Monday 26 November 2012

A tale of a fairy lost in London and found on a birthday cake

This entry should really be one for the '@apickup1 makes' blog - were it to exist. He worked on most of this gift for his niece Ivy's fifth birthday and it definitely deserves an entry here.

Ivy is a big fan of fairies - and, more recently, lego. Alex cycled round London taking pictures of a small lego fairy in front of various monuments. He got some strange looks from tourists, especially when he got out the fake snow.

Ida looking for Ivy by the Thames

He used his photoshop skills to take out his hand and to add fairy sparkles and snow.


He also wrote a story about a lego fairy called Ida who sat on a shelf in our house. She saw a little girl called Ivy who came to visit and wanted to go and find her again.


There she is on the shelf in our house, in front of all my diaries (which you can read about here on my other blog where I've written a piece about journalling and mental health). She searched all round London to find Ivy.

Ida in front of one of London's landmarks.

Finally, exhausted, she goes to sleep in Trafalgar Square. In a flurry of warm white snow the Father Christmas of the Living Toys appears and grants her a wish - he will magic her to Ivy on her birthday. But Ivy must keep a look out for her.....


After writing the story, he sent it off to get printed as a photo book.

Ida travelled with us up north for the weekend and was safely deposited on top of the fairy garden cake - which I decorated the evening before.

Note the ivy leaves made out of icing and the icing toadstalls:)

On the day of Ivy's party, we gave Ivy her book before her birthday lunch.


I read it to her and her twin cousins. She looked for Ida all over the house but it wasn't until her birthday lunch that Ida appeared...

Ivy was gratifyingly pleased to find Ida on her cake.

Those of you who follow my blog will recognise Flower the meercat - who doesn't seem to be wearing her dress.


The whole present was a big success - well done Uncle Alex,

Saturday 24 November 2012

A farewell octopus - a felt applique card

Yesterday, my manager of four years left the charity where I work. He's looked after a team of seven for a long time now, and I wanted to make him a card to recognise that.


The octopus probably needs some explanation. He's our mascot, much appreciated by the young people in our community, given out as prizes (until recently when we sent out the last one!) and photographed all over the world.  It's Octi who I hope to dress up as when running the London Marathon next year. On his legs are all the members of our team.

Team Engagement and Support

I did realise that actually it has turned out looking like a felt version of those cards (or teatowels) we all make in primary school where everyone draws a very simple face on a circle! And in addition, I got my own parting the wrong way round. But at least Octi is recognisable.

And it was fun to make.


A cut out Octi ready to be appliqued. 




Appliqued felt, with the faces glued on and then stitched through the eyes to hold them in place.

Monday 19 November 2012

A lego sewing machine

My sewing machine is playing up again, so while I hoped to share with you the printer cover I'm in the middle of making (exciting times), it's going to have to wait.

However, I could't resist sharing this wonderful 3D card I got for my birthday recently. It's my Brother sewing machine, crafted from bits of lego from the 'random bits box' Alex recently rescued from his parents' attic. It's got a place for the cotton reel, bobbin and needle - and it's threaded up about as accurately as a lego machine could ever be. I love it.