Archive for the ‘Craft’ Category

April… the good, the bad and the ugly!

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

Have you ever had a month where you feel you have run the gambit of emotions from really happy to terribly sad, all in one roller coaster of a time? Well that’s kind of  how April has been…..

The Good? -ickle-work-space

The good has been finally finding my  Mojo again!

Firstly of the Nigella variety… I absolutely love to cook and while I lost my culinary spark I have been miserable.

But somehow it returned last week with an absolute vengeance, I have been cooking up a storm like a Sophie Dahl on acid and I have watched so much cooking  TV porn, with The Food Network  on permanent sky plus overload! Granted it has helped that the Milsta has kept me up into the wee hours. The only adult in charge of the remote has its bonuses and a little sweet satisfaction to it!

Anyway my biggest triumph came this evening with what I am affectionately calling “Old Mother Hubbard’s pie” . It might not sound too delightful but trust me its really good, I  will post the recipe here for you tomorrow to have a look at and maybe try.

The good is also that I have finally managed to stop stressing about getting my website up and running. I have so many things to create and I am so nearly there, its been a steep learning curve and not an easy one while trying to juggle a very lively none sleeping toddler. But I feel like I am nearly there, and I have butterflies…. I really cant wait! Hope you’ll all join me on opening day!

The Bad- (more…)

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The Start of a Frugal Week….

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Stuff! lovely stuff!

Stuff! lovely stuff!

This week I am starting a new years resolution, a bit late but what the hay? I am about to embark on a quest…to boldly go where no icklehelen has gone before…to save money.

I have never been good at economising, my efforts of saving money always tend to end up having the reverse effect.

I recently spent a small fortune in the Next Sale. While in the store foraging up and down the busy isles I was convinced I had enough to wear for the whole season…YAY MEEE!!! (sorry I have to watch way too much of the Disney channels  “suite life of zac and cody” than is healthy for an adult).

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I got a Meme Award! Yay…

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

I have a Meme award, how brilliant! thank you to the very funny and talented  Andrea http://www.andreadaly.com/ for passing it on to me. As part of the award I have to tell you 7 things about myself and recomend 7 other blogs, well that bits easy as I read them all day,  have given up on books ….reading blogs is adictive and usually good for bitesize inbetween milly playing gaps!

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Modelling For Icklebabe…

Friday, September 4th, 2009

Had the greatest time modelling my new grown-up retro aprons with “big” daughter,  Ellie today.

For a teenager she was a great sport, modelling my wares whilst balancing a mixing bowl on her head was a particually high point!

It’s so lovely to have her helping out, she has always been my greatest fan. Sometimes its hard to have a mum who dosen’t have a “real job” I am often working weekends and evenings and the house is always upside down with paint and fabrics all over the place, but she has always loved everything I do. She did have a moment when she was about 8 when she asked me why I couldn’t just work in sainsbury’s like her best friends mum but apart from that she’s been great. She shows off my website in IT class and is always asking me when I’m going to make tee’s in her size!

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Lovely day…

Friday, May 29th, 2009

I took milly in the baby carrier out on a walk along the river near our house this morning, its me and Ellie’s favourite place. The sun was shining after the long rain and  it was one of those moments when I really wish I’d had my camera. It was beautiful!

The swans were gliding snootally along the river bank and the sun was twinkling through the trees. Milly was craning her neck to get a good look around,  seeing the world in the perfect  sunshine for a change. luckily ellie took her camera out with her to the same spot the other day so the pics here are hers.
sunny flowers...

sunny flowers...

swans...

swans...

She seems to be developing a real talent for photograghy and she looks so cool with her big professional camera, she inherited it from my lovely father… i think he would be  proud!….

Megan our chocolate dog...

Megan our chocolate dog...

When we got home Milly had a bit of a nap so I managed to sketch out these new canvases while it was  quiet, but soon enough little miss was awake again, I guess there’s  no rest for the wicked!…

what i did at nap time...

what i did at nap time...

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On a Whim by Robert Kaughman…

Friday, May 22nd, 2009
lovely lovely fabric

lovely lovely fabric

Ahhhhh,   just spent an entire morning in a fruitless search for this fab fabric , I am beyond  frustrated and the pure fact that I can’t get it is making me want it so much more! I am always like this with fabric, its an unhealthy addiction! I can happily spend hours looking at lovely, lovely fabric thinking up ways to use it.  It is also a great inspiration for my canvases, thats how I came across this lovely owl print,  I was researching owls for a new set of story canvases I’ve been developing,  I have a great idea for the story and just wanted to get some inspiration on some cute owl moves!

my work in progress

my work in progress

I was the same when the Rocket Rascals (michael Miller) print came out, I  have a little of that left and I still completely love it!

So anyhow if anyone knows of any corner of the world where this fabric still exsists, I will love you forever if you tell me…

thanks Guys,

Helen x

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Kirsty’s home made home, what a treat!

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

ribbons Did anyone catch Kirsty’s home made home last week , I thought it was a real breath of fresh air, so lovely to see a show that recocognised real  talents rather than mass produced shinyness.

And I loved the little knitted house at the start, so cute! kirsty makes knitting look sexy, I don’t actually knit but if I did I’d be flounting it baby!

She is to craft what jamie is to home cooking, and she seems to have really hit on the nations need to get back to our traditions , making our own crafts is no longer something we do because we can’t afford to buy it . And buying things from a craftsman (or woman) is no longer for the wolly jumper brigade either, it just means your more discerning and have a need for a more unique style!

 I’m in the process of making some summer dresses for milly, mostly because I want to make her something different from the normal stuff you get in the shops. I got the patterns through the post yesterday and they were both exsiting and daunting all at once, I’ve only ever made my own patterns in the past and following the rules of a pattern someone else has created I sometimes find a bit tough, but once I get the hang of it  I will modify them to make them my own.

 I have so many cute ideas if they work out well I will be adding the line to icklebabe.

  Its great if people start to shop more with small british bussinesses and craftsman, ( not just because I am one either: )  I know that most people who create things for a living do it for the love of creating rather than what they get paid, to be honest I think most of us are just chuffed you like our work!

If you fancy getting inspired to create your own works of art or  just want to find something unique you should check out a website called etsy.com its full of great crafts people and stuff from hand made wedding invatations to vintage kitchen ware, there is even tutorials on there too. I can quite easily loose an hour or two browsing through all the great talents on offer and if you have your own craft you can sell it on the site as well. 

Any how, I’m off to start Milly’s first dress now, Wish me luck, and I’ll let you know how I get on. Oh, and don’t forget Kirsty’s on again tonite x x

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