Baking paper: Makes excellent pattern paper

Although I filled my suitcase with craft supplies for our move to India (and then Uganda) every now and then I curse some essential item I forgot. Recently I discovered that I really didn't have any paper thin enough to allow me to trace a shape to make into a pattern.

So I did what I always do in this situation - I popped to the local supermarket and scoured their shelves.

Baking paper (available even in Uganda) makes excellent pattern paper. It's thin enough to trace through AND thin enough to pin to fabric to allow shape cutting. The fact that it's super cheap is an extra boon. To be honest I even used it in London. It's too useful!

The following photos show me using baking paper to make my felt map of Uganda.

Probably the best ribbons in the WORLD

After work one day a couple of weeks ago I was wandering around Marylebone in a zig-zag fashion when I stumbled upon the most amazing ribbon shop. It was like a fairy wonder cave of ribbons and pretties. My knees felt weak just looking in the window. I was so mesmerised I didn't notice the name at the time, but, having just googled for it I've discovered the shop is none other than V.V. Rouleaux.

V.V. Rouleaux sells hundreds of ribbons, and other bits and bobs of fabulousness. In amongst them all I found this collection of ribbons. I assume they are inspired by all the Britain-love at the moment roused by the Jubilee and the Olympics. There seem to be a lot of flags, bunting and 1940's-style slogans around. These ribbons follow this theme.

I. Love. Them.

I haven't used them for anything yet. I'm waiting for the right project.

Shiny pretties from Fabric Rehab

Shiny!

My delivery from Fabric Rehab arrived! Yes of course I ended up buying something from there. I have no self control and will very likely have to hide my debit card this month. Only I'll have to be really cunning about it. You have to be when hiding things from yourself.

Don't be fooled by this late posting into thinking that delivery from Fabric Rehab was slow. It wasn't. It was very prompt and gratifying. This bundle actually arrived last week. I was just too distracted by having to go back to work to blog about it. Apologies.

As you can see I bought Snow White fabric, Hansel and Gretel fabric and a charm pack from Moda.

I think the charm pack is my favourite:

'A walk in the woods' charm pack from Moda.

I love the foxes and red-riding hood. It's a good thing I've resolved to hide my debit card because I could easily buy a whole bolt of fox fabric. The designer of 'A walk in the woods' is Aneela Hoey, whose blog I just found. And it looks adorable!

I've already used some of the charm pack to make some patchwork kindle cases (which are unfortunately doomed for an unrelated reason, more on this later).

All in all I am very pleased with my purchases.

Huzah!