Gordon's Alive!!!

Yup, still here, you don't get rid of me that easily I'm afraid!

So 'Happy New Year' one and all.  I had planned on blogging a little over the holidays, but honestly, switching off, literally and metaphorically was really bloody lovely.

Christmas was a family, food and TV-fuelled affair; the kids had a wonderful time too, and that's what matters.

The only fly in the ointment was my car's power-steering pump failing, so an unexpected home-rescue and unplanned-for expenditure wasn't the best timed.  It must have broken as we arrived home on Christmas night, but within an hour of discovering a problem on Bank Holiday Monday, the car had been towed to the garage by a literally passing RAC man, (here before I got off the phone), and he'd dropped me off at my sister-in-law's in time for lunch!  The garage were stars as always and had it fixed by New Year's Eve.  It could have been so much worse!

Today dear husband and son were back to the daily slog, the girls had an Inset day, so we have packed up Christmas for another year.

I have also managed a little sewing already, but more on that soon.

I meant to get photos of all my Christmas makes, but easier said than done, I will try to remember tomorrow.

I didn't link up with the 2015 Q4 FAL, because of the 4 I listed, I finished nothing!  Although Helen has won my hexies which I am ashamed to say are still awaiting an additional prize before I mail them, so that's my other goal for tomorrow!

For rest of the year I am planning on getting stuff finished too.  My WiP list is actually at an all-time high/low, and they are all things I really want to finish.  So I am going to try not to start anything new until I have finished at least one WiP; old, new, old, new or maybe even old, old, old!  Well it's sort of a plan.

I am also going to try to get into a better blogging rhythm, although I have not quite decided what that means yet.  I don't want to feel obliged to blog when really I have nothing to say or show, life is too short for us all, but I don't want the tumbleweeds to take over!  Let me have a ponder.

2015 was not my favourite year by a long shot, so I am really pleased to shut that door and look forward to happier times.  It goes for my blog and online presence as well as my private life, I am going to focus my energies on doing things that make me happy, cutting the clutter, (3 bin-bags of clothes to charity already today!), numerous apps deleted, and procrastination and heel-dragging are things of the past.  My word of the year will be lighter.

Now I just need to burn off all that Christmas cake and even more scarily, venture into my Inbox!  I doubt there is anything important amongst the Sales and unbelievable and probably out of date season's offerings, but best be brave, I may be some time!  xxx

Secrets and pies...

Only one more morning at work, then I will be free to catch up with myself, my blog, a giveaway, oh and Christmas!

Today I mailed my Secret Santa gift for the Brit Bee ornament swap and despite having received mine on Saturday, I thought it only right and proper not to open it until I had been to the post office and fulfilled my side of the deal!

So I ripped into the wrapping the minute I got home today, and here's what was inside…

Thank you so much Secret Santa, you spoilt me, and I know who you are, (what's with all the questions!?).

I'm sorry my picture doesn't do sparkly justice to the tiny cross-stitched Santa; and I am not going to mention the treats in the foil!  I have realised that this Christmas-time I am not going to be able to show you any secret stitching or anything, what with the now highly-teched up small-folk in the house!

I am so lucky to be in this amazing Bee, I love all that we do, especially our newest member, mwah!

... and relax!

By 9am, the kids were in school, hubby was in work, I had already gathered all the christmas from around the house, and in two hours it was all packed away ready for the loft, the house was hoovered, dusted and returned to a passable level of hygiene, and all was calm once again!

I do love Christmas, but I also love the feeling of space that returns again, once everything is over.  Lovely.

So not content with an ordered abode, I then messed it up, pulling most of my stash out to cut all the fabric I wanted to use for a little #economyblockalong action...

Last year, actually the end of 2012, I made a wall hanging for the smallest room in the house.  Multiple Little Reds have peered down at us doing our business since then, and now I think it is time for a change.  The girls already have dibs on the incumbent, and so I cut all I needed for a 30"x 35" wall hanging; 42 5" blocks using Rita-Red Pepper's cutting guide.

I find fussy cutting and pulling so many fabrics a bit stressful; going completely scrappy goes against nature, control freak that I am, but I did it; there are some repeats, but I am pretty confident that it will work.

Time and trimming will tell xxx

Stag!

Last and by no means least for the Christmas reporting, hubby requested a stag brooch/badge as his handmade gift this Christmas, so who am I to say no!?

A googled free image, nice quality wool felt from Eternal Maker, some man-flannel left over from last year's man-makes and a little hand-stitchery around the edges.  I think it ended up about 3" tall.

Christmas requests fulfilled.

Merry Christmas...

Here's to a perfect Christmas!

Almost half of Christmas Eve was spent without power, so to all those whose plans have gone a little haywire, my thoughts are with you especially!

Peace xxx

Done Deal...

I have finished my Christmas making and it feels so so good!

The table mats are ready to wrap; lesson learnt from yesterday, I took photos whilst the daylight was good, albeit before I tied off and buried the threads, but at least they look pretty much how they do in real life.

A charm pack of Bluebird Park and natural Essex Linen from Fabric HQ and all eight actually do measure up at 12" x 15", not huge. but plenty big enough for when there are that many round the table.

I am going to have to start canvassing ideas for next year, as my parents now have their quota of the big makes, or have they earned a year off?!

That done, tomorrow I will have to tidy up my side of the conservatory/dining room so that it doesn't feel like we are eating our Christmas lunch in a fabric addict's lair!

The hand stitching projects are on standby, but honestly I don't think there will be time or energy for much over the next week or so, hence blogging may be a bit more sporadic, but that's going to be pretty much par for the course for everyone.

So for now, have fun with all that last minute prep; stay warm, dry and happy xxx

Holy making Batman!

I'm afraid the shortest day, and not a second's respite from the rain, wind and clouds, and having to have the lights on all day* means shocking photos!

So as best as I could...

The individual Batman and Robin blocks measure up at 10", 3" of sashing and I did that reverse french seam edging so it looks like binding, sort-of, but no raw edges on the inside.

So the 'black' is Charcoal Sketch flannel, the background is Kona Aqua and the faces are some unknown off-white from a scrap bag, all from Simply Solids.

The back is a simple envelope in more of the flannel.  I added fusible fleece to the back of the blocks and then top stitched to keep it from going anywhere soon; so inside looking tidy, and fancy on the outside.

The girls snuck in-progress peeks, and the consensus was that there will be a happy boy opening this up on Christmas.  Result.

We had visitors and swapped pressies, ate chocolate biscuits and watched Christmas films, and I managed to get the remaining 7 table mats quilted - finishing them will be easy now after the miles of straight-lining.

My Brit Bee secret santa cushion cover arrived, (well I am assuming!), and has been popped under the tree for the big day, and hubby made an executive decision for Fish & Chips for tea.  I wore my lovely Christmas jumper too, and when I took it off, *the power went off for over an hour, I am not sure what to make of that!

So that's enough excitement for today, time for a Lemsip and the last of the choccy bics; phew. xxx

HO-bloody-HO!

Today was going so well; penultimate day at work, and home to finish another Christmas present before the school run...

I used Kerry's super tute from the Sizzix Christmas blog hop, and the bundle of fabric from Pin It and Stitch which one little girl had adopted the minute she saw the mice!

Thanks ladies, you are going to ensure a very smiley girl on Christmas morning!

And the not-so-ho?

Our last Tesco delivery before Christmas, (hauling a heavy trolley round the aisles is still not my idea of fun or comfort), and guess what, no freaking turkey crown!  No apologies, just a line of the delivery note, along with the short-life coleslaw and replacement grapes.

One poor lad on the customer service helpline got my wrath; I did warn him in advance, I am fair like that.  We got a without prejudice payment of £20 for the aggro - not enough I reckon.

But be warned; I pretty much demanded that one be waiting for me tomorrow at the Xtra store near work, in fact, whilst on hold I was able to set up a 'click & collect' order for what I wanted - but when the guy rang the store, they informed him there would be none in stock until Wednesday!

Sheesh, I went to the Metro in the next village after tea and got one, smaller than I had hoped for, but safely in the freezer now, so only the fresh bread and veggies to get next week now.

I have never been so prepared, but with all the health issues and rather a lot of stitching miles to cram into the next week, I am leaving nothing to chance, and do not intend to leave the village after I get back from work tomorrow until after the big day.

So please do not rely on anyone but yourselves, especially Tesco - yes Tesco, I am going to warn my friends about your greed and total disregard for your customers; I had almost forgiven you for substituting the nappies we ordered for nappy sacks, all hose years ago!

Recovery...

You know how ET and the pot-plant have a symbiotic relationship, and when ET gets very poorly, the flower dies; well apparently its the same with me and my MacBook.  Not sure which of us is the pot-plant; but right now, the MacBook is working, and I am feeling as fine as I have done in the last month or so.  So let's hope there is a nice happy ending for this.

Apparently if I take my MacBook in to see a Genius again, and have already stumbled on the fix beforehand, I get to wear a red t-shirt too ;)

So today sees the beginning of Christmas proper here; heralded by this sight on my way into Brighton, a good omen me thinks...

SantaDash

This afternoon, I took a twin to pick a Christmas tree; so this evening I get to add some sparkle.

Happy days xxx

Finishing...

Last night's blog post heralded the famous last words on getting things finished.  No sooner had I put the Mac to bed, and buried a few threads, than I began to feel rather ick, and not long after, I was hugging the toilet.  I remained that way for much of the night.

So an unscheduled day off for me; with boy-child for company.  Fortunately his feeling sick did not amount to anything.  So we watched The Hobbit, well it was on; I slowly stitched away, until I was done.  I also managed to put together a couple of key fobs on top of yesterday's starts, and I have just finished the final non-family present, but that missed out on the photos today.

So here's what we'll be giving...

Reindeer brooches for one of the Rainbow's leaders, (aka Reindeer) and the other for the Cubs leader...

I used a template from the Plush Addict bunting, and the girls chose the heart; sleepy eyes copied from the Mollie Makes foxy brooches.

Key fobs for the two Young Leaders at Rainbows...

Quick and easy with ribbon, the YLs go by the names Ladybird and Butterfly, so it seemed apt.

Covered notebooks for the Teachers and TAs, and one of the Robot ones for my Dad's birthday...

And a retirement gift for the Headteacher...

My original plan was for a laminated cushion, to keep his butt dry when he was out and about doing the artist stuff he is planning on filling his time with.  The laminate was basically pants; the corners started to crack and split no sooner than I had turned the cover through; trust me, the swearing and stamping of feet closely followed.  Hey ho, live and learn... not to use that again!  So a covered sketchbook will have to do.

And finally I stitched closed the 2 Valori Wells/AMH voile infinity scarves, one for me, and one, well, come back Monday.

So how's that for productivity in the face of adversity.  Typically, the MacBook is working absolutely fine again, whilst I don't have the energy left to look at anything more today.  So love you and leave you, with a less anxious look on my face, but hoping the lingering ickiness goes on its merry way really soon, I still have loads to do!

Sizzix Christmas - Blog Hop!

It's that time of year when I get to hob-nob with some illustrious bloggy folks, showing you Christmassy ideas that you can make with a Sizzix, (or without, if you must, and have way too much time on your hands).

I have been looking at some of our poor excuses for cushion covers; old, dirty beyond the power of Vanish, and figured that Christmas ones would be great whilst I ponder on what I want to make for the longer term.

So I turned to Touchdraw, and came up with this simple but fun design that would make use of some of my scraps and beloved 2.5" HST and 2.5" square dies...

To save you counting, for the main 16" panel you will need...

4 x white 2.5" squares
44 x mixed green HST-triangles
15 x white HST-triangles
1 yellow 2.5" square  - can be cut with the single die or by rotary cutter
3 x aqua HST-triangles
2 x 2.5" x 12.5" white sashing strips
2 x 2.5" x 16.5" white sashing strips
... and 1 brownish HST-triangle, for luck.

Even though the dies cut in multiples of 4, I still use them to cut one or two pieces from small or odd-shaped scraps.

You will also need fabric for the cushion back, a zipper if you so desire, binding and I always line my cushion fronts with fusible fleece, like Vilene H640 to give a more finished interior and make the quilting look better; but I will leave all that to you.

Cut all the tree pieces, and lay out into a pleasing arrangement.  Stitch into rows with a 1/4" seam and remember, with the Sizzix there's no trimming, press row seams in alternate directions, and join to complete the main panel...

I sashed my block, fused the fleece to the back and quilted with simple straight lines...

I like adding binding to cushions, and for this one, a simple envelope back, very quick and so simple to stitch together...

I used Kona white and cyan from Simply Solids, some home deco-weight from Terry's Fabrics for the perfect backing and scraps from all over the place.  All pieced and quilted in Aurifil 2021 50wt, of course.

A nice bushy tree, getting me in the mood for a real one in a couple of weeks time - woooah, not long folks!

So here's how the rest of the blog hop stacks up...
Monday 18th November - Katy Jones
Tuesday 19th November - Hadley Gordon - You are here!
Wednesday 20th November - Carolyn Forster
Thursday 21st November - Angela Southey
Friday 22nd November - Kerry Green

So do pop by them all, there's bound to be a lot more inspiration to get you in the Christmas spirit. I've still got this little bundle of Christmassy joy to play with, from Pin It & Stitch...

... so I am definitely on the lookout for more ideas for sure.

And what sort of blog hop host would I be if there wasn't a giveaway snuck in there!?  Please head over to the Sizzix site for the chance to win yourself all these...

657900 Big Shot Machine Only (Powder Blue & Teal) by Ellison
658317 Bigz Die - Hexagons, 1" Sides
658318 Bigz Die - Hexagons, 1 1/4" Sides
657165 Bigz Die - Dresden Plate, Small
657616 Bigz Die - Tumbler, 4"H Finished

(The giveaway is open to UK and EU residents only, sorry).

Well I hope you enjoyed my stop, and maybe you'll be adding a few Sizzix-y things to your list from Santa.
xxx

Busy doing...

... bugger all really!

Playing with my Cherry Christmas stash, ordering some more of the white prints from the ladies at Pin It & Stitch; they have loads you know, if you are trying to get in the festive spirit too.

And I have been master-minding in Touchdraw...

I am thinking of using Sarah Fielke's ups and downs block as a starting point.

So I am going to get back to humming Christmas carols, and you can roll your eyes all you like; I am determined to have a festive quilt this year!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...again!

We do not have a Christmas quilt.

I was, and remain, quite sad about that.  So as soon as an email from Fat Quarter Shop came through between Christmas and New Year tempting me with half price Cherry Christmas, I was there...

I have some yardage already, I used some for the Sizzix hexie-pillows and coasters but didn't have enough for anything substantial.

So with charm packs only $5 each, I bagged 4 and then popped a little Sew Stitchy and Chicopee yardage into the cart too, just to fill the envelope you understand. 

Actually I have plans for the Sew Stitchy already - all part of the master plan, to use up my hoarded lovelies.  OK, buying more fabric is a little radical, but it will work, in the long run, more is less!

And in a bid to not go into a total pre-Christmas meltdown (again), I am aiming to get this one made before the end of June - and I trust that you will remind me of such a bold statement.

Right, I'm off to finish the last 6 blocks of my #scrappytripalong, it's all go go go round here!

Almost but not quite...

Christmas is almost over; I gauge that by the quantity of food left to consume; the turkey is no more, I might actually have to cook something tomorrow as we are now running low on cheese, biscuits and other festive fayre, although I do still have a mountain of chocs, so it's not all bad.

I have spent the afternoon Sizzixing pieces for round two of Brit Bee as I will be Miss January 2013 - lots and lots of HSTs all prepared; I was hoping to give you photos of my lovely piles, but I have only just finished, so you will just have to wait.

In the meantime, I have also pledged to join in with the in crowd and Trip Around The World.  I have pulled 36 Denyse Schmidt FQs, but they may have to wait in line, as I need to get that BB fabric all packaged and mailed, along with making some inroads into the first of 2 commission quilts that need to be finished by the end of January.  Hopefully I will go forth into the New Year all teched-up and using the #scrappytripalong mularky.  Here's hoping!

Having had a quick look back, I have also failed to show you a lovely Chrustmas pressie I received from my special blogging friend Annabelle, a leather sewing pattern purse!  (I know!)...

It is superb and will be used lots, especially when I head back to work.

I can also show you the Secret Santa gift I made for fellow Brit Bee Fiona...

I was getting my Panto-groove on when planning this, the Postcard from the Peeps pouch, using Lynne's paper pattern from FQ Retreat and a precious scrap of Lizzy House as a starter.  So although not overly festive, I know that Fiona is planning on using it after the pine needles have settled and mince pies are a distant memory!  I am yet to receive my gift, if you were wondering; my partner is a very amazing and busy lady so I told her not to stress it pre-Christmas, and so, the festivities live on.

The Girl In The Christmas Bubble...

Well hello - anyone still out there?

I hope you have all had a great week.  We had a quiet family time, spending part of Christmas Eve at Gatwick hugging my sister and brother-in-law as they have come over to stay at my parents for a fortnight; Christmas Day was spent all together with them, eating and sleeping.  There has been copious amounts of watching good and bad TV, and yesterday's highlight was a game of 1980s Trivial Pursuit with hubby, parents, sis and b-i-l.  I won.

It appears that I haven't really taken any photos of the festivities, but here are the last of the handmade makes that I had to keep under wraps until Christmas Day...

Flannel open wide pouches for the aforementioned chaps, fabric from Quilt Me Happy, updated pattern from Anna-Noodlehead.  All the handmade gifts were well received, so job done, for another year.

The infamous lurgy hasn't quite left the building; the pre-Christmas trio were back on form by the 25th, t'other twin succumbed to a bad cold and then a little too much chocolate and cranberry juice for breakfast on Boxing Day.  I have had a low-level cough, cold and sore throat which has been pretty much beaten into submission with ibuprofen and Strepsils, but a nagging backache is beginning to get me down, possibly the result of cornering the aisles with a heavily-laiden shopping trolley before the big day.  Ho ho hum... it could have been a lot worse, so I am not really complaining!

A whole week in a tinsel, chocolate, family, non-blogging bubble has been rather nice.  I think I have looked at a sum total of 2 blog posts, signed up for Elizabeth Dackson's Lucky Stars Block Of The Month Club and had a restrained spending spree at Pink Castle Fabrics, I may well have bought one of these as well as some of this! 

So I think it is time to get back on the good ol' stitchy-bloggy wagon.  Better battle through the Inbox first me thinks.  See you tomorrow xxx

Ready or not?

Well Christmas is coming ready or not...

So here are the last couple of makes that I can show you before the big day.

Lovely Sarah sent me a couple of Doctor Who cuts with a certain someone in mind.  So, as I was already planning on making dear son a drawstring bag, it was a bit of a no-brainer...

He is going to be thrilled!  Thank you Missus xxx

My long-term Christmas project was the low-volume hexie cushion for my Mum. 

I finished this up at the beginning of the week when the fear of the lurgy was starting to make me panic.  I used some natural Essex Linen for the sashing and back, and it measures up at 20" plumped with a feather insert...

I did a (reversed) french seam instead of binding it, and I am really really pleased with how that turned out.

Apart from the present wrapping I am as ready as I can be... I think!

Today I have cleaned and tidied, and now I have a slight sore throat, so am going to try and fend that off with Chocolate, tea, Christmas movies and napping!

I've decided I won't be posting again until this time next week, so I really really hope you all have a wonderful Christmastime, surrounded by the ones you love, and time for thoughts for those who may be missing. 

Have fun, and see you on the other side of the big dinner xxx

Random Christmas...

Leave your girls apparently drawing in the lounge, and this is what you find...

Linking this tiny slice of life with Cindy's Really Random Thursday, from a warm and cosy lounge complete with a new thermostat adorning the wall ;)

The Clock and the Inn-keeper...

We saw the girls' Nativity performances in full today; a dancing clock, and the inn-keeper with a stable...

They did really great.

The heating is still on, the Deer cushion is finished, but my To Do list needs more ticks and my Inbox is still full.  12 days and counting xxx

My 12.12.12

Loving the date!  If only it had all been so perfect.

Last night the heating decided to switch off at 7pm and not come back on for love, money nor swearing loudly.  So we went to bed early, but I was so annoyed, and cold, I could not sleep, so I was up at 5am, again switching the thermostat, timer and boiler on and off again.  After doing the packed lunches and de-icing the cars, minus 4 degrees, at 7am I finally got the bloody thing to work again; so at least I was warm after the sleety school run.

I set to making my Dad's birthday cushion.  As soon as I saw Julianna's paper-pieced Not So Spring Deer pattern linked up as part of Jennifer's Deck The Halls blog hop, I knew it was going to be the one!

I printed, taped and cut my paper templates; traced onto freezer paper, cut and affixed those and then cut all my fabric, all with a decent amount of time left before Nativity-duty; so I plugged in my sewing machine; tried to wind a bobbin, foot to the metal... nothing.

More swearing, switching on and off again, fiddling about and then I saw this...

The foot pedal cable had pretty much sheered off at the point it goes into the box!  Arrrrgh!!  How???  With a little perseverance, wiggling and squeezing, I could get it to work, but having to use my hand not foot, making precise paper-piecing a little interesting to say the least!

Well I managed the cushion top before heading out, which I am completely pleased and relieved about!  And I reserved a replacement pedal at The Sewing Machine Shop, which kind hubby duly collected and bought home with him after work so I could get on.

To cheer my day, I did receive a lovely parcel from Julie of The Intrepid Thread; I won this bundle of lovelies from Market in her Thanksgiving Giveaway...

I love those mini Charm packs so much, and I got some Posy, so very very happy about that.

The Nativity assistance was relatively painless, and I got to sneak into the back and watch today's performance; hubby and I are officially in the audience tomorrow.  My girls did great, more on that tomorrow, but who could hold back a tear, standing next to the headmaster whilst he sang along to Take That's Rule The World!?

So there you go, the reason I have lots of emails waiting for replies and blogs to be read, and I want to get the cushion finished before bed; the binding is on.  I am so tired, I feel like I have jet-lag, but needs must... so I'll be off xxx

Spruce Up Your Life...

I am on an achieving roll, so after yesterday's frustrations, I am only popping in so I don't lose momentum!

We have trees....

Lots of trees, and smiles xxx