Sunday 13 September 2015

Doorstops

Back in January, my friend Maria visited from Canada and we went to Stamford.  You can read about it here.  While we were there, we went to a very nice interiors/haberdashery shop and Maria saw some material printed with a London map, which she absolutely loved. I bought a metre of the material and rashly promised to make her a doorstop, for her birthday in July, which I would send to Canada.   I did some research in books and on the internet.  I was looking for a pattern which had velcro on the base, and a handle and I ended up feeling a bit like the Prince looking for his Princess in the story of 'The Princess and the Pea'...one was too small, one had a zip, one didn't have a handle, one was a pyramid shape...you get the idea.  Eventually, I found the perfect one for me!  If you'd like to have a go yourself, it's here.  I liked the jokey way the tutorial was written and can say that it was easy to follow and surprisingly easy to make.  I practised first by making a lining from calico, which was a separate cube placed inside the main one, for ease of filling.
Look, here it is!  I made this!  As you can tell, I am pretty pleased with myself. 
 I did have to think about which way up the pieces would have to go, but it worked out well.
 The fabric looks good too.
Not content with that, I also made a notebook cover, with a felt flower made from my felt.
It all arrived safely with Maria (only a few weeks after her birthday...oh well...) and I think she liked it.  It's a little reminder of her visit to England.

20 comments:

  1. Lovely presents ...made me a bit homesick looking at the map. I bet your friend loves it .xx

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    1. Thanks, Dotty's Daughter. I think my friend might feel a bit homesick too, but I hope the map material will bring back happy memories.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. Love it.
    And the gifts must have warmed your friend's heart. And will continue to do so each time she sees/uses them.

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    1. Thanks, EC. I did get a really nice message from her saying the gifts had arrived safely and she 'loved them', so I'm really pleased about that. I hope that they will indeed remind her of the good old UK.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. It all looks great Ellie!! Very original fabric design. I bet she was thrilled when she opened her parcel :-)

    keep well

    Amanda xx

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    1. Thanks, Amanda. It is a lovely fabric. She said she loved them, so that's good enough for me!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. It looks great! Well done for getting all the pieces the right way up!

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    1. Thanks, Wendy. (I did get one wrong, but it was on the base, so I didn't undo it and start again - shh...don't tell anyone!)
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. What lovely gifts to make for a friend, I love the fabric x

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    1. Thanks, Jo. Maria had asked for a doorstop, so all I had to do was to find the perfect pattern which I eventually did. The notebook was an added extra so that she could see the fabric wherever she is. It is a really lovely fabric and has a linen-type feel. It did fray a bit though so I had to zigzag all the edges (but it was worth it!)
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  6. I'm sure your friend really liked it! What very thoughtful gifts made in the perfect fabric as a reminder of her visit,
    Best wishes
    Alison xx

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    1. Thanks, Alison. I hope she will have happy memories of her visit.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  7. What a good friend you are, Ellie, this is a wonderful gift - pretty and practical. I must say that the fabric is gorgeous.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thanks, Amalia. The fabric has been much admired - perhaps I should have bought more...
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  8. I love it Ellie, it's fabulous, well done!!!!
    I can totally understand why your friend fell in love with that fabric....
    Lots of love and a very nice weekend, Mirjam.

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    1. Thanks, Mirjam. I was really pleased with how the doorstop turned out - it looked a little bit tricky at first, but actually, it was surprisingly not that hard. I definitely should have bought more of the fabric...
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  9. They're both such wonderful gifts, very useful but they'll also remind your friend of her visit. I think the fabric is fab.

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    1. Thanks and welcome, Jo. I was pleased that they arrived in Canada safely and that my friend loved them. My friend originally spotted the fabric and said it would make a great lampshade, but I really don't think my creative skills would be up to that! I was pleased (and relieved) that I managed the doorstop.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  10. Nice. I especially like the notebook cover. Good job on taking care of your friend;)

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    1. Thanks and welcome, Sandra. I have only recently tried my hand at notebook covers and, after a little alteration (the first one I ever made coming out too small!), I think I have got the hang of it. I hope the presents do remind my friend of a happy visit.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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