I just got back from a trip half way round the world, I went to Australia to visit my dear friend and namesake. I wanted to take her a quilt, something which showed off the best of Britain. I made a red, white and blue quilt using the Moda Bakeshop…
Tea pouches have been my go-to small gift to make for friends for a while. Ayumi Takahashi's pattern is ingenious and fun to sew. I made a parliament of owl tea pouches (love a collective noun me!). [caption id="attachment_714" align="aligncenter" width="3024"] Festive tea pouches.[/caption] I recently visited Eternal Maker in Chichester,…
On Friday 20th July I went to a talk by Sarah Corbett of the Craftivist Collective at Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft entitled How to be a Craftivist in the Art of Gentle Protest. Ditchling Museum is a beautiful venue. There was an exhibition of the work of Sister…
There is something nostalgic about American diner pies, even though I grew up in East Sussex. I think it comes from the films I watched when I was growing up. I remember when a broke Kenickie asks Rizzo if she's got a couple of quarters so that they can split…
I've had an idea for a business, it's something I could consider setting up when I've retired. It needs a catchier name but for now I am calling it "Finishing Other People's Projects". All those projects started with the best of intention now languishing in plastic bags in cupboards and…
I got this fox sleep mask kit from Lucky Dip Club subscription box some time ago (love a subscription box, me!). I decided to make it for my best friend's daughter, she is a student and I used to adore receiving mail when I was a student. The mask is…
I think it was some late night Pinterest sessions that first got me interested in making desserts in jars. I started collecting Bonne Maman jam (confiture, oo la la!) jars as they are a lovely shape and the lids are so pretty and evocative of going on picnics on sunny…
I recently finished a quilt for my friend's birthday. I wanted to make a traditional Irish design as she has an affinity for Ireland and all things Irish and I chose to make a single Irish chain quilt. I made it more contemporary by using a mix of low volume…
It's my good friend's special birthday today and I started making this quilt for her in March. I thought long and hard about what kind of quilt to make her and I chose the pattern Pebble Grove by Tacha Bruecher which I found in one of the Fat Quarterly e-zines.…
Melanie Makes Meringues