Jingle Bells?

I may have been quiet, but I have been busy!
While we celebrate the fact that the kids are back at school, here at the Cushion Pad, I've been thinking Christmas, in a BIG way!
Cushion covers are made, so now we are onto bunting. Big bunting, little bunting, bunting for the walls, and bunting for the tree....
As ever, only a little sneaky peek!
I'm hoping to make lots and lots of sets of bunting, I've got seven sets to make and one already made. All in various gorgeous Christmassy fabrics.

It may only be September, but I'm in a Winter Wonderland all of my own.


And, of course, I'll be sure to let you know when the Christmas Range is released.

All tuckered out

Well, its been a busy few days here at The Cushion Pad..... Caught up in the excitement of Christmas (yes, I know its only August!) the sewing machine has been whirring away like the clappers. In grand total, twenty seven covers have been born over the last couple of days. They are all beautiful and I cant wait for you to see them all. I know you will fall in love with them just like I have. Because I'm very excited, and lets face it, I spoil you, here's a sneaky photo

Well, you didn't really think I was going to show you all of them did you? You will have to keep an eye on the Facebook page (www.facebook/CosyCushionCovers.co.uk) The Christmas range is going to be launched at the beginning of October. But there are some beauties in this lot that are going to be available as part of the Autumn/Winter range. I can't wait! It's at times like this I really do love what I do. I am so excited about showing all these wonderful covers off and hearing what you all think about them.

Hooked on a feeling?

So, about four years ago, I begged my Mum to teach me to crochet. Being a lefty, I didn't think I would be able to manage it. Well, with the patience of a saint, Mum managed to teach me a granny square..... not that she had much choice, I refused to let her leave until I had mastered it. So, after the granny square, came the granny square blanket, one for almost every member of the family, whether they wanted one or not.
After a while I wanted to try my hand at something a bit harder. So, I phoned Mum " can you teach me how to make something else?" I begged her.
"sorry Lil, I cant follow a pattern" hmmmm, well, that was me stumped.
Sadly, six months later, Mum died.... life moved in a different direction, and granny squares fell by the wayside.
Until this year. Being a determined wee beastie, I decided that, lefty or not, I was going to learn to follow a crochet pattern, by hook (I know) or by crook, I was going to master it. A friend suggested the truly brilliant Attic24 Blog (http://attic24.typepad.com/). Thanks to Lucy and her incredible instructions, I was soon crocheting along like I knew what I was doing! My personal favourite being the triple layer flowers.
Hot on the heels of this new found skill, I once again reverted to granny squares, making a start on a blanket for our bed.
Then I was chatting to Jen, a friend of mine. She mentioned a "granny square swap group", well, I was up for that idea. Then I logged onto the group. WOW!, so many beautiful designs.... I had the feeling that my humble granny square wasn't quite going to cut the mustard (what does that actually mean?). So, the plan for the weekend is riffling through the "Granny Square Book" in the vain hope of finding something I can make. Something that wont let the side down.
Of course the book is in American crochet terms, so I have to translate that as well..... ahh well, easy is no fun, right?

Can you hear me buzzing?

Cos I have been such a busy little bee! After a few Christmas decoration related disasters I was convinced to go back to what I do best.... making cushion covers.
So, armed with a huge pile of possibly the most gorgeous fabric known to man....I started. Well, you know the expression "happy as a pig in muck"? well, that was me. Delving through the pile, I found fabric that I had forgotten existed.
I was good, I started with a plan... order the patterned fabric and then sort out which plain colour would make the best back. That plan? well, that plan lasted about five minutes. Imagine the Andrex puppy with fabric not loo roll, and that's me.
So, digging through the material, I have come up with some gorgeous combinations... using colours together that I wouldn't normally try.
Of course all this fun does mean that tomorrow the iron is out and the hard work begins... but its all worth it, to have happy customers who love their covers as much as I do.

So, because I spoil you, here's a sneak peek.....

Not forgetting of course the very new boys designs.... now they are really going to knock your socks off!

Look away now......

Happy Left Handers Day!

To all of you who use the proper hand to hold your pen, we have a day! Left Handers Day, well, I've never heard of it! I saw it mentioned and had to go and Google it....
As the day goes on, I'm actually surprised at how many friends I have that are lefty's! There are almost enough of us to take over the world, but well, who's going to make the sandwiches?
Its funny that a lot of people who are left handed smudge their writing... that's never been a problem for me, but then, im the proud daughter of a lefty dad, and an ambidextrous mum.
I love being a lefty, I love watching right handed people write, cos it just looks so wrong. But I still get a thrill when I see a fellow lefty writing....
When I was a kid, lefty's made up about 10% of the population, I loved being part of such a (relatively) small group of people.
I still long for a left handed dictionary (z at the front a at the back) ohhh, and left handed pinking shears would be lovely, but they are as rare as hens teeth... so for now I'm happy with my left handed pens and scissors (much to the amusement of the kids)

So, fellow Leftys, lets enjoy our day ....and be proud of our uniqueness

Should you ever have a favourite?

So, favourites..... you can have a favourite chocolate, car, film... but you must never have a favourite child. So, where in the list do crochet hooks come? (bear with me, I'm getting there, honestly!) Why can you have favourite colours, or actors, but to have a favourite piece of metal..... well, that's just weird.... right?
Ohhhh, so very not right! I have always used the plain metal crochet hooks. No personality to them at all. just a piece of metal that can produce marvellous creations. Well, that was before I was converted... a friend of mine makes crochet hook with polymer clay handles. Well, I will admit I was sceptical.. how much difference can it really make? Ohhhh how wrong I was!
They are so wonderful to use, no "claw hand" from long hours of crochet.... they are immensely tactile (sometimes I just sit of an evening rolling one in my hands....) and they have personality! Boy! do they have personality... dare I admit sometimes I talk to them too?
I think Annie is magic, I think she put a little piece of herself in all her hooks. It's like she sat with you while you work...
So, while I don't have a favourite child, I also cant have a favourite hook... I love them both.
http://www.handcraftedbyannie.co.uk/

In the spirit of the enterprise

So, as this is going to be a place where I wow you all with my creativity, not to mention my sparkling wit, I think it only prudent to try and actually upload a picture. Now, this is usually the part where it all goes horribly wrong and I wander off with a tear in my eye, vowing never to have another blog....

well, none as surprised as me! it actually worked .....

So, this is the stall we (that would be me and my mate Rachel) devised for Cosy Cushion Covers first foray into the world..... it didn't end up like this on the day, but that's another story ;)

Hello :D

So, this is me... my name is Lisa and I live in Kent with my husband and our two kids. I love Christmas and I've just started planning for this years Christmas range

I make cushion covers, button jewellery, and pretty much anything that takes my fancy. Aside from my business, I also knit and crochet.
So, come with me and lets see what happens. Hopefully there will be lots of pictures, lots of fun, and even more laughs along the way


Lisa xx