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

More Plays and Purses...

I got to see the Christmas play again this morning, my reward for putting about 15 little girls' pairs of tights back round the right way and pulling big heads through tiny sweatshirt head-holes!

These phone snaps sum it all up for me...

I also went Christmas food shopping; all bought, bar the fresh veggies and the small matter of a turkey (ie. we have enough chocolate, coke, cheese and cake for a month!).  We are meant to be dining with my parents, but I am stocking up just in case it snows or some other mishap keeps us 70 miles apart - have you seen the forecast?  Blimey!

I haven't managed any sewing yet today but I only have one felt ornament left to make for the school presents, how I forgot 'Nanny Jean' I will never know.  Then all the deadlines move forward to the big day.  Phew!

Last night I put together the last of the production line purses... although I am officially addicted and may just keep on making...

This one is for Ballet Twin...

The measurements are again based on Ayumi's tute, and I have finally memorised the zip layering mantra, thanks Kat.

This one is for me... 

I know, I don't need it, but since when did that matter!?  The fabric is another upholstery sample, and still requires an additional detachable section of strap to be put on when I get more split rings; I am rather in love with it already.

There's still time to enter the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway if you haven't already.  I have been literally overwhelmed with the number of responses so far, so please forgive that I can't reply to all the comments, otherwise there'll be no time for making - and that just wouldn't do!

The Wise Man wore Joel Dewberry, darling!

I have almost 'perfected' Wise Man 1's outfit; just need to sew down the pointy shoulders and make a cardboard crown, then he will be ready to strut his stuff!

I bought yards of the Joel Dewberry - Lace print potentially for the Man Quilt backing, but then changed my mind, so this fabric was begging to be used...

No puckering gold thread in sight!

I reckon it's regal enough, and dear son is happy to wear it, so that's a bonus!

I also spent this afternoon at school with the same young man, making clay tiles to decorate one of the outside walls - no prizes for guessing what we did...

Now I like a Tardis, and I like LEGO, but which one is better ...

Having caught up with my emails and blog reading, I am now going to pull out my Emily Peacock 'Kiss' cross-stitch and get cozy in front of the TV, perfect end to a busy day xxx

Pretty things all in a row...

Like my buddy Helen, I got a parcel of complete and utter loveliness today!

I am such an Aneela Hoey 'fan', you may have noticed, she has!  Aneela was the inspiration for my Happy Scrappy quilt, I have my Sherbet Pips Confetti quilt, and she designed the Around the Corner 'Man Quilt' pattern; my hexie sewing bag is predominantly Pips, I am working on a Pips hexie cushion during all those ballet lessons and I have a stash of Little Apples waiting to ripen.  So you could easily guess that A Walk in The Woods is just a tad eagerly waited, oh, and pre-ordered already!

But looky look at these apparent scraps (although I beg to differ!)...

I was sooooooooooooooooo over the moon to find these waiting for me when I got home from work today; stacking them into piles of the different prints was so therapeutic after 5 hours of database interrogation.

Aneela is such a lovely, funny, generous and super talented designer and maker, and a Brit!  This line might just be my favourite so far, Little Red is the cutest.  (Did I miss anything out Aneela?!).  I am so chuffed, even the pain of the Nativity cannot wipe the smile off my face.

Wise Man update:

I hate gold thread even more than I imagined I would - so it has been banished, having been unpicked again and again!  The 'slinky look' from the first fitting this morning has been rectified this evening with the addition of a full length pleat down the back; gold ribbon and a nasty button have blinged it up a bit, and hopefully I will be able to entice the wise one to try it on again tomorrow for a photo or two!

Oh and before I go, Noodlehead-Anna is having a 2 day sale, offering $2 off all her patterns, including the 241 tote, so for less than £4, you could get that, or, as I did, the Go Anywhere Bag pattern.  Woo hoo!

Going for Gold!

I hate 'gold' gold! 

Sorry if it is your precious metal of choice - I am more of a platinum girl myself, though white gold and silver are fine by me too.   Don't get me wrong, if anyone has any bullion lying around, I will happily take it off your hands, but when it comes to stitchery-business, it makes me cringe!

I have "Wise Man 1" to dress for the school Nativity, and this went to the top of the Christmas-makes list last night.  So, I have had to put my prejudice to one side...

Eugh!

This evening I have made a rather basic "outfit" - I daren't say 'dress', but you know where I am coming from.

I need the young man to try it on tomorrow so I can see if I have got the side splits long enough, otherwise his 'striding towards the stable' may look more like an inappropriate 'secretary shuffle'.  So I wound my bobbin, but didn't get my teeth into the gold embellishment (dammit) just in case I have a lot of seam ripping to do!

I know I could have gone to Tesco and bought a shiny outfit for a tenner, but you know me and 'the easy route', I keep missing the turning xxx

Proud Mummy...

I couldn't get this to upload before, but indulge me!

Little Angels!

I had a pang of performance anxiety this afternoon, so I got the girls to try on their angel outfits again, with the wings and everything - and lo, they looked lovely! 

We can now confidently take their outfits into nursery tomorrow, in preparation for next Wednesday's Nativity.  Ding dong merrily on high...

Pillowcase Angels...

This evening I have spent a disproportionate amount of time on angel costumes!  Sequin belts, tinsel halos and pillowcase frocks...

Nursery nativities last about 15 minutes, and if the cast keep their costumes on for even half that, it's a little miracle!  So a couple of hours cutting and tacking sparkles may seem a little excessive, but I thought I should make the effort this year as the girls have been promoted from last year's donkey and sheep!

I have not made them any outfits before and I am quite pleased with my no-pattern, completely improvised design, and coupled with some shop-bought white and sparkly butterfly wings, I am hoping the girls will look angelic... I will photograph them, all dressed up for sure, promise.