My Siggy Block...

I love Brit Bee. 

All my wonderful friends helped make my Constellation quilt the stunner that it is, (Alison, I'll tell you about it some day!), and since then I have gone on to make more and more of Katy Jones's inspired stars.

The latest is for Susan's Brit Bee 2 month, asking for a star or stars on a charcoal background, it was a no-brainer for me.

So here is the latest, and sorry Susan I have kept you hanging all day to see this, but I have been finishing off a pair of 'thank yous', so actually you could just blame yourself (or Trudi!).

Susan added a second solid to all the fabric packs she sent out, which was perfect for the secondary star...

It will measure in at 24" and I used Madam Pings' super-duper, quick and easy trim-tastic method of getting those HSTs all nice and squared.  If you haven't seen Sarah's post over at Rhonda's, have a look!!  Honestly it works, and with the added luxury of a new rotary blade, (why oh why do I struggle on with a blunt one for so long, every time!?), this was effortless!

I hope you like it my friend - it will be winging its way to you with a load of other things very very soon, well Saturday, probably!

Congratulations & Commiserations!

It was my Grandma's 90th birthday today.  So we took a trip along the coast to Bexhill, cushion at the ready.

The 'back' was greeted with enthusiasm, and then so was the 'front'!

I think we can count it as a success, as the immediate concern was where it could be put so that she could see it when in her room - I went and deposited it at the foot of the bed - no missing it there!

We had cake; the kids got over their initial shyness, then politeness, and were their regular selves by the time we left.  We said our goodbyes and went for lunch at the De La Warr Pavilion and took a look around the Warhol exhibition.  I have 4 year olds who recognise Chairman Mao!

Home to find Judith's Bee block awaiting my attention - thank you J xox - if it stays dry tomorrow, I will get those beauties on the line for all to see.

After tea, we had sparklers in the garden, then a good hour or so lights off, watching all the neighbours' fireworks from the bedroom window; indoors, warm, eye-level and free - great eh!

Whilst the small folk shreaked, ooohed and aaaghed, I basted the Man Quilt on the conservatory floor, so now it is all ready for quilting.  I think I have decided on 'how', it needs to be finished rather pronto, but for sure, no FMQ!

In other awaited news, I came 3rd in Pings' Japanese Scrap Bag Challenge, pipped by 3 votes for 2nd place by Eilidh's stocking and the pair of us basically trounced by Ali's Baby Booties (you broody lot!).  Congratulations Ali xxx

Source: veryberryhandmade.co.uk via Hadley on Pinterest

Thank you so so so much to everyone who voted for me - it was really excellent fun - thanks Sarah and Anna for being a great 'team', and well done to all my fellow competitors - this was such a wonderfully spirited competition and I am proud to have played my part xxx

Scrap-a-lap-a-ding-dong!

Firstly, have you made up your mind who you want to back in the Pings & Needles Scrap Bag Challenge in association with The Eternal Maker?  Cue huge fanfare!  Details on how you can vote are at the end of this post.

Yesterday, I decided I needed a tick (always need a tick), and between twinny haircuts, DVDs and a trip to the park, I knew sewing was going to be a tad difficult, so it was time for a 'wreath'.

I remembered seeing one in a magazine last Christmas, and there are plenty on Pinterest using a variety of hoops, rings and flower-arranging accessories.

So I went for a humble dry-cleaner's coat hanger and bent it into a circle round an upturned waste-paper basket.

I didn't keep count of the number of strips I cut, but it must have been in excess of 200.  I plumped for approximately 1" x 9", as I found a lot of scraps that fitted the bill, along with some fat eights and polycotton just asking to be used.  I don't ordinarily like red, but it is Christmassy, so it was a great project and dodgy-stash buster in that respect.

I simply tied the strips to the ring, squeezing in as many as I could in semi-random order.

'Semi' in that I tried to evenly sort the different scraps into 4 piles first, each to fill a quarter of the ring; this ensured that after the first quarter I could see I had cut enough.  There were also a few bits of sparkly netting tied in for good measure.

So I reckon I get to have a tick on my Winter Stitching list, (OK, so there was no actual stitching, but it's fabric and crafty and all the things I love, plus it's my list):

9.  Another grand crafting gesture for our Christmas home!

You don't get more grand than putting something 'out there' for everyone to see, whether they are invited in, or not!  I just hope no-one takes a fancy and pinches it when I put it out on December 1st!

OK, build up over...

Time to Vote 

Please head over here and decide our fate!

May the best scrap-bagger win!

Game On. Part 3...

The one with me!

Yep, today is my chance for fame and glory; OK maybe just a couple of extra visitors who don't normally venture this way, and that's good enough for me... hello!

So the final trio to be showcased by la Pings, for the Japanese Scrap Bag Challenge are Bianca (no blog), Emily (Strawberry Patch), and moi, FB!

I know I have shown you my entries time and again on flickr, and here, but what's once more between friends?

Voting starts tomorrow,  I'll post a link - I am helpful like that.

A quick re-cap, 'we' received a scrap pack each, with which to make something fab.  The winner will receive a year's membership of the wonderful Eternal Maker's Japanese Swatch Club, that's six 5" charms per month to fondle feel the quality and make pretty things!  How awesome is that!?

This is probably the first time I have wished that any of my real-life friends and family knew I had a blog!

Good luck everyone xxx

PS. Today I made a scrappy wreath - I will show you that, if you come back tomorrow x

A mixed bag...

Lots to impart tonight...

Firstly please pop over to super-Sarah's blog, Pings & Needles and read about how she and we can help via Modern Relief Japan - I think the reasons need no explanation here, but the how to get involved isn't always so obvious, so do take a look.

Feeling like you should be on the telly? (Like you do!) Then take a look at last night's MADE post.  It got me all giddy for about 2 seconds before I remembered that I really didn't want to look like a twerp on national TV, especially in front of my heroine!  But if you are a bit more gutsy than me - Kirstie Allsopp is looking for crafters to join her for a new series!  If anyone wants to join her, and needs a lift - I'll play taxi driver, bag carrier and general dog's body for the day!

And lovely talented Verity at Miss Ginger Makes is having a giveaway!  She has a copy of 'Knit Your Own Royal Wedding' that could be mine/yours, how funny is that!?

Finally the postman was my friend today, some of my recent purchases arrived... yum!