an applique initial of my niece's first name!!...I have chosen the fabric for the other side of the cushion...the pink with white spots...but I am still deciding on the design!!

I am quite pleased with it but quite nervous as I am hoping to pop an invisible zip in...something I have never done before!!...fingers crossed!!

I also got these fabrics from

http://www.eternalmaker.com/

...I needed a bright stripey pattern for a Christmas Robin I am planning to make for my two year-old niece...I wanted it to have some funky stripey tights to wear!!!

Mali

I have been having a sort out of some old photos and found some from a visit to Mali in 2005!...it was my first and only visit to Africa and despite the heat and dust I loved it!  The country was really interesting and the people were so lovely!...I hope you enjoy looking at these photos!

Above: We travelled by boat up a river to Timbuktu...this is a mosque at one of our stops en-route!...the people in the foreground are just making their way back from washing at the riverbank.

Above: The largest mud building in the world, Djenne.

I saw a picture of this building and this is what inspired the trip!...I just had to see it!

Above: Dogon country

Above: Lady carrying a bucket on her head, Djenne

Above: Sheep, Djenne!...so cute!

Hope you enjoyed these photos!