Busy, behind the scenes...

Having finished my Spring Carnival, I fortuitously already have 2 EPP projects to work on, neither of which I am at liberty to really show you until mid-November, sorry.  I know you will all sleep easy now knowing that I won't be aimlessly twiddling my thumbs whilst twinkle-toes and dolphin-boy do their thing.

I have an appliqué project that I am completely excited about, and if it comes off as anticipated, you won't hear the last of that for a long time, so make the most of my secrecy for now.

I also have a cross-stitch on the go; it was meant to be an anniversary pressie for dear hubby, but my tired eyes have not been 14ct-friendly this week, but I am hoping to get that finished as soon as possible.

I have plans to make a little something for the Tula Pink Sewalong over at Sara's, as I had a lightbulb moment earlier today, and I am hoping Mr John Lewis will be able to help with that tomorrow.

Today I also took the bull by the horns and cracked on with my Stitch Tease mega-block for Di - it will be finished over the weekend, but again, I won't be able to show you until next year!

And...oh yes, there's an 'and', I have a couple more of Aneela's Little Stitches embroideries already completed and waiting on being made into gifts which I can't show either just yet.

I mustn't forget to mention my Mouthy Stitches tote though - that's all cut and ready to piece - OK, I'll show you a sneaky peak tomorrow, otherwise this blog could get awful boring!

Coming soon...

You may have spotted that the Mouthy Stitches mamas have been cooking up plans over the summer and are happy to confirm that round 2 will be starting early in September, and we are rather excited about what we have come up with.

Please keep an eye on the flickr group and our blogs for full details in a few weeks time - if it is anything like round one, we will fill spaces within 24 hours!

We are keeping the full details a secret until sign ups, but I can confirm that it will be a little different to last time and limited to the first eligible 75 to sign up.

It's going to be a good one!

Hexie-gone!

Well, hexie-done, but that doesn't sound as good.

It was listed on both my Winter Stitching Plans, then my first and second quarter FAL lists and now I am so pleased to tick this one off!

I loved having some hand sewing to pass the time during all those winter ballet lessons, however I stalled at the cushion-making stage for way too long, which is ridiculous, as it only took me a couple of hours to make up.

But it is finished, I am really happy and so is the twin who seems to have adopted it already, (the poorly one who I had to pick up from school just after I got to work this morning!)...

I used the lovely Jade Klona for the borders and binding, adding a couple of laps of stitching round the edge for fun; I love how the jade hexies make the panel dissolve into the background...

... and I used some the left-overs from my Mum's Rose Parade/Summer House D9P for backing; it goes really well with the Pips; see, I really am trying to use up my stash.

So one more for the Winter Stitching finale this weekend, and 3 out of 5 FAL projects completed for the second quarter already - nothing like a little pressure to get me going!

As I mentioned yesterday, my hopes of a mega productive day off disappeared into surfing the net, drinking tea and making a bit of a mess...

... and receiving goodies...

Thank you Ella for these great H notecards and notebook, and also this fantastic boxy pouch...

When I spotted her moustachioed pouch during Mouthy Stitches, I mentioned that I knew a man who would love one of those... lo and behold Ella made my husband his own - and love it, he does!

... oh and there was a bit of prize winning to distract me too!!  Thrilled?  Completely!

I did eventually manage to get all the decorative 'bits' for my Retreat Treats cut and ready to sew though; so these should be quick coming together now... maybe I'll get some sewing in whilst Little Miss Slapped Cheek rests her rosy face!

Proud Mama!

I take back all the nasty things I have ever said about the Canadian Postal Service, as yesterday it did itself proud!

I got back from the weekly shop to be met, not only by 3 smiley kids, but dare I say it, a far more exciting Mama payback!

A parcel all the way from Leanne!!  Friday, I left this comment on her blog...

Oh I am soooooooooo happy!

Unbeknownst to me, Susan had partnered Leanne and I in the Mouthy Stitches swap, and I am absolutely over the moon.

Wouldn't you be thrilled too...

Talk about all of my favourite things!

Those individual squares measure at just over an inch, the colours are perfect, the lining is Echino and the back pocket is lined with Denyse Schmidt, although I must add that it was full of brown scraps on arrival!

Leanne is an ardent member of the I heart brown fanclub, and to be honest, with the selection of scraps she sent, I could be turned!

But not only browns, I also received all these beauties too...

Kokka goodness!

Heather Ross, mine Susan, mine!!!

Denyse Schmidt and selvedges!

I honestly could not be happier!

And guess who is also coming over to the Fat Quarterly Retreat in June, how fantastic is that?!

Thank you again Leanne, you have made this Mama as chuffed as can be.  And I have to admit I can now check out the 'received' notifications in the group without fear that this one had arrived with someone-else, (who incidentally would have been thrown out of the group and barred from all future Mouthy Stitches activity in a fit of spite!).  Everyone's a winner xxx

It was the best of months...

...actually, it was the worst of months.

I am surprised at what I managed to achieve in February, especially as my mind was elsewhere most of the time...

I think this is a pretty respectable bunch of makes for the shortest, albeit longest-shortest, month of the year! 

Mustering the ladies of the Mouthy Stitches swap felt like a full time job in itself, but that is now coming to wonderful fruition with parcels arriving with their happy new owners.

Thank you all for you support this month, you have been brilliant xxx

Oh and for those that asked, here are Meg, Mog and Dumbledore in their full glory this morning...

Linking as ever with lovely Lynne over at Lily's Quilts and her new super-duper buttons, bells and whistles.  Now lets get on with Springtime!

A Little Bit of Magic!

OK, not really, I could do with a cooking, cleaning and sleeping spell right now, my first emotionally-stable day off in weeks and I am exhausted.

As I am sure all you Mums will know already, tomorrow is World Book Day, so as is customary round these parts, all the children will be going to school dressed as book characters.  Last year I created the Where's Wally extraordinaire, for dear son, this year he wants to be Dumbledore.

So out came the Nativity outfit, perfect robes eh, and this morning I made some accessories to match, hat, hair and beard...

The fitting went down well, I just have to tweak Meg and Mog in the morning!

I did do some proper sewing too - one large (10"x 57"currently) block that I will show you on Friday, and I also started on my March Brit Bee block(s).

As soon as I found out it was kitchen-related paper-piecing, I bagsied Kerry's teapot from Fat Quarterly 8; so this morning all full of bravado I made one!

Ceri is this OK?

All went to plan, maybe a couple of pieces unpicked as I picked up the wrong bit, but no pinning, smaller pieces and minimal swearing.  I think I had missed the 'cut out the pattern/part you are sewing and don't wrangle with the whole A4 sheet when trying to sew' bit before, because I had this sussed, and it even came out the right way round. 

FYI I foundation pieced this, but used freezer paper templates to cut the fabric - best of both worlds I reckon, in my oh so vast experience!

So now I have no fear; however getting an idea onto paper and working out how to go about dividing that up is still some way in the distance, but I am still rather chuffed.

Oh, and I am pleased to say my Mouthy Stitches pouch arrived with its owner safe and sound today, one less thing to worry about x

Mouthy Stitches Mailing!!

Mouthy pouches are now winging their way all over the globe!  OK, sounds like a bit of a big old claim, but it's true!

I sent dear hubby to put this little number and roll of scraps in the mail today, I have seen the receipt, it is not still in the car; so hopefully they will arrive with my partner next week, postal workers willing! 

I hate the anxiety of sending things that I have invested so much of myself in; and I will be in a slight state of agitation until I know it is safe in the recipient's hands.

And just to 'up' my blood pressure, Cindy, Susan and I will be anxiously monitoring the whereabouts of almost 100 other pouches!  Yes, we went large.

I am so proud to be a Mama in this swap, the purses are all stunning, everyone has made such an incredible effort to tailor their makes to their partner's preferences - it's been a superb!

And as with all swaps, now's the part where we all remember that someone, somewhere really has made something for us too.  I don't think I am the only one who forgets about this bit!  Despite pretty much staking a claim on all the pouches in the flickr pool, I never quite believe that one really is mine; I'm a bit like our 5 year old girls seeing every singer, actress or pretty lady on TV and saying 'I'm that girl'!

Mouthy Pouch!

Well let's just ignore this scene of disappointment shall we...

... and I'll show you something far more satisfying!

So for my partner, wannabee partners and other interested parties, I am pleased to present my Mouthy Stitches Zippy Pouch...

1" HSTs

1/2" HSTs

I will add a split-ring and clip before posting.

Magnetic snap.

Lined outer pocket.

To say that I was feeling the pressure as a Swap Mama is an understatement!  I had an idea where I wanted this to go, but I was  really winging it the whole way.  I must admit that I wasn't keeping to any particular size; it turned out very approximately 9"x7".

I really hope my partner is happy with this after all the build up; I am just pleased that I was able to make something, without a pattern, that looks better in reality than it did in my head.

I just need to go check out my partner's mosaic again, as I think I may have ended up as a bit of a deviant!

Flaps!

Today I finished my Mouthy Stitches pouch!!

But as it was dark by the time I finished, you will just have to make do with a few in-progress 'flap shots' for tonight...

As you can see, I had a total about-face and plumped for a lime zip and lining, in reality far zingier than the photos.  Sorry partner, if you are looking in and had your heart set on one of the earlier choices, but going off at a total tangent is a Mama's prerogative, (well any maker's to be honest); I played for ages and these really did look the best, trust me.

I am hoping that when I wake up, to a beautiful crisp white vista tomorrow, I will be able to get some lovely bright pictures to show the purse off in full.  Should the snow, that is now gently falling, not come to much, I will attempt to do my best with a background of disappointed children and redundant sledges.

How about a little bit of sewing!?

Seems like ages since I showed you something new!

One of the girls' teachers will be going on maternity leave at the end of next week, so I thought it was only right that I inflict my crafty makings on a new generation.  Although this is the teacher that I help at school, I don't know her that well, and certainly not enough to make anything as full blown as a quilt.

According to the school gate Mums, Mum-to-be doesn't know the sex of the baby, so that didn't help, so I settled on a taggie cloth in bright colours...

This was the first time I have used Minky, and I was pleasantly surprised; a lot of pins were used to avoid slippage, and I think it turned out OK.

I love the Riley Blake ribbon, which accompanied an order from Quilty Pleasures ages ago, and the rest were just knocking about.  The Minky was pre-cut at 30cms/12" squares, a great size for this quick project.

I may have gone a little overboard with securing the ribbons in place, but better to be safe than sorry!

There has also been a little progress on my Mouthy Stitches purse, I have made the front and the back pocket panel (definitely not as wonky as the pictures imply)...

Having thrown a couple of colour options out there to 'my partner', I only went and found a great button which may, or may not decide my final choices for the zipper and lining anyway.

Hopefully I will get a nice bit of sewing in this weekend, and I need to start work on my guest post for next Friday's Modern Mini Challenge.  The nerves are starting to kick in!

PS.  Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!  Please x

Star light, star bright!

I told you that I had completed the Cherry Star top...

Well then I went ahead and finished the whole blanket...

I'm opting for 'blanket' rather than quilt, as it has a simple dark grey fleecy backing, and minimal quilting just to keep it all in place.  I sewed it up, right sides together and turned through.

I top-stitched just under 1/4" around the edge in dark grey, and outlined the star the same way.  Simple, but effective.  This is for the times when we, or rather I, really want to snuggle down and be cozy.

Without batting, it is really light, especially compared to the whopper Constellation!  But it is beautifully warm, I know, I sat under it yesterday evening and it was great.

So, do you like the background?  Be honest.  I know it won't be to everyone's taste, but I love love love it!  Its an IKEA classic which I had been waiting to use.  I sort of envisaged counting the stars in the sky, and it made me smile as soon as I auditioned it.

Thanks must go out to Chelsea for running the Made In Cherry QAL, it focused my mind on using my rainbow charms on a superb pattern that I had pinned as soon as I saw it; and I am, once again, surprised and thrilled with how it turned out.

I think I normally play things a little too safe; so much time, effort and expense is usually being invested for me to risk making a big old faux-pas by getting all adventurous.  But I want to change that, and make things I will love, and reflect the look I really want to be creating, not just making the things I know will look OK from the outset.  Does that make sense?  First attempt, I will deem a success.

So onto my Mouthy Stitches partner, who will also receive a leap of faith, with 3/4" finished HSTs.  I wasn't too sure I could pull it off, but Lucy's excellent and timely use of the brilliant method from Elizabeth 'Oh Fransson!' for piecing small squares set me on the right route.

I can confirm that it worked a treat; I won't talk you through it, the original does that way better than I can, but all you need to know is that I gridded some light-weight iron-on interfacing with 1.5" squares, pressed on my trimmed HSTs and off I went...

I really hope my partner likes the Cherry Star off-spring panel, otherwise this Mama will happily keep it! xxx