Sewing Box Finished

For Christmas Tom brought me the @dandeliondesigns sewing box kit.  Love Mandy Shaw so enthusiastic and passionate about her sewing.  On my week off I got to spend a hot lazy sunny Saturday in the hut with my sewing machine, pure heaven and such a luxury.  Which mean't....

Ta Dah  all finished.  Surprising the amount of hand sewing required  but loving it and it's currently filled to over flowing!   Must crack on with more projects......

Catching up!

It's really easy to fall behind on this.  Either not enough time or just simply too tired!

I've done another Colemans Workshop.  I think was Somerset Patch?

Here's my almost finished sample.....

Just need to find out how to finish it off and then make it into a pretty cushion cover.

I've actually had a week off work recently too.  Good to get some RnR. Spent time getting plants for the garden as this year we can do lots of soft planting now the hut is finished.

So excited to see summer bedding plants , can't wait to see them all out in full bloom in the Summer.

Coleman's Workshop

Dutch Treat

My 7th workshop, Dutch Treat,I enjoyed making this and planning to make another.

Bit of a Catch up

Tom has been busy re vamping the stairs. I suggested we should freshen them up and paint them white.  Best decision makes the stairs feel wide and light and airy.

Met my nieces and great niece for Lunch this week.  Amy was 30 but this little girl stole the show! 

Sewing Sunday

Despite being told my Cholesterol is high, earlier in the week and embarking on a #getactive for 100 days ie brisk 25 minute walk round the block (I managed 3 days).  I've been pooped over the last 2 days so after Church today I didn't want to do much at all so back to sitting on my bottom and sewing again!!!

To be fair I'd already done some prep work at sewing class on Tuesday but I have finished 4 more stars.

Coleman's Workshop

Thursday I went to my 6th workshop with Trish Ablett at Colemans.  I met up with my Mum there before the class started.

We made a block called Jack and Jill. I hadn't quite finished it so joined it together today.

Happy Easter!

A little late perhaps but after Church yesterday I sat and relaxed too much!

Not a brilliant photo, but sadly the light in Church on Saturday morning was dim, much like the rest of the weekend.  Starting to think the wettest Easter weekend that I can remember.  Disappointed the tulips had started to droop by yesterday morning, hopefully not many noticed.

Still my Easter Tree at home is looking a bit brighter.

A splash of colour on a grey day.

Another project finished......

My Button-it ( http://www.customlaser.co.uk/3D_projects.html) Curio cabinet is finished. I struggled to find something for the table idea so I used a wooden cotton spool and added some wide ribbon, it works for me. Happy to have it on display, might add a little bit more but for now it's absolutely fine.

Finished!

My Quilt As You Go is finished, yippee.  Probably give it as a Christmas gift, just needs a label on it at some point.  So happy it's completed and it's another project done...

I've also made my first ever bunting after I spotted a perfect seaside themed panel at The Craftworks this week.

Might need another lot!

Busy Week Off

A Week off work to relax and recharge.  The baby blanket finally finished, happy to have that of my to do list.

My Friend Jenny and I went to the Craft Fair at the NEC Birmingham Saturday, despite the windy weather and snow showers! Picked up a mdf storage stand in the hope my paints would fit. Thankfully it does, hadn't planned to paint it but I did not that you can see as I've filled it.

Managed to do a few more chicks for Church, went for oddments for this batch!

Still a few more projects on the go that are not quite finished,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

A Break from the Norm

We decided to make the most of the day today, the rest of the week looks pretty grotty, and took a trip out.  Last year when I was on a craft retreat in the Cotswold I read an article about Burford  Church St John the Baptist.  It's listed in the 1000 best Church of England book so thought Tom would love to check it out.  I had no idea what to expect from Burford how big or how interesting so we headed there first and then return back to Bourton on the Water for lunch and a wander.

The car parking was free which was brilliant and right next to the church which did not disappoint and the Verger, Lyndsay was very kind and allowed us take the sherbets in, we had a lovely chat.  And Burford it self was beautiful, will return to try out the gluten free fish chips at the Mermaid Inn, if I'd known I wouldn't have done a picnic!  Great Day

Slow Progress

The saying goes so much to do and so little time to do it. I've been patchwork group this week and another Colemans Workshop but haven't taken any photo's yet.

I've also made 8 little chicks so far towards the egg hunt for Church.  My next batch will be all colours and may or may not have ribbons it will depend on how much time I get to spend on them!

My FIRST ever bit of patchwork now completed.  When I started 18 months ago I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I had ago at 2 different blocks, then sashed them together before creating a sandwich and did very simple quilting.  It's been sat waiting for me to hand sew the binding finished for sometime.  It was a learning project and hadn't given much thought about what I'd do with it.  It fits my multi purpose table quite nicely, perfect for sitting my sewing machine on.

I've got this next week off work and have high hopes of completing some more projects.  Best laid plans hey!!

Snowtime like Snowtime!

Well this week has seen some of the coldest temperatures I can ever remember, with daytime figures showing minus!  You would have thought I'd have achieved a lot this week but somehow the opposite.  Not helped when I discovered Thursday the cold pipes in the utility room had frozen so the washing machine wouldn't work.  We've been in the house almost 20 years and never had that happen before.  Hubby lagged all the pipes and by the time he'd done that a trickle of water started to come through! Amazing what a difference.

I have managed to get as far as putting my QAYG together, so please with it, even though I made a silly mistake. I've decided to bind it with a plain black which goes with all the colours front and

back, so picked up some fabric and washed it ready to iron and cut.  Almost complete Yeah.

I've also managed to do another little project which had been on my do to list for sometime.  I've had the clipboard a while and knew it was going to be a shopping list pad holder.  Used Anna Marie's green pattern paper.  It was nice to use some of the bits from my stash that I'd had for ages.

We finally had the snow arrive Thursday full on pretty much all day. This morning I remembered to take some photo's.  I love the icicles on the shepherds hut. 

Two boys following Mum round the garden as she crinkles the bird food bag, honestly. Lazy girl is still in bed with Dad!

The forecast says rain but we've definitely had a covering of snow tonight!

Strike whilst the irons Hot!

 

Wow. Look how quickly this came together.  So pleased that I have finally got something that looks like a quilt. Just need to sew down the sashings on the back then I can link it all together.  So happy.

Sense of Acomplishment

Having brought a Quilt As You Go pack 12 months ago, I have finally got round to using it. Yippee!  I found some fun fabrics at Poppy Patch and thought it would be nice for my Great Nephew.  Not yet finished but its a good start.....

This is the first section completed.  I've now done all 6, just need to trim and join together. Phew!

Why don't I get my projects done???

Ahh the answer to that burning question......

It doesn't look much but this is 1 of 3 blackout curtains made for Tom's hobby, Astronomy! The things I do. These will hopefully work and block out the local street lights to give a better view of the night sky.  Now we just need a clear night!

Better get back to my other projects

WIP......

Time runs by so quickly these days.  I've not been sitting on my laurels, I have been busy. I have several things on the go. Some started ages ago,some only just started and lots winking at me!!!

Currently I have two projects on my worktables......

Have finally finished knitting the 48 little squares for a baby blanket, just in the process of sewing them together. My nieces baby is due in June so still have some time but want to get this done and off my list. I've only used some wilko wool it's cream with flex's of blue, yellow and orange.

And for something completely different, and also for me this time, is this little curio cabinet.  I brought it last summer (I think) from the Button-it stall at the NEC craft show.  I loved the idea of it although wasn't too sure at the time what I'd do with it.  Thinking of tea room theme so used PION design papers from my stash. It's Lillies from their Silent Night range.

Long Time Project!

Have you ever had a project on the go that you take out look at and put away again or perhaps paint again, stick on a small random detail.  Well this is one of mine.  I love watching http://gabriellepollacco.blogspot.co.uk, she is amazing love her work and she makes things look so easy.  Inspired by her mixed media and homemade paste I went all out on this Kaisercraft frame (picked up sometime ago in the sale at Scotch Lodge Farm). I got so far and threw pretty much everything at it so to speak.  Having moved my hobby space round at home, once again this came out and I knew I wanted to finish it. To do that I matted the photo onto red card, decided to lose the grass and lighthouse chipboard elements and instead added a flower and little bird. Thanks to my friend Jenny for the dried flowers and tumble weed stuff.  It'll do and is now hung on the wall and not lost on top of a cupboard gathering dust!!! 

I Couldn't leave it......

On Monday I was walking past the Scope Charity shop in town and spotted an unloved little shelf, only £1.00 it spoke to me and knew I had to have it.  Having told myself I didn't need any more projects at the minute I was determined not to have it sitting around for long so in a record for me....
 
             Monday

And back boards removed. Sugar soaped all over, left to dry off.  Painted all over in all the tricky spaces using DecoArt Chalky finish acrylic paint, everlasting, 3 coats.  The backboards had a red felt over them which didn't want to come off so used mount board to replace the backs.

 I had a good rummage through all my pretty papers and came across some sea themed Fabscraps paper. I knew that's what I wanted to use and spent a few hours cutting out to fill the gaps. Despite the careful planning and marking it didn't go exactly to plan but it's okay as you can't see on the picture!  Very happy that this is what it looks like now Saturday.

Now to find/make little bits to fill it with! 

Homework Done!

Nothing  like a snow day to set up a temporary sewing area.....

 and complete the farmers block started at Colemans Workshop

Of course couldn't do anything until 2 little fur babies had some fun in the snow 1st, managed to capture a blurred Dexter

Workshop Treat

Have spent the last week catching up a bit on things at home. Have been busy trying to knit my squares have finished another 4.  However a last minute decision I decided to book for my first workshop at Colemans Craft Warehouse, a patchwork class with Trish.....

I managed to make 1 of each, just need to do the other 2 and join together.  Found it very helpful and love these colours.

A Hard Week

Like the rest of the population I've battled with a tiresome cough and croaky voice.  The nights have been slightly harder as you end up with coughing fits at least once or twice!  Despite that and the damp grey weather I think I've done quite well to ride the gloomy wave.  Just going to work and keeping things in order at home have just about the only things done.  But somehow I managed to get 2 squares knitted for my blanket and the 3rd is well on the way to be finished.

Yesterday was my birthday getting older.  Waking up without a cough and croaky voice would have been a bonus gift but it didn't happen, still it did not dampen my day.  Thankfully I finally feel the worst is over and I'm on the right road a little like my old self.

Getting back to Normal

Have spent the day clearing and cleaning both home and hut, packing Christmas away and sweeping away the glitter.  After taking the Sherbets out for walk to nearby Mears Ashby I enjoyed a film, Indiana Jones and the temple of Doom, in the hut with a cuppa or two. And finished another Debbie Abrahams square for my blanket so that gives me a total of 12 squares or a very small blanket!  Have already made a start on number 13.

Waiting for Dad to return with more Tea.

Afternoon tea in the hut

And time to pick up  a bit of knitting.  Only been a year since I started my Debbie Abrahams blanket. One of my WIP which I would like to get cracking on to finish, it's slow progress.  

Reluctantly helped by Bella and Dexter who are concerned Dad's left us to make a fresh brew. Thirsty work all this knitting!