Wednesday 29 May 2013

Cute custom creations!

So I created my first treasury on etsy and thought that I would share with you some of the lovely items that I have found. They are all personalised or customised and make such cute gifts for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, you name it!


Personalised family wall hanging by PinkCheeks Studios
Custom Portait Illustration by sweetandlovely

 
Custom portrait wedding cake toppers by iislands
Custom couple portrait personalised original art on wood by Frances Marin


 
Personalised paper doll by Jordan Grace Owens
Custom address stamp by papersushi

If you want to see the rest of the items in my treasury, you can find it here.
 
Thanks!
 
 

Tuesday 28 May 2013

A weekend in Instagram

I had a lovely 4 day weekend over the bank holiday and it had almost started to look like summer here in England. Obviously it's back to grey and raining again today, we can't enjoy ourselves for too long! Here are some of my most recent instagram pictures to show you what I've been up to.

First of all, when I saw this in my local shop I couldn't resist buying it. My plan was to save it but the coke was calling me so I ended up drinking it about 2 hours later. Typical!


This is our shower, finally in place and fully functional. I can't tell you how good it is to have a shower when you have only had the option of a bath for over six months. Oh the efficiency! Also, if you are planning on getting a new shower then I absolutely recommend a rainfall shower head, they're wonderful.


 
I'm not the biggest fan of having my hair cut, I always get frustrated when I go in with a clear picture of what I want and come out with something completey different. I used to have white blonde hair and I absolutely loved it. Unfortunately my hair all snapped off and since then I have tried loads of different colours but am never satisfied. I had some blonde highlights done and decided to have a fringe cut. Even though it's not white, I'm really pleased with how it looks, it's a miracle!
 
My sister is considering opening her very own Etsy shop selling patchwork quilts. She has a real talent for it and I think she would do well. By way of encouragement I have given her a bunch of fat quarters from my vintage sheet collection to get started with. Don't they look great together? Now she has no excuse!
 


My fabric parcel from M is for Make arrived, I was really eager to get started so it didn't take me long to get cutting...

 
I have decided on half square triangles but then there are so many different arrangements to choose from that I can't decide. I think I have narrowed it down the one above, or the one below...

 
...which do you like best?? I had a bit of an accident and managed to cut a rather large amount of white fabric on the small side so my project is on hold until I buy some more. That's what happens when it get's to midnight and you are still crafting. My brain just switches off!
 

And finally, my lovely friend May came up from Reading so we decided on a late night road trip to Surprise View in Derbyshire. It was lovely catching up with her, I miss her a lot when she is down South.

If you fancied following me on Instagram, you can find me @annalucyradford
 

Wednesday 22 May 2013

One Finished Vintage Sheet Quilt Top

I am very pleased to show off my finished vintage sheet quilt top. What do you think??


My boyfriend took this first picture for me, he didn't tell me that my bun was poking out of the top (and this was the best of a bad bunch, bless him!)

The quilt is in a chequerboard pattern, I had originally planned to make the whole thing out of mini 5" squares but I ran out of some patterns of fabric so I had to change my plan, I am pleased with the end result.



I bought a number of fat quarters from the lovely Vintage Sheet Addict shop on Etsy. The rest are sheets that I have picked up from charity shops and jumble sales along the way. I just love the bright colours and bold floral patterns of sixties and seventies fabric. You can also see the rather lovely vintage wedding dress that I recently bought, it will soon be listed in my etsy shop, as will the ever growing collection of pyrex which is seems to be taking over my little shelving unit.



Now I just need to decide on some backing fabric and get basting, which I have to admit is my least favourite part of quilting, although I do love seeing it all come together in the end.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday 21 May 2013

I'm still here!

Hello! First of all, I must apologise for my lack of posts recently. I have been extremely bad at keeping up with blogging. Lots of things have been happening around here since I last posted, the shop has been updated with lots of lovely new items. I have bought even more pieces that need to be photographed and listed before they start taking over my house.



 
I have finally been cracking on with my vintage sheet quilt. I got a bit fed up with it a while ago because it hadn't quite turned out as I had expected. I've had a bit of a rethink and I'm back at it, here is a bit of a sneak preview...
 
 
As you can see, I have also been getting to grips with the A Beautiful Mess iPhone application. I think it's really nice for adding a little something extra to your instagram pictures.
 
At chez Radford we have made a lot of progress on the bathroom, it's finally (FINALLY!) coming together and looking good. I really enjoy seeing what I had pictured in my mind in it's physical form. I will share some before and after photographs as soon as I have finished accessorising.
 
We have also started work in the garden. I have never before had a garden of my own and it's a bit overwhelming, but I have become rather adept with a pair of loppers recently. Here I am in action...
 
"I have become the destroyer of plants"
 
You can almost see the plants quivering in fear. The eventual plan is to have a decked area with chairs and a table and a firepit so we are just clearing some space at the moment. Here are some of the lovely plants that I haven't chopped down...


 
 
 And finally, my very special friend's birthday is coming up so I wanted to get started on a quilt as a gift. May, if you are reading this, look away now!
 
 I have ordered the rather wonderful Back to Black bundle from M is for Make. I have visions of half square triangles arranged in a chevron pattern, or maybe even pinwheels. Jade green polka dot fabric for the backing and then something lovely and bright for the binding. Hurry up and arrive please!