Teachers...tick

The teacher Christmas gifts are complete.  It didn't take long to attach the buttons and pins, so I can show my face at school without a guilty conscience.

These are the best pictures I could muster under the dreary circumstances today...

I spent the rest of the morning making a couple of blocks for Bee Blessed, pictures to come, and piecing the backing and binding for my Retro Flowers quilt.  I am on a roll with this one, it is my 'want to' make rather than my 'have to' make right now.  I am hoping to get it basted and quilted before the end of the week so that I have some nice binding to finish off over the weekend.

This weekend is our only 'unfilled' weekend until the New Year, so in my head I am already planning a lazy Sunday afternoon on the sofa, stitching and snoozing, let's see what happens eh!

Travellin' Pic Stitch...

It's my turn at last!!  It seems like an age ago that Laura and Katy asked for volunteers to join them on their travels, and what travels they have been!


So I had a ponder, as is my way, and tried loading a few pics into the Play Crafts palette builder to firstly come up with my colour scheme.

I thought I would stay local, a local block for local people everyone!

For those who don't know this part of the UK, I live on the beautiful South Downs about 10 miles north of the West Sussex coast.  I work and previously lived in Worthing, a seaside town, predominately inhabited by the older generation.  On a sunny day, coach loads of even more older people descend to look at the sea.

Anyway, I tried some pics from my village...

 

A bit dull?

Some of the autumnal foliage...

A bit too, um, yellow?

A trip to the beach on a cloudy day...

Too grey, and too brown.

Another trip to the beach on a sunny day...

Perfect!

So I showed you my first attempt before...

Shocking to say the least!  But there was deep thought going on here, see those little diamonds on the front of the beach huts and everything!  I don't usually throw away any fabric but these, once they were partially sewn, were so horrible, dear friends, they went in the bin!

And so to my beloved Sizzix-cut hexies.  Now these I adore.  There was no plan other than fabrics I love and random.  So much more me...

A bit of a cheat?  Well the text print is from Crabtastic, and we all know that the British seaside is where you go to eat fish & chips out of old newspaper!

I immediately made this into a whopping Open Wide zipper pouch and have been using it for hexying on-the-go ever since!

So there you have it, my interpretation of my locality at its best.

Thank you for stopping by if you are new to my blog, and thanks to Laura and Katy for a superb idea, even if they were the only ones who actually got to gad about the Wiki-wiki Wild Wild West.

Tomorrow my lovely friend Sara of Sew Sweetness takes the TPS baton, and I cannot wait to see what she has come up with.

Don't forget that on 30th November everyone can link up for a chance to win these fabulous prizes!

Sponsored by Paperpieces.com, Fabricworm, Pink Castle Fabrics ,  Marmalade Fabrics, the Fat Quarter Shop, WantItNeedItQuilt, and Aurifil.

Full details for competition entry can be found here.

xxx

Here we go...

So I can tick off this week's first little task, hurrah, cutting the charm squares for Lolly-Jane's Low Volume Charm Swap.

I had plumped for some nice pale spots, but they had gone out of stock, so with a bit of to-ing and fro-ing of emails with Jo at the Brighton Sewing Centre, I opted for some more super-duper Velocity by Jessica Hogarth...

The buildings are a larger scale than the grey print that I used on Kelly's tote bag, and when the whole meter was laid out for a quick pre-cut press, I was a little sad to have to cut it up, it's such a great print.

But chopped I did, and now I will be able to get these in the mail and await an awesome mix back in return.

Now to get my Travellin' Pic Stitch post written for tomorrow...

Hop to it!

So now I have the birthdays under my ample belt, I, well not just me, have just over a month to get ready for Christmas.  I have a HUGE list!

This week I plan to finish the teacher gifts, (Helen, they were still in the same place they were this time last week), finish my Stitch Tease Secret Santa gift, make a couple of infinity scarves, crack on with my Mum's hexie cushion, cut my Low Volume Swap charms and piece the backing for my Retro Flowers for my own piece of mind!

I will also be appearing in two fabulous blog hops.

Tuesday is my day on the Travellin' Pic Stitch epic world tour; I have been using my finished make for weeks, after the horrible false start, I think I came up with the goods.


Then on Thursday, (please remember to pop back after your Thanksgiving creamed corn, my US friends), I will be offering up some Christmas ideas as part of the Sizzix Quilting Blog Hop, look who else is on the list...

Monday 19th November - Angela Southey

Tuesday 20th November - Tacha Bruecher/Fat Quarterly

Wednesday 21st November - Katy Jones

Thursday 22nd November - Hadley Gordon

Friday 23rd November - Lynne Goldsworthy

Saturday 24th November - Lory Bucaria

How excited, and perhaps a little out of my league, am I!?

So there's no escaping it, Christmas is well and truly coming, and I am going to be ready... ha ha ha!

I heart Pizza Hut!

To hold a party for 16 very noisy and enthusiastic 6 to 8 year olds, get them all to make their own lunch, eat a bit of salad and then a lot of ice cream, (OK that bit was easy), all without me having to prepare a thing; worth. every. penny.

The quick trip at the end by a poor Pizza Hut chap to Sainsbury, to get a birthday cake (they had not noticed we had ordered one!), was more amusing than annoying, (but then we didn't have to pay for it - bonus). 

No clearing up, no washing up, and considering the amount eaten, no throwing up.  A great party.

Dear son's birthday, even having to share the party with his sisters, has been declared another 'best one ever'.  The surprise Nintendo 3DS went down as well as the Leap Pads last weekend; so now they are all tech'ed up, bring on the quiet times, and fingers crossed, lots of sewing time for mummy!

Tomorrow, I can seriously start thinking about Christmas... just wait for the screams! x

Friday Night Deja Vue...

One more sleep until dear son's 8th birthday.

So I have spent another Friday evening wrapping presents and getting psyched up for the Pizza Party tomorrow!

So all done now, and I have just watched the Olympians/Children In Need number - oh I miss the summer!

Have a peaceful weekend chaps x

Random bits and karma...

I have had a rummage through the random photos and findings that haven't made it to the blog over the last week or so, so bear with...

When we went ice-skating over half term, I think I forgot to mention it was held in a church to celebrate the Festival of Light, (a tenuous link I am probably missing - walking on water?), but as we were leaving, I spotted this beautiful creation...

All the crosses are made by different methods, appliqué, embroidery, some crochet, beading and all sorts.  Each square was about 3", I took the photo on my phone and promptly forgot about it, until now.

On Sunday, we accompanied dear Beaver son to a different church for the Remembrance Sunday service...

All the uniformed groups marched about half a mile to the church; the village had not seen anything like it for 18 years apparently; it was such a success, they are already talking about a marquee in the graveyard and a TV link for next year as there wasn't enough room in church for everyone!

Last night whilst flitting through blogs I spotted both Krista and Nova's gorgeous 2 Zip Hipsters.  I had, (note, had) this pattern on my imaginary list of 'wants' for ages, and so how brilliant when I remembered I had seen it at Michelle Patterns, and look, it was only $5 until 25th Nov.  I have it now!

 

Another bargain to partake of, if you haven't heard already, shipping is free to anywhere in the world from Spoonflower today - so be quick... a lovely yard of Heather Ross Underwater Sisters is heading my way ;)

If you need a laugh, this is the funniest post I have read in a long time; you've heard of Jake the Peg, well this is Jan the Jeg!

And finally, don't let my beady eye scare the children; an unsuccessful photo to show you my new hair!  You'll have to trust me that it is the cut I wanted.

Linking with Cindy and the Random Thursday folks xxx

No time to lose!

Today I thought I would sort through all those home-school letters, invitations, club notices and what-not that have been piling up and giving me the evil eye from the corner of the kitchen for the last few weeks.

My first reaction was big !&*%@?! mistake, but now it is done, at least I know where and when I will be, pretty much every minute of the next 6 weeks!

I have filled in raffle stubs, paid for Christmas performance DVDs, mailed off all my completed blocks and swaps, and ordered fabric for another.

Take a look at my calendar, you don't need to be able to read my writing, but you can see the frequency of 'events'!...

Just bearing in mind, anything that appears in the kiddies' columns also requires parental involvement in the form of either driving to and fro', and/or costumes!  The next couple of weeks are just as full, and this is just the family stuff that I know about at this stage.  It doesn't include all the makery and things on my To Do list, nor Christmas shopping and all those preparations!!

So the arrival of a timely Stitch Tease block and accompanying card from my wonderful friend Di, told me what I should be doing...

... but for now, I am still resisting the urge to 'Panic and Freak Out'!

Seeing Red!

Actually, today has been rather fine with minimal red mist, (bloody cold-calling PPI touts, please be gone!); I got a good haircut with a new hairdresser, my cousin gave birth to a baby girl and I got to play with lots of fabric.

Before I even began on November's Brit Bee blocks I had to nip back out to the village for thread, not normally being one of the red-persuasion.  The local quilting shop saved the day again, and almost tempted me to a one-day FMQ class... maybe next year!

Anyway... lovely Sarah posted a mosaic of blocks by Marianne of The Quilting Edge (new to me), and it was a bit of a shocker!  OK, not so much of a shocker of Jennie's face-off block, but just a teeny bit out of my comfort zone.

But hey, that's what Brit Bee is all about, for better, for worse and all that!

So head down, a little sketching and then I came up with these...

I am really pleased with how they turned out, although the backsides leave a little bit to be desired (so not new to me), and I really tried to get some decent photos to show how rich the shot cottons are, but red fabric and dull days never play nicely.

Tips for my fellow BBs, I didn't use any of the interfacing, I did use some of the shot cotton for the curves, it's not quite so easy to handle as the regular cotton, but I did those 2 DP sections without pins too. Plan your under/over strips carefully, or you may end up having to do a right-angle seam if you wish to avoid a join; I cut my strips to 1 1/8" but probably could have stuck to 1" to get a 1/2" strip, as some of my pieces are a little over 1/2", sorry Sarah.  I pieced all the strips, no appliqué.  There are a few slightly wonky bits, but I am sticking to the tried and tested theory that some quilting and a wash 'n' tumble with get rid of those!

I hope these fit in with your vision Ms O, I am sure you are going to have a corker of a quilt!

On my plate...

...this week, is mostly birthday cake; it is dear husband's big day today, he didn't want anything handmade **gasp** so he had to settle for a Kindle Fire (without a quilted case, oh the shame!).

But whilst the birthdays are being ticked off, the Christmas list is rattling its cage for attention, so I started on the 'teacher' pressies already.

The felt I bought at the weekend was picked with this in mind.  I had a Sizzix die I was wondering what to make with, (I don't think that is even proper English, sorry), and so a new bunch of victims class teachers, means a new brace of Christmas brooches!?

I cut two sets of flowers and layered them up to give a nice weight brooch, the button holds all the layers together quite nicely.  Totally quick and easy, and so with the prototype deemed a success, I will get on and make some more and take some half decent photos... (then put them somewhere out of the way until the end of term, and then end up buying chocolates at the last minute when I can't find them!).

Speaking of Sizzix, keep 'em peeled my friends, fun stuff coming next week!

Oh and with it all being so busy here the last few days, I never got round to saying a big thank you to everyone who voted for my mini quilt over at Amy's Blogger's Quilt Festival - I did not win my category, Elizabeth-Don't Call Me Betsy did, but she probably has 6-squillion more followers than me, so that's my excuse, and I am sticking to it!

11-11

Happy Day!

It has been officially declared the best birthday ever by the girls, not bad as it is their 6th already!

It was an early start, but I managed to delay the first request for presents from 5.15 to 7am!

The pressies went down a treat though - we hid the Leap Pads until last, as we didn't want one spoiling it for the other; the cases fit!  Spot the picture when Ms P spies what her sister is opening!

We went over to Chichester at lunchtime, I popped into Eternal Maker for a pit stop; Anna is in Japan, on a buying spree with the Man from Del Monte Kokka, so no nattering, well maybe just a little.

Wool felt, AMH voile, Echino deer with glasses & Cosmo thread = happy me!

McDonalds for lunch and then Madagascar 3D for the afternoon.  It was actually way, waay better than I was expecting, and the kids all absolutely loved it.

Home for birthday cake, lots of Leaping, and now all is calm.  Well they are probably definitely still playing in their beds, but we can't hear them, so a success for everyone!

I love days like these xxx

One more sleep...

...if they would actually go to sleep!

I am sat here with a big bag of birthday pressies waiting to be wrapped, sellotape and scissors at the ready, but whilst the little darlings are still running about and chattering way too loudly, I am in limbo-land!  They are likely to come crashing into the room at any point.

So I shall make another cup of tea, track down some biscuits and wait...

I know, it's a very boring picture, but it's the best of a bad bunch this evening!

Sadly the late night will not mean a lie-in tomorrow, their body-clocks are as good at telling the time as they are!  Ooh, an idea for Christmas pressies!

It's going to be a long evening and short night; I hope your Friday night is more exiting than mine! x

Juggling...

I have so many balls up in the air right now, I am feeling just a little bit anxious that I have forgotten something major.

I have just sewn up a little Christmas project - I had the urge, and also the raw materials, so I can at least tick off one of my insane amount of  'to dos'.

I will try to clear my Inbox later and comment on as many blogs as possible, but in 5 minutes time my favourite lady on TV will be back on the box, so you will all have to wait in line behind Kirstie!

So as not to leave you picture-free, here is the current batch of hexies being taken from pillar to post, hoping to eventually be a Christmas present for my mum...

The low value fabrics are rather calming, which is just what I need right now.

Let the Panic begin!

At this time of year I get in a complete panic when it comes to thinking about Christmas. 

I have the small matter of all the others in the house having birthdays within a week of each other starting this weekend.  List writing goes into overdrive!

Today, to try to get something ticked off the Birthday list, I did some satisfying sewing for the girls. 

They had selected their own fabrics for a 'bag' each, which I said I would make for them.  But sneaky Mama instead turned them into Leap Pad cases. 

They have been going on and on and on about having Leap Pads, so we have told them that they would have to wait and see what Father Christmas is bringing; but only 3 more sleeps and they will find out!

I found this brilliant tutorial last night, and made this pair in a couple of hours this morning; and that included a lot of cutting pieces; I hate cutting.

A big zip pocket for extra games, Velcro to close, no fiddly buttons, nice flannel lining and fingers and toes crossed, once the consoles are out of their vacuum packed packaging, they will fit!

Next!

Voting Is Good!

OK, so all my American friends I guess you have bigger fish to vote for today, but there's another hard fought competition requiring your attention if you please.

Last night I found out from Amy that I had made it to the final of the Mini/Doll Quilt category over at the Blogger's Quilt Festival!  Not only am I completely thrilled, surprised and grateful to anyone who voted for my mini already, but I am in such wonderful company; that makes me happy.  Thank you so much.

There are my lovely real-life friends, Susan (Hand Quilting) and Sarah (Bee/Group), a sprinkling of Mouthy Stitchers and long-time long-distance bloggy friends.  So please pop over and cast your votes.

NB. you have to wait for the screen to refresh between votes, and the Mini Quilts are the 13th category of 15, so please persevere!

I am asking for your vote with a clear relatively clear conscience, as I am not up against friends, although there might just be the little matter of competing directly against the quilting superstar, Mrs 'Don't Call Me Betsy" Dackson; oh well, I can't miss what I never had ;)

So please vote for all your favourites, whether that includes mine or not; voting it good; voting is fun; voting makes you lots of friends and voting makes you rich and beautiful - you think I'm joking?  Well you won't know unless you give it a go!

Scrappy Swap... Sorted...

When Kat announced a few weeks back that she was going to be running a low-stress scrappy swap, who was I to resist?

Now I love mama-ing the Mouthy Stitches swap, despite the swearing which may appear to the contrary, (stop sniggering Susan & Cindy), but it sure is lovely to let someone-else take the strain.

When I received my (lovely) partner's details, I was easily able to pull a bundle of scraps which I hope are to her liking, OK it may be a bit more than an FQs-worth, (but who's measuring?), and then decided I would make a pouch of some description.

Emily's timely tutorial over at the Village Haberdashery sprung to mind.  I drafted the pattern under her guidance, made a couple of panels from scraps to the required size and got this little beauty made up yesterday...

I would love to keep it, I really would, so I will generously let my partner have 30 minutes to make a gushing comment over in the flickr group, and if she doesn't, I'll swap it out for something I'll be glad to see the back of!  Fair enough?

Emily's tutorial is brilliant by the way - I love the shape and size of the pouch, and will definitely make more for my family at Christmas.  I am now even planning on using my lovely bigger-balled frame, which I took to Retreat but didn't use as the pattern there was for a slightly different size frame.  Thank you Emily, you're a star xxx

Hurricane Sandy Help! Appeal

I woke up to torrential rain this morning, drove to the supermarket along flooded roads but knew I was going to be able to come home, put the lunch in the oven, do a bit of sewing and snuggle down with the family.  Others are not so lucky, and an hour here or there, indulging in what us fabric-loving-types like doing anyway, will make a difference to others who are not so lucky right now.

If you have already made some of these blocks, see you tomorrow!

If you have seen other blog posts about these blocks and not made any yet, why not?

If you haven't heard of the appeal put out by the lovely Jennifer of Knotted Thread, then please check out her initial post and the flickr group and then stitch up a block or two, pretty please.



These 4 took me less that an hour from selecting the fabrics to final seam press.  The tutorial to follow is nice and clear, and another method of making HSTs to add to my repertoire, bonus.

Are you still here?  Shoo!  You know what you have to do xxx

Wrap it!

Last night I finally got on and made myself the AMH infinity scarf I had been promising myself for too long. 

Do you get annoyed with yourself, when something you have put off turns out to be so quick and simple that you could have made it ages ago?  I even made one for my sister at the beginning of the year, so it wasn't even as if I didn't know!

Well as the colder days are well and truly here for the duration, I am pleased I have this pretty all sewn up...

You didn't think you'd see me modelling did you!?

I have enough fabric to make another, but I may combine the voiles with some flannel, but I'll probably ponder on that one for ages too!

Tonight, I think more hexie basting is on the cards, and tomorrow I am hoping to get my Scrappy Swap item made - it's my 'pre-return to work, and keep too busy to think about it' plan!

Playing tag...

I have two cousins expecting babies in the next month, so I thought it was about time that I got myself a little organised; half-term has not been conducive to much sewing.

Making them both quilts just seemed too emotionally hard this time around, with everything that should have been happening in the coming months, but I still wanted to make a little something each.

So I went back to baby-basics and whipped up a couple of taggie squares...

These are 12" square, with cream dimple minky and some of the fun Japanese fabric I purchased from Dana's destash a week or so ago.  Each ribbon is quadruple stitched for security, and I think will be appreciated by the mummys and daddys and eventually the babies-to-be. 

xxx