Blog Tour: The Cherry Tree Cafe - Guest Post by Heidi Swain

Today I'm very excited to welcome the lovely Heidi Swain to the blog. I had the pleasure of meeting her on a Books and The City blogger event, where she talked about her debut novel, The Cherry Tree Café. Since then I've been patiently awaiting this title and finally it has arrived! And to celebrate, Heidi is going to share a post all about crafting. Heidi, all yours: 

The Cherry Tree Café

Book Themed Pinwheels

So here we are mid-way through The Cherry Tree Café Blog Tour and what better way to celebrate than with a pretty crafting instruction? Head over heels in love with the fabulous Book Themed Bunting I made earlier in the year, I thought it would be fun to share another simple make that can brighten up any celebration whether it’s a summer party, a spooky Hallowe’en gathering or a Christmas family get-together. This time it is the turn of the pretty pinwheel.

Pinwheels are a quick and easy afternoon make of which I know Lizzie Dixon would be proud and I can easily imagine her, bedecked in her floral vintage apron, adorning the tables of The Cherry Tree Café with these little beauties.

You will need:
Paper or very thin card

The squares I used measured 9cm x 9cm, but you could make them bigger depending on what you want to do with them. I’ve opted to use the Cherry Tree Café cover again, but as with the bunting, anything goes.

Chopsticks or paper straws

Split pins

PVA glue

Scissors

Buttons – purely for decoration

Paint – only if you decide to paint the chopsticks. If you do, then make sure the paint is completely dry before you attempt to attach the pinwheel

How to:

Cut the squares of paper to size and if not double sided glue together so when the pinwheel is finished both sides are patterned

Fold the square diagonally corner to corner and then press flat again. The creases serve as cutting guides

Cut along the diagonal lines created by folding. My cuts were approximately 4.5cm in length. (You need to leave room to push the pin through at the centre)
Fold the alternate paper leaves to the centre to create the desired pinwheel shape

Top tip: Don’t let go!
Secure by pushing a split pin through the centre. Now I’m not going to lie to you, this is tricky if the paper is thick so you might find it helps to secure the paper in place with a blob of PVA first to free up your fingers!
Turn over and secure the pin to the chopstick or straw
Stick the button, if desired, to the front of the pin with PVA and leave to dry

Repeat, repeat, repeat and ta, da, pretty pinwheels!



So there we have it! I really hope you enjoy having a go at this quick and simple make and I’d love to see the pinwheels, or any other crafts inspired by The Cherry Tree Café you have made, uploaded to Twitter or Facebook. Why not use the hashtag #fortheloveofcrafting and together we can spread the joy!

Heidi x

 ***
Thank you Heidi. I cannot wait to try it myself, they look fab! 


About the book:


Title: The Cherry Tree Café
Author: Heidi Swain
Published: August 4th 2015 by Simon & Schuster UK

Blurb: Cupcakes, crafting and love at The Cherry Tree Cafe...Lizzie Dixon's life feels as though it's fallen apart. Instead of the marriage proposal she was hoping for from her boyfriend, she is unceremoniously dumped, and her job is about to go the same way. So, there's only one option: to go back home to the village she grew up in and to try to start again.

Her best friend Jemma is delighted Lizzie has come back home. She has just bought a little cafe and needs help in getting it ready for the grand opening. And Lizzie's sewing skills are just what she needs.

With a new venture and a new home, things are looking much brighter for Lizzie. But can she get over her broken heart, and will an old flame reignite a love from long ago...?

For everyone who loves settling down to watch Great British Bake-Off, the Great British Sewing Bee, or curling up to read Milly Johnson or Jenny Colgan, The Cherry Tree Cafe is a coffee-break treat.


And don't miss any stops on this fantastic Blog Tour:


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2 comentaris

  1. Wow, what a fab, pretty and easy tutorial. Just with the choice of paper It has potential to totally rock any decor.

    Book sounds lovely just put it on my list to buy soon.

    Thnx for the lovely blog post Alba.

    Bee

    ReplyDelete