Valentines cards

Thought I should make some valentines cards, so disappeared into my craft room tonight where it was warm and cosy. After a rummage through my craft stash here is what I came up with just using my cricut and papers.

UFO Sunday

I have finally finished my project for UFO Sunday. I love this idea as it helps me focus on finishing a previously started project, I can start new projects any other day of the week but not on a Sunday!
This week's UFO is my very first piece of patchwork. I had avoided sewing since a nasty experience at secondary school but when we went on holiday to a craft and sports hotel I thought I would give the patchwork class a go while the boys went off to play some sport. I chose 4 jelly roll strips, the log cabin pattern and a needle and thread. That was nearly 4 years ago, my fabric stash still has lots of gaps in it although my pattern book collection is coming along nicely,  I soon decided to give machine quilting a go and haven't looked back since!

The middle bit is hand stitched and the cream border has been machined on. I miscalculated the borders, I had planned for the cushion to be slightly larger but just pleased that it is finished. I've got another one nearly the same I had hoped to finish today but lots of unpicking put paid to that, I tried stitch in the ditch quilting but as I had pressed the seams open lots of the stitches disappeared so I had to unpick and go back to the drawing board.

Raggy cushion

I was inspired to make this cushion by a window display in a local shop, although that one was valentine themed! I do have some heart fabric and will make a valentine themed one but made this one out of some odd bits of material I bought the other day as a trial. After watching a few tutorials on You Tube here is my take on the raggy cushion. A great way to use up the offcuts of wadding too!

I took a photo prewash just in case it all went horribly wrong - thankfully it turned out well after a quick wash and tumble dry.

Am off out for a walk along the beach now, gotta make the most of the sun while its out. Will be back later hopefully with a UFO.

My Favourite Block Quilt Along - Block 2

I stumbled across a quilt along while blog hopping and thought why not give it a go, it's the first time I have taken part. If you fancy taking part why not take a look over at persimondreams.com/quilt-alongs/lapaceks-orchard/my-favorite-block-quilt-along
I have started with block 2 as I still have to choose fabrics for block 1. I really enjoyed making this and am looking forward to the rest of the blocks.

UFO Sunday

I am trying to finish my UFO's in the different crafts I do! Here is a quilting one I started a while back to tidy up a pile of squares and also to be another item on my table at a 'ladies night' I attended last month! Whilst blog hopping I discovered The Free Motion Quilting Project who is also working on UFOs and asks what we are all working on, why not take a look. I know it's not FMQ, I'm not brave enough to try that yet being a fairly new quilter!

Sundays with Santa - Week 3

Here's my card for the Sundays with Santa Facebook group. This week's theme is Trees. While sorting my craft room out, I found my iris folding patterns so thought it would use the tree one - I enjoyed it so much I made a second one!

Happy 50th Jane

Today is my friend Jane's 50th birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANE

hope you're having a lovely day!

We first met when she looked after me while I was in hospital after I gave birth to my daughter who is now 22. Our paths crossed again when her baby son arrived at the same childminder my daughter went to and the rest is history.

The snow has put paid to a lot of her celebrations but we managed to get out for a celebratory pub lunch yesterday.

Here's the card I made for her.

Irish double chain lap quilt

Here's a lap quilt I started at a class back in the summer at the fabulous New Threads quilt shop in Andover. I struggled with choosing fabrics as I was determined that I was not going to use colours from my usual palette of autumnal shades! It has seen quite a bit of use over the last few days as its been a bit on the cold side, although the snow is pretty much gone I still can't get warm!

Snow day

Woo hoo, had a snow day today. It was only decided at the last minute as the snow started to come down quite heavily from 7.30. I was ready for work so walked in to give a hand in case many pupils turned up (a bonus living so close - though not always good!) and this is part of the grounds, looking very tranquil. It gave me the chance to catch up on housework so now I can craft all weekend without feeling guilty:D Hope you manage to enjoy the snow, keep warm and do lots of crafting this weekend x

Something yummy today....

Apart from a few rows of knitting tonight I haven't done any crafting as I had the urge to bake!! 2 lemon and lime drizzle cakes, one for home and one for work - this one always goes down well in the staff room at break time. I'm off now to find a crochet hook and some wool as one of the teachers is going to try and teach me how to crochet at lunchtime - does he know what he's let himself in for? Will report on my progress tomorrow....

Happy Feet

I'm really into knitting socks at the moment, here's a pair I finished last night. There are some really lovely yarns available at the moment and someone has to buy them!! Going to have cozy toes tomorrow whatever the weather brings......

I POSTED THIS EARLIER IN THE WEEK, AND HAVE OBVIOUSLY PUSHED THE WRONG BUTTON WHEN I WENT IN TO AMEND SOMETHING......

Sundays with Santa - Week 2

Here's my card for week 2 of the 'Sundays with Santa' group on Facebook. The theme this week is 'Traditional Colours'. This card was started in late 2011 for a challenge, I missed the deadline and it got tidied away early last year. In my mission to tidy my craft room this year I am going through my boxes of half finished projects and this is one of them!

And another one I made earlier.....

3rd day back at work and I'm beginning to wilt!! Thank goodness it's my day off tomorrow :) No crafting tonight as by the time we'd been food shopping and cooked tea, all I wanted was a wallow in a lovely hot bath and a good book to read. So here's another card I made in the run up to Christmas, I got the idea from a card on sale in a prestigious store in London, selling for a fiver. I definitely think I'm in the wrong job!

Too tired to make a card, so here's one I made earlier !!

Second day back at work today and I'm too tired to make a card so thought I would post one that I made one for my friend Jackie who celebrated on her birthday on 28th December. I opted for these colours as I thought they were bright and fresh. The stamps are Hobby Art Scene It Floral set, stamped using Stampin' Up! Ink and a sprinkling of glamour dust. She really liked the card. I think I am going to try this is a few other colour schemes.

Brooklyn's 18th birthday

Today it's an old school friend's daughter's 18th birthday, CONGRATULATIONS BROOKLYN. Along similar lines as the one I made for Joe's birthday recently as I have had 3 birthdays to make cards for on 3 consecutive days as well as trying to clear up my work bench, but more on that tomorrow...... Here is the card I made, loving my cricut machine as you can make great cards in next to no time!!

Happy Birthday Claire

It is my lovely friend Claire's birthday today and here is the card I made for her. I took inspiration from the HobbyArt website, as I was using their flourish set of stamps, really love these images, I guess I should use some of the other ones rather than opting for my favourite though!

Sundays with Santa - Week 1

I joined this Facebook group over a year with all good intentions that never came to fruition. Hoping that will change this year in view of the last minute crafting frenzy in the run up to the recent festive season!
The theme this week is 'Anything Goes'. The card is a result of watching a craft programme which reminded me of this style card and looking through my stash of half finished projects - I have a box of medallion images stamped and embossed.

Fresh start for the New Year

I had every intention of posting more often last month but Christmas got in the way! All the decs are down and put away now and I hope to be able to post more regularly this year......

I am starting with a craft room clear out, started on Wednesday and making slow progress but instead of clearing the work surfaces into a box to be sorted later, I am making the cards up then putting things used to make them away - long may it last but I have made about 8 cards over the last couple of days and can see my cutting mat again!

Here's a card I made for Joe's 21st - congratulations Joe, hope you had a fab day if you read this....