Blueberry Shed holiday cottage is open and new creations

I don't think I've particularly shown our holiday cottage on the blog, probably because it has taken so long to get going but we are open and taking bookings for 2017. It's a bit slow at present but I'm sure things will pick up and we are trying to get WiFi into the cottage this year, that has been an ongoing struggle from the start.

http://blueberryshed.co.uk/

Here are some externals of the Blueberry Shed. A single storey, modern contemporary larch clad building located very near to Portree the capital of the Isle of Skye, with views out to sea and across to the island of Raasay.

Some interior shots of the kitchen area. I went for a German kitchen with mix and match bright coloured cabinets. We pretty much have the same in our kitchen.

The living and dining area, I've made quite a few cushions and other bits n bobs to go in the cottage and give it a unique yet cosy feel.

The bedroom featuring some of my art and craft work to buy

Shower room

I have taken advantage of a bit of quiet time in there myself for crocheting when no guests are in, it's nice to get away from all my stuff and clutter in my own house!

It's really rather a nice place to come on holiday, lots of galleries and arty crafty things as well as the obvious outdoor spectacles Skye is famous for. It's that time of year when spring is about to spring into action and things start opening up again here so hopefully a good year ahead.

 On the subject of making things, I have a few new creations to share which I know some of you have seen on my Instagram page, Twitter etc. I'm hoping to approach a gallery on Skye and see if I can get them in their shop this season, wish me luck.

Above was a needle case which I made my sister for Christmas, family photos of us are in it.

Some of my things are now available in my Etsy and Folksy shops.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/fabricmountainuk?ref=hdr_shop_menu

https://folksy.com/shops/FabricMountain

Thank you for dropping by :)

Ta dah! It's out today, Mollie Makes magazine with a tutorial by me

I have been excitedly waiting for this day since I started my project back in July.
The winter issue of Mollie Makes, out in the shops today, has a tutorial by me and I know some of you have guessed it is my much loved Nutcracker character.

My starting point was an illustration I did of a Nutcracker a couple of years ago and I turned that into these simple cut and sew kits.

This summer I had the idea to bring him to life and turn him into a 3D rag doll so I set about working the proportions out, creating his outfit and all the trimmings and embellishments which went with it.

This was prototype number 1.

Next we have prototype number 2 and you can see he's become a bit more handsome!

It seemed to take ages, actually the longest bit was photographing each stage of the 'make' and then writing it down in a way people might be able to follow it.
You know how it is when you create something yourself and you know all the sneaky ways around things but you can't quite put it into words, a bit like that!

So, eventually I got there and I sent off 3 Nutcracker dolls to Mollie Makes at the beginning of October as it turned out to be a tight deadline once I got the go ahead.

I'm absolutely delighted it has gone into print for others to try. I would like to say that I think they have edited some of the photo stages for the tutorial and therefore if anyone has a go but finds it a bit tricky, do let me know and I can send the full detailed instructions I created. It has quite a lot of embellishments which make it a bit more involved and I guess they had to keep the pages to a minimum.

I took lots of photos with Nutcrackers in festive settings but they didn't use those so I would like to display a few here. 
Most of these creations are for sale at Gallery 49 in Bridlington, one or two may find their way into my Folksy shop.

They do take quite a long time to make but I am still churning out one or two more in time for the festive season, I have even created a Sugar Plum Fairy to go with her Nutcracker! She might appear as a pattern at some point.

Thanks for sticking with all the pictures, this is one of my most exciting things to be featured in my favourite magazine.

Have a good weekend everyone, I'm going to get things ready now for my craft fair. :)

Crafting, thrifting & buying whilst in Scotland

I've reached the point were it's getting uncomfortably cold in this room I work and blog in so I'm slowing up with postings or anything that involves sitting at the desk and typing on a night. Instead I seem to be gravitating towards any slight heat source and crocheting!

(Note to self, must dig out all my thermal vests and long johns which I neatly packed away during those glorious summer weeks!)

As I'm sure a lot of you crafty people will understand, it's very difficult to go on holiday away from all your lovely craft stash, and not take something to do on an evening or during a long car journey. 
When I went to Scotland the other week I was in frantic making mode as things needed to go to galleries on my return so I took plenty to do. And it was great, the hotel room was warm and well lit, something I don't have here and so I was quite productive.

I crocheted this scarf in some very weird, fluffy mohair type wool which I just never seemed to get round to making as it knots easily but it is finished and lovely and light weight yet warm.

I also rattled out a few granny squares in a cotton thread, these will be another scarf, as yet unfinished!

Stuff I needed to finish for galleries were the batch of brooches below which have now mostly gone to Gallery 49 and Art & Rose with one or two left for my folksy shop.

Somewhere I visited which was a real inspiration, full of wonderful books was the WaterMill at Aberfeldy, seen below. It's got such an amazing choice of books, it is a gallery and tea room also.

Needless to say I didn't leave the mill empty handed, I bought these beautiful greeting cards.

and, this fabulous paper crafting book.

One gallery / shop which I viewed from outside (shut on the day I visited) was Boo Vake in Perth. It looked great, it has a website for online buying.

http://www.boovake.co.uk/

You can't go to Edinburgh and avoid tartan and kilt shops, I just love the smell of the wool and the beautiful plaids and tweeds, can't get enough of it.

Here's my little tartan purchase, a purse and butterfly brooch. I have since embellished some twiddly bits on the brooch.

Lastly, on a trip to Fort William it was noticeable how many charity shops had sprung up since my last visit a few years ago. It is always interesting checking out charity shops in a different part of the country, I still think some of my best finds and cheap finds have been in Welsh charity shops.

I found this M&S cable knit waistcoat, it's a really nice dark purple blue shade.

And I couldn't resist this necklace that looks like sweeties!

End of my trip.

I better make the most of the sun and warmth today, I think I am doing one last festive craft fair before the year is out so lots to cut and stitch!