100 already

I have been doing the blog shuffle for the last week,
my followers were at 98,
and I just had to check daily to see if I could get to 100.So thank you to all my followers, I love to see you and enjoy your blogs, it is so great to follow projects from around the world.

And for Brae, a gift will be winging it's way to you.

As for my curtains, they have to wait a week, feeling a bit tired this week.

Making curtains

I have pulled my folding board out, and now I have finished Su's wedding dress I have loads of champagne silk, so I am going to start dressing the windows, I have had this house for 5 years and never dressed the windows.

I have the book below to help me out and I have kept a couple of articles from magazines, the only decision I have made is that all the curtains will be in the silk and all the same colour, the design in each room will be different. Watch this space I will post photo's if they are worthy.

I have been looking on Amazon and have seen this book,
I might treat myself to it, it looks helpful.

Books that inspire

Today I am tired and not feeling good,
so I find myself blogging, and reading all your work.

I thought I would share with you some of my books, I am a book worm and have shelves full of books on every topic going, I do like English history books, and craft books.

The book below is not a miniature book, but the patterns can be adapted for miniature work, the bands make very good boarders.
Most of my books are purchased on Amazon at very good prices.

This is a fun book,
I have made loads from here including the carpet shown on the cover.

This has loads of different styles
Felicity has made each design in a whole range of items to match for your room.

I do not buy kits, so this book by Janet Granger,
has some of her good carpets in, and a good mix of designs.

The following two books are my favorite's, you can see the tags on the top, which shows which carpets I have done, they are full of colour and I find them easy to adjust to the size I require.

Hats off, what a mess

I have not done much mini's in the past couple of months, and as you can see my house is a bit of a mess, or a dumping ground for all my junk!

Today I have decided I am going to plan my days, to give me time for everything, I am a stay at home lady at this time and whilst my health is not great, I find the days pass so quickly and I have not done much. So I want to have a couple of "mini afternoons" as well as doing what I can in the house and my cross stitch and gardening.
My first plan is to tidy the front and inside of the house, then make the attics, I know what rooms I want there and have the supplies to make and decorate this floor.

I wanted to show you this top hat I have made, its not the best but for my 1st try I am pleased with it, it sits on the table in the hall.

I cheated for the inside lining, when I make hats the first thing I do is use wonder web to attach the inner lining to the outer material of the hat, with ladies hats the material is always the same, with the top hat I used a light silk inside and the black silk for the outer.I then cut out the pattern,I find this much easier, but your cutting out has to be the best.

With the ladies hat, I just trim all the cut edges with decoration to hide any faults, I do not sew I glue, and find the results much better.

This hand made bonnet I brought at a fair, I am unable to make anything this fine.