Riley Blake canvas road map play mat

I finally got round to making one of these panels which arrived from Riley Blake

I love the heavier weight cotton canvas material which will be a bit more durable than the usual quilting weight cottons and yet still quite portable if you want to take it anywhere.

All the panel needed was an edging (although you could add a backing if you wanted to) and I chose a bright red bias binding to pick out one of the colours in the pattern.

It gave me the chance to use my new binding clips which I have to say were a lot quicker and easier than using pins.

A lovely neat finish!

There is so much detail on this panel

and even a parking lot for kids to match up different coloured cars

All in all it was a quick and easy project

 and would make a lovely gift for a little person who loves their cars!

The finished mat is 114cm by 90cm and you can buy the panel on our website here.

Enjoy

Ali

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My favourite crochet blankets from day 8 of the #ldjcrochethookup

I am so enjoying the April #ldjcrochethookup being run by LazyDaisyJones and Crochet Now magazine!

Have you been keeping up?

Today - day 8 - was #Blankets and I just had to write this post to record my favourites in the hope that one day I will get the chance to make some vaguely similar! Running a shop is such a busy occupation that I have never made more than a baby blanket as I am always trying out new patterns in smaller forms to come up with ideas for workshops. So I have quite a few crochet cushions but as yet no blankets.

Anyway here are the ones that really caught my eye

Firstly this rainbow of heaven from Flo_and_dot - such fun! There isn't a specific pattern sadly but from the comments under this post it is a fairly straightforward make

next this harlequin style piece of crochet perfection from holly_pips who looks like a crocheting wonder-mum to me! Check out Holly's instragram feed it is a feast for the eyes...

I love a simple granny blanket and the colours on this one by rhubardandpie seem somehow random but perfectly harmonious.

Another traditional design and very similar to the first granny blanket I ever made all those years ago - thinking about it now I've no idea what happened to the ones I made as a child which is sad, but this one is just perfect in my mind, definitely top of the list for me - nice work made.by.victoria :)

I love this colour combination by Chrissie_crafts, anything pink and blue floats my boat!

and talking of boats - this post from tintocktap gets top marks from me for creativity!

I am drawing such inspiration from the #ldjcrochethookup and you should join in too, its a great way to meet other crochet lovers and swap some creative ideas!

Enjoy

Ali

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Sketchbook Club Training Day

I have just returned from a lovely day with Jennie Maizels at her studio near Winchester where the franchise team met up for our second #SketchBook Club training day.

I love visiting Jennie's studio as I find it so inspirational, we have the same love for colour and this shows in every corner of her rural studio.

All the signs are hand painted in Jennie's trademark fonts, usually using a rainbow of colours, I must try this at Butterfly Bright!

There are dozens of books that Jennie has illustrated dotted around the room and sketchbooks pegged up on pretty washing lines

Shelves carry stocks of creative and colourful products that Jennie sells to retailers

and the famous Jennie Maizels "Clothes Plasters" adrorn garments and bunting around the room.

There are shelves of colour as you climb the stairs

plus vintage tins of coloured pencils everywhere you look

and the table is laid beautifully for the day ahead as we arrive! 

An added bonus of fresh coffee and biscuits to start the day. Perfect.

Then it was down to the business of the day - Sketchbook club training for our summer term of fun!

Jennie had all the reference materials we needed and sample sketchbooks painted beautifully to explain the techniques for each module.

I don't want to give away too much detail as some participants who attended the first term like the modules to remain secret each week but I will share the first week as that is what we spent the most time on today and I think it is a really great one to start the term!

We painted these henna hands and played around with collage for the bracelets and rings and other adornments, such a brilliant idea from Jenny and a lot of fun to work on today.

If you would like to join us for the One Day SketchBook Club on 1st June 2016 you need to book soon. 

During the day we will use pen, pencil, watercolour, gouache and acrylic paints as well as collage and more to create a wonderful and unique sketchbook for you to keep, take away and be inspired by.

It is a fun and sociable class and some say a source of mindful relaxation as you can really get lost in some modules which are almost a form of meditation.

You can have a look at the fun we had in SketchBook Club Term 1 in a previous post - I think the circus module was my favourite.

oh, and do watch Jennie's  inspirational video about Sketchbook Club on her homepage!

See you soon!

Ali

Applique Houses and some Sketchbook Club inspiration!

I love teaching Applique and enjoy coming up with new samples for workshops.

I started this piece last year and as usual it sat unfinished for months before inspiration finally struck on a last bit of detail that it needed.

I had completed the houses with windows, doors and roofs.

I added some freehand machine embroidery for detail and left the edges uncovered to add texture as they fray.

Then I was inspired by an image I saw via the Jennie Maizles' #Sketchbookclub instagram feed, 

I had already started doing the Sketchbook Club at Butterfly Bright but this wasn't actually one of our modules but I loved it and knew immediately what my applique picture needed!

Clouds!

and not little white fluffy ones but deep blue paisley ones

I think they add real drama to the sky..

What do you think?

I also had a chance to try the sketchbook version myself and was rather pleased with the results!

If you fancy joining me for an applique workshop please check the website for forthcoming dates, our summer term of Sketchbook Club starts again on 21 April so do book early to avoid disappointment!

Enjoy

Ali

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The latest #ldjcrochethookup

Lazy Daisy Jones and Crochet Now Magazine are having another Instagram #LDJcrochethookup this April.

It's a great chance to meet with like minded crochet addicts and inspirational characters on Instagram!

Here is the breakdown of the first couple of weeks which will give you a chance to get your thinking caps on. There are prizes on Fridays too, just remember to use #cnfridaywin with your posts on Fridays throughout April.

I have just posted my day one: #hookstorage,

I was busy making the pink and white stripey crochet cover for the jar in the middle whilst watching the TV last night - if you like it you can get the free pattern here on my website butterflybright.com.

My friend Caroline at The Happy Thimble made the jar cover on the right.

here is Lazy Daisy Jones' post for day one:

Make sure you join in with the fun over on Instagram!

Follow Crochet Now Magazine

Follow Lazy Daisy Jones

Follow Butterfly Bright

Enjoy!

Ali

Cactus applique

When I received my Mollie Makes magazine back in February I was inspired by their paper cutting booklet for a sewing project.

Inside was a page with three cactus pictures

Cactus are such fun to play around with as they have so many different shapes, colours and textures to bring in to a project.

First I picked out some green fabric to use - my stash basket is somewhat overflowing at the moment so it is always good to try and use up some pieces. I love pink and green together so I used pinks and purples for the pots and flowers. I made some with felt to add a different texture.

I used bondaweb to attach all the pieces and then tried a bit of freehand machine embroidery to add detail to the plants and the pots.

I still have a bit more to do to complete the embroidery and I think I will use some hand embroidery too to give extra texture - perhaps some french knots?

At this point a great friend Ashley (aka Lazy Daisy Jones) popped in for a cuppa and had a play around at putting together a flat lay to show off my work on Instagram.

Didn't she make an awesome picture?!

I will add another picture when I finally finish this piece but I must get back to work now!

Ali

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Crochet Mandalas

I love colour, and I love crochet, so when I see the two together I get a little bit excited!

Browsing through the Mollie Makes website I spotted these pretty mandalas, there is a free pattern available if you want to try your own:

Then the new "Crochet Now" Magazine facebook page tempted me with these designs by Crochet Millan.

I had just taken delivery of some fabulous new crochet cottons from RICO in some beautiful new spring shades

the colours looked so lovely together I didn't need to think long about using all of them in a mandala

I made quick progress in just one evening

just running out of time to do the last round...

Once complete I pinned it out on my ironing board to block the points

and here is the finished article!

I used one of the free patterns from Crochet Millan's website which was easy to follow if you but do remember that the pattern is written in American terms so you will need to adjust for British terms if you prefer those.

Which one would you try?

Enjoy!

Ali

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