Where You'll Find Me...

Dearest readers of Beautiful Girlhood...

Many of you may be wondering where I have been of late...well, I have been writing somewhere else.  {{smiles}}

 

Yes indeed, I began a new journey and would love to share it with you...

I can be found on The Diary of a Country Girl, my new spot in the blogosphere!  {{Smiles}}

I still delight in Pinterest but no longer have a Facebook account...I made the decision to delete my page and personal profile after some thought on the subject...

But...my little shoppe is still open and I have actually just updated it!  You will now find pretty fabric bookmarks and even Christmas reindeer available for sale!  Christmas is drawing nigh and I am working on building up my stock of sweet fabric reindeer! 

I thought I would leave you with a couple pictures of my makes...

 Pretty fabric bookmarks embellished with lace and ribbon...

 A cheerful Christmas reindeer...

Fabric bookmarks made from my favourite fabric...{{smiles}}

 A pink baby taggy ball...

A new beige bunny...

 Red and beige floral mini bunting...I think I should keep this one!

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Do stop by my country diary, dear friends.  You would be most welcome indeed...my time still seems to be quite limited at present, so I am not keeping up with regular posting, but I always respond to you sweet comments through email!  

What a joy to have so many lovely friends to share the blessings in this life with!

With much love and joy,

Kelly-Anne

Gorgeous New Items in the Shoppe...

Hello dear readers...happy April to you!

I know that many of you are enjoying the arrival of Spring, whereas here in the southern hemisphere, Autumn is being welcomed with open arms!

Truly, the cooler days are a gift after a very warm summer, and even my garden is growing ever so beautifully with the rain and cool days we have received lately...

Although I have not been the most consistent of bloggers over the past month or so, my hands have not been idle...  Ah, quite the contrary in fact...

My sewing machine (or rather my mother's which I am blessed to be using till I purchase my own) has been whirring almost every day, and I am glad to announce that our baby's nursery, or rather ''corner'' is complete and that all I set out to do in regards to decor is done!

Stay tuned for a reveal post coming soon...{{smiles}}

In between taking care of the smooth running of the household and doing some delightful pleasure sewing, I have also re stocked my little Etsy shoppe with a few lovely new items!  What a joy it to send packages of love across the world to sweet customers!  

And because I simply love what I do and enjoy bringing a smile to a person's face through my handwork, I have added a couple more items to my shoppe as well as one or two new things...I hope you will pop over and take a look...

You will find...

Whale softies for baby boys and girls...

Sets of two padded fabric hangers...

Ellie softies...

 A patchwork cushion with cross stitch motif...

...and ribbon taggy balls!

Can you tell I am enjoying making baby items at the moment...?  {{smiles}}

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I am sure you must be wondering whether our baby brother has made his grand entrance yet...not yet I am afraid!  We are so eager to meet this little fellow, but babies will come when they're ready...{{smiles}}  I look forward to sharing his birth announcement very soon...:)

In the meantime...I have a special gift to you ~

When you make a purchase of $25 or more and enter the coupon code APRIL16, you will receive $4 off your entire purchase!  This coupon code is valid until the end of April and is especially for my blog readers!  Visit HeartmadeSouthAfrica on Etsy HERE!

Blessings dear friends!

How~to~make Fabric Covered Hangers

Remember, oh so long ago, when I promised to share a tutorial for these sweet padded hangers, covered in pretty fabric and decorated with a ribbon bow...?

Time flew by, and as the festive season delights mounted, my time became less and I almost forgot all about this promised sewing project...

I recently wanted to make a few padded hangers for a friend of mine who is expecting a new little blessing within the next few days, and thought I would make a couple more for my stall at the market...after all they are so lovely to make.  Simple and effective which, as you know, I love!

Thus, without further ado, I introduce to you...the fabric covered hanger and some instructions and pictures for you ~ perhaps you may feel inclined to do a little sewing this afternoon or you need a gift for someone dear.  And if you should experience any trouble with my instructions, please know that you are welcome to mail me anytime...I would be happy to lend a hand!

Oh, and the light was utterly terrible for taking pictures, so I do hope you will excuse the poor quality pictures in the tutorial, my friends...

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You Will Need...

A wooden hanger measuring about 13cm x 2.5cm...adjust pattern accordingly if you have a hanger of a different size.

Quilting Cotton...the brighter the better!

Pretty Ribbon

Batting

Plastic Piping, for covering the wire hook of the hanger 

Needle

Cotton 

Sewing Machine

Iron and Ironing Board

Self-Healing Cutting Mat

Rotary Cutter

Ruler

To Make:

Begin by selecting the fabric you wish to use...I always work with 100% cotton, and I love having a collection of pretty quilting material as it is just oh so delightful to work in!  

 Padded hangers are sweet given in twos, so choose two coordinating fabrics as well as some matching ribbons...

Using your ruler, self-healing mat and rotary cutter, measure and cut fabric and batting pieces:  

You will need two 13.5cm x 2.5cm pieces of patterned fabric, and one 5cm x 13cm piece of batting.
 

Now cut a piece of plastic piping for the hook of the hanger and slide it onto the hook...

Fold your batting in half lengthways, then in half widthways.

Make a mark where the middle is and pierce with the tip of your scissors or an awl to make a small hole.  Slide the batting over the wooden hanger.
 

The next step is to wrap the batting around the hanger as shown in the picture...now thread your needle with a long length of cotton thread and roughly tack the batting to the hanger.  The batting will not be seen, so don't be afraid to be messy...as long as it is securely attached to the wooden hanger, it is fine.  {Can you spot my old needle...?  I love it so much, I haven't the heart to find another to use!}
   

Now you need to sew the cover of the hanger...  Pin fabric pieces together, right sides facing and stitch the sides and top, leaving the entire bottom length open.  I used about a 1cm seam allowance all the way around.

Once sewn, fold the length of fabric in half and unpick about 3 stitches in the very middle - this is the hole which you will pull the hook through.  You may want to reverse a few stitches on either side of the hole so as to stop the stitching unravelling...
 

Turn the cover right way around and using a hot iron, press the seams flat.  Fold about 1cm of the fabric in all the way around the bottom edge - you will slip stitch this area closed once you've placed it on the hanger.

 

Slide the cover over the wooden hanger gently, pulling it into position.  Pin the bottom edge closed and thread your needle with a length of cotton.

Slip stitch the area closed with neat, even stitches - if need be, fold the edges in a little on either side to form a better more fitted shape if you wish.
 

Tie a small ribbon bow around the hook of the hanger and use a dab of fabric glue to secure it to the hanger and stop it from sliding off. 

...And there you are...a pretty padded hanger, in all its lovingly handmade glory!

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I have added a few pretty padded hangers to my little Etsy shoppe, heartmade, if you'd prefer to purchase them ready made by me...  I love sending special packages to others, and it is a true delight to share what I have such fun making through my shoppe!

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If you decide to make a couple of your own, do let me know the outcome in the comments section below...how it makes my day to hear from each of my dear friends, and I warmly welcome any new readers and hope you will be blessed and inspired as you visit with me!

With many blessings on this last beautiful day of February, sweet readers...

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  This post may be shared with...

~ Five Star Frou Frou, The Art of Homemaking Mondays, Roses of Inspiration, Wise Woman Link-Up, Raising Homemakers Link-Up, Cooking and Crafting with J and J and Modest Monday

Sewing Pleasures...

As many of you know, I have been sewing my own peasant tops for about a year now...
This was after I couldn’t find beautiful shirts that were both modest and comfortable…and not to mention fitted me nicely…{{smiles}}

I then began sewing these wonderfully easy and pretty peasant tops, and can now whip one up within an hour or two…all I need is some lovely fabric such as viscose or challis, the latter being my favourite as it is not too thin but still light and airy, and time…

This is one of my more recent peasant tops, but I have another pretty pattern for a similar top which is just a little bit more challenging…I think it will be fun to progress onto something more exciting and different, don't you think...?

Should my next shirt turn out alright, I shall try to share a picture of the finished product with you!  For now, my sister has requested a blouse, so that is to be my next weekend project…{{smiles}}

*When wearing a peasant blouse such as the one I have on in these pictures, I read that one would generally wear it with a pencil skirt or something that is a bit more fitted.

  

 

What have you been sewing lately?

Do you enjoy making your own clothing?

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With thanks to my sister, Nancy, who played photographer for me today…

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Blessings and love,

 

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  This post may be shared with...

~ The Art of Homemaking Mondays, Roses of Inspiration, Wise Woman Link-Up, Raising Homemakers Link-Up, Cooking and Crafting with J and J and Modest Monday

Celebrating Love GIVEAWAY!!

Whilst I am still on a blogging break, I thought I would take a moment to share some happiness with you!

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I have a special giveaway planned for you today, my dearest friends!

I love showing you all how much you mean to me and I greatly appreciate your rich fellowship and sweet encouragement, so I am offering a lovely little something for your homes…

As this month is February…the month of love, I have asked my dear, creative sister to make something very fitting and truly ‘’love-ly” as a gift for one sweet reader!

 Nancy creates beautiful pictures with fabrics and her sewing machine, and she is working on a range of lovely cushions and wall hangings which she is hoping to market at our stall each Saturday…I absolutely adore her work (and not simply because she is my sister...), and she is making me one or two sweet wall hangings for my sewing room which is in progress at the moment in my mind…{{smiles}}

She very kindly agreed to make a pretty wall hanging for one lovely reader…  It says, “Love’’, which I thought was very appropriate for February (and all year round!) when our focus should be on loving one another as Christ first loved us…don’t you think having this pretty wall hanging in your home would be a wonderful reminder to love others…?

Now, to stand a chance to win this picture, simply do the following…

Leave a comment telling me how you enjoy showing those your care about how much you love them…

If you would like to gain extra entries…

Tell someone else about this giveaway in any form you choose.  But please be sure to leave another comment telling me that you did so…

There is also an extra entry for followers, so please include your following name in your comment.

Favourite heartmade shoppe on Etsy {here} or follow heartmade’s blog {here}…again, please let me know that you did so in order that I may give you more entries!

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As usual, this giveaway is open to all countries, and will close in ten days’ time which will take us to Wednesday the 10th.  I will announce the sweet winner on the 11th…

Oh, and if you are a first time visitor, you are more than welcome to enter…the more the merrier!   

It always makes my day to ‘’meet’’ a sweet new friend, so let the commenting delights begin!

~ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  John 13:34 ~