Smiley Faces...

Despite the rain, we spent a fun morning at the library with a few friends and a visiting author…

Sam Watkins talked about how she became a writer and read from her first book Creature Teacher; there was then some creative drawing, show and tell and obligatory book purchase and signing.  The kids enjoyed themselves, I got to have a natter, and for £5.99 I think that was a morning well spent!

After lunch I stitched up 14 emoji key/bag fobs for the impending birthday celebrations…

Not bad for a potentially miserable day stuck indoors xxx

Just blowing through...

The kids went to the cinema with their Auntie and cousin this morning, there was just the small matter of the gale force-winds and horizontal rain to negotiate to get them to The Dome on Worthing seafront!

We took refuge in the Moshi/child-free zone of the M&S coffee shop and watched the world blow by.

If you have come here seeking stitchery, here's a little teaser...

I promise to get the sewing machine out soon, as I am more than aware that I am bringing you here under false pretences!
xxx

Medal WInners...

The kids all finished their Creepy House reading challenge at the Library...

So proud!

Got to love something that keeps them quiet for a while; although I could have lived without the hours and hours of looking for misplaced books under beds before we could take them back; don't they realise I have fabric to play with!?

Summer holiday hexies...

Without 10 days of guaranteed wonderful sunshine to look forward to, I think I would go barmy.  So thinking ahead, I decided to turn my hexies into a great big beach bag.

It's a whopping 21" from top to bottom, plenty of room to fit in all the towels, lotions, goggles and biscuits for a day at the beach...

It's going to make me happy to keep looking at it until we head off to sunnier climes!

I quilted the hexies onto some fusible fleece and used most of the remainder of my parent's curtains, so another bargain make, and my second FAL finish too.  I promise, as soon as I go back to work on Monday, and-slash-or, the sun ever comes out again, my output is going to plummet, significantly!

This rainy afternoon though was spent cutting tiny pieces of Liberty and the rest of the fabrics for my Marcelle Medallion; a horrible job, but no-one else was going to do it for me.  But now I am free to piece to my heart's content.  Happy days xxx

A Lot More Sunshine...

... so a lot less crafting.

OK, so less might actually mean none at all, but I did get some books out of the library, so it at least it looks like I am in a sewing frame of mind.

The kids have spent most of the day in the paddling pool, (which makes it sound a lot grander than the 36" diameter inflatable it really is), and trying to master Swingball.

I have just been lying in the sun, pretending to be on holiday; I'm shattered!

Woo Hoo for the Holidays!

Yep, that's me and the kids done for another 61/2 weeks!

Presents given and 'thank you for helping' card received, work pass hung up, dear son's rock-pool sewing project brought home and a big old pile of washing...

... so happy for now; even though by Tuesday we will probably be driving each other potty!

*** Don't forget, the Giveaway closes on Monday ***

I heart Christmas!

I have finally finished, I really really hope, making hearts for Christmas!

Last night I finished the Teacher pressies, and I have just wrapped them all ready for the morning...

I quite like this one, it is more of a squished heart than the others, as I was down to my last pieces of red felt, so a few more buttons were in order - the photo doesn't show just how bright they all are.

I also made another brooch, this one really is for my Mum...

I still have a few felty makes on the cards for my nearest and dearest, but the parliament of owls seems to have been abandoned for now - I have a New Year cunning plan, but I really cannot be thinking that far in advance just now, I have the small matter of a Dead Simple quilt to make by this time next week!

Before I set to answering Comments, or emailing a Wish List or two to my wonderful, gorgeous, generous husband, I must write our Christmas cards, otherwise they won't be landing on doormats until well into 2012.

It's the last day at work and school tomorrow, as long as the forecast snow and gales don't cause too much disruption, and I can't wait :)

Looky looky look!

Look at this strange phenomenon!!

It seems like a long time since we last saw shadows!

The sunshine enabled the girls and I to quickly nip to town for new phones, for me and Daddy, not them...

This is just the box, unfortunately I am not in Barcelona!

... pop into the fabric shop for the right pink thread for my mum's binding, and get home and out in the garden to spray baste the birthday quilt.  All this before the last school run for 6 lovely weeks!  So I am pretty happy, and I am now off work until September too!

My lovely fabrics for the Rainbow Swap 2 were also waiting when we got home, so I can get on and cut my 112 charms this evening...

So it should be the beginning of good times round here - the mind is so willing, but the body is resisting; next week I already have the dentist, opticians and a physio session booked!

Thank you for all the guesses yesterday - one guess was quite close, but does not encompass the whole gory glory of the finished article!

For those not lucky enough to be embarking on the summer holidays, it's still the weekend, and you could still be the winner!  See you tomorrow, bright and early, maybe x

That'll be typical holiday weather then!

After a gorgeous day yesterday, including a trip to the beach, today was just what we were expecting from a half-term holiday, rain.

This morning we had our house valued by our buyer's mortgage company and I sorted a 'nursery' package to sell via the local twins club, to start clearing some room.

My babies' things!

...and I have just finished the mini Bliss quilt!!  I will take some pictures in the morning light.

I also wrapped and addressed Tracee's parcel all ready to post tomorrow.

Busy, busy busy...

Saints & Pinners...

This morning's trip to town for school shoes was very successful in the shoe department and for fabric goodies!

We picked up my parcel from the Post Office, (missed whilst in Portsmouth), and found my lovely scrap rolls from Saints & Pinners. Beautifully packaged, I had to take a photograph before opening, and I am a very happy girl! Thank you Jo and Fran, I will definitely be back for more!



I also did an about-turn with my Freebird quilt and got some cream with mini white polka dot backing and some chocolate brown for the binding, and so solved the white quilting thread dilemma. I am planning to add some of the freebird fabric that I am awaiting, to give the back a bit of interest.

Last day of the school holidays tomorrow, and those name tags are not going to sew themselves! Oops!

TFI Friday!

Well dear son and I did a few chores and dropped off our signed papers at the estate agents today; so after the bank holiday, it will be all systems go!

Another rainy day, so I had to have a spot of online retail therapy over at Prints to Polka Dots again! I have also spent too long lusting over the fabrics on Saints & Pinners and M is for Make.

Hope you all have a happy Long Weekend, especially all those who are having a 'weather/what-to-do' predicament; and to all those with just a regular 2-day break, enjoy anyway!

Holiday Report...

Well the washing has turned into ironing, but the sun shone today so at least we are not surrounded with soggy socks and towels.

Cornwall was great. The kids were not on their totally best behaviour, but they could have been a lot worse; they coped pretty well with the 8 hour car journeys (better than me!), and the weather was kind, only a day and a half of rain, which didn't affect our trip to the Aquarium, or a spot of retail therapy.

Our chalet at Notter Mill was perfect, the site was so quiet, the swimming pool a little chilly (but that didn't stop me) and the blackest black at night; we'd go back, and we are very picky!

Eden was as brilliant as ever - we had a great day, even did a bit of 'den-building' and a lot of shopping!

Other things we did included Looe Monkey Sanctuary, a Maize Maze (we spent an hour trying to retrace our steps to escape the 3 miles of paths of 8' high corn, managed to find 3 of the 10 puzzle stations, more than once, but admitted defeat and retired for pasties and the play area!). We also spent a chilly morning at the tiny beach at Cawsand.

My plans to make lots of 'felt things' fell at the first hurdle - eco-lightbulbs are not made for sewing! I tried and failed although I did take advantage of the rainy afternoon and made these for the girls and myself:

The pictures are a bit blurry, but you get the gist.

Last night I ordered some fabric to make the girls their quilts, a (hopefully) really good website - I will let you know the details when the fabric arrives. About £1.50 per FQ, and £2 for Amy Butler, which I thought was fantastic!

We have come back with itchy feet and are planning on moving along the coast, so bring on the stress! Having taken a drive round our preferred locale this morning we are are now raring to go... I will keep you posted!

Hi ladies, I'm home!

So much to tell, but it will have to wait until tomorrow as I am shattered!! Lots of pictures to upload, but barely any crafty business to report I'm afraid.

Hope you are all well - will catch up with everyone after a good night's sleep and 8 loads of washing :(

Eden, here we come!

I have been browsing the Eden Project online store and I am already excited at all the gorgeous things they have to tempt me! The bamboo nesting baskets and Eden sketchbook already have my name on them, and I would love a deckchair to while away sunny afternoons.



For anyone who has never made the trip to Cornwall to seen the magnificent biomes and landscaping, it is fantastic. Eden is not to be missed. Their website just doesn't do it justice; we have been twice before, and are looking forward to see how it has evolved and changed since our last trip 4 years ago, when I was pregnant with the girls.

We're all going on a summer holiday...soon!

OK I may be exaggerating a little, but this is how it feels getting packed for all weathers, five people, at least 3 of which will want or need to get changed about 4 times a day for a week! We need a bigger car!

All sorted...

Well Gaz and Charlotte will be having a wonderful weekend at Big Chill c/o yours truly, they seem like a sweet couple, so I know I have passed my win on to deserving folks.

I think I should pay my due to the designer of the sock monkey, KatieMac. Her monkeys are in a league (troop?) way above mine as you will see in her Folksy shop.

The house is starting to show signs of an impending holiday, piles of clothes, cases and towels in unexpected places, the children will now be clothed whatever the weather.

I have stocked up with felt, buttons and thread to try my hand with some 'smaller stuff' whilst we are away - I will try to remember to take plenty of photos of my attempts to be creative.

Mostly 'armless!

Monkey number one is almost complete, and I only started him after lunch!

Only arms and eyes to go, but I am waiting for better daylight tomorrow as my top-stitching isn't the neatest at the best of times, and I am feeling weary!

I didn't venture to the Open Homes after all this weekend. A shame, but I had a constructive and creative weekend, including post-it sticking all the things I want to try in the latest Sew Hip and back issues.

I need to start thinking about our holiday - less than a week to go, and I have written a list of 'things to do', but tackled none...

Schools out!

6 weeks off work - how happy am I?

I have spent the evening trimming 60 squares for the cowboy quilt, and dipping biscuits in chocolate and sprinkles for the nursery summer fair tomorrow morning. Not exactly a cookery masterclass, but 3 year-olds will love them.

Another follower today, (Hi Helen), I better start trying harder and sewing faster! Night Night x

Poor Peter Pointer!

I have completed the quilting - machined diagonal straight lines, looking good; and hand finished the edging to the top and bottom, so my right index finger is now sore! No pointing for me tomorrow! Hopefully I will get everything finished by this time tomorrow - I can't wait, I am really chuffed.

Only 3 more mornings of work until the holidays! Dear son got his first school report today - brilliant, so proud of him; this time last year he could read and write his name and not a lot else, but now there's no stopping him. Obviously a genius, like his mummy! His Cath Kidston Cowboys arrived in the post today, yee haw!

Where did the time go?

Another weekend over - and I have got the quilt top all sewn up! It does look far better than I ever thought it would, and for my first attempt, most of the blocks match up! I'll take some photos tomorrow.

I have just bought some Cath Kidston fabric squares on eBay, the classic Cowboy print for my son - he has placed his quilt order, so who am I to say 'No'! I have my eye on some blue and red mixed lots of spots, stripes and gingham which I think will all go together nicely.

This time next week I won't be full of the usual Sunday night angst as I'll be starting my summer holiday! Term-time working is the best (well better than working all summer anyhow!).