I made something!!

Made from this book, with stash fabric, for a friends daughter.
Looking forward to making another for my niece (already cut out!!)
Loving making things that somebody can wear, but wishing I had a girl as girls clothes are easier than boys!!!
(the pattern for this dress is in June's Sew magazine )

popping in.....

Thank You so much for all your lovely birthday wishes for Cam...I did pass them on but I think the concept of bloggy friends is a bit much for a 5 year old to be dealing with!!!
He had a great birthday tea....and the cake went down very well!!! I only had 1 slice as I am back doing Slimming World again since my Wii Fit told me how much weight I had put on since I got married 13 months ago (1 stone 4lb if you are interested!!). Although I knew I was larger, the actual figure on screen was enough to shove me back on the diet wagon....
I have been doing a teeny amount of crafting...nearly finished my nieces quilt...
its finished the quilting in no time way..the backing fabric cut out larger and folded over to bind.
(excuse the creases...)


I am a little behind with my final swap of the 4 I signed up for all together (note to self..do not do this again!!), I shall be sending a grovelling email very soon to Lorraine!! But that crafting is allocated to my next bit of free time!!

I have also been getting over excited about fabric. Patch will be stocking some gorgeous fabrics very very soon.......I have had a delivery and am going to be working hard getting photos done and adding the fabric to the shop.

We have company this weekend, so I had already planned to take a weekend off, but ooh very bad timing lol!!! I am eager to put it in the shop for you to see :)

I have had surprise post from this lovely lady...
How did she know my treat tin was empty???

(only 3.5 slimming world syns each lol...yes I checked...but only after I had greedily eaten one as soon as the parcel was opened!!!)
And how did she know that the hanging chicken was exactly the same as my chicken hook thingy?!?!?

Thank You Beki, for everything...especially the brooch to match my cuff xx
Cam has helped me pick the winning name out of the pot...(well 2 actually!!!) over at the Patch blog.
There will be another giveaway next week, aswell as fabric in the shop by the end of the week...yippee!!!

applique

a recent make....appliqued and embroidered on a linen backing and then framed....but I'm thinking she would look good on a cushion or a wallhanging......

(I'll add it to the list hehehe!!!)

That List!!

Back in October I started a list...

So how far have I got now we are into December???

october's to do list
1) paint a bit more of the dresser......I want it done for Christmas so can't put it off forever!!

well..progress but not completion!! I have enlisted lovely husbands help and we have primed and undercoated and given it a coat of white paint before painting it pale green at the weekend..however, it won't be finished..only superficially finished, the inside and the back are to be carried over into the New Year!!!

2) put the fleecey blanket backing on the applique quilt top....so it can be used in the playroom this winter

- still in the to do basket, needs some stitching on the seams to make it sound for small people to use without wrecking it...it has got a fleecy back now though!!

3) sew the already cut out cushion cover for a 'v' shaped pillow.....fishy fabric, again for the playroom for those VERY early mornings I sometimes have to have with the boys!!- completed!!!

4) make some hot water bottle covers (need to buy more HW bottles too.....), using animal fleecey fabric and also repurpose a wool tank top I have....inspired by this....

- moving on........

5)send fabric etc out for the paper bag swap (after choosing!!), then panic about cutting into my partners fabric lol!!

- completed!!!

6)start thinking about christmas crafting......look for some more christmas fabric...some for home, gifts and swaps.I love the scandanavian red and white christmas look..but am in love with the new Ikea fabric as seen on Emma's blog!! And this Michael Miller one too...

- well I shall say completed, as I have thought about it and done some, but haven't had much time to do as much as I'd like...I have lots of fabulous fabric thanks to Sarah :)

7) plant the pretty violets and pansies before they die in their little pots (my usual trick).

- moving on.......

(will have to buy more..I am hopeless!!)

8) finish sewing the advent calendar and decide whether or not it needs a backing fabric..I think it might but 13 more pockets to machine stitch first...perhaps a teensy bit more embellishment too....

- completed!!!

9) bring the ideas for SCC swap makes to life.....the theme is destash, so anything goes as long as its from what we already have.

- completed!!!

10) do a tutorial for the bird mobile/dream catcher that I have made a few times for various people (as promised over at SCC)

- moving on again.....

11) make the blind for the little boys room (material bought in May...don't actually need the blackout now, its dark when they go to bed... but if I put it off any longer they'll have left home!!)

- and again.....

12) finish the dolls quilt I started on a whim......

- and again.......

13) turn another of my Grandma's embroideries into a cushion or something.

- yep you guessed it!!!

14) cut out favourite housey inspiration pics from the ever growing piles of mags...ignore husbands comments that he would just like the house to be finished :)

- well, this one wasn't important anyway lol!!!

Something tells me that I will be carrying some of these over lol!!! (no kidding!!)

We have a couple of weekends with guests and a weekend away with the boys so its possible that some things get missed...... Aswell as these, I have some necessary house 'to do's'!!
Including making my Christmas Cake (made ...2 actually!!)
So watch this space....I'll be happy to tick off half!!! (ha ha ha!!)

And of course there are additions to that lovely list, 3 fabric buckets cut out ready to sew for mum, completing the swaps I have signed up for, sewing up this lot....that is what 10 Christmas Stockings look like in their raw form!! More on that another day.

Oh and the christmas presents won't wrap themselves ....anyone else drowning???????

Charity Listing in Blogshop

I have just listed a Christmas Stocking in my blogshop...
The fabrics were donated by one of the lovely forum members at SCC who has a textile recycling business. She challenged us to make something saleable out of the items she would randomly send us.....
The proceeds will be donated to the forums adopted charity KIN - which raises funds to give children in Kenya a better life.
I'm enjoying making stockings at the minute....does anyone know where I can get myself an extra 5 hours a day????

how long will it last

Fabric cupboard finally sorted...so far I have taken a piece out and put it back lovely!! When I was sorting and folding and stacking onto the floor it looked like I had tons but now its been put away it doesn't look so bad :D
Had a rearrange of the shelves too...christmas fabric on the top...definately need more ;)
I started my christmas crafting, I made a stocking..the shape was great but the opening at the top wasn't wide enough to get pressies in and out...it annoyed me that it was a squeeze..so have cut out another pattern for one with a wider top!!
Also I can't remember how I found this fab tutorial..., I posted it over at SCC a while ago but have only just got round to making. Owl garland.
I tried it out a couple of weeks ago with a wool fabric as stated in the tutorial..I think it was my skill rather than the pattern but it looked terrible!! So I have made some today but with quilting weight fabrics...This one I interfaced as the fabric was thin but it was a problem turning. They are time consuming but fun to make. Next time I will maybe just cut once by ironing on the bondaweb to a piece of fabric rather than individual owl bellies.The green owls are not interfaced, when I string them I'll see if the interfacing was necessary. Bit late now mind, but I could spray some startch on..maybe?? please excuse crappy photographs - by the time I took them there was no light at all

The letters are stamped with normal paper ink on unbleached cotton...means I won't be able to wash them - which is a shame as I always wash my Christmas decs lol!!!

They will be finished at the weekend, need to embroider the beaks on and sew buttons for eyes, trouble is I need to buy some small buttons, I don't have enough that are small and matching. I tried beads but they didn't look right..

I could do with some more christmas fabric...and some more ideas for (easy) decorations!!! But at least I made a start.

My post today means I need to put my thinking cap on, I received a package from Rachel for the paper bag swap....love how she has decorated the paper bag, and love the fabrics she has chosen to send to me...

Its quite scary knowing its not your fabric to mess up!!

Rachel has taken a far better pic here and also of the fabric I sent.

No idea what to make as yet but its definately easy on the eye whilst I think!!!

the end of the month

Thank You to everyone who has offered to help me in my quest to find the little boys Christmas pressie... I am still a hunting and hopeful ebay will come up with the goods before long!!

I really haven't had the greatest of weeks, lack of sleep and discovering the baby has more food allergies than we first thought means I'm feeling really sorry for myself....so I'm sulking and eating too much, not the best idea when I want to lose a stone before my 'honeymoon' in NY in just a few weeks...about 6 I think?? (I've been preoccupied with Christmas forgetting our trip comes first).

Anyway I won't focus on the crap.....I have a few pics of what I have been up to......

tidying the workroom.....the shelves and drawers anyway, the fabric cupboard will have to wait.....

machine sewing the advent calendar...not quite there but it will be done before Christmas I have shocked myself!!!

Making and gathering some pretties for a charity auction for KIN over at SCC.

Winning a charity auction for KIN (lovingly put together by Mary Poppins) - oh what a delight this parcel was this morning..I wish you could smell it :) Mary's lavender smells more lavendery than mine!!!

Lovely fabrics for me to make lovelies with - my fave Cowboys (Mary also gave me some cowboy ribbon - will be treasured x) and my new fave green paisley.

lovely vintage postcards....need a changearound on my holders I think....

Thank You for a gorgeous and generous lot of pretties. xx

A bit of retail therapy, new boots, a new dress, a couple of cardies (although its been really hot here and so my new autumn winter wardrobe hasn't had much of an outing yet!!).

And this

lovely beach hut - lovingly and expertly made by elaine...who can be found here.....very fitting for my seaside home :)

I have done another swap....Lesley sent me some fab crocheted flowers that I wanted for a project...and I can not crochet :( - lucky for me Lesley can....she has blogged here about the swap.

(I also got a fab crochet brooch that I photographed then deleted somehow....)

I have received the latest Cath catalogue...yes another!!...and have started making my Christmas list lol!!!

love this jumper and as my hair is the same colour I know it will suit me lol!! The £75 price tag exceeds my what I will pay for a jumper limit though!!!!

still love this dress carrier -

and really love the london charm bracelet...I love the cowboy one too......

Also I was thrilled to hear that the new Sew! book will be out at the beginning of October rather than the end...mine has been on pre order and Amazon tell me it is due to despatch on the 2nd...however I have heard that someone (you know who you are....) has got hers today...here's hoping mine comes tomorrow!!!

Back soon with a WIP and to do list...have decided its the only way i'll get anything finished!!!

X

starting the week

Last week autumn was well and truly here for us on the east coast, the uggs came out from hibernation, there was a definate nip in the air.....by Friday we were getting caught out - chilly mornings and glorious sun by lunchtime...same today.....so in order to make the most of the sun and to stop small boys destroying the house.... we walked to the post office and came home the pretty way.Its a long time since I shared pics of where I live and I do tend to take it for granted. This pretty church is right next to the primary school where C will go in January, about 3 streets away from home.Below shows the spire from my big boys velux window.....

I have lived in my house for 4 years and only the other week started walking through the churchyard....lovely husband says that many moons ago as a teenager it was THE place to meet of an evening. It is well used and well cared for and I can't believe I haven't been walking this way home before now.Mum is moving in a week or so, and her new house is on the circuit between us and the post office so I can see us using this route more often. In fact there are many pretty walks nearby that I don't take advantage of, perhaps now my house is begin to be whipped into some kind of order I will make the effort to get out there more often.

Hmm....speaking of which!! I have had a good week or so getting organised in the home. The playroom is ready for Christmas, broken or never played with toys have been recycled, I am just about on top of the housework....its not perfect but I no longer circle cleaning companies in the local paper and tell A that the house is too big for me to manage ;)

Except one room....my work - slash - spare room.....It is an out of control tip.

I don't even know what I have anymore.
There is no order, no system and its beginning to drive me mad!!
These drawers contain some cardmaking stuff that mum gave me and I don't like cardmaking, so have decided will keep the blanks I have (I like bondawebbing felt and fabric to make the occasional card!) and get rid of the rest.....

The red case was thrifted and is on the to do list that remains in my head. I actually went upstairs to make a list of started projects, projects that have had special fabric bought to make and potential projects...but couldn't work out where anything was so...that is this weeks job when I get a child free moment....then I can get a list together, and get going!!

One project I have been doing is the advent calendar....here's how far I have got.... I now have to just bondaweb a couple of bits on and machine stitch the pockets to the backing fabric. Its not perfect but I am pleased with it, just hope I can stitch the pockets on without a disaster!!

I think I want to make another now I have recovered from the cutting and ironing of 24

small bits of linen!! But I have lots of other Christmas ideas, not to mention the pressies I want to make.....

So I'll be back once that workroom is straight...see you in a month lol!!

Crafty Corner

Finally we sanded and waxed the old school desk I won on ebay back in May - you may have gathered there is nothing rushed around here :)

I have wanted an old school desk for a long time. Specifically a double one. Last June, I missed out on a beautifully restored double desk that was local to me, when it went for £54.....I was on holiday and this was over my maximum bid.....not by much I have to say.....I did like it a lot...but what was I thinking!!

Since then I have had a saved search in ebay and nothing else came up that was local enough or nice enough. This one was not too far, and had a very low start price......because it was in a bad way...it had been well loved by the ladies 3 children and was full of biro, paint and stickers.....Its not as old as I would have liked probably only 1980's but its a double desk and the eighties are vintage now anyway lol!!

I forgot to take before pics as the sanding was a kind of spur of the moment thing...but trust me it had been very well loved!!

So we gave it a go...we said if it didn't come up well we would paint it (something else on the 'to paint' list so I did cross my fingers!!) and, its not perfect but we are very pleased with it.......

add a shelf we had bought an age ago and forgot about (too small imo but it'll do!!)

a hanging rail and plastic cups from Ikea (also bought in May!!)

and voila - a crafty corner for 2 little boys.

Not bad for £5!!!!

I lined the insides with some polka dot wallpaper - badly as you can see!

And that is phase 1 of sort the playroom complete...phases 2, 3 and 4 to follow, mostly involving toy chucking so has to be done during a child free hour or two!!

The home organising is going well, the house still feels clean and tidy and I am finding just as much time for crafting too...

Speaking of which, another advent calendar update...

Pockets now hemmed at the top and positioned how I want them so just embellishing to do now then stitch them on, which will be done on the machine.I hemmed the pockets with a running stitch in metallic gold thread...its horrible thread to use so doubt I will be using it in the machine, the metallic fibres kind of separated from the thread, meaning I had to start again a few times..

This message was waiting for me when I walked through the dining room last night.....from my eldest son.....Are todays kids really so dense that they ask for permission to do all the things we did behind our parents backs...I'm waiting for the mum I love you can I go binge drinking message lol!!!

Much as I am pleased the blackboards are used for lovely messages and enjoyed getting all those kisses...I still said no!!!