Monday 8 December 2014

Holiday Crafting in Kent

We've just returned from a break near Canterbury, in Kent, South East England.
We ventured forth during the days to visit some interesting places in an area we had never before explored and stayed in the countryside, in Broome Park, in a super luxurious log cabin. 
In the evenings and whilst travelling I did some crafting and made quite a few Christmas gift items and decorations.
I took my sewing machine so I could get these good sized, handy, shopping bags made from some Cath Kinston fabric I bought at a reduced price. I finished 8 and the price for each was a fraction of the price of the shop bags.
A Great IKEA Fabric idea.
I made 2 shopping bags, a cushion and a small shoe bag from this fabulous illustrated fabric (below) from Ikea. The fabric is intended to be coloured in using the pens they sell and it has been a huge hit with children and adults alike. I have given so many pieces away as gifts and children have really applied themselves to doing the colouring with the added benefit that it can be turned into useful items that they can be proud of as a result. 
Bags, cushions, pillowslips, aprons, or stretched over a canvas or framed. 
The pens need to be heat set to fix the colours and I do it simply by ironing the fabric between paper. (So the ironing board isn't dyed!)
Now I have started making the articles ready to colour.
The fabric is £7 metre and all these items were made from only a half metre. 
The colouring pens are £2 for a box of six colours. 
It makes a good value, worthwhile gift, to give fabric (or a ready sewn item) and a packet of pens.
These two gorgeous little Curly Girlies were happily occupied on their recent train journey home, all the way from the North to the South of England.

Here's the log cabin, alias my temporary sewing factory....
The lodge is so spacious and comfortable inside 
Below, is the Mansion house, Broome Park which provides the leisure facilities to the lodges. Restaurants, bar, gym, swimming pool, games room etc.


Set in splendid grounds of a huge country estate, which is also a golf course.
Broome Park was first built around 1650 then greatly renovated by Lord Kitchener of Khartoum. Kitchener was a prominent figure in the history of WW1 and most people remember him from these famous recruitment posters....
The interior is magnificent and has been beautifully restored.
It was so amazing to relax in such opulent surroundings and imagine how life must be at grand places such as Downton Abbey. Without servants! 
I loved this cottage where Kitchener lived during the rebuilding of his grand mansion. It was originally the estate managers house.... Flint Cottage and our lodge was just opposite.

I also made some felt Christmas decorations and crocheted several items during our stay but we had so much time to spare that it was the ideal situation for crafting...... but I'll save those and some more of the places we visited for another post. 

12 comments:

Kyla said...

ooh, loving the fabric and sounds like a great break. Can I ask whether you used a pattern for your bags?

Kyla

mamapez5 said...

I love the fabric for colouring. What a great idea. And how nice to combine a holiday with a crafting retreat. It looks a beautiful place where you were staying.
Kate x

Annie said...

Wish I'd known about that fabric and pens before we went to Ikea on Sunday :-) typical isn't it?
Fab log cabin and what wonderful crafting you managed. Great to have a catch up with your news Jo.
Hugs,
Annie x

tilly said...

what lovely fabric and will keep the little people occupied for ages!! what a lot you got from 1/2 metre.
I could live in that cottage although I I do aspire to the house its-self.... have I left it a bit late lol
Hope you are keeping well.
Tilly xx

Julia Dunnit said...

Now that's a log cabin! How fascinating a history too, the Flint cottage looks like a pretend house!
love your makes, i think a retreat type holiday to get so much done is absolutely perfect!!

Helen said...

Sounds like a fabulous break, what a wonderful place to stay - and that fabric looks great fun!! I may have to take a trip...

pearshapedcrafting said...

My, that place does look luxurious! Glad you had some crafty time and love the bags! Must look for that fabric in Ikea too! Look forward to seeing where you visited, hugs, Chrisx

Cardarian said...

Oh you have made such lovely stuff! I am so sorry I couldn't join you! But next time I will! :-)
Lots of hugs,
Cardarian

Lee said...

Ooooh Jo,what a lovely time you had and I can tell you are feeling a lot better.LOVE your bags,that fabric with the gorgeous clocks is my fav.What an ingenius idea that colouring fabric.LOVE that cabin and all the pics of the Mansion house etc.have missed your wonderful creations and posts.Take care.Hugs xxx

Neet said...

That place is so what you told me it was. Fabulous! Nice lodge you two had to stay in - and enjoy the area too.
Hugs, Neet xx

Lynne said...

What a fantastic idea that fabric colouring in is! CHildren LOVE to colour and here they have something really useful at the end of it. Clever you!

I rather like the log cabin - sometimes I think, apart from the hidden rooms which would hold all our "stuff", that we could quite happily live in a space like this!

I am back after a longish break, Jo, but not stitching yet, just cooking! (and eating!) Lxxx

Anonymous said...

Oh Jo how exciting you days have been in that lodge. Oh how nice the crafts in material the friendship bracelets. Everything you have done.

I used to do crafts with my one oldest Granddaughter for hours when I babysat her. When she got older I made her many lace, ribbons and bling, bling albums. I guess it was a thrill for her as she is now in 4th year Of University to be a school teacher. So you never know what comes out of your Grandchildren or any child your with doing what you do in years to come or when they get older. Your work is beautiful! Lots of T.L.Care in what you do.