Give it away, not a giveaway!

Well where did SMS Giveaway Day come from all of a sudden - guess life still goes on even when I have taken myself offline more than usual - dammit - I will make amends tomorrow… I hope!

But what I have been making to giveaway are pressies for the kids' friends.

You may have spotted this on Insta-Face, but for those who haven't, and because I am quite proud of my paper-piecing achievement…

Made using the awesome free pattern, found here, I then transformed the 10" block into a tote bag for the girls' best friend…

And as mentioned before, I made an Anna pouch, another of Svetlana's lovely patterns for the party this coming weekend…

Please accept my apologies for the very yellow pics, it must have been the only sunny moment on Sunday!

So those are the latest makes; I have shopping and Bee blocks to share, but guess I better get my prize-making thinking cap on and bring up the SMS rear xxx

From the boy...

Stitching up a birthday present for a girl friend, not a girlfriend, who is having a Disco party in a couple of weeks.  Dear son asked her for her favourite colours and so I am hoping to finish turning this…

…into a pretty little Anna pouch this evening.  Svetlana is on a roll of awesome pattern releases at the moment, so do pop over for some beautiful inspiration.

Lola, L-O-L-A Lola, L-O-L-A Lo-la-ah!

I bought Svetlana's Lola pouch pattern as soon as I saw it!

A pouch, with binding - genius!

Needing to make a present for my sister's birthday, on Saturday I pulled out a nice little combo of fabrics, Priory Square, Cotton & Steel, Pat Bravo and Frances Newcombe prints…

This is an awesome pattern.  I only made the smaller size, but I want one, or two for me now.

I obviously finished the binding by hand; even with that, it was under a couple of hours in the making.

If you fancy a pouch pattern that is just a little bit different, and like having someone else do all the measuring and thinking for you, I can definitely recommend it.

I also finished up my secret C&S cushion (oops, did I say cushion!?), too, so not a bad weekend's work.

Back to the office today, kids in school, really looking forward to my day off on Wednesday!

Quick, make!

It's my sister-in-law's 40th birthday today, but more on that tomorrow, or maybe Sunday.  But whilst my attention had been taken up with that, I got caught short by my best school-mummy-friend's birthday.

So glad I have a go to pressie make eh!

She is now also in receipt of one of Jess's fine cards too; I bought my pack at FQR and I only have a couple left.

A quick job well done I say.

And so, thank goodness it's Friday; my battery is both literally and metaphorically at 4%, so I better hit publish now before I run out completely xxx

Man Present...

I promised you something a bit more interesting than my kids; oh that's not quite fair, but you know what I mean, so here you are...

My brother-in-law has a big birthday coming up, and I wanted to mail something to add to his collection of 'oh what on Earth is she going to send next time?' gifts!

Lots of Echino, a little Melody Miller plus some other bits and bobs from my stash, and I think suitably manly...

It finished up a little on the large size, 20" square, quilted with a mixture of Aurifil 40wt 2021, and the last few inches in Gutermann, because I ran out, dammit!

I have going from being totally unsure, to thinking it looks just the job; I just hope it receives a warm kiwi welcome.

Back tomorrow and I'll be linking up a little something with Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day, hopefully! xxx

Busy doing nothing...

...OK you know that can't possibly be true, but Mr Chimp had a day of rest, as did we all, but I have also managed to turn these...

... into birthday presents for the girls' friends for a few weeks time.  Photo finish tomorrow, I am back comfy on the sofa now, and not planning to move until bedtime.

xxx

Put the flags out!

I am going to go link with the Randomeers on Friday, (just to be extra random), because I failed in my photo assignment for Cindy, and will make amends tomorrow.  If you haven't seen her instalment today, you should, it's brilliant!

Today, some of the teachers were on strike, but the girls were still 'in', hubby and son had the day off, so I went to work.  I had my 'in-year review', which took hours, but set me up nicely for a trip to Tesco and then a pit-stop at the local fabric shop on my way home.

Tomorrow one of my fellow managers will be moving up into the village.  I had been dithering about whether to make some sort of house-warming gift, (bearing in mind no-one I work with knows I sew, or blog, or have this whole alter-ego going on!); but as soon as I saw Nova's bunting yesterday, dilemma resolved.

I bought some bias binding and a FQ of some Timeless Treasure pretty rose fabric, came home, and made some.  Just like that!

Apologies for the crappy pictures, the light was fading, and they will be all parcelled up before morning!

I remembered Amy's tip about using a piece of card to press the finished flags, and it worked a treat.  The flags are c. 4" wide and 5" long, and the bias binding in 1.5m.

I am still waiting for stuffing, but in the mail today...

It's bloody marvellous!!  The blocks all look beautiful, and the projects are gorgeous and I would still say that even if those super talented ladies, Kerry and Lynne weren't my friends!

I'll say a bit more about the book when I have made something from it, which I am hoping will be really soon!

So that's my lot, not long 'til the weekend, happy days.

Happy Birthday To Me!!

Considering the prospect of another Sports Day had somewhat cast a shadow, it actually turned out to be a really good day...

Great pressies; dear son came 1st in his sprint race, (I may have been heard cheering when another boy fell, guaranteeing our win, but hey!), a lovely lunch and a great big cake...

Thank you for all your birthday wishes, here and on instagram, I will get back to my Inbox tomorrow, but for now I am going to finish the binding on my Stitch Tease quilt.    




Buenas noches mis amigos xxx

In The Pink...

So Monday Blues is more how I am feeling, but I've managed to get the first make of the week under my belt already.

This was one of the things on my 'need to do' list; a birthday present for the girls' best friend for Saturday.

After tea, I turned these Walk In The Woods scraps...

...into this...

Water into wine, pah!

I had the notion to construct the front block in a scrappytripalong stylee, but the pieces were not conducive so I had to just piece it longhand.  It finished up at 15" square and plumps up nicely with a 16" cushion form.

Not thinking a real Staple Dress and a Super Tote will come quite so easily this week, but here's hoping xxx

Yo Mamas!

I started the day with a mountain of cards, a beautiful linen scarf, and a nice cup of tea...

We met my parents for a lovely lunch at Pizza Express in Sevenoaks and then detoured via one hellofalady to drop off the cushion and a couple of hundred paper hexies.

Anyone who knows Terri will nod sagely when I say a quick hello took about 25 minutes, involved taking photos, losing the dog and checking up on the family; obligatory laughter, many many hugs and plans for the future. 

Both purse and cushion were received with wide smiles, so my Mother's Day work is done.

Happy Mother's Day all you mothers out there; keep warm xxx

Going places...

New car, begging to go on a little road trip yesterday, we ended up in Chichester - a treat for me!

I bought fabric!  I needed some for a new Bee, I needed some for an idea I'd had for my sister's birthday present and I needed some for my sanity.  Eternal Maker to the rescue.

I now have Kei dots, only FQs, so don't shout at me...

I now have some voile, flannel and more herons...

And the postman also finally showed up with my last Christmas present from my sister c/o Amazon...

It looks brilliant, and I am thinking I need to make one of these soon, 20" zipper and all...

 Maybe for when I have somewhere to go in June?!

Is it Tuesday already?

Doesn't time fly when you are eating chocolate?!

I feel like I have had my cooking, eating and watching TV 'empty handed' fix, and now I am raring to get making again.

It might be something to do with these gorgeous goodies that have been in my possession since Christmas Day...

Fat 16ths of Lotta - Echo from my sister x

Echino, Aurifil and Liberty book from darling husband xxx

Or these that arrived Christmas Eve...

I was drawn in by Julie at the Intrepid Thread!

Winnings from Katy/Ginger Monkey x

More winnings, from Alison - Little Island Quilting x

I think I need to pick a last little project for 2011 before I go stir crazy!

Dead End...

Way back when the sun was hot and lounging on the deck was the order of the day, I cut a couple of Oakshott stacks into 9" squares for the Dead Simple QAL. 

They sat unloved in a drawer until earlier this week, when urgency struck!

Having first planned to make a full-sized table cloth, I changed this to a runner, as upon re-visiting, some of the pinks now seemed too bright, and with the whopper that is my parent's dining table, it was going to need a lot of sashing to bring it up to size.

So a bit of jiggery-pokery, and the best part of yesterday at my sewing machine and ironing board, and I managed to get the final Christmas present made. 

Afraid we are seriously lacking in the natural light and adequate space this morning, so the photos are bit lacking in style!

There is no 'quilting' as such, a simple 'right sides together, stitch round, turn through and topstitch round the edge' approach has worked just fine.

It measures a huge 250cm/100" x 65cm/26", and is backed with some IKEA linen type affair which is lovely looking but as stretchy and awkward as buggery to cut and sew!

The pressure is now off a little - so I am off to sort through the boxes of food I have been storing in the garage, I have no idea what's in there!

Thank you Archie!

Today's post is bought to you courtesy of Archie!  If it weren't for him, then I would have pretty much nothing to say except 'It's the holidays - hip hip hurray!!!'

Having logged off and come home from work for the last time until January 5th, and thinking things couldn't get much better, there was a superb parcel waiting for me at home...

Now if you want to find out how I ended up with said parcel, please check out this awesome post, video clips 'n all, but for those impatient souls, go on, take a look what was inside...

Want a closer look?  Please bare in mind there was a time delay between the first picture and the rest whilst I oooh'ed and aaaah'ed at Helen's handiwork, pondered whether I would share when the kids came home or not and stroked the Echo! 

For those who somehow aren't familiar, Helen is Archie's pet/owner and spokesperson; she makes beautiful things and is incredibly generous with her words, time and skills.  Archie is a rescue dog who is very very good at picking winners :)

So here's the detail - I am so in awe of these teeny perfect stitches...

Amazing huh!?  If unsuspecting visitors jump to the conclusion that this is an FB original, I won't be in a rush to correct them!

I feel so lucky; Helen you know this will be loved and has come to a good home, thank you xxx

If you have time for one last photo, this is what dear son bought home from school today - sewing!!  He is so proud and so am I!

Well I hope you get a good night's sleep (or a fun Saturday if you are of the 'other side of the world' persuasion), and aren't kept awake with the excitement of all the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway draws that will be going on! 

I'll be back in the morning with my winner!