Sunny Spot...

Between the homework and ironing, when the kids and himself went out and about to let me have a little headspace yesterday, I finally stitched up the birthday present that was needed for last night's 'late night disco', (yep, an Inset day today, I know, already), and the sun even came out for the photo call…

Jeni Baker's free pattern is always a good, stress-free little make, thankfully, because apparently last year's zippy pouch and key fob went down so well, shop-bought was not an option.  I had my orders.

Today, hubby was on Inset duty as I had a course at work.  An all-day course.  I have not worked a full day for 10 years!  To say I am exhausted is an understatement.

It was nice to come home to a present of biscuits - made by the kids, decorated by daddy…

Forgive me whilst I go rest my brain with a cuppa and the last crumbs!

Colourful Day..

Today was my last day in work before the Easter break - yay!

So I am not sure why, but last night I needed to make a new pass lanyard!  Totally coveting the one Svetlana made the other day, I grabbed the remainder of my floral bundle and knocked this up during EastEnders...

It made me happy anyway!

But perhaps not as happy as when I got home from work and retrieved an unexpected parcel from the neighbour...

A couple of weeks ago I was scuppered by a rogue spool of Aurifil; a few breaks and random threads caught up mid-reel; but Mr V offered to replace it, and he also popped in some awesome extras after he kicked butt on the production line (his words not mine!).

And so there may be a huge pile a school uniforms and PE kits that need washing, plus the house needs a good clean and tidy, but it's Friday night and quite frankly I am happily ignoring it all and watching Masterchef xxx

Back at it...

... and I am shattered.

I was back in the office before 8 o'clock this morning, driving into work in the dark was not my idea of fun, and it didn't get much better, but it pays the bills.

When I got home, I used up the last of my energy reserves and stitched up a few more #economyblockalong pretties to cheer myself up...

I really like these ones; and already the dodgy duo are blending in nicely...

My inbox has been cleared, I have read through my blog reading list, and I anticipate an evening of snoozing in front of the TV and an early night.

TFI Friday tomorrow 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.

Water water everywhere...

I can see the sea from my office. 

Today we got an unexpected day off as a mains pipe from the reservoir burst and without drinking water on another hottest day of the year, and more importantly, no toilet-flush action, it was the only option.

Having driven all the way in, I helped lock up the filing cabinets then headed into town and got fully 'Gok'ed' up with my new glasses and sunglasses.  I now have a headache, as the increase in prescription is a bit of a big one, so keeping this short and sweet.

I got an afternoon in the sun, hubby got to cut the hedge and the sum total of my sewing was this...

Dear son got his Housework, home-help, or some other token gesture lady badge!  This evening he did tracking in the woods and rolling about in dirt, much more fun!

The conservatory/sewing/dining area is maintaining a steady 32 degrees, so not conducive to much; we have been eating outside since last week, but dragging the sewing machine out to the wobbly picnic bench is not really an option.

Still, we know it won't last, so I should have proper things to show you soon.  Keep cool xxx

Friday!

Yep, Friday; I have worked a 2 day week, and that was 2 days too many; the Christmas decorations are now all packed away and the house seems a little bare after 2 months of Birthday and Christmas cards covering every surface, but on the plus-side it's been a year to the day that we moved to our lovely home, and I still get a buzz living here.

I am determined to give the house a good clean tomorrow morning and get some serious sewing done on my Brit Bee Constellation quilt this weekend; hopefully I'll have some siggy stars to show you at the least.

Thankfully I have had a couple of good mail days to bring my smile back on getting home.  Yesterday, this awesome bundle from Brenda at Pink Castle, although I bought these fabrics, it still felt like an awesome present had arrived...

I have now decided to bind my Bee quilt in the aqua Joel Dewberry herringbone; I would love to say this was the plan when I ordered the fabric, but that would be a fib, but it is a great result!

I am totally smitten with the scissors...

... and these are just pure fun!

Then today I got a parcel from Benta; she spent some time out in Australia just before Christmas and came home laden with fabric, and kindly offered FQ bags to her eager followers, that'll include me then!

I love this take on the traditional Aboriginal patterns, and it goes without saying that I love the keychain.  Thank you B x

I know I am not the only one who's had a less than perfect week, so here's to a happy weekend for us all xxx

Birds, Bees and Unicycles!

It's been a fun packed day for the FB household today.

Grandma and Grandpa took the 3 small folk to see Mother Goose; the Sevenoaks pantomime with stars such as Leslie 'Dirty Den' Grantham and The Demon Headmaster (?); by all accounts a very fun time was had by all, and sleep came very easily for them tonight.

Whilst this was going on, I met a fellow Brit Bee for the first time!

Picture the scene...
Me:  (ding dong doorbell)
Pretty lady: Hello?
Me: Hello (big insane grin) - you don't know me, well you do, but you don't...
Pretty lady: (thinking 'help, it's a nutter!!!!!')
Me: I'm Hadley...

There followed about half an hour on the doorstep, grinning, hugging, laughing, talking incessantly, more ginning, hugging and general excitement.  I was only meant to be putting a birthday card through the door.

I had my camera, but I forgot about that along with my husband in the car; so you have to trust me, I was there, with Terri, and she is amazing. 

I won't go on about how brilliant she is too much, otherwise that head of hers will get so big it will no longer fit in that fantastic pink knitted wig of hers, and her daughter was equally fab riding up and down the street on a unicycle, entertaining my poor neglected husband. 

Apologies to all non-Brit Bee readers, you will just have to imagine the awesomeness of meeting up with Terri - if you remember the Project 51 quilt, you will have a inkling of what this means; even if we were talking too much to even go see the quilt!  Terri, you haven't sold it have you?

Headache...

My day has been a physical and metaphorical headache, ending up with me grabbing an hour in bed after tea.  So not like me.

Hours of staring at a screen full of numbers and nonsense rather than blogs, fabrics and lovelies just makes my head spin. 

So today's making has been limited to this little pretty...

However I am determined to pull all the fabric I need for my second swap mug rug before bedtime.  I have been sketching, stalking and pondering for too long now and I need to get busy!

TFI Friday tomorrow!  No stamina eh!

Back to the old routine...

Eugh!  Back to work, back to being Mum the The Taxi, and back to cramming in a day's worth of fabric and sewing into a couple of hours at the end of a jam-packed day.  So in anticipation of the fun in store today, I whipped up 20 more mini scrap blocks last night...

I am not sure if I have changed my cunning plan, or just tweaked it!  It wasn't a plan on paper as such, just a vision, and the vision needed more mini blocks!!

This evening I have finally basted the Dresden, and now I am going to try a little embroidery experiment... so not that bad a day in the end.