My latest craft project: vintage fabric applique rabbit hoop

At the start of the year I decided to try and make more time for creativity. I wrote a post about the therapeutic effect of being creative. Sewing makes me relaxed and happy, so I resolved to do more of it this year. Alongside this, I've launched a new blog linky called "Crafting is my Therapy", it acts as a place for people to share their crafty skills. With Spring on the horizon and Easter only a few weeks away, this months project is bunny-themed.

Over the past couple of weeks I have sewn a colourful applique rabbit using vintage fabric and calico. I love blanket stitch and try and incorporate it into my sewing projects wherever possible. This version uses a floral fabric in shades of turquoise and cobalt blue. A few months ago I created a similar applique hoop using orange and chocolate brown vintage fabric.

Over the years I have amassed a wide selection of vintage fabrics so there is scope for me to make more variations. I find this particular manmade fabric features colours that really pop and they rarely fade.

I love the finished effect, but they aren't the easiest things to sew. It's quite hard work getting the needle through calico and the thick vintage fabric. The smaller blanket stitch around the ears was particularly fiddly. Having said that, I do still enjoy making them.

Looking forward to next month's project I'm particularly keen to practise some new embroidery stitches. The latest Crafting is my Therapy linky goes live this Friday on the 4th March...the focus of the linky is crafting for pleasure, basically taking some ‘me-time’ to unwind in our busy lives.

It doesn’t have to be a finished project, I love seeing work in progress photos or tutorial posts too. I hope any crafty bloggers reading this will come and join in with Crafting is my Therapy #2

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if you'd like to sew more of my sewing projects, I have a "Sewing is my Therapy" board over on Pinterest:

Follow Pouch : blogging + craft's board Sewing Is My Therapy on Pinterest.

This week I'm linking up with:

The 'Making Home' link up over on www.mrscraftyb.co.uk

Blogger Club UK over on www.cuddlefairy.com and mudpiefridays.com

A new project: rabbit applique hoops handmade with vintage fabric

I've been making my lavender-filled, vintage fabric rabbits for nearly six years now. Alongside my handmade sleepy owls, they have proved to be one of my biggest selling items. I have had many customers buy more than one because 'they can't decide on the colour' and many have come back to buy more for friends and family as gifts.

I use a particular type of thick vintage fabric and I have amassed a selection of colours over the past few years. I find this particular fabric features colours that really pop and they rarely fade. People seem to love these vibrant colourways, I'm a big fan of them too, in fact I have about six or seven lavender rabbits dotted around our home.

I decided a little while ago that I would attempt to make an applique version of the rabbit motif. I knew I would need to adapt the shape slightly because the template I currently use is wider due to seam allowances. After a bit of sketching I created a new template. Once the main body of the rabbit was cut out I attached the rest of the felt detailing and eyes. With the help of a bit of Bondaweb I attached the rabbit to some calico and started the applique process. I have used a combination of back stitch and blanket stitch. I adore blanket stitch and it has always been an important part of the lavender-filled design.

I have to say I am really pleased with the results. I put a photo of the finished item on my Pouch Vintage Facebook page and was pleasantly surprised by the positive response. I think I may try and sew a few ready to go into my online shop in time for Christmas. I'm currently putting together another rabbit-hoop in a different colourway. I will post photos once I have finished it...

Mother's Day discount offer on vintage fabric handmade gifts

Mother's Day is just around the corner.
Here in the United Kingdom, it's Mother's Day on the 15th March.
Rather than picking up something on the high street or in the supermarket, why not give your Mum a unique, handmade gift?
I'm currently offering a 25% discount on all my vintage fabric lavender rabbits and owls.
Filled with soothing lavender, they make the perfect gift to help any hard-working Mum relax.

Vintage fabric rabbits have 25% off the original price - so they are reduced from £12.50 to £9.50

Vintage fabric owls also have 25% off the original price - so they are reduced from £9.00 to £6.75

New listing: apple green lavener rabbit

There has been a serious lack of 'new listings' in my online stores recently. With all the stress of trying to move house and look after a lively toddler, I just don't have the time to get any sewing done. I'm starting to feel slightly 'cold turkey' about it all, my fabric is in the loft, my machine is in the loft and all signs of sewing mess have been cleared away to make our house look as pristine as possible.

So when a good friend of mine kindly gifted this amazing apple green vintage fabric to me, I had to get the scissors and thread out and make a new batch of rabbits! I adore the geometric pattern on this fabric and the colours just pop right out at you.

Lavender rabbit in apple green on Etsy

Lavender rabbit in apple green on Folksy

New colourway! amber and chocolate

I've just listed these lovelies in my Etsy and Folksy stores, a brand new colourway - amber and chocolate!

Made with vintage fabric in my absolute favourite colour combination, brown and orange - it's the two colours that scream 'vintage' whenever I'm sourcing new fabric. I think most of my clothes were brown in the 70s and I remember asking my Mum when I was little, 'why is everything in our house brown mummy?' and the answer I got was 'because it's fashionable'!

This gorgeous fabric came my way via Sally at Tinkering Textiles, also something of a vintage fabric aficionado!

Hope you like them! Lavender rabbit in amber and chocolate