Christmas shopping ...

We ventured to Chichester today to do some Christmas shopping. While I was there I just had to call into The Eternal Maker, it would have been rude not to! This little stash found its way into a bag with my name on it :) 

The boys are out at football tomorrow so I am going to enjoy some me time with my sewing machine. I have just found a fabulous tutorial using triangles that I may just have to give a try.

Have a great stitchy weekend, keep warm.

A few finishes......

Here are a couple of make up bags I have put together this evening. They are so quick and easy to make once you have worked out how to get to the end of the second side of the zip! I think they will make fab tree presents with a little something inside them.

 I made the aqua one back in the summer but have made the other 2 this evening. 

Last night I finished this.bag which I starts ages ago, wasn't too happy with how it was coming together so it was dumped in the pile to be finished later! One done, too many to go ;) 

 Here's a close up shot of the fancy stitches on the handles.

Right, that's me for today, good night all, sweet dreams.....

Another night, another stocking!

I've been busy again this evening making another stocking using some more of the lovely fabric I bought on Saturday.

and here they are together

I've got lots I should be doing but need to hear the hum of my machine to reduce stress levels and it's only 2nd December.......

Back off to my machine, catch up soon

Sam x

Fabric shopping and a Christmas stocking

I visited the West County Quilt Show yesterday and indulged in a spot of fabric shopping

I could have spent a whole lot more but I really need to start making inroads into the fabric I have already! 

I did make a start on using some of my new fabric last night, making a Christmas stocking. I saw the tutorial here,  

http://imaginegnats.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-falling-flakes-stocking-tutorial.html

Mine comes up slightly smaller as I had problems downloading the template from the site so used one I had already. 

Weekend escape and some knitting....

It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted. It has been particularly busy at work and I have been too tired to do anything much when I get in apart from my knitting! 

We managed to escape for much needed R & R last weekend in celebration of my birthday last Tuesday. We stayed at The Belfry in Yarcombe which is lovely, fabulous comfy beds, L'Occitane products in the bathroom and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs to die for! 

Saturday saw us in Seaton, Beer & Honiton, I love to walk along the beach and browse around quaint little villages, you never know what delights you might stumble across, I did find a fabric shop in Seaton! The weather was kind to us, the sun made an appearance although it was a bit nippy.

 Can't believe its November, guess the empty beach gives a clue! 

 Look at that gorgeous blue sky. 

Sunday saw us in West Bay and a quick visit to Dorchester on the way home

 Not so sunny but stunning scenery. 

We plan to return in the summer and walk to the top of the cliff, sadly we didn't have enough time last weekend. 

Here is what I have been knitting over the last couple of weeks

 Fab light and warm tank top, made a little longer to cover my derrière. Looks great with a long sleeved t-shirt and leggings or jeans.

 A lovely cowl, knitting with supersoft Rowan yarn, ready to keep me cosy on my beach walks!

 Another pair of socks, these may well end up in someone's Christmas stocking. I can never seem to photograph these well, think I need to make a sock template for photos.

I will be back later with photos of fabric and makes.... 

Keep warm.

Sam :) 

Never mind the elephants...

Never mind the elephants coming in 2 by 2, the balls of wool have been coming in 2 by 2

I'm going to knit a few pairs of socks with these balls of wool!! They keep my feet lovely and snug. 

Then I saw a gorgeous pattern for a cowl, so just had to go and buy the wool only to find I don't have the right size needles - eBay here I come! 

This wool arrived as a foursome and what I am knitting is nearing completion, watch this space! 

I have managed a bit of fabric shopping too, I am planning to make some notebook covers with these. 

And finally I have managed some sashing on my rainbow quilt, not sure I like the blocks in that layout, bit of OCD kicking in here. Note to self, lay the blocks out BEFORE you add the sashing! 

I am hoping to get the top finished tomorrow, need to help my daughter paint her kitchen too so it could be an early start. 

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Getting there.....

Woo hoo, it's the weekend!!! This is my first week back on my normal hours since April and I am loving it,  I have been working full time due to staff changes and not liking it very much as it has greatly eaten into my craft time! I have been lucky enough to change my day off from Thursdays to Fridays :)

I have been working on a broken herringbone quilt since the beginning of  September, it was supposed to be for a quilt along which should have finished last week  but I quickly fell behind the schedule :(

Here we are with 10 of the blocks, only another 2 to go ....... There are 2 of each colour except the orange and purple ones although it's not very clear in the photo. 

I'm hoping to get the top finished this weekend although it's going to be a busy one, one of my friends is celebrating her 50th birthday, can't believe we've been friends for 35 years, where has the time gone? Then off to see Jessie J on Sunday, just a bit excited as it's been a long time coming, we booked September last year for this March.

Off to try and get a block finished tonight...

My new sewing machine quilt

Following on my the sewing machine quilt I made for a gift yesterday, I NEEDED one for me..... Next decision, what fabric to use? When I saw these lovely fabrics in my stash, I knew they were the ones! After a bit of late night sewing and an early start this morning, here is my lovely new machine quilt.

In all it's glory, before being put to work and hidden by my sewing machine.

In action and all ready to sew,  what a shame there is a pile of ironing with my name on it that needs doing first! Oh well better get cracking on that, hope to fit in some more sewing later. 

Enjoy the rest of this sunny Sunday.

Zippitty do dah, zippitty day - a finish!

I was feeling a bit off colour yesterday so didn't manage any sewing :( These lovelies arrived in the post to brighten my day

I ordered them on Thursday after I made the zipped pouch and could feel a few more coming on! 

Back on track today and this is the project I had to make before I made a start on completing a couple of my WIPs as shown in a post on Thursday. The instructions are found here thanks Lynette for the fab tutorial and for Jen who directed me to it.

I made a start on Thursday and finished it today. Really pleased with how this has turned out, again another project to be repeated especially as I will not be keeping this one :( 

Right off to make one of these for me, then onto my quilt finishing....

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Zip it!!

I feel like I need a drum roll here as this is the first project I have completed in ages. 

It didn't take long, there are only 15 lines of stitching, although a few more for me as this is the first time I have sewn in a zip, and a very pretty one it is too, in my opinion! I got the zip back in the summer from The Eternal Maker in Chichester. The instructions for this bag are on the shop's blog, really quick and easy, once you have mastered the art of sewing in zips! 

All zipped up

Showing off the lining 

My mind is already working overtime, thinking of different ways of making these lovelies and different sizes/shapes. That's a couple more Christmas presents sorted! 

Off to make a couple of cards now, catch up later.......

Time to get a crafty wiggle on!!

I have been neglecting my blog for far too long... 

I have been inspired by a blog I discovered yesterday http://glindaquilts.blogspot.co.uk (sorry can't work out how to add a link atm) so thanks to Jen for the kick up the backside I needed! 

Now where to start, I have so many UFOs! One of my priorities has to be finishing off my rainbow broken herringbone quilt 

and also to finish off this quilt which is currently keeping one of the radiators warm in our family room, where I sew, but unfortunately means the room is not as warm is it could be!! 

But first of all there is another project I need to start and finish before they reach the sewing (dining) table.....

Broken Herringbone QAL

Over the summer I discovered the fabulous Molli Sparkles blog. A recent post on there showed a quilt made with Broken Herringbone blocks.  Molli decided to host a QAL as there was such a huge level of interest. Here is my test block, made in one of my favourite colours. I am really looking forward to taking part.

Playing in my craft room.....

I am continuing my mission to reduce my card making stash - here are a couple of cards I have made recently. It's going to take me a while but I'm not a quitter!!! I have enjoyed the peace and tranquility being out in my craft room - just need to do a spot of putting stuff away now........

Chocolate bag finished...

It took me a while to be brave enough to cut into this lovely fabric but I am very pleased with the finished project. The bag is a great size, not too big or too small. I think I will be making more of these in different colour ways.

Calorie free chocolate

Now I have your attention!! Who says there's no such thing, well just look at the picture below and you will see there is...... I bought this fabric a couple of weeks ago to make a bag but so far have been unable to bring myself to cut it, but feel today may be the day! 

I have spent the morning practising free motion quilting and unpicking...... I have a quilt top and cushion that I would like to try this technique on but not feeling brave enough to try yet so going to start the bag.

I will post a photo when it is finished.

A couple of celebrations

It's been ages since I made any cards and last week there were a couple of occasions that sent me off into my craft room to create.....
On Monday my youngest son passed his driving test and on Thursday my father-in-law celebrated his 80th birthday. Both cause to celebrate I'm sure you will agree!

Cute little bag.

I got busy with my sewing machine yesterday and a pattern I bought at a quilt show recently. I have always had a penchant for bags so its no surprise I came away with 3 different bag patterns, and this pattern has 3 different sizes to it. I reckon I may just try and tweak the pattern to make the bottom of the bag a bit more square to fit my lunch box in.

A bit of quilting

I haven't managed much craft time lately as my daughter has recently bought a house so have spent some time round there helping her clean and decorate. We also managed to escape for a couple of days last week to Somerset and made a quick stop off at a quilt show in Exeter on Friday.

This is a quilt I started a few weeks back, I just hope my piecing is accurate otherwise this is going to be a nightmare to put together. I used an Island Batik jelly roll and some white dotty yardage, the pattern is from 'Jelly Roll Quilts' by Pam & Nicky Lintott. Wish me luck!!

Sundays with Santa on a Saturday - Weeks 8, 9 & 10

I have spent the day playing catch up for the Facebook challenge, Sundays with Santa. Here are my cards for week 8 - snowflakes, week 9 - polka dot and week 10 - never seen ink. I have had a lovely day cocooned in my craft room, where it is cosy and warm, only ventured out for a brisk walk to blow away the cobwebs, but was pretty soon back in my craft room, oh boy was it bitter out there today! Off now to continue with the big tidy and maybe even make a start on tomorrow's card.
Hope you're keeping warm and enjoying a crafty weekend.

Sundays with Santa - Week 7

Okay so I'm a little behind with these challenges but this one has me stuck for a while. Determined that I was not going to buy any new stash, mind you not sure I would be able to get any Christmas supplies at the moment! Anyhow while continuing the craft room clear out I came across some images in a magazine - problem solved...... Pearlescent card from The Range, holly background paper from a First Edition paper stack I bought ages ago but not used until today and coloured the image with copics. It's not too clear in the photo but the mini tags spell Happy Christmas - good old peel offs.

Introduction to Machine Quilting with Dawn Cameron-Dick

I had a lovely day yesterday at a machine quilting class organised by The Jolly Stitcher. I have been quilting for a couple of years now but been vey apprehensive about free motion quilting so when I heard about this course I knew I had to sign up.

I learnt so much about my machine, thread, needles and wadding not forgetting the quilting! I have to say I understand how the children in school feel now as by 3 o'clock I was wilting and ready for home.

Today I have sewn the ends in so I am happy to show a few photos. There are another couple of blocks for me to practice on over the next few days. I reckon it's gonna be one of those techniques that continue to improve the more you do it.