Shopping...

Well I can't quite believe that it is the last day of June already; it only seems like a few weeks ago that the electric blanket was a necessity, and the idea of falling asleep in the garden and waking up a little redder than you were expecting, was just wishful thinking!

So whilst I sit here, a little delicately, I'll show you my wares from yesterday.

First there was Liberty.  The lady in the fabric department told me that they will no longer be stocking the quilting cottons; they only had the two prints that I bought, and the brown (loads of brown!) left.  She was not even sure if they will be doing further collections just to be stocked elsewhere!!! 

Bit of a shocker of a picture, sorry - the sun was so bright, and now it is too late to move off the sofa!

I didn't buy any proper Liberty, as I hadn't really thought through what I would make, and how much I would need, and it is way too expensive just to buy a meter and then hope for the best!

I did buy an iron-on 'H', then a trip to the stationary department, and a tin of pencils had to come home with me.

We headed to Covent Garden as I wanted to take a look at a Fossil bracelet that I had spotted online; it was in the sale, so now it is mine too...

I love the London Transport Museum shop; and just because it would have niggled me not to, I got an anniversary mug; I am the same age as the Hammersmith & City line...

I got the tape measure on sale in Cath Kidston, as I have a bad habit of slicing off the stoppers so they retract right back inside, so now I am forearmed; and a last minute pick up of the US quilting magazine I also got passing through Victoria station last time, on the way home from Susan's.

I have to admit that it is a rare day that I have both the time and money and actually find things I really want.  Success!

So that's me; no sewing to show you, but I have plans; plans I have been really good about not getting on with until all my other 'To Do's were done.  I have 3 sets of Bee blocks to make in July, and the key fobs to finish for FQR, and then it's me time.  I have skipped this weeks Patchwork Please! project, as I have an idea for a moneybelt-apron, and I want to make it at my own pace, and with the makes for kids coming up, I will skipping those for the main part; so the pressure is off.

Apologies in advance, as there will be a bit of deja vu for the regulars over the next couple of days,  as I have my Fresh Sewing post, an FQR introduction and my second quarter FAL round up all to write this week, but I am sure I am not the only one; so no time to get into mischief, what with swimming x2, Cubs,  a recorder concert and the school fair to fit in around work too.

I wasn't going to mention Google Reader, as I never used it, but hey if you do/did, don't leave me hanging! 

Let the long week begin folks, deep breath xxx

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

*** The giveaway is now closed***
***Winner post here***

Well if I said I was ready from the get-go to join in with the fantastically awesome giveaway spectacular that is the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day, then that would be a fib; but on Saturday I knuckled down and got making.

My 'inspiration' if I could be that bold, was to make something a bit British!  Surrounded by Jubilee and Olympic preparations, how could I not at least tip my hat in that direction?

So my contribution to the Giveaway madness is this collection of Cath Kidston-inspired makings...

I have been pulling out, stroking, the folding away a lovely piece of the CK print for too long, (a prize, probably my first EVER from my dear friend Annabelle), so what better time to use a small piece of it and share the love.

The pouch measures about 8" x 6.5" and had to combine with my current love of Essex Linen...

The big pocket on the back will comfortably hold a 6" hoop, if a bit of embroidery is your current stitch-craft of choice.

The purse is lined with some pink and white star fabric of unknown origin, but it keeps with the CK theme rather nicely.

I had to make a matching needle book and pincushion.  A word of warning on the pincusion though; having interfaced and added a piece of batting as well as the (poly) wadding, you may have problems actually getting your pins and needles in - the linen side is the better option; but it looks pretty anyway!

I also have these that came with a newspaper...

I already have all the books, which include all the lovely patterns they contain, so maybe they can inspire you too.

So what do you need to do to get your hands on this little piece of Brit-ness?

Well you could follow me, that would be polite, but you don't have to, honestly; so one comment only please telling me 'what you think of as typically British'?

Whether you are Brit, or maybe looking in from overseas, it matters not - I will mail internationally.  However, if you are a 'no-reply blogger' without a means of me tracking you down, I will re-draw.  Mr Random will do the deed.

The giveaway will remain open until Friday 25th May - 9pm British Summer Time.  NB. This is a little earlier than 5pm BST, but that's the middle of the night, and I'd like to pick a winner before I go to bed.

Jolly good luck to you all xxx

Zip Zip Huzzah!!

Last night I decided it was time to finish a lurking UFO, (OK Rhonda, the UFO) that had languished in the bottom of my sewing bin since before many of you were born!

I finished this cross stitch during the pre-Christmas snow, but wanting a small purse to hold my 'going out 'n' about' hexies (more on those tomorrow), I set to conquering my zipper fear!

Armed with this...

...this...

... and this...

I managed this...

... having stolen a small child's ruler; to this...

... followed by...

... small panic having sewn it all together with it fully zipped, but soon resolved!!

Hey presto...

... can you spot the difference?

Zip phobia gone!

I'm meant to be on holiday...

...but I have been working very hard!

Firstly I finished Stanley...

Then, as I had sorted out all my scraps on Sunday, in a timely fashion Aneela Hoey, oh lovely lady of the Sherbet Pips, posted about starting a crazy scrappy quiltalong - so I obviously had to sign up!

There's a linky somewhere on the left if you are interested.  The idea is to make 11" squares, but I am going to work with 6" ones, as many of my scraps are too teensy, and I am too eagar to to make lots of blocks, see...

Then I noticed that Prints to Polka Dots are doing a pre-order on Sherbet Pips, so I had to order some yardage to go with my charm packs; be quick people, the pre-order option is only open until Wednesday.

Then Lynne at Lily's Quilts posted the start of a tutorial for her Big Little George.

This is Lynne's 'example' so goodness know what sort of paper-pieced mess I am going to get into!

But up for a challenge, I got cutting and piecing and stitching and swearing and unpicking and re-stitching and eventually ended up with this...

OK, so the children were lucky to be fed, and dearest hubby feels like a total sewing-widow, but sometimes you have to go with the urge!

BlindBob and his rotund friend!

Last night I enhanced BlindBob with a jacket to make him bigger, better and complete, and I actually got the outer circle stitched onto the dresden.

I followed Lynne's instructions properly, fully and completely; and guess what - it turned out great first time with no unpicking or puckering!  The girl's a genius!

You can't really see from the picture, but the inner and outer circles are cream with white spots - I was torn between this and the Wild Thyme, however the deciding factor was not being confident to keep the pattern lined up with the segments that I wanted at the top - so spots it was!

Afterwards I was a little lost without the HUG - I realised that I had been working on it since the first week we moved into the house, so I've never had an evening here where I just sat in front of the TV and watched!  So I pulled out my Cath Kidston 'Stitch' and started a little Stanley!

Thank you all for your lovely messages about the completed masterpiece - you should all have a go  - it's addictive and despite the odd bit of miscounting, pretty foolproof.  I am looking forward to getting the KISS started, buying some yummy backing and pompoms and making them into cushions!

PS. It's the Easter holidays - yay!!

Cath Kidston has sent me to the Dark Side!

Ok, I love my Stitch! and think I want to make absolutely everything in the New Year, but today's magazine fix included The World of Cross Stitching... and I am beginning to doubt my sanity!

It included a free kit to make a 'cute' Christmas card, that will be destined for my Grandma, and a pattern for a pair of Charlie and Lola cards that the girls will love, but man, there are some hideous creations nestled amongst the cool stuff!

If I start showing you any stitchery that purports to show lifelike faces or elephants grazing in the Savannah, in more shades of beige than you knew existed, please please please contact my husband and ask him to hide the needles immediately!

Another birthday and other good stuff!

Dear son is now 6, and as the girls were 4 last week, I better update my 'profile'!

Lots of presents and a very happy boy, the house is now bursting with Lego, Toy Story and Star Wars, thank goodness for the little space I cleared yesterday!

This afternoon I cleared out the old linen and toiletries that had been festering in the back of the airing cupboard for a good few years.  Too many lotions and potions I would never dream of washing my hair in or washing my face with, without worrying of some very unpleasant side effects!  Again a couple of bin bags full and a lot less to transport when we 'move'!

So after a successful day, and following on from last night's blog, I pulled out the Cath Kidston Stitch purse and began the cross-stitch.  I ended up doing quite a bit of unpicking, but it's looking quite sweet, considering I probably haven't done any embroidery since I was in primary school, a long long time ago!

A great big 'Thank You'

I needed something to make me smile today, and I got it, in the form of my prize from Annabelle Serendipdity.

How lucky am I?! All these beautiful things, all for me.


I have created a couple of little tangles in the name of 'crochet' already, and am already pondering what I am going to make with the fabrics.

If anyone knows of a good link to a 'crocheting for completely impatient and raring-to-go novices', please let me know.

Thank you Annabelle, you're the best!

A very happy boy!

...and a very tired mummy! I was still sewing the binding at midnight, and was finally defeated as I was unable to focus to re-thread my needle! All finished this morning, and looking pretty good I think.

Poor Peter Pointer!

I have completed the quilting - machined diagonal straight lines, looking good; and hand finished the edging to the top and bottom, so my right index finger is now sore! No pointing for me tomorrow! Hopefully I will get everything finished by this time tomorrow - I can't wait, I am really chuffed.

Only 3 more mornings of work until the holidays! Dear son got his first school report today - brilliant, so proud of him; this time last year he could read and write his name and not a lot else, but now there's no stopping him. Obviously a genius, like his mummy! His Cath Kidston Cowboys arrived in the post today, yee haw!

Where did the time go?

Another weekend over - and I have got the quilt top all sewn up! It does look far better than I ever thought it would, and for my first attempt, most of the blocks match up! I'll take some photos tomorrow.

I have just bought some Cath Kidston fabric squares on eBay, the classic Cowboy print for my son - he has placed his quilt order, so who am I to say 'No'! I have my eye on some blue and red mixed lots of spots, stripes and gingham which I think will all go together nicely.

This time next week I won't be full of the usual Sunday night angst as I'll be starting my summer holiday! Term-time working is the best (well better than working all summer anyhow!).