Lay the perfect table

Lay the perfect table

Are you thinking about entertaining at home now the season is changing?

Staying at home is the new night out.

Want to impress your guests?

Check out how to lay the perfect table.

Not sure what the different glasses are?

See this handy guide for different glasses.

Source: John Lewis

Bee happy ..... colourful wool

I was in John Lewis at the weekend and had to share with you these beautiful balls of wool.

I just love the colours and textures.

Bee happy x

Bee happy ..... change a cushion

I bought an iron on transfer in the sale from John Lewis ages ago and and have finally used it.

I had a plain pink cushion cover from Hobby Craft so ironed on my transfer and then added a couple of buttons and flowers in the opposite corners.

I am really pleased with the result and the cushion now has pride of place on my crafting chair :)

I have now sorted out a Facebook link too which is in my sidebar, come over and say hello.

Bee happy x

Bee happy ... make a jar pretty

Came across these jars from East of India in John Lewis recently.

They are so pretty and could easily be copied by threading pretty buttons onto thin wire then wrapping around the top of the jar.

This is my button jar which I made.

I had been saving this jar which had honey in and the bee on top for something good.

It was easy to make and looks good too :)

Bee happy x

Bee happy .... sale bargins

I wanted to show you a couple of things I bought in the sales at John Lewis.

The first is this mirror with shuttered doors.

Original price £40
I paid £15

The next purchase was this jar.

Original price £40
I paid £15

One of my little birds I got for Christmas.

A Christmas present from Mr Happy, he got me a couple of these, I just adore them :)

Can't bear to put these baubles away yet!

Bee happy x

Have a delicious day!

Bee happy .... living room update

Well the living room is all finished and here are a few pictures showing you around.

I tied a little ribbon around the tops of these lampshades to brighten them up.

I made a new cover for the footstool with Laura Ashley and John Lewis fabric
trimming the yellow frill with ribbon.

You can see I have made matching cushion covers for the settees and I have 2 new Jan Constantine cushions in blue.

I decided to put my embroidery pictures up in this corner instead of the larger wall where they were before, this is my art corner :)

Because I didn't want to put my large mirror back up on the top of this cupboard as it would cover the wallpaper but I wanted a tall picture so I cut out the word LOVE in left over wallpaper and put it in this frame from Ikea.

I also put this heart box picture here which is what I stitched for Mr Happy as an anniversary present for our 20th wedding anniversary which was a couple of weeks ago.

More pictures on this room to come.

At the moment we have a decorator in doing the stairs for us, it was far too hard for me to do, as I write he is balancing on some sort of ladder/wood structure he has set up stripping the last of the wallpaper off the walls and ceiling which I couldn't reach :)

Don't forget to enter my cushion giveaway which you can find in my sidebar :)

Bee happy x

Have a delicious day!

Bee happy ..... use buttons

The broadband has been down at home most of today so I made the most of my time and changed the buttons on my cardi.  I had seen one similar in John Lewis with different buttons but thought I could do it myself :)

I cut the old buttons off the cardi and then picked out some new ones from my stash.

When I finally decided which order to put them in I then just stitched each button over the tiny holes left from the old ones.

This got me thinking what else I had used buttons on in the house.

A plain black out roller blind in the spare bedroom looks prettier with heart buttons along the bottom.Again, I copied this idea, saw one in B&Q which was about £70 with buttons on.  Got my blind from Dunelm Mill and stitched buttons along the bottom myself :)

I used buttons for the numbers on this clock I made to match my kitchen.

When the string broke on my heart sign (it was glued in the centre at the top) I drilled 2 holes at the top and then used twine to hang it up, adding a cute button for extra prettiness.

Wonder what you have used buttons on?

Bee happy x

Have a delicious day!

Bee happy ...... be naughty

I bought this Cath Kidston king size quilt cover in TK Maxx a couple of weeks ago and put it to one side because my bed is only a double. I know, it doesn't fit, I know, but couldn't help it, had to buy it before someone else did!!

Notice the bargain price?

I couldn't help it girls, I cut it up!!

I never thought I would butcher anything CK but it just happened!

I cut both sides and the top off so it was 200 x 200cm to fit a double (leaving seam allowance) leaving the press studs along the bottom still.

I added strips of spotty fabric and edged with gingham ribbon.

I cut a panel off the top altogether and added more spotty material.

Then I used a strip of the CK quilt which had been snipped to add a strip to the top part.

I edged in lace and more gingham ribbon.

I then sewed all the sides up and hey presto a new quilt that fits!

Hope you love it as much as I do :)

I got the idea after seeing some absolutely gorgeous PIP quilt covers which I couldn't afford in John Lewis.

Bee happy x

Have a delicious day!

Bee happy .... make hearts

I've been a busy bee making hearts.  I love hearts and have loads around the house, fabric, wooden, twigs, metal. 

I have been inspired by Cox and Cox who sell white wedding hearts in packs of 24.  Because I am already married and I only wanted a couple I made them myself  :)

I used a fabric sample from John Lewis and got both hearts out of one sample.

I draw a paper shape I was happy with then cut out 4 pieces. 

Then I made up the hearts, filled and hand stitched the hole closed.

I then used some fine craft wire to poke through the fabric at the top of the heart, adding buttons and beads. 

I finished off twisting the wire around the last bead so everything didn't fall off, making sure I had loads of spare wire to hang it with.

I was also inspired by Diane at Heartshaped, find her at 

http://diane-heartshaped.blogspot.com/  

to make this heart.  It's longer than I usually make but I love the shape.  I will be making more like this me thinks.

I added loads of bits and bobs and am really pleased with the results.

Bee happy x
Have a delicious day!